School Is Back in Session!
A groundbreaking, practical guide to accomplishing your goals and thriving in life, written for people with ADHD, autism, trauma and anxiety.
“Overcoming the Wall of Awful is not only endlessly validating, but epically empowering. This book needs to be in the hands of everyone who has ever failed at anything.” —Jessica McCabe, New York Times bestselling author of How to ADHD
We’re afraid to talk about it—that feeling we all get when we need to do something as simple as cleaning the kitchen or sending an email and we just … can’t. It’s not because we don’t want to, it’s because we feel paralyzed. We’re not aimless. We’re not lazy. Our brains are working against us! We have purpose, we just need guidance.
This is that guide. Just like bricks, negative emotions and experiences can build up until they feel like an impenetrable wall between us and our goals. Brendan Mahan, MEd., MS. calls this the Wall of Awful—and he’s lived it. Diagnosed with ADHD as an adult, Mahan has made it his life’s work to help people overcome their own Walls of Awful and accomplish their biggest, scariest ambitions.
Mahan draws on twenty years in teaching, counseling, and coaching people with anxiety, ADHD, autism, and trauma. He teams up with writer Alex Hughes Capell in Overcoming the Wall of Awful to present his comprehensive model. The book explores:
- How anxiety works and why it gets in the way
- Ways people try to get past the Wall that don’t work—and what does
- How to climb your Wall of Awful and take back control
Learn how to identify key emotions, the bricks in your Wall. Then, learn the tricks, systems, and habits you’ll need to not just climb one Wall—but to overcome your blocks throughout your life, one step at a time. The Wall is real, but you are stronger than you know.
#1 New York Times bestselling author Harlan Coben offers a look behind the curtain at his own writing process in an inspiring, candid memoir filled with indispensable insights and techniques.
“For aspiring writers, Harlan’s advice, stories, and anecdotes are wise, proven, and valuable. For published authors, his book evokes memories of what it was like back then. It’s a romp, a riot, and a joy to read.” —John Grisham
With 100 million books in print world-wide and over twenty blockbuster television and film adaptations of his work, Harlan Coben has much to teach us about the creative process. Part deeply personal memoir, part masterclass in storytelling, Plot Twist is a refreshingly honest look at the life of a writer whose stories have thrilled us for decades.
Plumbing memories from his suburban childhood and his early years trying to break into publishing, Coben tells his own story for the first time, revealing the real-world inspirations for some of his most beloved characters as well as the innovative plots that drive his propulsive novels. Filled with useful tips and techniques on the creative process, Coben does away with the traditional “categories” of writing—characters, plot, setting, etc—and looks at the process holistically.
Plot Twist is a masterclass on the act of being a writer, and everything that comes with it: the self-doubt, the hubris, the contradictions, the passion and dedication. At the end of the day, his calculus is a simple one: “If it helps me produce pages, good. If it doesn’t, bad.” This book will help every aspiring writer produce pages.
Honest, funny, insightful, and at times deeply moving, this is both a captivating memoir and an essential guide for anyone looking to master the art of storytelling from one of our most beloved authors.
From the tenth U.S. Secretary of Education, a deeply personal love letter to all the teachers in our lives.
The story of John B. King Jr.’s inspiring path to President Obama’s Cabinet begins the day that his mother died. He insisted on going to school that day, knowing he would find comfort in his classroom. While some might have dismissed a rebellious young Black and Puerto Rican teen whose life was in crisis, King’s teachers and counselors gave him a second chance.
King went on to earn degrees from Harvard, Columbia, and Yale and committed his career to trying to do for other young people what educators did for him. Teacher By Teacher is an inspiring account of how dedicated educators—both King’s own teachers and the phenomenal teachers who he has encountered throughout his career as a teacher, principal, and education policymaker—can profoundly shape the lives of their students. King’s experiences constantly reinforce the role of schools as places of survival, healing, and hope.
This book is about overcoming challenges and the mentors who help us make it through them. Teacher By Teacher will inspire students, parents, teachers, and everyone who believes in the transformative power of education. But more than that, this book examines the life-changing impact of mentorship, especially for those who are underserved by public institutions and social systems in America.
“Teacher By Teacher is more than John King’s story. It’s an invitation to redesign schools to provide all young people—especially those most marginalized—with the inspiration, love, and support they need to thrive.” ―James Forman Jr., Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Locking Up Our Own
Discover the transformative New York Times bestseller—a step-by-step manual for mastering your inner mind for peak performance and living your life to the fullest.
As a professional baseball player, Jim Murphy’s sense of worth revolved around results. He was focused on achievement but also afraid of failure. When he started coaching professional and Olympic athletes, he often encountered the same mindset. He became obsessed with learning how the best in the world performed with poise under pressure.
After years of research, Murphy had a revelatory insight: the pursuit of extraordinary performance and the pursuit of an exceptional life are the same path.
Filled with exercises, techniques, and tools, Inner Excellence trains your heart and mind, showing you how to:
· Develop self-mastery—and let go of what you can’t control.
· Overcome anxiety—and build powerful mental habits.
· Remove mental blocks—and get out of your own way.
· Train your subconscious mind—and release limiting beliefs.
Merging two decades of research and interviews with top athletes and leaders with this training system, Inner Excellence will put you on a path towards a more satisfactory and joyful life.
An indispensable guide for taking back your life from an eating disorder and reclaiming your health—respectful, inclusive, and relatable.
“Disobey is a compassionate, practical guide for anyone navigating the challenges of an eating disorder.” —Mallary Tenore Tarpley, author of SLIP: Life in the Middle of Eating Disorder Recovery
Encouragement. Support. Freedom. When you’re struggling with an eating disorder, it can be hard to imagine that recovery is possible. Your eating disorder has probably disconnected you from your friends and family, given you so many rules to follow, and it’s even taken over your thoughts and feelings. But it’s important to remember your ED is not your best friend. It doesn’t want what’s best for you. How can you say goodbye to your eating disorder and take back your life?
In Disobey, Doctors Christina Tortolani, Renee Rienecke, and Melissa Freizinger support you on your recovery journey and show you step-by-step how to find your freedom. Using science-backed tools, you’ll learn how to push back against your eating disorder and reconnect with yourself again. Disobey also includes:
- Journal and art prompts to help you reflect on what you’ve learned
- Inspiring and reassuring stories from others who have struggled with similar challenges
- Engaging exercises so you can start practicing new behaviors and ways of thinking
Recovery is tough—but the payoff is absolutely worth it.