~A Virtual Book Club~
We have selected these wonderful books for the fall of 2026. Stay tuned and please register below.
This Fall: as host, I am focusing on books that intrigue me, which has always been my curiosity about the mind and how we view the world, depending on our minds interpretation of the vast sensory input it receives every second. How trustworthy is the mind upon self-examination?!
- “Unseen: Blind spots and why we miss what matters most” by David Lewis & Keelan Leyser. (from Amazon blurb:) The fascinating psychology of blindspots, their complex causes, and the alarming consequences of looking without seeing.
Can we believe our eyes? Most of us are confident that we can, but we shouldn’t be so sure. Every day, we fail to see things that are right in front of us, miss sudden or unexpected changes and fall for illusions without realising it. The culprit? Blind spots. These hidden gaps in our perception are responsible for errors in operating machinery, diagnosing medical conditions, giving evidence in court and even influence how we invest our money or shop.
Unseen explores the hidden corners of the human mind where perception fails, from the everyday oversights to the deep-rooted cognitive biases that shape our worldview. Lifting the lid on how our minds shape what we see, neuropsychologist David Lewis and illusionist Keelan Leyser explore the different types of blind spots, why they occur, how they can be used to manipulate our thoughts and the practical steps we can take to avoid them. - “The Brain That Changes Itself” by Norman Doidge, M.D. From the prologue: “This book is about the revolutionary discovery that the human brain can change itself, as told through the stories of the scientists, doctors and patients who have together brought about these astonishing transformations. Without operations or medications, they have made use of the brain’s hitherto unknown ability to change.” This book is a fascinating, hopeful, and clear book on how our brains can learn and change, even from the most devastating challenges.
- “Alfie & Me~ What Owls Know, What Humans Believe” by Carl Safina. From the prologue: “My easy intimacy with an owl helped me understand what is possible when we soften our sense of contrast at the species boundary. My growing relationship with her made me want to better understand how people have viewed humanity’s relationship with nature throughout history.” Which begs the question- why are we seemingly intent on wrecking our nest? Carl takes us through the ages, enlightening us on the history of philosophy and religion, both Indigenous and western European cultures from before the fourth century B.C.E. as humanity struggles to comprehend our existence on planet Earth.
You must register here to be included on the Zoom.us registration and invitation list. These book clubs are free. However, donations to support the efforts of Olympic Peninsula Mindfulness are greatly appreciated, in order that this offering remains available-see below…
When possible, buy books locally!
“If you are interested in receiving notifications about our next book selection, please register below and we will contact you then.
Registration: Book Club
To support the cause- insight, sharing the love of great books together- please make a donation to attend the Virtual Book Club:
VENMO donations/payments are joyously accepted! If you have the app, look for: @Ellen-Falconer
Or submit a payment by check payable to:
427 Washington Street
Port Townsend, WA 98368
You can make a donation through PayPal (No PayPal account necessary – you can just use your preferred credit card on their site) using the “Buy Now” button. Note that PayPal takes out a substantial amount in fee’s.
