BOOK LIST
The specific reading lists for each course will be distributed a month before the class starts and changes from class to class. The list below consists of books that have been used in the past or are being considered for the future.
Self Science - A Guide to the Mind and Your Brain’s Potential
by Mandy Wintink
This book was written partially inspired by Mandy’s teachings of the Life Coaching Certification Course developed through the Centre for Applied Neuroscience. It is part self-help with guided exercises and self-reflections, part memoir with personal stories, and part introduction to neuroscience.
Welcome to Your Brain
by Sandra Ammodt, PhD, & Sam Wang, PhD
A general book that describes many ways the brain is working in our daily lives. One of the authors is a former editor of Nature Neuroscience. It answers many of the questions that the general public has about how the brain actually works.
Brain Facts
is a public information initiative produced by the Society for Neuroscience, the Kavli Foundation, and Gatsby. It is available as a free download at: https://www.brainfacts.org/the-brain-facts-book
Wisdom of Yoga
by Stephen Cope
Yoga is an important part of this course, not just as a physical practice (asana) but as we learn to take yoga off the mat and put it’s wisdom into life practice. Much of the philosophy (or wisdom) of yoga can help give us direction in life, find peace, and learn to honor our own path and the wisdom in our body and hearts. This book, buy Stephen Cope, is an excellent compliment to this course. Stephen Cope is a Kripalu yoga teacher, the tradition in which I (Mandy Wintink) am also trained, as well as a psychotherapist. He provides a great interpretation of the teachings of yoga as describe in the Yoga Sutras thousands of years ago by Patanjali.
Happier
by Tal Ben-Shahar, PhD
Tal Ben-Shahar is a leader in Happiness teaching and research. His book, Happier, is a result of the Positive Psychology movement that attempts to give pop psychology credibility by weeding out the nonsense from the scientifically-supported advice. This book is also a practical guide with many exercises aimed at increasing happiness.
Authentic Happiness
by Marting Seligman
Marting Selgiman is known as the Father of Positive Psychology. This is a follow-up from his previous book, Learned Optimism, which has been used in this course before. Both excellent introductions to positive psychology and tackle concepts such as focusing on personal strengths and positive situations. They also help readers identify negative patterns that are automatic and stand in the way of happiness. Both of these books are more theory based rather than practical tool-based.
Mindful Way Through Depression: Freeing Yourself from Chronic Unhappiness
by J. Mark G Williams, John D. Teasdale, Zindel V. Segal, & Jon Kabat-Zinn, PhD
Jon Kabat-Zinn is the founder of the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) world-renowned, scientifically-supported program, and its sister program, Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT). This book serves as a practical guide for using mindfulness to change one’s life. Although geared toward those with depression, the concepts are vastly applicable to the general population. MBSR and MBCT use meditation and yoga are part of their program.
Practicing The Power of Now
by Echart Tolle
A version of the Power of Now particularly suited for those needing practical tips on how to be in the moment. Coaches who haven’t read the original, The Power of Now, should consult that first and then use Practicing The Power of Now as part of their toolkit.
Business Model Generation & YOU
by Timothy Clark, Alexander Osterwalder, & Yves Pigneur
Both of these in the series of books are amazing for new life coaches starting a practice. The first BMG offers a unique way of planning a business with value propositions at the core using the now famous “Business Model Canvas”. BMY was developed after for people to use the same concepts and canvas approach for considering life and career choices, which makes it an excellent toolbox for life coaches in practice. It is a great book to cap off the course and help guide everyone to the next chapter of their life.
Becoming a Professional Life Coach
by Patrick Williams & Diane Menedez.
A book specifically devoted to developing coaching skills and managing a practice of clients.
The Art of Small Business Design
by Alison Hillier
Written by a CAN Coach, Alison guides people through the trials and tribulations of small business design with humour, insight, and great practical tips based on her own experience.