Collection: Self-Development

Uncover the secret meanings behind your bouquets and floral arrangements with this stunningly illustrated exploration of the Victorian language of flowers, including the multicultural history, rituals, and mythology behind over 600 flowers, herbs, and trees.

In the Victorian language of flowers, hundreds of blooms were ascribed specific meanings based on folklore, science, and ancient history. Page through this botanical encyclopedia to learn each flower's Victorian meaning (ranunculus, for example, boldly states, "I am dazzled by your charms," while marigold represents despair), common names, and cultural history. There is also an index of the flowers grouped by theme, should you want to challenge your local florist to create a coded message for a loved one.

The study of floriography can be used by readers to decode hidden messages in beloved novels like The Age of Innocence or speculate as to why two canary-yellow roses--which signify jealousy and infidelity--were featured in Diana Spencer's wedding bouquet. You might share some honeysuckle (meaning "bonds of love") with a friend or partner as a gesture of commitment. Or perhaps you'll choose a celebratory bouquet of angelica ("inspiration") and purple columbine ("resolved to win") for a friend who has triumphed over something difficult.

Karen Azoulay pairs nineteenth century botanical drawings with electric photography, creating a one-of-a-kind flower dictionary with a contemporary, artful feel. With a foreword by Kate Bolick and a helpful sentiment-based index, Flowers and Their Meanings is both a beautiful volume and a practical guide to incorporating the language of flowers into your own life.

"Mandi Em offers new ideas of how to 'liberate your unique, authentic, untamed self, '... readers will love this guide to living your life in a more feral manner." --Book Riot

Ditch the green smoothies and reconnect with your authentic self using this wellness guide that taps into nature and helps you live your wildest, freest life.

It's time for a new type of self-care. No bubble baths. No yoga. Just some truly wild--truly effective--ideas and activities that are good for you and your overall wellness. It's time to get feral!

Feral Self-Care is loaded with self-care ideas that will actually help nourish your soul and make you feel good. Each entry covers an activity that reconnects you with your authentic self, helping you feel more empowered, free, and confident in embracing this human experience--in all its messy glory.

From self-care activities that will have you connecting with nature to those that have you digging deep and exploring your truest self, Feral Self-Care goes beyond the skin creams and face masks to reveal and restore your inner being.

You'll find inspired ideas such as:
-Nature sounds ASMR
-Dancing in the rain
-Primal screaming
-Creating a chaotic symphony
-And much more!

It's time to make self-care as wild as you are, and Feral Self-Care is here to help.

Ever since he came out as autistic, people have been contacting Joe to share their stories and ask questions. The most common question by far: how do I find a romantic partner? Dr. Faith G. Harper, author of Unfuck Your Brain and Unfuck Your Intimacy joins autistic publisher and author Joe Biel to offer hard-won guidance on a wide range of topics about friendships, dating, and romance and answer a ton of questions. What do you want out of a relationship? What is the difference between flirting and harassment? How do you have a fun date and get to know someone when eye contact and prolonged conversation aren't your strengths? How do you change a casual acquaintance into friendship or dating? How do you express your needs and make sure you're hearing your partner when they express theirs? How do you maintain a healthy, happy long term relationship? Autistic readers will find valuable answers and perspectives in this book, whether you're just getting ready to jump into dating, seeking to forge closer friendships, or looking to improve your existing partnership or marriage.

The anniversary edition of this beloved bestseller is celebrated in Prefaces by Oprah Winfrey and Maya Angelou and contains a new Foreword by the author, website links, and a new Study Guide to help readers find even deeper meaning and fulfillment.

National Bestseller!

As seen on The Today Show!

How to enrich your life and destroy doubt in 5 seconds.

Throughout your life, you've had parents, coaches, teachers, friends and mentors who have pushed you to be better than your excuses and bigger than your fears. What if the secret to having the confidence and courage to enrich your life and work is simply knowing how to push yourself?

Using the science of habits, riveting stories and surprising facts from some of the most famous moments in history, art and business, Mel Robbins will explain the power of a "push moment." Then, she'll give you one simple tool you can use to become your greatest self.

It takes just five seconds to use this tool, and every time you do you'll be in great company. More than 8 million people have watched Mel's TEDx Talk, and executives inside of the world's largest brands are using the tool to increase productivity, collaboration, and engagement.

In The 5 Second Rule, you'll discover it takes just five seconds to:

Become confident

Break the habit of procrastination and self-doubt

Beat fear and uncertainty

Stop worrying and feel happier

Share your ideas with courage

The 5 Second Rule is a simple, one-size-fits-all solution for the one problem we all face--we hold ourselves back.

