PJEndicott

"Take a Nap" Sara C Mednick PhD
A most interesting book in which Mednick explains how sleep patterns have changed over the ages. It is well known that most of the western world is sleep deprived and that this can lead to loss of productivity as well as illness. Mednick's book explains how to nap your way to over 20 benefits to be derived from regular and restorative sleep. A nap of just 10 - 20 minutes taken during the day can restore vitality; when you take your nap determines its outcome. Taken early in the day a nap will inspire creativity, midway through the day will increase alertness and motor skills and early evening snoozes improve memory and clears the mind.

You can read Pat's review of 'Take a Nap!', written for Thyroid UK's newsletter, by clicking on the book logo (left).

"When I say no, I feel guilty" by Manuel J Smith PhD
An interesting and very readable book providing a blueprint for developing assertiveness. Dr Smith starts by stating ten truths he calls his 'Bill of Assertive Rights'. He goes on to explain what causes non-assertive behaviour and ways in which we can develop new and improved ways of dealing with others including broken record, fogging, free information and negative assertiveness.

Emotional Intelligence in Action Tools and Techniques for Individuals and Groups (Paperback) by Marcia Hughes (Author), L. Bonita Patterson (Author), and James Bradford Terrell
Of all the books available on the subject of emotional intelligence this has to be the easiest to follow and the most helpful in conveying the role that emotional intelligence has to play in modern life. This book starts by reviewing the origins of EI and the research that has taken place in the last decade and the relative interaction of the four leading EI measures currently in use today. The book works steadily through the 15 competencies of EI providing an interesting and informative explanation.

Emotional Intelligence in Action shows how to tap the power of EI through forty–six exercises that can be used to build effective emotional skills and create real change. The workouts are designed to align with the four leading emotional intelligence measures—EQ–I® or EQ–360™, ECI 360, MSCEIT™, and EQ Map®, —or can be used independently or as part of a wider leadership and management development program. All of the book’s forty–six exercises offer experiential learning scenarios that have been proven to enhance emotional intelligence competencies.