Featured Books
We always feature three books, but there is much more to explore!  Just click on the Blog link and the top of the page for over 100 more exciting book reviews and activities.
Click on the photo of the book you are interested in and you will be taken directly to the blog posting for that book.

The Courage to Be Disliked is a unique philosophical dialogue between a young student and a philosopher, unfolding over five nights. Centered on Adlerian psychology, the book explores themes of happiness, freedom, and self-worth through thoughtful conversation and reflection. Adler and Freud were close in age and worked together as equals, unlike Jung, who regarded Freud as a father figure. Though psychology is often most associated with Freud and Jung, Adler is widely recognized as one of the three major figures in the field. He broke away to develop his own theory focused on individual purpose and social connection. Like Socrates, Adler left behind few written works, preferring direct, personal dialogue over writing. This conversational style is reflected in the book’s structure, offering readers an engaging and accessible path into Adler’s psychological philosophy.

David McRaney discusses how beliefs can be changed. He explains that persuasion helps to raise awareness of all options and people still have a choice. They do not have to accept what a person is trying to persuade them to do or to believe. McRaney believes in free-will, and acknowledges that our beliefs are fluid and can change over time, but also beleives that our beliefs are highly connected to our emotions and identities. This may make changing a person’s beliefs more challenging. When trying to appeal only to the logical component of a persuasive argument, one will often be unsuccessful because it can trigger an intense emotional or defensive response. A better understanding of where our beliefs come from can in turn help us to understand how persuasion works.

Dr. Julie Smith's new book Open When… is a collection of letters filled with practical, compassionate advice for life’s difficult situations. It is a companion for the life’s tough moments. Designed to be opened in moments of struggle, it reminds readers they are never truly alone in what they’re feeling.

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If you are interested in learning more about these books and many others, click on the Blog link at the top of the page. Each of the book review postings includes a brief explanation of the book, a related classroom activity, key psychological concepts referenced in the book, and other resources such as websites or podcasts.