Books like Resilience by Steven M. Southwick

A groundbreaking work that explains how trauma rewires the brain and body, and presents evidence‑based therapies—from neurofeedback to yoga—that unlock the mind’s natural capacity for healing.

A groundbreaking guide to embracing vulnerability and courage.

Running counter to society's current prevailing message that things should always run smoothly--or, at least, appear to--and that failure or mistakes of any sort are to be avoided at all costs, The Gift of Adversity shows that such setbacks are inevitable. Indeed, engaging with our own failures and defeats is one of the only ways we are able to live authentic and meaningful lives. The book illuminates how each different type of setback carries its own challenges and has the potential to yield its own form of wisdom. Using stories from his own life--including his childhood in apartheid-era South Africa, his years after suffering a violent attack from a stranger, and his career as a psychiatrist--as well as case studies and discussions with well-known figures such as Viktor Frankl and David Lynch, Rosenthal reveals that true innovation, emotional resilience, wisdom, and dignity can only come from confronting and understanding the adversity we have experienced.

Kelly McGonigal, Stanford psychologist, reveals that stress can make us stronger, smarter, and happier if we learn to embrace it.

Karen Reivich and Andrew Shatté, two psychologists who make up the country's preeminent resilience-research team, reveal seven proven techniques that have helped thousands improve their capacity to handle life's inevitable surprises and setbacks. Contrary to popular belief, the secret to resilience lies in accurate thinking, not positive thinking. ... It's not what happens to us but how we respond to what happens to us that has the greatest effect on the trajectory of our lives"--Back cover.

After a traumatic experience, survivors often experience a cascade of physical, emotional, cognitive, behavioral, and spiritual responses that leave them feeling unbalanced and threatened. Building Resilience to Trauma explains these common responses from a biological perspective, reframing the human experience from one of shame and pathology to one of hope and biology. It also presents alternative approaches, the Trauma Resiliency Model (TRM) and the Community Resiliency Model (CRM), which offer concrete and practical skills that resonate with what we know about the biology of trauma. In programs co-sponsored by the World Health Organization, the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee, ADRA International and the department of behavioral health of San Bernardino County, the TRM and the CRM have been used to reduce and in some cases eliminate the symptoms of trauma by helping survivors regain a sense of balance. Clinicians will find that they can use the models with almost anyone who has experienced or witnessed any event that was perceived as life threatening or posed a serious injury to themselves or to others. The models can also be used to treat symptoms of vicarious traumatization and compassion fatigue.

"Do you ever wonder why some people seem to sail capably through life's storms, while others are knocked down and never get back up? The answer is resilience. Resilience is the ability to recover from difficult experiences--such as the death of a loved one, a job loss, trauma, or a serious illness. It's the strength of body, mind, and character that enables people to respond well to adversity. In short, resilience is the cornerstone of good mental health and wellness. So, how can you build resilience?"--