The Balance Collective 2022 Book Club Round-Up

Each year, I take the time to pull together the books from the previous 12 months that I feel have made the biggest impact; be it outstanding research, new perspectives, exceptional insights or simply a book that I can’t quite stop recommending. This year, like the previous four, there has been an interesting mix of topics and takeaways from the monthly personal development book reviews that I share on this blog. However, today I want to narrow down to the three that I think are a MUST READ. So, if you haven’t had a chance to look at the book club before, these are the three, read in 2022, that I insight you start with. Here is the 2022 personal development book club round-up.

Book Review: Chatter by Ethan Kross 
How would it feel to change your “inner voice from critic to coach”? We all have that internal monologue on the go; something that voice can be helpful, but far too often it’s not. You may find yourself re-hashing things that have happened in the past or mithering about what may happen in the future. Yet when you look around, it appears everyone else is living in the moment; in control of their emotions and living a confident life. Well, I’m here to tell you that it’s not the case. And, Chatter by Ethan Kross, will not only tell you why but help you understand how to harness this voice inside all of our heads. Over to this month’s book review.

Ethan Kross PhD is one of the world’s leading experts on controlling the conscious mind. As a Psychologist and neuroscientist, he has been studying this for over two decades, and has used his findings, intertwined with case studies and cutting-edge science, to answer the following:

“These silent conversations are so powerful they can sink our mood, trip us up and even impact our health. How can we take back control? “

Book Review: Rebel Ideas by Matthew Syed 
So, what is it about? … Rebel Ideas examines the power of cognitive diversity – the ability to think differently about the world around us …. It shows us how to be more creative, how to collaborate in a world being more interconnected, and how to break free of the echo chambers that surround us all.  Syed demonstrates these concepts through involved challenging case studies, ranging from the failings of the CIA pre-9/11, a fatal Mount Everest expedition, and deradicalization in the USA to the COVID-19 crisis. It shines a light on the confusion so many of us feel when we hear of issues and wonder why, in hindsight, these life-changing events occur.

But it doesn’t just focus on seeming disasters, it shines a light on how we can understand more about how damaging dynamics can occur in smaller and corporate settings, and, most importantly, how we can actively move to a culture of collective intelligence and inclusion. If you have any interest in teams, inclusion, social justice, personal development or education, then this is a book you need to add to your physical or electronic library today!

Book Review: Let’s Talk by Nihal Arthanayake

It’s a fascinating concept and one that maybe you have pondered when you are considering your communication with those around you, both personally and professionally. As the “blurb” tells us, its catalyst is a range of questions, including:

“How do you talk to someone who doesn’t want to talk to you?
What happens in the brain when we’re having a good conversation?
What have smartphones done to how we connect?

Conversations are broken. And while effective dialogue is supposed to lead to greater fulfilment in our personal and professional lives, all the scientific evidence points towards us sharing fewer interactions than previous generations. From ever-decreasing face-to-face meetings to echo chambers online, we no longer have the necessary tools to talk to each other.”

Which books have stood out for you? Come over to Creating Careers to Enjoy to share your recommendation, and to keep up to date with future read-along titles.