Self-help, personal development and practical advice Books

Book Synopsis‘How to influence people without getting them drunk or flirting: brilliant’ Venetia Thompson, bestselling author of Gross Misconduct • How exactly can we use our body language to win friends and influence people? • When can £1 be more persuasive than £50? • Why does giving customers more choice make them less likely to make a purchase? Some people seem naturally more influential and persuasive. In fact they are simply using rules and techniques that anyone can harness. Psychologist Rob Yeung explores the latest research to expose myths and uncover the real truths about the art of influence and persuasion. I is for Influence not only reveals the secrets behind effortlessly winning trust and support; it will allow you to learn proven techniques for getting that promotion, winning that business contract or even finding your perfect match. By the bestselling author of Confidence and The Extra One Per Cent (Macmillan, 2010). ‘This book provides readers with the latest science on persuasion. A must read’ Professor Cary L. Cooper, CBE, Professor of Psychology

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Book SynopsisIn "The ProductiveMuslim" Mohammed Faris, the founder of ProductiveMuslim.com, provides this practical framework that helps urban global Muslims lead a productive lifestyle Spiritually, Physically, and Socially. Combining his love for Islam with modern productivity techniques, in this book, Mohammed will teach you: - How spirituality can boost your productivity . - How to manage your sleep, nutrition, and fitness (spiritually, physically, and socially) - How to be socially productive outside your home and community . - How to manage your focus in an age of distractions - How to build productive habits and routines - How to manage your time and invest in your hereafter - How to be productive during RamadanTrade Review"For personal productivity, I don't give my email out. But one person I've remained in communication with all these years is Mohammed Faris. Time and again he has impressed me with his commitment to productive action. He walks his talk. And because he has concentrated on this topic for so long, his productivity distinctions are invaluable." Muhammad Alshareef Founder, AlMaghrib Institute & DiscoverU "Mohammed and his team at Productive Muslim provide great productivity advice - on working well, living well, and applying the Islamic face in a modern and practical way. It's always really inspiring working with him - he's a true Productivity Ninja." Graham Allcott Managing Director, Think Productive

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Book SynopsisAre you the top Sales Professional on your sales line? Are you achieving your goals this year? If not, why not? How are you ensuring that you meet your goals and maintaining a positive attitude? The Timeshare Coach SM shows you how, if you change you thoughts, you will sell more Timeshare. This book covers your first thoughts of the day and how you can control your self talk. Learn how to adapt to clients of the 21st century and use the internet, resales and the rescission period to your advantage. The Timeshare Coach SM shows you how to maintain a positive attitude at work, no matter what challenges you have and the six simple steps to setting your goals and how to achieve them. If you sell Timeshare, you must read this book it will help you get more sales...FACT www.thetimesharecoach.com

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Book SynopsisFind the happiness of emptiness. Few things scare us more than inner emptiness. The presumed emptiness of coma or dementia scares us so much that we even sign living wills to avoid these states. Yet as Zen masters have long known, inner emptiness can also be productive and useful. We can reach this state through meditation, concentration, music, or even during sex. In fact, our brain loves emptiness — it makes us happy. Leading brain researcher Niels Birbaumer investigates the pleasure in emptiness and how we can take advantage of it. He explains how to overcome the evolutionary attentiveness of your brain and take a break from thinking — a skill that’s more important than ever in an increasingly frantic world.

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Book SynopsisAdult life is full of mysteries. What should you check before renting a flat? How do you ask for a pay rise? Does anything really need to be dry cleaned? And why does everyone else seem to know these things except you? (They don’t, but this book will help.) Being an Adult is a practical and entertaining guide to the life skills you didn’t learn at school. If you've ever wondered when you’re going to become a ‘real’ grown-up, this book will give you the answers you need.Trade Review‘Oh, how I wish I’d had this book when I was twenty-one, I could’ve avoided so many stupid disasters. I love everything about this warm, funny life manual, it should honestly be required reading for humans everywhere. My favourites were the DIY and money section (because, frankly, I have no idea), and I thought the personal stories throughout were the perfect, relatable touch. Fascinating, insightful and so so helpful — without being patronising — Kat and Lucy are the heroes this generation desperately needs.’ -- Lucy Vine * Author of Hot Mess *‘It’s a practical guide interspersed with personal anecdotes … they’ve compiled the hottest know-how into one simple tome. From emergency DIY tips to dressing for the office, it’s the adult stuff you need to know.’ * Evening Standard *‘It gives you the life skills you should’ve been taught in school … And, crucially, it also gives you lowdowns on the serious stuff … The thing about Being an Adult is it covers everything … This book should be thrust into the hands of every graduating student as they walk across the stage.’ * Stylist *‘I can’t believe nobody had published this when I was twenty … it’s so thorough so obviously orchestrated by somebody who has actually experienced and still remembers the little niggling details that can really pull your confidence down or stress you out, and they’re the things that people assume that you know but you actually don’t. I think everybody needs [this].’ -- Leena Norms