The secret isn't knowing what to do--it's knowing how to make yourself do it.

Discover your body's neural pathways to calmness, safety, and connection.

An intense conversation, a spat with a partner, or even an obnoxious tweet--these situations aren't life-or-death, yet we often react as if they are. That's because our bodies treat most perceived threats the same way. Yet one approach has proven to be incredibly effective in training our nervous system to stop overreacting and start responding to the world with greater safety and ease: Polyvagal Theory.

In Anchored, expert teacher Deb Dana shares a down-to-earth presentation of Polyvagal Theory, then brings the science to life with practical, everyday ways to transform your relationship with your body. Using field-tested techniques, Dana helps you master the skills to become more aware of your nervous system moment to moment--and change the way you respond to the great and small challenges of life.

Here, you'll explore:

- Polyvagal Theory--get to know the biology and function of your vagus nerve, the highway of the nervous system
- Befriending Your Nervous System--attune to what's going on in your body by developing your "neuroception"
- Using Your Vagal Brake--discover key techniques to consciously regulate the intensity of your emotions
- Connection and Protection--learn to recognize and influence your internal cues for safety and danger
- Your Social Engagement System--find ways to create nourishing relationships with others and the world around you
- Practices and guidance to gently shape your nervous system for greater resilience, intuition, safety, and wonder

Through guided imagery, meditation, self-inquiry, and more, Anchored offers a practical user's manual for moving from a place of fear and panic into a grounded space of balance and confidence. "Once we know how our nervous system works, we can work with it," teaches Deb Dana. "We can learn to access an embodied, biological resource that is always present, available, and there to guide us toward well-being."

New York-based stylist Colin King shares his wisdom and insights for cultivating beauty in our everyday surroundings--composing objects into simple, sophisticated vignettes that enrich our homes and our lives.

We all desire our rooms to look attractive and reflect a considered approach. Now we have the mastery of Colin King to help us elevate our spaces into environments of personal creativity. Image after image, readers will discover how Colin works his magic when arranging objects on coffee tables, mantels, bookshelves, bedside tables, windowsills, and more. Through a series of anecdotes and visual essays, Colin unpacks his intuitive and deeply personal process, meditating on scale, proportion, palette, and texture. It's not about buying new things, but rather about dusting off old favorites and seeing them with fresh eyes--looking beyond intended use to discover deeper meaning in the everyday. There's always the element of chance while contemplating new arrangements again and again. Styling, readers will discover, is a metaphor for life and a daily practice to be honed over time.

The go-to stylist for many of the world's leading brands and publications, Colin King is a regular contributor to Architectural Digest, T, Ark, and Rum magazines. He collaborates regularly with West Elm, Anthropologie, Zara Home, Crate & Barrel, and Roman and Williams Guild and has his own celebrated product lines with Beni Rugs and Menu, with more in the works.

An illustrated journal for meeting grief with honesty and kindness--honoring loss, rather than packing it away

With her breakout book It's OK That You're Not OK, Megan Devine struck a chord with thousands of readers through her honest, validating approach to grief. In her same direct, no-platitudes style, she now offers How to Carry What Can't Be Fixed--a journal filled with unique, creative ways to open a dialogue with grief itself. "Being allowed to tell the truth about your grief is an incredibly powerful act," she says. "This journal enables you to tell your whole story, without the need to tack on a happy ending where there isn't one."

Grief is a natural response to death and loss--it's not an illness to be cured or a problem to be fixed. This workbook contains no clichés, timetables, or checklists of stages to get through; it won't help you "move past" or put your loss behind you. Instead, you'll find encouragement, self-care exercises, and daily tools, including:

- Writing prompts to help you honor your pain and heartbreak
- On-the-spot practices for tough situations--like grocery store trips, the sleepless nights, and being the "awkward guest"
- The art of healthy distraction and self-care
- What you can do when you worry that "moving on" means "letting go of love"
- Practical advice for fielding the dreaded "How are you doing?" question
- What it means to find meaning in your loss
- How to hold joy and grief at the same time
- Tear-and-share resources to help you educate friends and allies
- The "Griever's Bill of Rights," and much more

Your grief, like your love, belongs to you. No one has the right to dictate, judge, or dismiss what is yours to live. How to Carry What Can't Be Fixed is a journal and everyday companion to help you enter a conversation with your grief, find your own truth, and live into the life you didn't ask for--but is here nonetheless.

NPR SciFri Book Club Pick

Next Big Idea Club's "Top 21 Psychology Books of 2022"

Behavioral Scientist Notable Books of 2022

A renowned grief expert and neuroscientist shares groundbreaking discoveries about what happens in our brain when we grieve, providing a new paradigm for understanding love, loss, and learning.

