okay guys, I've been reading through various topics here, and I thought a thread like this might help across the board.

There are a lot of books out there written by some very knowledgeable people, that deal with all sorts of day-to-day living troubles we all experience in some form or another.

My first recommendation is for some of the people who have issues with who they are, what they look like and finally, what others expect of them.

The people around you are not always the best people to seek out advice on ways of dealing with things that bother you about yourself because more often than not, these people are too close to the situation, they often have agendas of their own, and they dont usually have the brainpower or experience and the knowledge that some of the authors of these books have.

So the first, and most helpful book I can think of that might be a real eyeopener is a book by Dr Dwayne Dyer (I hope I spelt that right) and its title "Your Erroneous Zones" (not erotic zones, lets get that straight ). I read it years ago when I was going through a stage in my life where I felt I had lost all my power, which to me meant that I relied on others to make me who I was, and what a disaster that was!

The book is written simply and honestly, and its incredibly easy to understand, and if, like me, you really identify with the real-life semarios quoted in its pages, you will be slapping yourself on the forehead and wondering how you let yourself get talked into being the person you are! Definitely a great book for those who feel a little lost, or angry, or even depressed.

You can most likely get it from the local library, and believe me, you wont regret it. (Dont let the name or the authors face put you off) he is quallified and very intelligent in his simplistic insights that are easy to put into practice as soon as you lay the book down.

That's my pic to help some of the people in the JGAFL forum (which is why I'm opening the topic here, not in media. It definitely relates to things being disussed in here. It'll cost you nothing except time, so go have a look

Anyone else got any recommendations? Though please dont just list a bunch, its much more helpful to people if you list one at a time and give an overview of why it might be helpful.

This is a good idea, Razz!

I have one. It's called Do What You Love, The Money Will Follow, and it's author is Marsha Sinetar.

It was a real help to me in deciding whether to just get a job, or to open my own business. She gives lots of helpful things to ask yourself, that would help you to determine whether you have the attributes for a particular career. She asks you to consider whether you really need all that money? Because if you're choosing a career path that you find easy and would make you a lot of money--is it still right for you? What if the work just does not interest you? Do you want to be roped into doing a job that bores you, then just living for the weekends?

A lot of people get pushed into careers that they don't even like. This book helped me to understand why it was important for me to know who I really was, and to have a career that not only provided income, but met my emotional and psychological needs. After all, we spend a lot of time at work! We may as well be getting something more out of it than just a paycheck, or it's simply wrong for us.

In the end, she surmises, if we are in a career that suits us and makes us happy, the money will come! She was right! I love my business, and I make more money every year!

Great book! A little old, published in 1987, but hopefully not too hard to find.

Did you open your own buisness, or get a job?
Just wondering!
I read a book called The Giver
i can't remember who it was by, but I'll find out for you.
It is realy realy interesting. its set in a town where there is no death, no disease, no war, no famine, no fear, no disease, no pain, no crying, no disaggreements.
Sounds great yeah? But wait. To stop the disagreements that would lead to war, there is no books, no music, no colour (evrything is grey), no love (When the kids hit puberty they have to take pills to stop 'stirrings')
My faverout bit is when the main charecter Jonas, (I can't be bothered to go into why hes different right now, read and see)
Finds out about what things were like now and asks his parents:
"Do you love me?" and they say that he is using the wrong words, he must be more presise. They care for him, enjoy his company and all, but they don't love him. Get it?
Jonas remembers back on the memory of a happy family at Christmas he was given and doesn't get it at all.

I probally explained that so badly and confusingly.
Maybe someone else has read it and can do a better job.

The Bible. I would recommend it to anyone with daily life troubles. Most people who say Religion is rubbish is because they don't know half about it. So I advise you just to give reading The Bible a chance.

I read what Kells bells had to say about the Giver, and I know that author because I read it in class. It is by Lois Lowry, and it is about the fact that choices are important. In this book, there are no choices. Strange book. But, I want to recomend The Princess and The Pauper, by Kate Brian. This is a great book, and I can put the quote on the back on it.

Hi there!