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Book Synopsis'Sex and The City in the age of The Secret. The go-to dating guide for anyone who prefers to man-ifest rather than man-obsess.' GEORGIA LOVE Attract the love you are oh-so-worthy ofDating, if we're not doing it with intention, can be something we dive into with little clarity. We don't check the water's depth, the surrounding currents or our ability to stay afloat. Before we know it, we're in the middle of the sea with nothing but a life vest and a whistle, wondering where all the fish are. But what if dating didn't have to be like this? What if there was a way to do it differently that had nothing to do with playing games, pretending to be someone you're not or being the supporting act to someone else's starring role? Enter Jordanna Levin, bestselling author of manifestation bible Make It Happen, who's been there and knows a thing or two about the search for love. Whether you're testing the water for the first time, diving back in after a break or a long-time swimmer, Higher Love takes dating and flips it on its head, inviting you to get curious about the role you play in your own love story and helping you strengthen your personal vibration to attract the love that you deserve. This is a book about dating, yes, but at its essence, it's about figuring out who you are, what lights you up and how you want to feel in love.Viva amore.Table of ContentsIntroduction: I begin this book with a tender heartPart One: Your Personal VibrationChapter 1: Your personal vibration and why it's so importantChapter 2: Locating, developing and strengthening your personal vibrationChapter 3: What's killing your vibe?Chapter 4: Turning on your love GPS Part Two: Love Needs a Rebrand Chapter 5: 'Silly Love Songs', Wings, 1984Chapter 6: Who the f*ck wrote my love story?Chapter 7: Developing your personal LOVE vibration. Part Three: Dating ... DifferentlyChapter 8: Dating ain't what it used to beChapter 9: How to land a hot date Chapter 10: Your complete guide to the first and second dateChapter 11: 50 ways to leave your loverChapter 12: The energetics of datingChapter 13: Love-related ah-ha momentsConclusion: All love stories get a happy ending, right?AcknowledgmentsIndex

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Book SynopsisAJ Clementine always knew she was a girl. The problem was, she'd been born in a magical shell that looked, on the outside, like a perfect little boy. In her teens, this conflict between her outer and inner selves exploded, igniting years of anxiety and panic attacks. Now fast becoming one of the world's most visible transgender spokespeople, AJ's journey to accept and live as her true self has captivated hundreds of thousands of people on TikTok, Youtube and Instagram, where she has shared her gender transition, what it was like to grow up Wasian in a blended family, and her transformation into a model, influencer and trans advocate. In Girl, Transcending, AJ weaves her experiences, advice, reflections and snippets of inspiration into a powerful tool to help us understand and celebrate what makes each of us unique, not only those in the LGBTQI+ community but anyone finding their way in the world. Honest, positive and empowering, AJ shines a light on her path to self-love and acceptance - the hardest bits, the parts we rarely see - in the hopes of a brighter, more inclusive future for all.Table of ContentsIntroduction: Once upon a time ...Chapter One: You are seenChapter Two: You are not your labelsChapter Three: Your people are out thereChapter Four: Life throws curveballsChapter Five: Accepting what isChapter Six: Dare to dream

