Here it is then. Another January 1 has passed us by, bringing us yet another year into the 21st century. It’s a time of renewal and rejuvenation (and for those who put their faith in the Mayan calendar, it’s the beginning of a completely new existence in a completely new world).
If you haven’t already inundated yourself with resolutions for a Better You in 2013, you’re probably reading about them eeevvveeerrryyywwwhhheeerrreee. Losing weight traditionally tops the resolutions lists, but some of us are getting pretty sick of the obsession with body image. So we at Turnaround have compiled a little list of books offering unique ways to improve your life, be it a through new hobby, an affirming boost, a bit of brain training, a helpful gesture or something you’d never considered before!
By Allison ArdenPerigee, 9780399537349, p/b, £10.99
An inspiring collection of ideas and activities to increase creativity and joy. There are suggestions of objects to create and make, ways to explore and experiment with everyday tasks and all manner of things to play, build, paint and cook. Readers will be inspired to roll up their sleeves and get out the glitter and re-discover happiness in nostalgic crafts.
By Michael Norton
Turnaround Books, 9781873262801, p/b, £9.99
The recent activism film Just Do It (2011) had a message: ‘Get off your arse and change the world’. But, as Michael Norton here implores, no-one has to be that energetic. Click2Changeadvocates sitting back and changing the world from computers, iPads and iPhones. Click2Change offers a wide range of world-changing thing to do on the internet: such as becoming an e-activist or recycling unwanted stuff. With plenty of ideas, information and lots of websites to access, readers will be able to make their mark on the world with a click of the mouse.
(see also: The Art of Nonconformity)
By Leanne Prain
Arsenal Pulp Press, 9781551524061, p/b, £21.99
A showcase for those who take the craft of embroidery where it’s never gone before, Hoopla profiles innovative stitch artists who specialise in unusual, guerrilla-style patterns such as subway maps, feminist Girl Guide badges and metal band letterforms. It demonstrates that modern embroidery artists are as sharp as the needles with which they work and it even includes comprehensive instructions.
By Andy Selsberg
Perigee, 9780399537356, p/b, £8.99
Handily arranged in checklist format, particularly useful for those readers good at making lists, this is a celebration of all the little things that the human race excels at. Affirmation comes for those who can finish other people’s sentences, fall asleep on public transport, fix the toilet merely by jiggling the handle, remember what used to be somewhere and sit through the end of film credits.
By Judith Orloff, M.D.Three Rivers Press, 9781400082162, p/b, £11.99
Dr Orloff is the pioneer behind Energy Psychiatry, a new field that blends the practice of medicine with an emerging scientific understanding of subtle energies, revered by many cross-cultural healing traditions as our life force. Here Dr Orloff explains this exciting new discipline and provides readers with 10 essential prescriptions for boosting energy, improving relationships and combating people who can suck your energy away.
By Ryuta Kawashima
Kumon Publishing, 9781933241159, p/b, £9.99
This innovative brain health workbook has sold over 2.5 million copies globally! Dr. Kawashima, a prominent neurologist in Japan, developed this program of daily simple math calculations that can help boost brain power, improve memory and stave off the mental effects of ageing. The exercises in this book have even been shown to help those suffering from Alzheimer’s.
By Larry WingetGotham Books, 9781592404292, p/b, £9.99
Many families today are feeling financial pressure – spending more than they earn, worrying about retiring and being dependent on government, family or charity – and Larry Winget knows. He grew up poor and experienced bankruptcy after investing in a company which collapsed. But he worked his way back from rock bottom to become a multi-millionaire. With a boot-camp regimen that is steeped in personal accountability, Winget cuts through the double-talk contained in many other finance books and presents a simple program that is sure to motivate readers.