Self-Help

Workshop leader and author Casey (Change Your Mind and Your Life Will Follow) here advocates to develop a healthy interdependence, one that frees individuals to be who they can be but assures that they get support from others. Conversely, when people are living codependently, they are concerned too much with what others think, believe that they have to please or change someone else, and think they have to answer to another person rather than their own voice, or higher power. Casey's message comes from her years of sobriety and those of others. The advice to stop judging others and take responsibility for oneself comes through loud and clear. Casey packs a lot in a little digestible book. Recommended for public libraries.

Of all the theories posited for discovering life's calling, the one suggested by master hand analyst Coburn is certainly unusual. According to Coburn, the whorls, loops, and arches of one's fingertips provide clear-cut insight into aptitudes, values, personality traits, and destiny. For example, the patterns in pointer fingertips indicate whether a person has leadership potential, while the designs in the ring fingers explain his or her level of creativity. Coburn offers five steps to decoding fingerprints and gives practical tools and suggestions for understanding how one's purpose operates in everyday life. While fingertip analysis may be of value in deciphering one's purpose, it requires a considerable amount of effort, and only the most dedicated readers will get through the book. For larger libraries serving followers of the parapsychological.

As might be presumed from the titles of these two books, both authors use Rhonda Byrne's phenomenally successful The Secret as a springboard to suggest applications to its theory. Davis (Living with Intention) uses logic to demonstrate how expectations often precede experience and that being intentional can make dreams a reality. The three steps she advocates for change include choosing one's state, setting one's intention, and taking inspired action. The activities involved in each are as simple as practicing gratitude or as difficult as letting go of negative emotions. Davis writes for the skeptic and lays out a healthy way of being in the world.

Ricotti, CEO of a global leadership organization, suggests 11 steps to enjoy freedom and inner peace in every area of life. In a simple, step-a-day format, she helps readers keep goals in mind, let go of the past, and choose friends carefully. Tips include writing a gratitude manifesto, forgiving others, and chasing away inner saboteurs. The beauty of this book is that it's short, simple, and easy to digest. Both titles would make welcome additions to public libraries.

To get the most out of the 24-hour day, Ettus (The Experts' Guide to 100 Things Everyone Should Know How To Do) asked experts in a variety of fields how to accomplish tasks with the greatest efficiency. The result is this book, which features, e.g., Jerry Lucas (The Memory Book, 1974), who holds forth on how to learn names, while psychologist Barbara Rothblum discusses how to overcome fear. The topics range from organizing a closet and chopping vegetables to building a great relationship and navigating a new city. The short chapters provide easy reading for the time-starved person. Highly recommended for über-self-helpers.

As comedian/actress Goodman demonstrates here, the tools one learns in improv theater can be transferred to all areas of work and life. Improv compels an actor to stay in the moment, take risks, be aware of others and one's surroundings, allow mistakes to happen, and let go of preconceived ideas. It helps practitioners build friendships and feel more secure in their own abilities. To that end, Goodman has put together a workbook of exercises, games, and theory that enables readers to think spontaneously, free themselves from perfectionism, and discover their creativity. Although there are far too many pages devoted to fill-in-the-blank journaling, this is an enjoyable read, full of interesting ideas. Recommended for public libraries.

In a society where extroversion is valued, those who gain energy through solitude and reflection are seen as problematic. Introvert and author Helgoe (The Boomer's Guide to Dating (Again)) reveals the abundance of riches in the personality makeup of introverts and encourages those who are inclined to be them to embrace and enjoy these qualities. The author suggests how readers can build private space into their routine, make extroverted friends, respect boundaries, and dismantle the extroversion assumption of "the good life." This book serves as a good choice on this subject and is recommended for public libraries.

Gearing her message to individuals who view relationships negatively and are afraid to bond with another person because of their parents' mistakes, licensed clinical social worker Lamotte outlines a method to give children of divorce the strength to improve current relationships and develop long, healthy new ones. Her five-step guide includes learning more about one's grandparents and their relationships, rethinking childhood beliefs and experiences, and finding suitable partners. She notes that hesitation to commit can be positive, as it gives an individual time to reflect and focus on what he or she needs from a partner and determine how the relationship will play out into the future. While there are other books on children of divorce, this one is positive and gives hope to those who come from broken homes. Recommended for all libraries.

Aimed at females age 13 to thirty-something, this most enjoyable handbook written by Cosmopolitan editor Lavinthal and book publisher Rozler takes an honest look at the rules and etiquette of friendship in the digital age. In a Miss Manners-meets-Cosmo style, they discuss everything from becoming a better friend to dealing with "frenemies" (the backstabbers, users, underminers, etc.) and surviving friendship breakups. Some of the most helpful chapters tell how to deal with different types of friends/frenemies and how to balance friendship with coupledom. Lavinthal and Rozler's guide supplies needed information in an engaging, humorous style and should be considered essential where dating books are popular.

The title says it all—writer Powell has compiled an encyclopedia's worth of information on everything a man needs to know to get by in today's world. The author provides concise instructions on everything from ballroom dancing and ordering sushi to using a chainsaw and surviving an animal attack. While some of the advice is just for fun (how to smoke a cigar), other suggestions, like how to give a speech or ask for a raise, are more practical. Each of the 69 chapters is short (three to five pages) and illustrated, which makes for easy browsing or reading. While men are not usually attracted to self-help books, the more progressively minded might browse this title, especially if they've been exposed to The Dangerous Book for Boys.

Another approach to getting the most out of life is to live as if no one were watching you. So proposes Radmacher, a professional speaker and trainer. In a style reminiscent of the "For Dummies" series, Radmacher uses icons, toolkits, and exercises to help readers affirm their strengths and act in accordance with their true nature. While the material is sound, the book comes off as a compendium of motivational and inspirational posters with adages such as laugh loudly, love truly, and choose in ways that support your dreams. An optional purchase.

This latest book in the "Open Your Heart" series is designed to help readers find joy by doing things they love, in this case, quilting. In a very concrete way, IT consultant and quilter Smith reveals how the practice of quilting can help connect with family, heal from illness or grief, celebrate milestones, and deepen connection to the universe. Part 1 explores the nature of quilting, quilting around the world, and the benefits of quilting. Part 2 presents the how-to's on selecting colors, blocking squares, and sewing. Smith's work serves mainly as an exploration of quilting rather than a practical guide, as the pictures do not give adequate instruction for the novice. For die-hard quilters only.

In his poignant second book, Smith (The Tattered Tapestry: A Family's Search for Peace with Bipolar Disorder) aims to help the millions of people affected by a friend or family member's mental illness. Through extensive research and his own experience with his daughter's mental illness and subsequent suicide, he suggests nine strategies for coping, including helping loved ones find and continue to take their medication, urging them to maintain a supportive relationship with a therapist, and recognizing the warning signs. Other strategies involve the caretaker's learning all about the loved one's disease, taking care of him/herself, and becoming involved in support networks. Smith provides empathetic information that has the potential to buoy people up. Highly recommended for all libraries.

Wambach's role as a dispute mediator and counselor prompted her to assemble this book on the dynamics of power and handling situations wherein power is abused. The author delves into the nature of hierarchies and notes that conflict within social groups turns into rankism when those in charge promote themselves and their interests while bringing harm to a person or community. Wambach explores both overt rankists, such as tyrants and gangsters, and covert rankists, such as snubbers and gatekeepers, and advises on how to handle their power plays. "Nobody" rankists are also analyzed, as they retaliate by placating, flattering, or gossiping. This insightful book, written for a college-level audience and beyond, could potentially serve a wide audience, especially among business self-help readers.