Social Development

Best-selling social historian Charles Murray has written a delightfully fussy - and entertaining - book on the hidden rules of the road in the workplace - and in life - from the standpoint of an admonishing, but encouraging, workplace grouch and taskmaster. Why the curmudgeon? The fact is that most older, more senior people in the workplace are closet curmudgeons. In today's politically correct world, they may hide their displeasure over your misuse of grammar or your overly familiar use of their first name without an express invitation. But don't be fooled by their pleasant demeanor....

This audio guide addresses communication from a compassionate approach, understanding your unique needs and struggles. Regardless of age, introverted personality, or past experiences, understanding communication and implementing effective techniques is not beyond your reach!

Rituals of Love is a heartfelt, beautifully written guide that shows couples how small, intentional traditions can transform their relationship—bringing deeper intimacy, emotional safety, and lasting connection. In an age of digital distractions, stress, and unrealistic expectations, this book invites partners to replace rigid “rules” with simple rituals that strengthen trust, rekindle passion, and help love breathe again.

For anyone who has ever dreamed of love, sex, and companionship beyond the limits of traditional monogamy, this groundbreaking guide navigates the infinite possibilities that open relationships can offer. Experienced ethical sluts Dossie Easton and Janet W. Hardy dispel myths and cover all the skills necessary to maintain a successful and responsible polyamorous lifestyle.

Read People like a Book isn’t a normal book on body language or facial expressions. Yes, it includes all of those things, as well as new techniques on how to truly detect lies in your everyday life, but this book is more about understanding human psychology and nature. We are who we are because of our experiences and pasts, and this guides our habits and behaviors more than anything else. Parts of this book are like the most interesting and applicable psychology textbook you’ve ever used. Take a look inside yourself and others!

Authored by counselor Dr. Richard Plass and spiritual director James Cofield, The Relational Soul brings together concepts from psychology and spiritual formation. Each chapter includes introductory stories and practical "If this is true, what about you?" questions to help listeners engage in relationships in more life-giving ways. When the presence of Christ and community connects with a soul that is open, we witness the miracle of transformation.

Nationally recognized communication expert, keynote speaker and trainer and best-selling author Debra Fine reveals the techniques and strategies anyone can use to make small talk—in any situation. With practical advice and conversation cheat sheets, The Fine Art of Small Talk will help you learn to feel more comfortable in any type of social situation.

Learn how to quickly gain confidence and skills to socialize and communicate with anyone in any situation. Always know what to say. Never again be afraid to be assertive. Learn the art of charisma. Approach any situation with a calm confidence. Take the guesswork out of decoding nonverbal cues and discover how to decipher the hidden meanings behind people's gestures and expressions with the definitive guide to understanding body language!

In this program Denis Waitley combines timeless, winning strategies with fresh insights into the real world of emerging women. Filled with life stories of women who are peak performers and the core principles they share, it is a compass for self-discovery and achievement. These women display a combination of ideas, enthusiasm, and energy for taking initial success to new heights by turning "stress" into "stretch".

These two guides will help you overcome shyness and social anxiety and master becoming a more confident person in your relationships and work with simple, effective, and fast steps.

Based partly on the author's experience, partly on her in-depth interviews, and partly on a questionnaire she developed with psychologist Holly Barrett to which almost 600 women responded, Father Loss provides the clearest portrait yet of a very special group of women. As a group, they express their insecurities ("Sometimes I wonder if I'll ever be able to love a man totally...because that would mean I didn't love my father anymore." - Leslie).

The 25 Minute Meeting goes beyond "cut to the chase" and shows you how to take back your work day with smarter planning and more productive action. Meetings have become a de facto way of working, and as they pile up and stretch to interminable lengths, they eat up our days and sink productivity - if they are poorly planned and run. Done well, meetings are short, sharp, productive affairs that provide critical time and space for the interactions that drive business forward.

John C. Maxwell has been a public speaker and motivational teacher for more than fifty years. He is one of only eight people on the planet who have been awarded Toastmaster’s Golden Gavel and been inducted into the National Speakers' Association Hall of Fame. In The 16 Undeniable Laws of Communication: Apply Them and Make the Most of Your Message, he shares everything he’s learned from a lifetime of communication.

For many people, self-doubt isn’t just an annoying thought—it’s a constant emergency mode, driving anxiety, overthinking, fear of failure, and a chronic inability to trust yourself. In Doubtless, psychologist and bestselling author Dr. Aziz Gazipura offers a powerful new approach to confidence and personal growth—one that doesn’t rely on hype, forced positivity, or pretending you’re fearless.

How do master storytellers compel us? There have been many attempts to understand what makes a good story, but few have used a scientific approach. In The Science of Storytelling, Will Storr applies dazzling psychological research and cutting-edge neuroscience to our myths and archetypes to show how we can tell better stories, revealing, among other things, how storytellers - and also our brains - create worlds by being attuned to moments of unexpected change.

Families are complex woven with love, loyalty, tradition, and often, unspoken pain. Untangling the Web of Family is a powerful exploration of the invisible threads that bind and sometimes entrap us. This book offers listeners a compassionate yet honest look at how family dynamics shape our identities, behaviors, and emotional well-being. Drawing from real-life stories, psychological insights, and practical tools, this guide helps you recognize toxic patterns, set healthy boundaries, and foster meaningful communication.

Born with autism, both Temple Grandin and Sean Barron now live famously successful social lives. However, their paths were quite different. Temple's logical mind controlled her social behavior. She interacted with many adults and other children, experiencing varied social situations. Logic informed her decision to obey social rules and avoid unpleasant consequences. Sean's emotions controlled his social behavior.

Some people bounce back in response to setbacks; others break. We often think that these responses are hardwired, but fortunately this is not the case. Stoicism offers us an alternative approach. Plumbing the wisdom of one of the most popular and successful schools of thought from ancient Rome, philosopher William B. Irvine teaches us to turn any challenge on its head. The Stoic Challenge, then, is the ultimate guide to improving your quality of life through tactics developed by ancient Stoics, from Marcus Aurelius and Seneca to Epictetus.

In Empty Your Backpack, Sam Demma demonstrates that your dreams are in reach, and it's the beliefs you carry and the actions you take that determine whether you will achieve them. Demma provides a guide on how to move closer to your dreams faster than you ever imagined. He shows that by cultivating empowering beliefs while committing to consistent actions that fuel your creativity and growth, you can make things happen in your life the way you envision.

We raise our children to be independent and lead fulfilling lives, but when they finally do, staying close becomes more complicated than ever. And for every bewildered mother who wonders why her children don't call, there is a frustrated son or daughter who just wants to be treated like a grownup. Now, renowned editor Jane Isay delivers the perfect gift to both parents and their adult children-real-life wisdom and advice on how to stay together without falling apart.