In The Grieving Brain, neuroscientist and psychologist Mary-Frances O'Connor, PhD, gives us a fascinating new window into one of the hallmark experiences of being human. O'Connor has devoted decades to researching the effects of grief on the brain, and in this book, she makes cutting-edge neuroscience accessible through her contagious enthusiasm, and guides us through how we encode love and grief. With love, our neurons help us form attachments to others; but, with loss, our brain must come to terms with where our loved ones went, or how to imagine a future without them.

The Grieving Brain addresses:

Why it's so hard to understand that a loved one has died and is gone foreverWhy grief causes so many emotions--sadness, anger, blame, guilt, and yearningWhy grieving takes so longThe distinction between grief and prolonged griefWhy we ruminate so much after we lose a loved oneHow we go about restoring a meaningful life while grieving

Based on O'Connor's own trailblazing neuroimaging work, research in the field, and her real-life stories, The Grieving Brain combines storytelling, accessible science, and practical knowledge that will help us better understand what happens when we grieve and how to navigate loss with more ease and grace.

A simple way to stay connected!

This must-have shared mother-son journal is fun, creative, and easy to use! With thoughtful prompts, coloring pages, challenges, and free creative space, this is the perfect love-filled gift!

With this engaging guided journal, together you and your child will:

• Answer Thought Provoking Questions: What are your thoughts on kindness? What would we do if we had the whole day together with no work of chores?
• Record Memories: One of my favorite traditions is; our favorite thing about the season is...
• Compare Perspectives: What were you like when you were my age? Do you ever feel pressured or uncomfortable about anything online?

Between Mom and Me is the perfect tool to build mother-son relationships. Kids can record memories, swap stories, compare perspectives, and explore common and unique interests with their moms! Interactive lists and letters back and forth invite both mom and son to reflect, write, and doodle about topics timely to their lives as kids, build self-confidence, and improve their penmanship. And while you're writing, drawing, and doodling, you'll be connecting with those you love in an all-new way. This is a very special journal meant to foster a lasting relationship between mother and son.

Also by Katie Clemons:

• Between Dad and Me - A Father and Son Journal
• Love, Mom and Me - A Mother and Daughter Journal
• Between Grandma and Me - A Grandmother and Grandson Journal
• We Are So Thankful - A Shared Gratitude Journal for Parents and Kids
• Time Capsule - A Guided Journal for Kids

Find quiet reflective moments in your life--and reduce your stress levels drastically--with this classic bestselling guide updated and featuring a new introduction and afterword.

When Wherever You Go, There You Are was first published in 1994, no one could have predicted that the book would launch itself onto bestseller lists nationwide and sell over 1 million copies to date. Thirty years later, Wherever You Go, There You Are remains a foundational guide to mindfulness and meditation, introducing readers to the practice and guiding them through the process. The author of over half a dozen books on mindfulness, Jon Kabat-Zinn combines his research and medical background with his spiritual knowledge to help readers find peace and change their lives.

In this new edition, readers will find a new introduction and afterword from Kabat-Zinn, as well as factual updates throughout to address changes in research and knowledge since it was originally published. After the special tumult of the last few years, as well as the promise of more unrest in the future, Wherever You Go, There You Are serves as an anchor for a whole new generation of readers looking to find their center and achieve their true self.

The all-time best-selling writer's handbook turns thirty.

With insight, humor, and practicality, Natalie Goldberg inspires writers and would-be writers to take the leap into writing skillfully and creatively. She offers suggestions, encouragement, and solid advice on many aspects of the writer's craft: on writing from "first thoughts" (keep your hand moving, don't cross out, just get it on paper), on listening (writing is ninety percent listening; the deeper you listen, the better you write), on using verbs (verbs provide the energy of the sentence), on overcoming doubts (doubt is torture; don't listen to it)--even on choosing a restaurant in which to write. Goldberg sees writing as a practice that helps writers comprehend the value of their lives. The advice in her book, provided in short, easy-to-read chapters with titles that reflect the author's witty approach ("Writing Is Not a McDonald's Hamburger," "Man Eats Car," "Be an Animal"), will inspire anyone who writes--or who longs to.

