Stop Caring What Other People Think of You (Bruce Hood on 10% Happier with Dan Harris)

In this book, Bruce Hood demonstrates that the key to happiness is not self-care but connection. Grounded in decades of studies in neuroscience and developmental psychology, the book presents seven lessons to break negative thought patterns and re-connect with what truly matters. These lessons include altering your ego, avoiding isolation, rejecting negative comparisons, becoming more optimistic, controlling your attention, connecting with others, and getting out of your own head. The book offers practical takeaways to re-wire thinking and transform lives by focusing on connection and presence rather than egocentric perspectives and comparisons.

Long Walk to Freedom is an autobiography by Nelson Mandela that chronicles his early life, his education, and his 27 years spent in prison under the apartheid government. The book describes his role as a leader of the African National Congress and his involvement in the anti-apartheid movement. It also details his political ascension and his presidency of South Africa, as well as his efforts to rebuild the country after apartheid. The book is an epic of struggle, setback, renewed hope, and ultimate triumph, and it has been praised for its insight into Mandela's life and his fight for human rights and racial equality.

In 'Bowling Alone', Robert D. Putnam presents extensive data showing how Americans have become disconnected from family, friends, neighbors, and democratic structures. He argues that this decline in social capital has significant negative impacts on physical and civic health. The book explores various factors contributing to this decline, including changes in work, family structure, suburbanization, and the influence of technology such as television and the internet. Putnam also discusses historical precedents and potential solutions for reviving civic engagement and social connections.