Books to Read Well, Live Well
Introducing the newest books from Penguin Life. These reads will inspire you to live better, be happier, and aim higher. #ReadWellLiveWell
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Add to BookshelfThe Book of Ichigo Ichie
by HĂ©ctor GarcĂa and Francesc Miralles
Find happiness by living fully in the present with this definitive guide to ichigo ichie–the Japanese art of making the most of every moment–from the bestselling authors of Ikigai.
Every moment in our life happens only once, and if we let it slip away, we lose it forever–an idea captured by the Japanese phrase ichigo ichie (pronounced itchy-GO itchy-A). Often spoken in Japan when greeting someone or saying goodbye, to convey that the encounter is unique and special, it is a tenet of Zen Buddhism and is attributed to a sixteenth-century master of the Japanese tea ceremony, or “ceremony of attention,” whose intricate rituals compel us to focus on the present moment.
From this age-old concept comes a new kind of mindfulness. In The Book of Ichigo Ichie, you will learn to…- appreciate the beauty of the fleeting, the way the Japanese celebrate the cherry blossoms for two weeks every April, knowing they’ll have to wait a whole year to see them again;
- use all five senses to anchor yourself in the present, helping you to let go of fear, sadness, anger, and other negative emotions fueled by fixating on the past or the future;
- be alert to the magic of coincidences, which help us find meaning among the disconnected events of our lives;
- use ichigo ichie to help you discover your ikigai, or life’s purpose–because it’s only by learning to be present, to be tuned into what catches your attention and excites you in the moment, that you can identify what it is that most motivates you and brings you happiness.
Every one of us contains a key that can open the door to attention, harmony with others, and love of life. And that key is ichigo ichie.
A PENGUIN LIFE TITLE
Add to BookshelfHardcover
$26.00Buy from Other Retailers:
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Radical Compassion
by Tara Brach
One of the most beloved and trusted mindfulness teachers in America offers a lifeline for difficult times: the RAIN meditation, which awakens our courage and heart
Tara Brach is an in-the-trenches teacher whose work counters today’s ever-increasing onslaught of news, conflict, demands, and anxieties–stresses that leave us rushing around on auto-pilot and cut off from the presence and creativity that give our lives meaning.
In this heartfelt and deeply practical book, she offers an antidote: an easy-to-learn four-step meditation that quickly loosens the grip of difficult emotions and limiting beliefs. Each step in the meditation practice (Recognize, Allow, Investigate, Nurture) is brought to life by memorable stories shared by Tara and her students as they deal with feelings of overwhelm, loss, and self-aversion, with painful relationships, and past trauma–and as they discover step-by-step the sources of love, forgiveness, compassion, and deep wisdom alive within all of us.
A PENGUIN LIFE TITLE
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$19.00Buy from Other Retailers:
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A Woman Makes a Plan
by Maye Musk
“Warm, honest and true–A Woman Makes A Plan is full of insight as well as a good dose of humor, offering readers a lifetime of hard-won advice.”
–Diane Von Furstenberg
The international supermodel shares personal stories and lessons learned from a life of “living dangerously–carefully”
Maye Musk is a fashionable, charming, jet-setting supermodel with a fascinating and tight-knit circle of family and friends–and is 71 years old. But things were not always so easy or glamorous–she became a single mom at 31, struggling through poverty to provide for her three children; dealt with weight issues as a plus-size model and overcame ageism in the modeling industry; and established a lifelong career as a respected dietitian, all the while starting over in eight different cities across three countries and two continents. But she made her way through it all with an indomitable spirit and a no-nonsense attitude to become a global success at what she calls the “prime of her life.”
As everyone who follows her obsessively on social media knows, Maye is a fount of frank and practical advice on how the choices you make in every decade can pay off in surprising, exciting ways throughout your life. In A Woman Makes a Plan, Maye shares experiences from her life conveying hard-earned wisdom on career (the harder you work, the luckier you get), family (let the people you love go their own way), health (there is no magic pill), and adventure (make room for discovery, but always be ready for anything). You can’t control all that happens in life, but you can have the life you want at any age. All you have to do is make a plan.
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$18.00Buy from Other Retailers:
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The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read
by Philippa Perry
More than 1.3 million copies sold worldwide!
“A wonderful book”―Richard Osman
“If you’re determinedly not a self-help kind of reader (like me), make an exception for [this book]. And if you’re not a parent, don’t dismiss it. The message is one of non-judgmental kindness.”―Vogue (London)
How can we have better relationships?
In this instant Sunday Times bestseller, leading psychotherapist Philippa Perry reveals the vital do’s and don’ts of relationships. This is a book for us all. Whether you are interested in understanding how your upbringing has shaped you, looking to handle your child’s feelings or wishing to support your partner, you will find indispensable information and realistic tips in these pages. Philippa Perry’s sane, sage and judgement-free advice is an essential resource on how to have the best possible relationships with the people who matter to you most.
