My book club first started meeting in January of 2013. We’re an informal group who now meet approximately every other month on Zoom to discuss a book about self-development, productivity, well-being and other inspirational themes. We have delved into vulnerability, presence, the body-mind connection, the Alexander Technique, and how to create and change a habit.
We have enjoyed reading books such as Emotional Agility by Susan David, Quiet by Susan Cain, Rising Strong by Brené Brown, Life in Five Senses by Gretchen Rubin, and many more (see full list at the bottom of this page).
Our current book is Playful: How Play Shifts Our Thinking, Inspires Connection, and Sparks Creativity by Cas Holman.
Description:
A designer, educator, and play expert calls for adults to add more fun, exploration, and imagination to their lives
“Radiant and essential … this book brings a sense of transcendence. Reading it was not only inspiring; it was joyful.” —Elizabeth Gilbert, NYT bestselling author of Big Magic
We’re all born playful. But when we grow up, we learn to suppress this critical, hardwired instinct and our lives become ruled by “getting things done.” As world-famous designer Cas Holman explains, this disconnection from our playful selves is hazardous to everything from our emotional wellbeing to our ability to problem solve and innovate. The emerging science of play shows that it sparks joy, wonder, creativity, and insight at any age.
Here, Holman explains the power of “free play” through open-ended, unstructured activities that we become absorbed in with no obvious goal or purpose. The ways we can play are endless and what recharges us most is unique to each of us: whether it’s a piece of art we create, an entertaining conversation with a stranger, or an experiment to shake up a routine task. Weaving in inspiring stories and eye-opening research, Holman shows us that adopting a playful mindset is crucial in helping us:
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- Overcome fear of failure and embrace new ways of thinking
- Destress, reset, and connect with each other
- Grow our creativity at every stage of our lives
- Find joy in bleak times
Playful draws on psychology, history, art, and design thinking to make a powerful case for the vital importance of play for grown-ups in a world obsessed with productivity. Provocative, wise, and full of spirit, it will inspire you to (re) learn how to play.
is available from Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and most other bookstores. If you order through bookshop.org it will connect to your local independent bookstore.
The BodyIntelligence Book Club is free to join, and we currently meet on Zoom. We are a small, informal group and the discussions are free-flowing! The only cost involved is the price of the book/s. If you’re interested in joining, or simply want to find out more, please get in touch. Guests are welcome.
The Book Club also has a virtual presence within my Facebook group, the BodyIntelligence Community, where I post about the books we read. It also allows for discussion between meetings, and for people anywhere in the world to join in. The group’s main focus is self-care and personal development, which ties right in with the subject matter of the books we read.
Please click here, if you’d like to join the BodyIntelligence Community Facebook group.
Next Meeting:
Thursday, January 8, 2026
7:00 – 8:30 PM US Eastern Time
Zoom
Past books we have enjoyed:
Anchored: How to Befriend Your Nervous System Using Polyvagal Theory by Deb Dana
Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life by Dacher Keltner
Life in Five Senses by Gretchen Rubin
Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times by Katherine May
Bodyfulness: Somatic Practices for Presence, Empowerment, and Waking Up in This Life by Christine Caldwell
Fierce Self-Compassion by Kristin Neff
Atlas of the Heart: Mapping Meaningful Connection and the Language of Human Experience by Brené Brown
Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know by Adam Grant
Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Emily Nagoski and Amelia Nagoski
Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell
Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
The XX Brain: The Groundbreaking Science Empowering Women to Maximize Cognitive Health and Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease by Lisa Mosconi
Happy: Why More or Less Everything Is Fine by Derren Brown
The War for Kindness: Building Empathy in a Fractured World by Jamil Zaki
Tell Me More by Kelly Corrigan
Blink: The Power of Thinking without Thinking by Malcolm Gladwell
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo
When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing by Daniel Pink
Emotional Agility by Susan David
Presence by Amy Cuddy
How the Body Knows Its Mind by Sian Beilock
Thrive by Arianna Huffington
Quiet by Susan Cain
Rising Strong by Brené Brown
Better Than Before by Gretchen Rubin
Body, Breath and Being by Carolyn Nicholls
Befiddled by Pedro de Alcantara
Change Your Posture, Change Your Life by Richard Brennan
Master the Art of Working Out by Malcolm Balk and Andrew Shields
The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown
Principles of the Alexander Technique by Jeremy Chance
Natural Posture for Pain-Free Living by Kathleen Porter
How You Stand, How You Move, How You Live by Missy Vineyard
Indirect Procedures: A Musician’s Guide to the Alexander Technique by Pedro de Alcantara
Body Learning by Michael Gelb
Be In Balance by Angela Bradshaw
How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci by Michael Gelb
F. Matthias Alexander: The Man and his Work by Lulie Westfeldt
Daring Greatly by Brené Brown
The Open Focus Brain by Les Fehmi and Jim Robbins
The Happiness Track by Emma Seppälä
Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
Get Some Headspace: How Mindfulness Can Change Your Life in Ten Minutes a Day by Andy Puddicombe
Non-Violent Communication by Marshall B. Rosenberg
The Power of Kindness by Piero Ferrucci
The Sweet Spot: How to Find Your Grove at Home and Work by Christine Carter
Back in Balance: Use the Alexander Technique to Combat Neck, Shoulder and Back Pain by Richard Brennan
First Impressions: What You Don’t Know About How Others See You by Ann Demarais and Valerie White
Option B, Facing Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy by Sheryl Sandberg and Adam Grant
Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself by Kristin Neff
Braving the Wilderness by Brené Brown
Positivity by Barbara Fredrickson
Bliss: One Hero’s Journey by Gary Ramsey
Calm Clarity: How to Use Science to Rewire Your Brain by Due Quach
The 7 Laws of Enough: Cultivating a Life of Sustainable Abundance by Gina LaRoche and Jennifer Cohen
Livewired: The Inside Story of the Ever-Changing Brain by David Eagleman
Happiness Becomes You by Tina Turner
What We Say Matters by Judith Hanson Laster and Ike K. Laster
In Touch: How to Tune In to the Inner Guidance of Your Body and Trust Yourself by John J. Prendergast
Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro
by Gabor Maté