Here is August’s cherished reads that either the team have read themselves or have been recommended by someone special. This list is compiled with thought, care and real recommendation, rather a list for lists sake.

1.    Honoring the Self: Self-esteem and Personal Transformation by Nathaniel Branden

“Tell me how a person judges his or her self-esteem, ” says pioneering psychologist Nathaniel Branden, “and I will tell you how that person operates at work, in love, in sex, in parenting, in every important aspect of existence – and how high he or she is likely to rise. The reputation you have with yourself – your self-esteem – is the single most important factor for a fulfilling life.”

2.    When the Past Is Always Present: Emotional Traumatization, Causes, and Cures – Ronald A Rudin

When the Past Is Always Present: Emotional Traumatization, Causes, and Cures  introduces several new ideas about trauma and trauma treatment. The first of these is that another way to treat disorders arising from the mind/brain may be to use the senses. This idea, which is at the core of psychosensory therapy, forms what the author considers the “third pillar” of trauma treatment (the first and second pillars being psychotherapy and psychopharmacology). Psychosensory therapy postulates that sensory input―for example, touch―creates extrasensory activity that alters brain function and the way we respond to stimuli.

3.   A Return To Love by Marianne Williamson

Beautiful new cover design for this internationally acclaimed book that has sold over one million copies worldwide. Marianne Williamson shares her insights into how the practical application of love every day can provide an answer to the problems that confront us, whether these are in our relationships, our careers or our health.

4.    Arjuna: Saga of a Pandava Warrior-Prince

Arjuna is the immortal tale of one of India’s greatest heroes. These pages retell in riveting detail the story of the Pandava Warrior-Prince who has captured the imagination of millions across centuries. This is the intense and human story of his loves, friendship, ambitions, weaknesses and follies, as well as his untimely death and revival, his stint as a eunuch, and the innermost reaches of his thoughts. Told in a refreshingly modern and humourous style and set against the staggering backdrop of the Mahabharata. Arjunas story appeals equally to the average, discerning reader and the scholar. It spans the epic journey from before his birth, when omens foretold his greatness, across the fabled, wondrous landscape that was his life.

5. Not Knowing by Steven D’Souza & Dianna Renner

In order to thrive in these worrying times, this fascinating book proposes we head, uncomfortably, towards the unknown, rather than away from it. By developing a unique relationship with Not Knowing we discover a new way of living, working and succeeding in our modern world. This book re-frames the concept of Not Knowing, from being in a fearful place of weakness and ignorance, moving to something we must engage with personally. It introduces us to a new paradigm, where Not Knowing becomes an exciting opportunity, where we are no longer limited by what we already know and our habitual reactions to things that life throws at us, so that deeper knowing can emerge, full of rich possibilities and wisdom. Learn: Why your hard-won knowledge may be holding you back. How to recognise when you are entering your real learning zone. Lessons from people who thrive in the unknown. Powerful ideas that will help you experience joy and possibility, rather than uncertainty and worry.