Please keep this thread to self-help, motivational and lifestyles books. I understand where you're coming from, but those books are fictional and there is already another thread here in the JGAFL forum for those.

Thanks,

razz

Hmm.

These are written by various authors, and they might even be probably frowned upon. I don't know. But I like to read the Chicken Soup for the Soul books. The teenage ones, in particular, contain stories of parents dying, divorce, abuse, being bullied, being poor, and all that other stuff. (Yeah, I know... not the most uplifting thing in the world...) I'm sure that people who experience that read it to find something they can relate to, but me, I just read it when I'm down. It helps me feel better that something that bad isn't happening to me.

They have tons of other categories too. Chicken Soup for the _______'s Soul... you name it.

well i read a book named "Chinese Cinderella" and i dont know the author but i will find out tomorrow!
its a real story and really sad.....the writer writes it about herself and its really complicated because she keeps moving schools but shes got an evil step Mum and everyone blames her for her mothers death

EDIT: it is by Adeline Yen Mah....
This book is the moving autobiography of a young Chinese girl, Adeline Yen Mah. Born the fifth child to an affluent Chinese family her life begins tragically. Adeline's mother died shortly after her birth due to complications bought on by the delivery. This situation is compounded by her father's new marriage to a lady who has little affection for her husband's five children. She displayed overt antagonism and distrust towards all of the children, particularly Adeline, whilst favoring her own younger son and daughter born soon after the marriage. The book outlines Adeline's struggle to find a place where she feels she belongs. Denied love from her parents, she finds some solace in relationships with her grandfather Ye Ye, and her Aunt Baba, but they are taken from her. Adeline immerses herself in striving for academic achievement in the hope of winning favour, but also for its own rewards as she finds great pleasure in words and scholarly success.

J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye is for me one of the greatest books ever written. I'm sure most of you know that it is about a teenage boy called Holden Caulfield, and follows a short period of his life. The beauty of the story itself is that the problems Holden faces are problems which everyone meets to a certain extent whilst growing up. It is not about clichés like love and stuff, it is more about trying to be an adult, balancing on the narrow line between a teenage and an adult life, etc. It is simply great.

How to Handle Bullies, Teasers and Other Meanies : A Book That Takes the Nuisance Out of Name Calling and Other Nonsense
by Kate Cohen-Posey, Betsy A. Lampe (Illustrator). Paperback (November 1995)
. It's one of a very few books that puts a practical spin on the subject. It doesn't consider bullies who shove and kick, but it has got some useful tips on how kids can use verbal techniques to turn a bully's slurs inside out. It's a bit of a stretch to think kids this age will want to start an anti-meanness club, and it's difficult to fully accept the author's suggestion that taking the sting out of bullies' words may help bullies see the error of their ways. But this is certainly a place to start when fighting back seems in order, with the ideas and the wordplays recommended giving victims just the edge they may need to begin to recoup their self-esteem.
Every young person will need this book at some time in his or her life...

i saw this book and its useful!

I really have sympathy for her, but I really do think that book is extremely boring (maybe after we have studied that book for a whole bloody year) I think the other one written by Adeline Yen Mah is far more exciting, i think its called Chinese Cinderella and the Dragon society or something.

There's only really only one book I can think of that could help girls its called The Girls Guide to Loving Yourself its written by Diane Mastromanino.Its about loving yourself

QUOTE

The Girls Guide to Loving Yourself is a face-lift,A PICK-ME-UP, a bubble bath, a WAKE-UP CALL, and a full body massage for your life. In other words its EXACTLY what you need to be the BEST YOU that you can possibly be.You deserve to be loved 24-7,365 days a year.SIMPLE? No. Worth the effort DEFINITELY.

This is a great book it talks about feeling and dealing,getting real,a little thing called confidence,family matters,health kick,the truth about the plastic princess and it all comes down to you,it also provides some websites if you need a little help and hotlines as well.

Oh and I also think Being a teen ...Words of Advice from Someone Who's Been There and The Beakup Book ...A Girl's Guide to Putting the Pieces Back Together are good books to read.