The Mindfulness Breakthrough by Sarah Silverton

This book had many similarities to Mindfulness: Finding Peace in a Frantic World by Mark Williams and Danny Penman. However, it is laid out very differently, with sections for carers, children, people suffering from illness, and it looks at a wider diversity of situations and experiences. There are lots of case studies included to illustrate the points made, and show how beneficial mindfulness practise can be.

It covers stress and anxiety, breathing, awareness, gentleness and compassion, and other aspects of mindfulness. It has key phrases printed in large print, over full colour pictures to draw your attention to them.

Reasons to Stay Alive by Matt Haig

This book on the topic of author's breakdown in his 20s, and his experience of depression and panic attacks, is compelling reading. It's written in short, easy to digest, chunks and I was drawn into the autobiographical story from the outset.

Haig's easy-to-follow style and descriptive narrative will help anyone to understand the nature of depression, and the author discloses how depression made him feel, how it affected him physically, and how it was accompanied by suicidal thoughts and fears.

The Complete Guide to Tinnitus by Bill Habets

This book gives a thorough grounding in how hearing works, ear anatomy, causes of tinnitus, and possible treatments. According to the author, many experiences of tinnitus are not phantom sounds, but hypersensitivity to sounds created by your own body. For instance, humming might be caused by the movement of body fluids - blood travelling through the arteries. This can be caused by elevated blood pressure, and a wide variety of other possible causes. These are discussed, from noise, to stress.

Mindfulness: Finding Peace in a Frantic World by Mark Williams and Danny Penman

Having seen Mark Williams do a talk at a literary festival, and read about other people's life-changing experiences upon reading this book, I was curious. So I bought the book and accompanying CD, to see if it could help me live more in the present, feel less anxious, and to feel more at peace.

The book takes you through the theory and practice of mindfulness meditation and explains how mindfulness has been scientifically proven to be beneficial to health. I have no doubt about that.

The Immune Advantage by Ellen Mazo and Dr Keith Berndtson

This is a great book for anyone with immune system challenges who is looking to kick their immune system into better shape. It covers nutritional, lifestyle, and psychological approaches to improving your body's immune response.

• Part 1 looks at the immune system, how it works, and at balance. 
• Part 2 looks at strengthening your immune system through healthy eating, avoiding environmental hazards, and it looks at immune boosters, and immune busters. 

Life without Limits by Nick Vujicic

This is an inspirational book written by a man who was born with no limbs, yet has lived a full and active life. He travels the world doing motivational speeches, and has learnt to live with the minimum of dependence on other people, despite his obvious disabilities. He's learnt to overcome the many challenges in life and find real purpose in his existence as a source of inspiration to others and as a Christian evangelist.

How to do Everything and be Happy by Peter Jones

This book is a really easy read. I completed it in a single day which is almost unheard of for me. It's funny, engaging, upbeat and light hearted, and the author draws you into his happiness techniques in a way that encourages you to make lists of things you want to do, while you're reading the book.

 

Yes, the techniques described do take time and effort. And some of your ambitions may require funding that you don't have right now, but the author suggests ways of overcoming obstacles and setting yourself challenging but achievable goals that will take you a step further on your journey towards greater happiness.

Positive Psychology for Overcoming Depression by Miriam Akhtar

This book, dubbed as providing, 'self-help strategies for happiness, inner strength and wellbeing', takes you on a journey through the relatively new discipline of positive psychology. It details techniques for developing a positive mindset, enabling you to reach for a happier and more fulfilling life. It's aimed at depressed people, but offers interesting insights to anyone seeking to enhance their happiness.

Positive psychology is different from counselling or psychotherapy, in-so-much that it's designed to encourage positive emotions, rather than to work through the difficulties and traumas left by a troubled past. It aims to encourage an optimistic outlook, build resilience, encourage positive relationships and develop achievable goals.

The Power of Negative Emotion by Todd Kashdan and Robert Biswas-Diener

This book appears, on the face of it, to be against mindfulness and living in the moment, but actually, when you start to read, you'll realise that the authors are very much in favour of the benefits of mindfulness. However, they warn against the avoidance of negative emotions completely because negative emotions can be really useful.

One such example that really resonates with me, is that expressing anger can get you the results you want, when being nice, and trying to negotiate, has repeatedly failed. That is so true. A number of examples are given to illustrate this point.

The Oxygen Prescription: The Miracle of Oxidative Therapies by Nathaniel Altman

I bought this book because it was a fraction of the price of the one I really wanted, Flood Your Body with Oxygen by Ed McCabe. It has a chapter dedicated to the use of hyperbaric oxygen, which I was particularly interested in because it's available locally.

Scentific studies show that oxygen therapies have the potential to boost your immune system, increase the effectiveness of antifungal drugs, support healing after surgery, improve the outcome in cancer patients, and dramatically improve the symptoms of multiple sclerosis.

Too Close to Me by Dave Pelzer

Dave Pelzer's latest book, To Close to Me, provides an interesting read. As a kid, he was the most abused child in America. He was eventually rescued and taken into foster care. This is an account of how the experiencees of his past have affected his decisions and his relationships as an adult.

Dave dedicated his adult life to helping others and became a well known speaker and motivator, helping others to face some of life's greatest challenges and thrive.

I Only Say This Because I Love You

This book by Deborah Tannen looks at conversational styles in families and the hidden messages behind words. She calls these unspoken messages, 'metamessages'. Deborah explains that families communicate in metamessages, with much of what is spoken having a background context and history. This context often gives the message a slightly different meaning, which may make it patronising, derogatory, offensive, and may become the cause of conflict.

The New Optimum Nutrition Bible by Patrick Holford

This is one of my favourite health books for dipping in and getting punchy information on a diverse selection of health complaints and conditions. It's an easy read. You can use it as a reference book, or read it in small chunks, so it doesn't require massive a time commitment. The author is the founder of the Institute for Optimum Nutrition, which trains nutritionists in a degree level course on the topic.

Bully In Sight by Tim Field

I picked up this book from a charity shop and, while less interested in bullying at work than bullying in social situations, I was interested in the psychology behind bullying behaviour, which applies across different environments.

I found this book quite hard going at first, but as I persevered, parts of the book really resonated with me. I've had trouble with bullies in the past. Thankfully those times are behind me, but the situations described reflect many of my own experiences.