Coach Cami's recommended reads

Here's a list of books, in no particular order, that have influenced me in one way or another. I invite you to let curiosity and intuition to lead the way in choosing your next read. Enjoy!

What Happened to You? Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing
by Bruce D. Perry, M.D., Ph.D. and Oprah Winfrey
​Our earliest experiences shape our lives far down the road, and this book provides powerful scientific and emotional insights into the behavioral patterns so many of us struggle to understand.

An easy-to-read and easy-to-digest book that incorporates all the work from Dr. Bessel van der Kolk (see his book, The Body Keeps the Score, below), and expands on it, making it relevant, modern and easy to understand. Bonus: Oprah's paragraphs are all in blue, so you end up hearing her voice when you read those parts.

The Extended Mind The Power of Thinking Outside the Brain
By Annie Murphy Paul
A growing body of research from neuroscientists, cognitive scientists, and psychologists, shows sometimes we have it backward, that using your head is not always the best way to go. By using our ‘extra-neural’ resources, we can focus more intently, comprehend more deeply, and create more imaginatively. A wealth of practical advice on how we can think better.

The Body Keeps the Score Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk, M.D.

Learn from a 30-year veteran clinical psychologist how and why unresolved trauma (even the little stuff) just doesn't go away, but affects the whole human. This is a bold paradigm shift for the way you think of healing and wholeness.

This book is a slog of a read, but it's packed with really useful information.

The Untethered Soul The Journey Beyond Yourself  by Michael A. Singer

For those just starting out on their journey inward, this teaches you how to become the observer, and therefore master your life and able to experience true freedom.

Illusions The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah by Richard Bach
This is the book that started my journey inward. It's simple and short, and somehow was still very profound for 17-year-old me. 

How To Do The Work Recognize Your Patterns, Heal from Your Past + Create Your Self  by Dr. Nicole LePera
If you really want to understand the psychology behind your self-limiting beliefs, how trauma affects your daily life, and what to do about it, this is the book for you. The subtitle says it all, "recognize your patterns, heal from your past + create your self." Recommended for those already familiar with their inner landscape. Dr. LePera is also a huge supporter of the LGBTQIA+ community.

p.s. Dr. Nicole has a great Instagram account!
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The Artist's Way A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity by Julia Cameron
This is a great book for anyone who struggles with creativity, who needs a kick in the creative backside. It's a book to consume slowly, and savor like a gourmet meal. This book has been around for 25+ years and has remained a best-seller for a reason.

The Happiness Advantage How a Positive Brain Fuels Success in Work and Life by Shawn Achor
Did you know that happy people are more successful, are healthier, and actually live longer? Here's the path mapped out for you to achieving happiness, along with the scientific studies to back up those claims. ​​This book was eye-opening, and the principles can be applied to your work as well as your life. ​
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Shawn Achor has lots more books, and a TEDx talk if you're short on time.

You Are the Placebo Making Your Mind Matter by Dr. Joe Dispenza
This is a deep dive into the inner workings of your brain, exploring neuroscience, brain imaging, neuroplasticity, epigenetics, psychoneuroimmunology, and quantum physics. I'm a total science nerd and love reading stuff that stretches my grey matter, so this was right up my alley.

Personality Isn't Permanent Break Free from Self-Limiting Beliefs and Rewrite Your Story by Dr. Benjamin Hardy
This book has more dog-eared pages than any book I've read. It reframes how you can see yourself and your maximum potential as something obtainable. I highly recommend this book for anyone on a self-discovery journey!

You Are a Badass: How to stop doubting your greatness and start living an awesome life by Jen Sincero
This is the first book on my list that I haven't actually read. But I've had her page-a-day calendars on my desk for  three years running and haven't thrown away a single page. Yes, it's that awesome. If you're new to the whole idea of tapping into the energy of the universe, this book is a great place to start.

When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing by Daniel Pink
I was fortunate enough to hear Daniel speak at a HOW Design Live Conference when this book first came out. The gist of the book is this: pay attention to your own energy peaks, troughs and recoveries—and everyone has these in this order—so you can maximize what needs doing. tl:dr version: Peaks are for structured creativity, troughs are best for administrative work, and recoveries are perfect for unstructured creativity.

More recommendations to come…