Add to BookshelfHardcover
$28.00Buy from Other Retailers:
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Hold On, But Don’t Hold Still
by Kristina Kuzmic
Delivering inspiration and “parenting comedy at its finest,”* here is one woman’s story of ditching her fairytale dreams and falling in love with her unpredictable, chaotic, imperfect life
Kristina Kuzmic has made herself a household name, speaking directly to mothers from the trenches of parenthood via her viral videos and social media presence. She is now bringing her message of self-acceptance, resilience, and joy to book readers. With a refreshingly unpretentious, funny, and galvanizing voice, Kuzmic goes behind the scenes to reveal how she went from broke and defeated to unshakably grounded and brimming with thankfulness. Illuminating the hard-won wisdom from a life always spent one step behind–whether it was as a high school student new to America, a suddenly single mother to two kids, remarried and juggling two teens and a toddler, or the unexpected recipient of Oprah’s attention and investment–Hold On, But Don’t Hold Still is the book every mother needs to reassure her that she’s not only fine just as she is, but that she already has more tools and support than she can possibly imagine. Sparkling with wit, this heartfelt memoir is like a long coffee date with a best friend, or the eleventh-hour text message that gives you just the boost you need to get through the night.
*The Huffington Post
A VIKING LIFE TITLE
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$18.00Buy from Other Retailers:
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The Gift of Forgiveness
by Katherine Schwarzenegger Pratt
AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!
“[The Gift of Forgiveness] will spark conversations across families, across friendships, at workplaces, everywhere.”—Maria Shriver
A fresh, inspiring book on learning how to forgive, with firsthand stories from those who have learned to let go of resentment and find peace.
“When we learn to embrace forgiveness, it opens us up to healing, hope, and a new world of possibility.”—Katherine Schwarzenegger Pratt
Written with grace and understanding and based on more than twenty in-depth interviews and stories as well as personal reflections from Schwarzenegger Pratt herself, The Gift of Forgiveness is about one of the most difficult challenges in life—learning to forgive. Here, Katherine Schwarzenegger Pratt shows us what we can learn from those who have struggled with forgiveness, some still struggling, and others who have been able to forgive what might seem truly unforgivable. The book features experiences from those well-known and unknown, including Elizabeth Smart, who learned to forgive her captors; Sue Klebold, whose son, Dylan, was one of the Columbine shooters, learning empathy and how to forgive herself; Chris Williams, who forgave the drunken teenager who killed his wife and child; and of course Schwarzenegger Pratt’s own challenges and path to forgiveness in her own life. All provide different journeys to forgiveness and the process—sometimes slow and thorny, sometimes almost instantaneous—by which they learned to forgive and let go.
The Gift of Forgiveness is a perfect blend of personal insights, powerful quotations, and hard-won wisdom for those seeking a way to live with greater acceptance, grace, and peace.
A PAMELA DORMAN BOOKS/PENGUIN LIFE TITLE
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$18.00Buy from Other Retailers:
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Laughter Yoga
by Madan Kataria, M.D.
Could you use a good laugh? This definitive guide by the founder of the worldwide laughter yoga movement will show you how to giggle your way to good health!
Bring laughter into your life at any time of day–no special equipment needed, no new wardrobe, no expensive classes, not even a sense of humor!
Laughter yoga is all about voluntary laughter–how you can learn to laugh even in the absence of humorous stimuli, and reap the extraordinary, scientifically proven benefits, which include stress reduction, pain relief, weight loss, heightened immunity, and, especially, enhanced mood: If you act happy, you’ll become happy–your body can’t tell the difference!
Children laugh more than 300 times a day, adults fewer than fifteen. But it’s easy to start laughing again. The exercises in this book combine voluntary laughter with yogic breathing to give you a full body-mind workout. And it turns out that laughter is the fastest way to reduce stress and the best kind of cardio: Ten minutes of hearty laughter is equal to thirty minutes on the rowing machine.
With Laughter Yoga, join the growing worldwide movement and discover how laughter really is the best medicine.
A PENGUIN LIFE TITLE
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$16.00Buy from Other Retailers:
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The Power Wish
by Keiko
“Keiko’s method can help people to make their dreams a reality.” –Marie Kondo
Summon the energy of the universe to make your dreams come true with this bestselling guide to a powerful manifestation method by Japan’s leading astrologer.
A million-copy bestselling author in Japan, Keiko is now sharing her secrets with the world. The Moon, according to Keiko, is “Earth’s helpdesk,” a liaison between Earth and the other planets, delivering our wishes to the universe. With Keiko’s Power Wish Method, you will learn to speak the language of the Moon and the stars–specifically, how to . . .- wish upon the New Moon and the Full Moon–the phases when the Moon is available to help you;
- make your wishes using words of high vibration that have the greatest cosmic resonance and fortune-boosting potential;
- get the universe in the mood to help by embracing gratitude and positivity;
- time your wishes to harness the particular strengths of all twelve zodiac signs, such as the speed of Aries, the financial expertise of Taurus, and the transformative power of Scorpio.
With Keiko as your astrological coach, you don’t merely wait for the universe to fulfill your dreams; you become actively involved in charting a path for your life–and in finding the love, happiness, and success you’ve always desired.
“Astrology is not fortune telling, but rather the skill to read the energy of the stars.” –Keiko
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Add to BookshelfHardcover
$22.00Buy from Other Retailers:
