Book reviews: The Contagious Power of Thinking by David R. Hamilton & Daring Greatly by Brene Brown

So, those who know me well and those who don’t, all of them know I love books. I am a bookworm since they taught me how to read.  I admit that reading was often some kind of an escape for me, from the world in which I wasn’t understood into the worlds of brave heroines and heroes, full of adventures. Well, that was when I was a kid. Okay, I still sometimes read books to escape reality, but now I mostly read books that help me understand the world and how we form our own reality. I am totally in love with human mind. So, today I want you to show two books that I read in 2014 and still think of them regulary. They will blown your mind.  The first is The Contagious Power of Thinking by David R. Hamilton. I know what you think, another book about positive thinking. Well, it kinda is, but it with lots of research data for your logical mind that will convince you we are all freaking connected and that your thoughts do matter. The book is written in this perfect style, where you can easily follow through, here and there you have to stop and think, but mostly you are in awe and feeling totally inspired and you want to call your friends for deep shit conversations and tell them all about it! You definetely heard this saying that you are the average of 5 people you spend the most time with? I’m not saying it’s completely true, but if you’re gonna read this book you’re gonna know why is almost completely true. And you’re gonna see in your relationships, how contagious is power of thinking (and feeling) in either good or bad way and you’ll understan why is this so. You will see what a powerful influencer you are, even though you may tend to think small of yourself (and this way also influence others to think small of themselves). Must read for everyone who works with people. You can get the book with free shipping here. You’re welcome 😉   Another book that changed my life is Daring Greatly by Brene Brown. If you are blogger, then this book must be on your list! Well, it’s actually book for just everyone who has relationships with people, but I couldn’t stop thinking about blogging when I was reading it. How many times I had a courage here to share something vulnerable with you, how many times I felt almost ashamed of myself for being so open to you (kinda the same feeling as a moral hangover after the wild night out), but these moments gave me so much. You felt more connected to me and beautiful things for me and for you have came out of this feeling of connection. Also, I couldn’t stop thinking about my relationship with my boyfriend. How many things we do great in our relationship and how there are still areas where I need lots of courage sometimes to tell him something, but it’s so much worth it. The main thread of the book is courage to be who you are and to share this with the world/people you love. Brene says: “The root of the word courage is cor – the Latin word for heart. In one of its earliest forms, the word courage meant “To speak one’s mind by telling all one’s heart.” Over time, this definition has changed, and today, we typically associate courage with heroic and brave deeds. But in my opinion, this definition fails to recognize the inner strength and level of commitment required for us to actually speak honestly and openly about who we are and about our experiences — good and bad.” Oh, how much beauty in my relationships this book has gave me! The name of the book was inspired by speech of Theodor Roosevelt. If you are afraid of what people think of you, these are the words to live by: “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” Doesn’t that give you chills? You can get the book with free shipping here. You’re welcome!

With Love,