Books and Movies
Books and related links
Making Couples Happy – John Aiken & Alison Leigh (book) The video of the TV series may be available via a streaming service.
The seven principles for making marriage work – John M. Gottman and Nan Silver
On Father / John Birmingham
Journey from Venice: A Memoir / Ruth Cracknell
Surviving the death of a sibling: living through grief when an adult brother or sister dies / T.J. Wray; foreword by Earl Thompson
My mother, my father: On losing a parent / Susan Wyndham ed.
Male Order – Manning up in the modern world – Richard Clune
Also see my review of the book on the Blogs page.
Man Up – One Blokes Mission to Save Aussie Men (TV Series)
Breaking Out II: The Complete Guide to Building a Positive LGBTI Identity / Dr Kevin Alderson
Breaking the Rainbow Ceiling: How LGBTQ+ people can thrive and succeed at work. / Layla McCay.
Bulletproof faith: a spiritual survival guide for gay and lesbian Christians – Candace Chellew-Hodge
The male couple’s guide: finding a man, making a home, building a life / Eric Marcus
Growing up Queer in Australia / edited by Benjamin Law
Homosexual: oppression and liberation / Dennis Altman
The Asshole Survival Guide: how to deal with people who treat you like dirt – Robert I. Sutton
The No Asshole Rule: Building a Civilised Workplace and Surviving One That Isn’t – Robert Sutton (You can also see my review on the Blog page.)
Tricky people: how to deal with horrible types before they ruin your life / Andrew Fuller
The Asshole Survival Guide: how to deal with people who treat you like dirt – Robert I. Sutton
The Big Little Book of Resilience – Matthew Johnstone
Enough about you, let’s talk about me : how to recognize and manage the narcissists in your life – Les CarterEmotional Intelligence: Why it Can Matter More Than IQ – Daniel Goleman
Many of these books are available via the WA public library system.
See this link to the catalogue of the State Library for more information.
Alternatively, if you want to purchase them yourself online, some Australian options include:
Angus & Robinson, Boffins, Dymocks, Rabble Books & Games (or particularly for LGBTI related titles, try) The Bookshop Darlinghurst or Hares & Hyenas
For purchasing from overseas, the Addall website offers a mail order price comparison and online ordering via many international booksellers.
Films Potentially of Interest on a Variety of Subjects
I regularly suggest to clients, films or videos to watch, that may be of assistance to assist the client with concerns or issues they have come to see me about.
The following films, potentially accessible via youtube, one of the various streaming services, borrowed from a library, or accessible via the Kanopy streaming system, (via
public library’s) are some that I have recommended to clients in a range of scenarios.
Breathe (2017) (Movie Trailer)
A biographical film about Robin Cavendish and how he and his wife and friends were pioneers in changing how those with a disability were treated. (In this case Polio, which Robin contracted in Kenya as a newlywed.) The implications of not getting vaccinations for Polio, (as is now normal practice for children) is a secondary message. See my more extended review on LinkedIn.
A Beautiful Day in The Neighbourhood (2019) Movie Trailer
A biographical film about the U.S. children’s TV presenter Fred Rogers. A “feel good” film about a widely loved and respected gentle man who helped children deal with and in some cases challenge, conventional thinking on some social issues. This is intertwined with the story of a troubled journalist sent to write an article about him and “heroes”.
Grand Canyon (1991) Movie Trailer
The intersection (and developing friendship) of two men and their families, in Los Angeles, as the result of a chance encounter across the class and race divide.
Lion (2016) Movie Trailer
A look at the adoption of an overseas born child, (in this case of an Indian child, to an Australian family) based on the real-life experience of Saroo Brierley and his perseverance and seeking to find his family of origin.
October Sky (1999) Movie Trailer
A biographical story about an adolescent boy from a coal mining town in the U.S. who follows his dreams (despite family objections) to pursue his passion for rocketry, eventually working as an engineer for NASA.
The Road Home (1999) Movie Trailer (In Chinese with subtitles)
The love story of a young woman and the new young teacher in a remote
Chinese village (shown in retrospect) after the son gets a message that his father has died. His mother wants him to follow tradition and accompany (on foot) his father’s coffin back to the village (which he does). Eventually staying to give a class to the local children using his father’s own textbook.
Shirley Valentine (1989) Movie Trailer
The story of a bored middle-aged Liverpool housewife who goes on a trip to the Greek Islands to follow her early dreams and rekindle her love of life.
Siddharth (2013) Movie Trailer
The story of an Indian man, who goes looking for his son, after the son goes missing and the heartbreaking struggle to try to find him. A look at a heart-breaking situation where there is no resolution.
Sliding Doors. (1998) Movie Trailer
A film with multiple endings, depending on various “what if” type scenarios. What if she missed the train? What if she missed the lift. A thought-provoking story about “the fickle finger of fate” or what would have happened if for whatever reasons certain things happened or didn’t.
The Straight Story (1999) Movie Trailer
An elderly man, after a “health scare” decides, after hearing his brother (whom he has been estranged from for years,) has had a stroke, decides that he needs to visit his brother, 240 miles away. As he no longer has a driver’s licence, he decides to visit him on his motorised mower. This story is, to my eyes, one about perseverance, letting go of old disagreements and taking risks.
