Calm

Trains delayed, kids squabbling before bedtime, endless emails filling the inbox: everyone needs more calm in their life.

The evidence in favour of calmness is huge. Practices like meditation and mindfulness improve life expectancy, productivity at work, health and even personal happiness. And you can reach Calm any way you like: take a walk with nowhere to go, savour a chocolate on the tip of your tongue, plant a seed, doodle pointlessly, notice the world around you. Smile, breathe and go slowly.

Based on his work with mindfulness gurus and neurological experts alike, Michael Acton Smith's unique handbook is filled with activities, inspiration and clearly explained research. It can be read in any order you like, encouraging every reader to find their own path to calmness.