Book Recommendations

  As many of you will know, I have been blending travel and work over the past few months. This has included relishing the opportunity of spending significant time in Scotland, particularly in the Orkney Islands, the Isle of Skye, and Glencoe. As many of you will also know, I am a keen reader and… Read More

This is a rallying book which is part of the Stoic Virtues Series. Ryan Holiday is a philosopher and New York Times bestselling author. The book is packed with inspirational stories of courageous people throughout history – courage is defined as “honest commitment to noble ideals” – who responded to their call. He provides the… Read More

I imagine it’s not difficult to guess why I was drawn to this book!  It was recommended to me, and my initial response was ‘you had me at manifesto!’ Yes, the title piqued my interest, but researching further into the work and humanity of American surgeon, Atul Gawande, has been eye-opening and inspiring for me.… Read More

Carmen’s Legacy by her father, John Maher, is a deeply affecting book. It maps two major events that occurred in John’s life: the first was his own car crash in which, through no fault of his own, an 18-year-old woman lost her life. The second, the tragic death of his own daughter Carmen, 30 months… Read More

Dear Philippa, Where to begin? Your book offers so much; it appears to be slim, so why am I taking so long to read it? The short answer is because of the complex emotions it awakens in me and the processing that I need to do as a result. Forgive me then, Philippa, for focusing… Read More

Have you ever wanted to read a book that challenged your thinking and persuaded you to think more long term? The premise of this book is that the most important question we can ask ourselves individually, and collectively, is, ‘How can we be good ancestors?’ What this question demands us to consider is, ‘How can… Read More

Michael Bungay Stanier is a charismatic writer and coach with a conversational, upbeat style which may belie the depth of expertise on offer. His beguiling, quirky humour has us laughing as we read what should be common sense principles, but you know how uncommon, common sense is! This book is the best-selling coaching book of… Read More

Matthew Johnstone is a passionate mental health and wellbeing advocate. He is a best-selling author, illustrator, photographer, and for many years was the creative director at the Black Dog Institute. Matthew is also a long-term friend and we have so much admiration for the inspiring messages and images he brings to life and shares with… Read More

I finished reading The Space Between the Stars by Indira Naidoo, known to many of us a broadcaster and television presenter of current affairs and news programs, on my 71st birthday. I was acutely aware this is 22 more years than she had with her sister Stargirl, who unfathomably died of suicide. The grief in… Read More