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Welcome to the reference section at Headworks. Here you can find references for the material in the self-help library, many of which are also available for purchase at Amazon.

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People are funny about books. That's not too surprising, of course, people are funny about a lot of things. If you'd like to explore some of the books listed here, there's a good chance you can find them at your local library. The trouble is, for some of us, that's not good enough. When we plan to use a book as a workbook, we know we're going to bend pages, use pens and magic markers and otherwise assault the book's general integrity. For us, all that bending and marking and writing in the margins is part of the learning process. We can't very well do that to a library book, can we? No! We need our own copy that we can tear into!

For those of us who like to "become one" with our books, things just got a little easier. I've made arrangements with Amazon.com so that we can purchase books from their on-line bookstore linked directly to this reference section. When you see this gold star next to a book's description, double-clicking that image will connect you to the appropriate entry in the Amazon.com catalog. It's perhaps most realistic to think of this option as a convenience; Amazon's prices are good, but by the time you add shipping costs, you won't be saving staggering amounts off the list price (unless you're getting a number of books). If you can find the book you want at your local discount bookstore, you may pay a little less. The question is: is your time and effort worth the money you might save? Only you can answer that one. I only ask one thing: if you take advantage of this option, don't forget to come back when you're done buying your books!

NLPBandler, Richard. Using Your Brain-for a Change.

Picking up where Frogs into Princes left off, Bandler takes the reader ever deeper into NLP territory: explaining terminology and specifying techniques for change. Highly recommended, a "must read" book for anyone who plans to use the utilities at this site.

NLPBandler, Richard and Grinder, John. Frogs into Princes.

An introduction to Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), as presented in a workshop. This is one of the early books on NLP. It is a very good intro to the topic; you get to peek in on a workshop given by two masters. It also introduces the reader to anchoring and reframing, basic NLP techniques.

NLPBandler, Richard and Grinder,John. ReFraming

The Nero-Linguistic Programming approach to reframing: assigning new meanings to behaviors. This book covers some of the basic techniques. Highly recommended.

NLPBandler, Richard and MacDonald, Will. An Insider's Guide to Sub-Modalities.

An excellent introduction to sub-modalities. Includes exercises. Highly recommended.

Borysenko, Joan. Minding the body, mending the mind

This book is packed with good advice for overcoming chronic anxiety and worry. If you want to break the anxiety/worry cycle, here you'll find helpful exercises for both your body and your mind. Highly recommended.

Breggin,Peter. Toxic Psychiatry.

Dr. Breggin makes a compelling case for NOT using drugs to treat most mental distress. Typically, he argues, drugs are used for the convenience of those around the patient... rather than for the best interests of the patient.

Canfield, Jack & Hansen, Mark. Chicken Soup for the Soul.

This is a collection of inspiring little stories about the trials and tribulations of the human will to love and know. Highly recommended for anyone with a heart... or wanting one. There are about a dozen sequels (variations) to this original that are worth checking out. The original is still my favorite.

Carson, Richard. Taming Your Gremlin.

Another of those life's little instruction books. This one is about how to be happy by outwitting (i.e.,learning to ignore) your internal critic, the gremlin. You'll find lots of tips, tricks, and traps elucidated as well as plenty of encouragement for simply accepting yourself as you are... a very good idea. Highly recommended. I also recommend Carson's second book, Never Get a Tattoo. Engaging and helpful reading, both.

Farrell, Warren. Why Men are the Way they are.

Dr. Farrell discusses some of the cultural factors that shape men's behaviors. If you are curious about this topic, or if you're a man and wondering about yourself... this is a great place to start. Highly recommended for women too. Warren's The Myth of Male Power. continues developing the themes introduced in his first, ground breaking, work.

Hendrix, Harville. Getting the Love You Want.

This is a guide for couples who are caught in a power struggle; something that happens all too often. This is a great book for couples and singles having trouble with their love life. It includes some self-discovery exercises in the back that are often eye- opening. I often use this book in my work with couples/singles. Hendrix has written and number of very useful books, including Keeping the Love You Find aimed at singles.

Hoff, Benjamin. The Tao of Pooh

This is one of those "must have" books. It seems that Winnie the Pooh is an avatar of the Tao. What is the Tao? That's a good question. Read the book for a beginning of an inkling. Start reading anywhere in the book and, if you're anything like me, within a few lines you'll begin to smile... it's that good. Hoff's second book,The Te of Piglet("Te" translates roughly as "virtue") is also a "must have" book, although I did not find it as valuable as Pooh (this may reflect my limitations rather than the book's). Get both, read them, and you be the judge.

Hoffman, Ivan. The Tao of Love.

"Love is about trust." "Trusting means letting go of the control we have deceived ourselves into thinking we have."" Any attempt to explain the Tao will, of necessity, fall short, for it is an attempt to explain the natural processes of the universe and perhaps, in another fashion, the way God thinks." This is a great little book, with hints and inspiration along the way for learning how to love.

Kopp, Sheldon. If You Meet the Buddha on the Road, Kill Him.

Kopp is one of my favorite authors. You almost can't go wrong reading any book of his... he's good. This is perhaps his most famous offering; here he tells you a few things about the process of self-discovery, of therapy, and shares a few personal pilgrimages to illustrate his points. Highly recommended.

Miller, Sherod; Wackman, Daniel; Nunnally, Elam; and Saline, Carol. Straight Talk.

This book has been through about a gazillion printings. It is THE BOOK on couples communication; outlining simple, but powerful, principles for easy communication with significant others. I recommend this book to every couple I work with, and many individuals as well. The bad news is this book is becoming hard to find.

Moore, Thomas. Care of the Soul.

This is a heavy book, heavy with glimpses of human essence. Too rich to take, in more than small bits at a time. We all have parts of ourselves that we have rejected... banished to our dark, forbidden depths, and still other parts that have always been hidden, or poorly understood. This book takes you to some of those places, to meet your archetypes as part of who you are. It teaches love and acceptance for all parts of us. It is only then that we can become truly whole. Recommended reading. His second book, Soulmates, is also a good book.

Peck, M. Scott The Road less Traveled and The Road less Traveled and Beyond

An interesting set of books espousing Peck's view of psychotherapy and spiritual growth. Reluctantly, I cannot in good faith recommend these books. They contain far too may half-truths and muddled, simplistic thinking about complex issues. Some, will find the certainty of his "answers" comforting for awhile... my advice to you is stay away from sharp rocks in shallow water and these books.



Tannen, Deborah. You Just Don't Understand.

Who wants to? Sorry, I couldn't help making that male chauvinist crack... just another example of a man striving for status. I'll try to behave now. Men and women use "talking" in different ways, and for different purposes. Not always, but often. This book explores some of those differences (she does a better job with women, than with men). Great book, highly recommended.

© 2007 Richard V. Sansbury (letters@headworks.com)