9 Psychology Books To Read During The Quarantine

For me, it’s the Day 11 of self-isolation. So far, there was a lot of work, so luckily there was no time for boredom or anything close to it. Besides work, yoga, and online education, I am happy to finally have time for reading. In the past months, I purchased a bunch of new books that I will be reading during these uncertain times. Quite excited!  

1) Hold Me Tight: Seven Conversations for a Lifetime of Love by Dr. Sue Johnson

This is a book, which has been recommended to me multiple times lately and has been seen by me all over the internet. To me, this book is a guide towards a healthy, long-lasting relationship. It is mostly directed towards already existing couples, but I think it is even better to have the right mindset before starting a relationship, which is my case. Johnson is a doctor and a couples’ therapist, who has been practicing Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) for a number for years. She claims that this therapy has helped most of the couples, showing unexpectedly good results. This idea, once controversial, is now supported by science and has become widely popular among therapists around the world. “Emotionally Focused Therapy works because it views the love relationship as an attachment bond.”

Johnson provides a guide to seven dialogues, which each couple should undergo. Being honest and sincere with each other during those ”healing conversations”, will lead to a life-long relationship, Johnson says. I’ve finished the first chapter of the book, currently starting to analyze the first dialogue in a guide. It is definitely worth reading and applying it to your relationship. I truly believe her method works, as there is nothing better than being honest, open, and sincere with your partner.

2) Man’s Search For Meaning by Victor Frankl

A non-fiction, psychological book about finding the true meaning of life. Viktor Frankl is an Austrian psychotherapist, who was taken to Auschwitz during the WW2. In his memoir, he is describing his life in a Nazi camp, sharing a variety of situations, feelings, and thoughts he had experienced. “Based on his own experience and the stories of his patients, Frankl argues that we cannot avoid suffering but we can choose how to cope with it, find meaning in it, and move forward with renewed purpose. At the heart of his theory, known as logotherapy, is a conviction that the primary human drive is not pleasure but the pursuit of what we find meaningful.” It is an emotionally tough read, leaving you with a lot of thoughts and realizations. An impactful, life-changing book.

3) Love Sense: The Revolutionary New Science of Romantic Relationships by Dr. Sue Johnson

Love Sense is the second book of Dr. Sue Johnson, following her bestseller Hold Me Tight, which I mentioned above. I have this book in the Russian language too, and I can’t wait to read it. Clearly, it talks about relationships psychology too. The description of the books states: “Every day, we hear of relationships failing and questions of whether humans are meant to be monogamous. Love Sense presents new scientific evidence that tells us that humans are meant to mate for life. Dr. Johnson explains that romantic love is an attachment bond, just like that between mother and child, and shows us how to develop our "love sense" -- our ability to develop long-lasting relationships.”

The book questions the very important topic of monogamy, which interests me a lot. This is the next book on my list and I am very curious to find out and analyze Sue’s take on it.

4) Украшения Строптивой – Таня Либерман

This book is only available in the Russian language for now. Tanya Liberman is a founder of JerusalemBazar – an international jewelry brand. In this book, she’s talking about her journey of building an international company. Tanya started with 5 pairs of earrings, which turned into a successful business, with dozens of employees, selling internationally. In the book, she is sharing her path to success, never mind issues with her business partners, haters, and uncertain personal life. It should be very interesting and motivating

5) Психология Искуства – Л.С. Выготский

Another Russian book, which I am quite excited about! The book by Lev Vygotsky is called “Art Psychology”, containing an analysis of the laws of aesthetic perception. Lev Vygotsky was a Soviet psychologist, the founder of an unfinished Marxist theory on human cultural and bio-social development, the "cultural-historical psychology, the "science of Superman", a new psychological theory of consciousness and its relationship to the development of higher psychological functions, as well as the leader of the Vygotsky Circle. In the book, which was originally published in 1965, he is making an analysis of what makes the masterpieces become masterpieces (for example works of Shakespeare or famous paintings). It is important to understand the laws of this, as they can be applied even today for content production and marketing. Very excited!

6) We by Yevgeny Zamyatin

This book has been recommended and given to me by a friend of mine. We is a classic dystopian novel and was the forerunner of works such as George Orwell's 1984 and Aldous Huxley's Brave New World. It was suppressed for many years in Russia and remains a resounding cry for individual freedom. It is a powerful, exciting and vivid work of science fiction. If you liked 1984, potentially you will like this book too. It is quite “petite”, yet I’m very excited to get my hands on it.

7) Significant Others by Whitney Chadwick & Isabelle de Courtivron

This book is looking at the relationships of creative and famous couples, mostly artists and writers, analyzing each one of them separately. The partnerships featured are: Camille Claudel and Auguste Rodin; Sonia and Robert Delaunay; Clara and Andre Malraux; Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant; Virginia Woolf and Vita-Sackville West; Leonora Carrington and Max Ernst; Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera; Kay Sage and Yves Tanguy; Anais Nin and Henry Miller; Lillian Hellman and Dashiell Hammett; Jasper Johns and Robert Rauschenberg; Simone and Andre Schwarz-Bart; and Lee Krasner and Jackson Pollock.

The contributors explore the nature of artistic companionships; questions of identity; gender and sexuality; and social stereotypes. Many consider how women and men have been evaluated in relation to their partners in biographies, art history, and literary criticism. It is not only interesting to read biographies of such wonderful couples, but also to look at the analysis of their relationships.

8) Flow by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

“Flow” has been a bestseller for years now. At any point, whether I’d ask for book recommendations, I will get “Flow” as one of the answers. I haven’t started reading it yet, but I must say, the expectations are quite high. By Csikszentmihalyi, Flow is a state of consciousness, that makes experiences genuinely satisfying. “During flow, people typically experience deep enjoyment, creativity, and a total involvement with life.” In this book, Mihaly is analyzing the psychology of optimal experience, which will unlock our potential, allow for true happiness, and greatly improve our lives’ quality. The promises are high. Curious and excited to find out whether it can be easily applied to one’s mindset or not. ? If you have read this book, feel free to leave your comments in the box below!

9) Utopia For Realists by Rutger Bergman

Another non-fiction book by a Dutch bestselling author Rutger Bergman. The name speaks for itself. In Utopia for Realists, Rutger Bregman shows that we can construct a society with visionary ideas that are, in fact, wholly implementable. Every milestone of civilization - from the end of slavery to the beginning of democracy - was once considered a utopian fantasy. New utopian ideas such as universal basic income and a fifteen-hour work week can become reality in our lifetime.

An interesting read for the new generation about the current paradigm. I’m quite curious about what the “Dutch Wunderkind” (as Rutger Bergman got called in reviews) has to say. And, a bunch of sources claim it is a must-read! It is especially fun reading utopian books during the quarantine, it gives you an interesting feeling. ?

This is my list of books to read in the coming months. I’m very curious to see what you are reading! Feel free to share your lists in the comment box below. ♥

Love,

Juls