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What I'm Reading - December 2018

Hello & welcome back to my blog! 

It's getting colder and more grey outside so naturally, I'm staying in more and spending more time reading - I'm not complaining, it's great really!

I'm currently reading three books and given that my interests literally range from make-up to rocket science, all three are very different - which I think is a good thing because it means that those reading this post are more likely to find something they like here!

So without further ado, here are the three books I'd recommend for a cozy, winter night in:

 If you want to relax after a long day of work, I would recommend... 


The Protagonist (Maggie) leads a settled and uneventful life. She has a boring job and a happy yet dull marriage. 

Maggie married her high-school sweetheart who she's been with for 9 years. Unfortunately, the spark is gone and their relationship resembles a boring routine. Things only get worse when Maggie finds out that her husband is having an affair. 

 She then files for divorce and decides to visit her close friend who happens to live in Los Angeles. This is the point at which the roller coaster in Maggie's life begins.

The storyline is well developed - it's quite a thick book (482 pages in total) which makes it a great evening read that will help you relax and escape from worries of everyday life, even if it's just for a little while.

 The book carries an upbeat and sassy tone. Filled with relatable humor, it's guaranteed to bring a smile to the reader's face!

 If you want to get better at understanding others (and yourself), I would recommend...


 The book is based on the belief that essentially, there are 4 types of personalities (or temperaments) and while we're all 'made up' of the 4, there are always one or two that play the biggest part in who we are, how we think & behave.

 The 4 temperaments are: choleric, melancholic, phlegmatic and sanguine. There is a section dedicated to each, where they're described in great detail. Some of the aspects covered are how each temperament behaves at young age, old age, in marriage, their love & work-lives, and other life stages and situations.

 The last part of the book deals with all of the possible combinations of these temperaments. 

 Love, Health & Happiness is a truly fascinating read (especially if you're into psychology or you simply want to get better at understanding yourself and those around you). 

 It's quite an old book - it was first published in 1995, so it might be difficult to find at a bookshop. I did find it online though, it's available here. 

If you're feeling ambitious, I would recommend...

 The Human Mind by Robert Winston

 I'm finding it quite hard to describe this book because I feel like my inability to use scientific language will ruin this short review. I think it's best that I keep it simple and get straight to the point. 

 You get what you see with this one; it's a book about the human mind and brain, and everything in between. This book is filled with detailed information and tonnes of difficult, scientific vocabulary. But despite the fact that it isn't quite written 'for dummies' or amateurs that simply want to understand the very basics behind the most complex organ in the human body, the information is actually easy to take in, thanks to Winston's detailed explanations and real-life examples & anecdotes. 

 It's also worth mentioning that the first part of the book deals with the very basic structures of the human brain; e.g. what they do & look like, so that we find it easier to understand the second part of the book which covers the interesting facts & fun stuff.

 I feel like adjectives such as 'fascinating' or 'intriguing' are simply an understatement when it comes to describing the information in this book and the incredible influence that our brain & mind have on our everyday lives. 

 Every disorder, feeling and type of behaviour is covered in great detail. Attention is also given to things like death, our unconscious mind and the effect of hypnosis on our brain. In short: this book covers it all.
***
So these are the three books that I am reading at the moment & would recommend. 

What have you been reading recently? Is there anything you'd recommend to someone as random and curious as me? 😀 

Paula 
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