Book Recommendations

Over the past decade, I have greatly admired the work of Dr. Lucy Hone, co-director of the New Zealand Institute of Wellbeing and Resilience. I’m fortunate to know Lucy (and her co-director, Dr. Denise Quinlan) personally and had the privilege of contributing a chapter to their recent book, The Educators’ Guide to Whole-School Wellbeing. Today,… Read More

When I began writing blogs for my manifesto, I found a great deal of encouragement from this anthology on my shelf, The Art of the Personal Essay, selected and introduced by Phillip Lopate. His introduction encouraged me – along with the invitation to be ‘playful’ by our very own Justin Robinson – to have fun… Read More

I have great respect and admiration for many leaders and pioneers in the field of wellbeing and positive psychology, and Tal Ben-Shahar, is one of these inspiring figures. I feel fortunate to have connected with Tal during his visits to Geelong Grammar School, completed his 12-month Certificate in Positive Psychology course, and absorbed the wisdom… Read More

I was grateful to read this uplifting and inspiring memoir of Eddie Jaku before his passing in late 2021. The book was published in 2020 as Eddie turned 100, and I found it to be a powerful, heartbreaking, and ultimately hopeful memoir about how happiness can be found even in the darkest of times. Edward… Read More

As I sit down on the eve of the Geelong Book Launch of our book, My Manifesto, my heart is full of warmth, gratitude, and love. (There are also plenty of nerves and excitement mixed in there as well!). In focussing on the big emotion of love, it reminded me of a powerful book in… Read More

It is with great pleasure that I have the opportunity to recommend Hugh Mackay’s latest book, The Way We Are, which I alluded to when I wrote an earlier blog about his book, The Inner Self. The subtitle of this book is Lessons from a lifetime of listening, and I for one are heartily grateful… Read More

In the lead up before attending a Readings in Conversation Event at which Hugh Mackay introduced his new book, The Way We Are, (I now have my signed copy for Justin and me and I can’t wait to read it!) I returned to an earlier book of his, The Inner Self, 2020. There is a… Read More

It might seem peculiar to recommend a book on the science and art of breathing – surely this is something we simply sub-consciously do. Personally, I feel I’ve got a pretty good grasp of breathing and haven’t skipped too many breaths over the past 55 years! However, there were three combined elements which encouraged me… Read More

“Having access to the right words can open up entire universes.” The books of Brené Brown, the renowned research professor at the University of Houston, exemplify the full import of these words. Personally, reading her titles such as The Gifts of Imperfection, Daring Greatly and Rising Strong, three titles among many, profoundly opened up for… Read More