.png)
Metacognition is proving to be exceedingly important to the treatment of all mental health issues. Being able to help your client form greater insight inevitably enhances their ability to cope with triggers, better understand disconnects with reality and relationships, and evaluate their personal patterns that contribute to their stressors or life circumstances. So, of course, I disappeared down a rabbit hole of research and books focused on the subject from various angles and degrees of research.
Metacognition: awareness and understanding of one's own thought processes.
Know Thyself by Stephen M. Fleming
This book focused on the recent discoveries in neuropsychology regarding the origins and maintenance of metacognition in the structure of the brain. Fleming describes fairly complex subjects with aplomb and clarity. If you pick up no other book on this list, pick up this one.
Blink by Malcolm Gladwell
Malcolm Gladwell is one of my absolute favorites when it comes to a journalists approach to neuropsychology. You will undoubtedly find another one of his books on Remedy House at some point. Blink focuses on the practical implications of metacognition and the ways we use the advantages of our extremely efficient subconscious to perform at extremely high levels. Think of this book as a collection of case studies on metacognition.
Say What You Mean by Oren Jay Sofer
Oren Jay Sofer is a practitioner of non-violent communication and has been relied upon by prestigious groups to navigate increasingly difficult conflict. This book is on this list because Sofer discusses the need for thoughtful and reflective engagement with others which is only possible because of our human ability to self-reflect. Sofer takes the idea of metacognition and applies it to the most daunting task we face as humans who desire to connect: interpersonal communication.
The Man Who Wasn't There by Anil Ananthaswamy
Of all the books on this list, this might have been my favorite to read. If you are at all a fan of Oliver Sack's works, you will love this book. Ananthaswamy details some well-known and some obscure states of mind that are thought to be direct interactions with abnormal brain structure. The case studies are very interesting and will help you more empathetically and carefully approach severe mental illness that is reality-altering for those experiencing them.
Aware by Daniel Siegel
If you are a fan of mindfulness and are looking for a therapeutic approach that is considerate of the structure of the mind, this is a great place to start. Siegel is well-known for his books on parenting and so when I saw this book, I was excited to pick it up. Siegel, in great detail, reveals his Wheel of Awareness guided meditation and I truly enjoyed implementing it into my daily routine. What I enjoyed about his approach is that it felt more tangible and less unwieldy to me in practice. I feel that clients would more easily appreciate this especially if they are beginners in their mindfulness practice.
Of course, my reading will not end here on this topic as it is entirely to encompassing and interesting, however, these are currently the top five reads on the topic for me.
What books would you add to this list?