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Book Synopsis‘Most books on persuasion teach the few how to sway the many. With wit and vim, Guy has given us something else: an X-ray into the tactics of those trying to change our minds and behaviour.’ - Stephen Krupin, former speechwriter for Barack Obama When Winston Churchill spoke in Parliament, he convinced an empire to go to war. When Martin Luther King spoke in Washington, he convinced millions to open their hearts to change. When Oprah Winfrey said: ‘Do what you have to do until you can do what you want to do,’ she also used rhetoric. As we have here, by deploying the rule of three to stress a point. Rhetoric - the art of persuasive speaking and writing – often gets a bad rap. In this dazzling, fast-paced guide, speechwriter Guy Doza rescues rhetoric from the shadows and showcases its immense power to change lives, for good and bad. Highlighting punchy sayings from Ancient Rome to modern marketing, he shows how leaders, businesses and even our own friends use rhetorical techniques every day to make convincing arguments. What’s more, this guide to rhetoric will show you how to learn to use this persuasive language in your own life: How to convince an investor to back your venture What to say to a potential lover in a bar And, the six rules of apology you should use if you ever accidentally run over the next-door neighbour’s cat... How to Apologise for Killing a Cat is a quick read, humorous and highly practicable. It decodes the tricks and techniques of rhetoric for everyday readers. It's the only book you need to make a convincing marketing pitch. It's the only book you need to give a rousing speech. It's the only book you need to write persuasively. It's the best book to explain the technique we've just used here. After reading this book, you will start to see the trick of rhetoric used everywhere. After reading this book, you will never see the world the same way again! About the author Guy Doza is a speechwriter and trainer. He has a Master’s degree in Rhetoric from the University of London and uses rhetoric in the speeches he writes for senior politicians and business leaders. He trains government speechwriters in logic and rhetoric. Introduction Have you ever had that unpleasant anxiety of taking your car to the mechanic and feeling like you’re being swindled? Most of you will probably know exactly what I am talking about. We don’t know how cars work, we don’t know what the parts are called and we don’t know how to fix them ourselves. This lack of knowledge makes us vulnerable and susceptible to exploitation, and we know it. So does the mechanic. Now, most mechanics are honest individuals, not rogues, but can we say the same of people who run countries and big companies? When it comes to ordinary life away from the car engine or central heating boiler, most of us don’t even realise just how vulnerable we are. People can use persuasive language to swindle us, cheat us, and exploit us to the hilt. And the worst part is that we are not even aware that it is happening. Welcome to rhetoric, the art of persuasion. Rhetoric is a superpower. It can alter the way we think, the way we behave and sometimes even the way we live our lives. And its most explosive charge lies in its subtlety. We need to be aware of how such persuasive language is used, not only so that we can be more persuasive ourselves, but defend ourselves against the rhetorical advances of those who would seek to exploit us. A Dark Art? For too long, rhetoric has been a dark and ancient art confined to the secretive circles of politics and academia. This mystery and misunderstanding has often led to the public to consider it to be the tool of crooks, spin doctors and villains. But no more! The time has come to bring rhetoric out of the darkness and show it for what it is: a mighty linguistic tool. Whether it is a conversation between friends in a café, a pathetic attempt to flirt at a bar, or a meaningful conversation with a world renowned philosopher, rhetoric is everywhere. It is how we invoke authenticity, how we convey meaning, and how we convince. So as well as looking at the grand speeches of eloquent orators and established speakers, this book will delve into the street rhetoric that we encounter in our everyday lives. Whether it’s a cheap use of ethos or a dodgy use of occultatio, rhetoric is thriving in our offices, dwelling in our pubs and lurking in our very homes. We are going to look at some of the forms that rhetoric can take as it attempts to twist our thoughts and muddy our reasoning. Sadly, reading this book will not turn you into an eloquent millionaire who is able to close billion dollar business deals, perform Jedi mind tricks, and convince anyone of anything. There are plenty of gimmicky books out there if that is what you are looking for. Rather, this book is designed to help you become more aware of the role that rhetoric plays in the world around us: the good, the bad and the ugly. And, with a certain amount of caution, you will be more prepared to use it yourself while simultaneously being conscious of how it might be used against you, whether for morality, for manipulation, money, or malice. Buy the book and carry on on reading!Trade Review‘Most books on persuasion teach the few how to sway the many. With wit and vim, Guy has given us something else: an X-ray into the tactics of those trying to change our minds and behaviour – clarity that can help us see through charlatans and make more informed decisions. ‘In sharing his great respect for timeless speech strategies, Guy also shows why, despite its reputation, “rhetoric” doesn’t have to be a dirty word.’ – Stephen Krupin, former speechwriter for Barack Obama‘Most books on persuasion teach the few how to sway the many. With wit and vim, Guy has given us something else: an X-ray into the tactics of those trying to change our minds and behaviour – clarity that can help us see through charlatans and make more informed decisions. ‘In sharing his great respect for timeless speech strategies, Guy also shows why, despite its reputation, “rhetoric” doesn’t have to be a dirty word.’ – Stephen Krupin, former speechwriter for Barack ObamaTable of ContentsINTRODUCTION. The author introduces the ancient art of rhetoric, and explains its importance in everyday life as well as how it has been used – and still is used – by people and organisations seeking to influence our views and behaviour. Mentions rhetoric, swindling, persuasive language, Aristotle 1. TOUCHING THE HEART. Introducing how rhetoric can be used in practice, with examples ranging from a simple love letter phrased in many different ways to convey different messages to the Axis of Evil speech by US President George W Bush and the Stolen Generations speech by Australian PM Kevin Rudd 2. THE THREE MUSKETEERS OF RHETORIC. Welcome to Logos, Ethos, and Pathos, key elements of rhetoric – a bit like the rhetorical equivalent of the four horsemen of the apocalypse. Only with three, so the three musketeers is a better cliché. Logos is the use of logic, ethos is the use of emotion 3. LOGOS. Introducing and explaining the uses of logos in rhetoric, including a quick primer on formal logic such as minor and major premise and logical fallacies. Mentions rhetorical technique, formal logic, informal logic, Malala, MMR vaccine, Brexit Battle Bus, Barack Obama, argumentum ad rem 4. ETHOS. Introducing and explaining the rhetorical concept of ethos – the use of reputation to bolster one's argument. Mentions argumentum ad hominem, JK Rowling, Julia Gillard, Justin Bieber, George W Bush, Shakespeare, All’s Well That Ends Well 5. PATHOS. Introduction to pathos in rhetoric, looking at examples throughout history where speakers or writers have invoked emotion to strengthen their argument. Donald Trump, Martin Luther King Jr, I Have a Dream speech, Michelle Obama, Melania Trump, Johnny Mercer, Hilary Benn, Oprah Winfrey 6. REPETITION. The use of the many different types of repetition in rhetoric, including tricolon, epizeuxis, anaphora, epistrophe, anadiplosis, abundantia, isocolon, chiasmus. Mentions historical and political figures Julius Caesar, Abraham Lincoln, Tony Blair, Barack Obama and Kevin Rudd 7. REPETITION (AGAIN!). Explaining further rhetorical techniques such as anadiplosis, abundantia, isocolon, chiasmus. Mentions We Shall Fight on the Beaches, Yoda, US President George W Bush, Malcolm X, abundantia, Kevin Rudd, Sojourner Truth, Ain’t I a woman? anti-slavery speech 8. TRICKS OF THE TIRADE. Introducing other rhetorical techniques used by the likes of Nelson Mandela and Donald Trump. Mentions rhetoric, comprobatio, Donald Trump, Mississippi, Alabama, Nelson Mandela, occultatio, kairos, periphrasis, aporia, apostrophe, apodioxis, digressio, reductio ad absurdum 9. LOGICAL FALLACIES. Revealing the logical fallacies present when skilled practitioners of rhetoric use persuasive language and writing. Mentions slippery slope, Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey, Benjamin Netanyahu, tu quoque, false cause, David Silvester, false dichotomy, Abdul Fattah al-Sisi 10. TO QUESTION OR NOT TO QUESTION – THAT IS THE QUESTION. Exploring the operation of rhetorical questions, known in rhetoric as erotema. Examples include Greta Thunberg, Barack Obama and Shylock in Merchant of Venice. Mentions false dichotomy, epiplexis, Merchant of Venice, Shylock, Hypophora 11. I'M SORRY I DID IT... APOLOGIES. How to apologise, without making matters worse, for instance if you run over the next-door neighbours cat, don't glibly offer to buy them a new one. Features the six key psychological components of a successful apology. Mentions admission of guilt and regret 12. RHETORIC IN TIMES OF CRISIS. The use of rhetoric in crises, as demonstrated by Winston Churchill. We Shall Fight Them on the Beaches, kairos, People’s Republic of China, Mao Zedong, Covid-19 speech, anadiplosis, tricolon, Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Diana funeral rhetoric, Menachem Begin, BP spill 13. RHETORIC IN THE WORKPLACE. Rhetoric in LinkedIn profiles, job applications and CVs. Mentions ethos, work rhetoric, employment rhetoric, office banter, antithesis, job applications, Legally Blonde, comprobatio, CV rhetoric, TEDx Talk, rhetoric public speaking 14. RHETORIC AND PUBS (PUBS, TINDER AND THE GUTTER). The operation of rhetoric in private lives, such as in dating profiles and in wedding vows. Mentions tricolon, epizeuxis, 'education, education, education', rhetoric of Tinder, rhetorician, Grindr profile, Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen 15. THE END AND A QUIZ. A quiz to end the book. See how many rhetorical techniques you can spot in Barack Obama's acceptance speech after the 2008 presidential election in Grant Park, Chicago. Techniques to spot: kairos, anaphora, epistrophe, tricolon, antithesis, erotema, ethos, pathos, isocolon GLOSSARY. Glossary of rhetorical terms. Mentions ethos, pathos, logos, abundantia, anadiplosis, anaphora, antithesis, apodioxis, aporia, apostrophe, argumentum ad hominem, argumentum ad populum, argumentum ad rem, chiasmus, comprobatio, digressio, elenchus, enthymeme, epiplexis, epistrophe ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. Mentions CMM Literary Agency, Simon & Schuster, Kate Woodruff, Anna Stelter, Ruby Bennett, Canbury Press INDEX. Full index of rhetorical terms and historical characters used in the book, ranging from Tony Abbot, the Australian PM to Mao Zedong

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