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Books for your personal social justice journey

This guide was created as a companion for the Hoodies & Books event on Pace's New York City campus on February 26, 2025.

Books to support physical, emotional and intellectual wellness

Cover of the book Atomic Habits

Atomic habits : tiny changes, remarkable results : an easy & proven way to build good habits & break bad ones

Available as an ebook
Or request from the Mortola Library

Summary: James Clear, an expert on habit formation, reveals practical strategies that will teach you how to form good habits, break bad ones, and master the tiny behaviors that lead to remarkable results. He draws on proven ideas from biology, psychology, and neuroscience to create an easy-to-understand guide for making good habits inevitable and bad habits impossible.

Cover of the book The subtle art of not giving a fuck : a counterintuitive approach to living a good life

The subtle art of not giving a f*ck : a counterintuitive approach to living a good life

Beekman Library Reserve
BJ1589 .M259 2016
Or request from Mortola Library

Summary: In this generation-defining self-help guide, a superstar blogger shows us that the key to being happier is to stop trying to be 'positive' all the time and instead become better at handling adversity.

Cover of the book Wherever you go, there you are : mindfulness meditation in everyday life

Wherever you go, there you are : mindfulness meditation in everyday life

Beekman Library Stacks
BF637.M4 K23 2005
 
From the publisher: In this book, Jon Kabat-Zinn maps out a simple path for cultivating mindfulness in one's own life. It speaks to both those coming to meditation for the first time and to longtime practitioners, anyone who cares deeply about reclaiming the richness of his or her moments.

Cover of the book You Are Your Best Thing

You are your best thing : vulnerability, shame resilience, and the Black experience -- an anthology

Beekman Library Stacks
BF575.S45 Y68 2021
 
From the publisher: Burke and Brown are the perfect pair to usher in this stark, potent collection of essays on Black shame and healing (and contribute their own introductions to the work). Along with the anthology contributors, they create a space to recognize and process the trauma of white supremacy, a space to be vulnerable and affirm the fullness of Black love and Black life.

Cover of the book The 48 Laws of Power

The 48 Laws of Power

Available as an ebook

Summary: Drawn from 3,000 years of the history of power, this is the definitive guide to help readers achieve for themselves what Queen Elizabeth I, Henry Kissinger, Louis XIV and Machiavelli learnt the hard way. Law 1: Never outshine the master Law 2: Never put too much trust in friends; learn how to use enemies Law 3: Conceal your intentions Law 4: Always say less than necessary The text is bold and elegant, laid out in black and red throughout and replete with fables and unique word sculptures. The 48 laws are illustrated through the tactics, triumphs and failures of great figures from the past who have wielded - or been victimised by - power.

Cover of the book How to Walk

How To Walk

Beekman Library Popular Collection
POP NHA 2015
 

Summary: Shows how the everyday act of walking can be an opportunity to recapture wonder, express gratitude, and diminish suffering, with practices, meditations, and stories about the power and potential impact of each step to increase our concentration, insight, and joy in being alive.

Cover of the book Post traumatic slave syndrome : America's legacy of enduring injury and healing

Post traumatic slave syndrome : America's legacy of enduring injury and healing

Beekman Library Stacks
RC451.5.N4 L43 2017

Summary: With over thirty years of practical experience as a professional in the mental health field, Dr. DeGruy encourages African Americans to view their attitudes, assumptions, and behaviors through the lens of history and so gain a greater understanding of how centuries of slavery and oppression has [i.e. have] impacted people of African descent in America. [This book] helps to lay the necessary foundation to ensure the well-being and sustained health of future generations and provides a rare glimpse into the evolution of society's beliefs, feelings, attitudes and behavior concerning race in America.

Cover of the book Every body yoga : let go of fear, get on the mat, love your body

Every body yoga : let go of fear, get on the mat, love your body

Beekman Library Stacks
.S723 2017 RA781.7
 
From the publisher: From the unforgettable teacher Jessamyn Stanley comes Every Body Yoga, a book that breaks all the stereotypes. It's a book of inspiration for beginners of all shapes and sizes: If Jessamyn could transcend these emotional and physical barriers, so can we. It's a book for readers already doing yoga, looking to refresh their practice or find new ways to stay motivated., a book that breaks all the stereotypes. It's a book of inspiration for beginners of all shapes and sizes: If Jessamyn could transcend these emotional and physical barriers, so can we. It's a book for readers already doing yoga, looking to refresh their practice or find new ways to stay motivated.

Cover of the book Resilient : how to grow an unshakable core of calm, strength, and happiness

Resilient : how to grow an unshakable core of calm, strength, and happiness

Beekman Library Stacks
BF698.35.R47 H37 2018
 
Summary: With his trademark blend of neuroscience, mindfulness, and positive psychology, New York Times bestselling author Dr. Rick Hanson shows you how to develop twelve vital inner strengths hardwired into your own nervous system. Then no matter what life throws at you, you'll be able to feel less stressed, pursue opportunities with confidence, and stay calm and centered in the face of adversity.

Cover of the book Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics complete food and nutrition guide

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics complete food and nutrition guide

Beekman Library Stacks
RA784 .D89 2017
 

Summary: The choices you make every day about food and nutrition really do matter. They impact your health and well-being now and throughout your life. Duyff provides sound, positive, and practice advice for you and your family, at every age and stage of life.

Cover of the book First Things First

First things first : to live, to love, to learn, to leave a legacy

Beekman Library Stacks
BJ1581.2 .C66 1994
Also available as an ebook
 
Summary: What are the most important things in your life? Do they get as much care, emphasis, and time as you'd like to give them? Far from the traditional "be-more-efficient" time-management book with shortcut techniques, First Things First shows you how to look at your use of time totally differently. Using this book will help you create balance between your personal and professional responsibilities by putting first things first and acting on them. Covey teaches an organizing process that helps you categorize tasks so you focus on what is important, not merely what is urgent.

Cover of the book Yoga for Warriors

Yoga for warriors : basic training in strength, resilience & peace of mind : a system for veterans and military service men and women

Beekman Library Stacks
RA781.68 .B58 2014
 
Summary: This book gives you tools for finding your way as a warrior-whether deployed or in a civilian environment-and adapting to a peaceful life at home. Yoga and meditation have scientific support as a means for relaxing the stress response, sharpening mental acuity, boosting immunity and recovery time, and promoting a general sense of health and psychological well-being. Beryl Bender Birch developed the methods described in Warrior Pose while working with civilians and first-responders in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. They include yoga postures, breathing techniques, relaxation and " yoga sleep," meditation, and more.