Powerful, affecting essays on mental illness, winner of the Graywolf Press Nonfiction Prize and a Whiting Award

An intimate, moving book written with the immediacy and directness of one who still struggles with the effects of mental and chronic illness, The Collected Schizophrenias cuts right to the core. Schizophrenia is not a single unifying diagnosis, and Esmé Weijun Wang writes not just to her fellow members of the "collected schizophrenias" but to those who wish to understand it as well. Opening with the journey toward her diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder, Wang discusses the medical community's own disagreement about labels and procedures for diagnosing those with mental illness, and then follows an arc that examines the manifestations of schizophrenia in her life. In essays that range from using fashion to present as high-functioning to the depths of a rare form of psychosis, and from the failures of the higher education system and the dangers of institutionalization to the complexity of compounding factors such as PTSD and Lyme disease, Wang's analytical eye, honed as a former lab researcher at Stanford, allows her to balance research with personal narrative. An essay collection of undeniable power, The Collected Schizophrenias dispels misconceptions and provides insight into a condition long misunderstood.

In our complex world, facilitation and mediation skills are as important for individuals as they are for organizations. How do we practice them in ways that align with nature, with pleasure, with our best imagining of our future? How do we attend to generating the ease necessary to help us move through the inevitable struggles of life? How do we practice the art of holding others without losing ourselves? Black feminists have answers to those questions that can serve anyone working to create changes in our world, changes great and small; individually, interpersonally, and within our organizations.

Holding Change is about attending to coordination, to conflict, to being humans in right relationship with each other, not as a constant ongoing state, but rather as a magnificent, mysterious, ever-evolving dynamic in which we must involve ourselves, shape ourselves and each other. The majority of the book is sourced from brown's twenty-plus years of facilitation and mediation work with movement groups.

Includes contributions by Autumn Brown, Sage Crump, Malkia Devich-Cyril, Ejeris Dixon, Alexis Pauline Gumbs, Prentis Hemphill, Micky ScottBey Jones, N'Tanya Lee, and Makani Themba

WALL STREET JOURNAL BESTSELLER - A how-to guide for crafting beautiful and delicious cheese boards for entertaining and self-care, from the creator of the Cheese by Numbers method and the Instagram phenomenon That Cheese Plate

"[Marissa Mullen] takes the guesswork out of the coolest, most solid thing to bring to any party or potluck: the cheese platter."--Rachael Ray

With her gorgeous, showstopping cheese and charcuterie boards, Marissa Mullen takes cheese to a whole new level. Her simple, step-by-step Cheese by Numbers method breaks the cheese plate down into its basic components--cheese, meat, produce, crunch, dip, garnish--allowing you to create stunning spreads for any occasion.

This beautifully designed book goes beyond preparation techniques. According to Mullen, cheese plates can be an important form of artistic self-care, like flower arranging or meditative coloring books--but you can eat the results! That Cheese Plate Will Change Your Life celebrates the ways in which cheese brings people together, and how crafting a cheese plate can be a calming, creativity-bolstering act.

With fifty exquisite, easy-to-make cheese and charcuterie plates, this book will teach you how to relax, enjoy, and indulge-- to find your cheesy bliss.

"The key is managing stress, so we can lead healthier, happier lives. The 5 Resets will help you do just that."

-- Katie Couric, Journalist and Founder and CEO, Katie Couric Media

"A masterful approach to rewire our brains and bodies from the inside out."

-- Arianna Huffington, Founder and CEO, Thrive Global

From Harvard stress expert, nationally sought after speaker, and television correspondent Dr. Aditi Nerurkar comes a reimagined approach to overcoming your stress and burnout using five small but mighty mindset shifts.

For Dr. Nerurkar, the common misperception of stress as "bad" needs reframing. Stress is a healthy biological phenomenon that helps us tackle life's many demands. It becomes problematic when it's out of tune with the frequency of our lives, result-ing in burnout, fatigue, sleep disturbances, and many other physical symptoms. To bring stress back to healthy levels, Dr. Nerurkar offers her five science-backed mindset shifts, rooted in more than two decades of clinical experience, for when life gets hard:

The First Reset: Get Clear on What Matters MostThe Second Reset: Find Quiet in a Noisy WorldThe Third Reset: Sync Your Brain and Your BodyThe Fourth Reset: Come Up for AirThe Fifth Reset: Bring Your Best Self Forward

Dr. Nerurkar illuminates why our everyday attempts at being "resilient"--like multitasking, sleeping less, and undergoing huge lifestyle overhauls--aren't beneficial to our stressed brains. Instead, she prescribes practical, real-world solutions for our modern-day perils that are time efficient, cost-free, and can be applied to anyone's life, including fol-lowing the Resilience Rule of 2 (making no more than two changes at a time because doing more is unsustainable), accepting that multitasking is a myth (our brains are wired to do one thing at a time!), and adopting her Bookend Method (creating boundaries to honor our brain's need for compart-mentalization).

The five mindset shifts, along with fifteen proven techniques, offer you a road map to change your relationship with stress, bring your biology back into balance, and feel calmer right now.