David Tuffley (PhD) is a Senior Lecturer in Applied Ethics & Socio-Technical Studies at Griffith University in Australia.
David writes on a broad range of interests; from Comparative Religion, Anthropology, Psychology, Ancient and Modern History, Linguistics, Rhetoric, Philosophy, Architectural History, Environments and Ecosystems.
Smashwords Interview
Do you publish under a nom de plume?
Yes, Altiora Publications. See the interview with AP.
Harmony is essential for a happy, fulfilling life. But knowing how eludes many in the stress and strain of everyday lie, though it is knowledge that is readily available if you know where to look. Lao Tzu’s enduring classic the Tao te Ching is one such source, its lessons as true today as they were 3,500 years ago. Written here in plain English, simple and life affirming.
Surfing has grown from a pastime enjoyed in old Polynesia to a global pursuit with legions of devoted fans, the author among them. For many, surfing is a state-of-mind, a life-style that has become a consuming passion. This concise collection of surfing terms gives the outsider or beginner a window into the culture and language of surfing. Seasoned surfers already know these terms.
A short, practical guide for cultivating an enduringly happier state of mind based on the pioneering work of Christopher Peterson and Martin Seligman whose 2004 book Character Strengths and Virtues is considered a classic.
When you live with an attitude of gratitude, you inner world comes into harmony with your outer world, recognizing that so much of what nourishes and sustains you in life comes from a source beyond yourself. Gratitude makes you whole and happy because you feel part of something much bigger than yourself, part of everything. Whether you have a little or a lot, you can be happy if you are grateful.
Since the beginning, seafarers have put to sea and crossed oceans in often hazardous voyages. Today, the contribution of these traders, fishermen, explorers and warriors remains in their rich language. There are hundreds of expressions that people use every day that comes from the nautical world. It is interesting to know what they are and where they come from. Add this eBook to your collection.
Have you noticed, life has a way of throwing challenges your way that can knock you down? If you do not have sufficient resilience, it may be very difficult to pick yourself up and keep moving forwards. This book gives you a wide range of strategies that help you become the person who can pick themselves up and keep moving forwards, stronger than you were before.
Practical, down-to-earth advice on what Social Anxiety is, what causes it and how you can deal with it. In this no-nonsense how-to guide you will get a set of Cognitive Behaviour Therapies that have been proven to work with a generation of sufferers. – use them, safe in the knowledge that these have already worked for countless people already, people who now live richer, more satisfying lives.
When you keep your expectations low, you are seldom disappointed, and often happy. Living your life with low expectations is a tremendously liberating way to live; an excellent way to find lasting happiness. Your relationship with the world becomes a steady state where you are usually if not always feeling good. Read this eBook to find out how to get off the emotional roller-coaster and be happy.
If you can observe your thoughts, who exactly is doing the observing? It is not the ‘I’ that has a name and a life history -- your egoic self. This simple question is at the centre of the great religions and spiritual traditions in the world. Learn about this new dimension of thought by cultivating the gentle art of mindfulness.
All of us operate below our maximum potential. Moving towards a self-actualized state is not only possible but your birth right. There is no more worthwhile thing in life than to move towards the fulfilment of your potential. This eBook is a primer to get you started. There is no one right way; each of us will have our own way. Why not make a start today? Nothing to lose, everything to gain.
It is good news that there are some simple rules that we inherited from our evolutionary past that have been proven to be true for everyone, everywhere; a few rules that you can apply to your life, wherever you live. The guidelines in this eBook are the distilled essence of the long-lived lifestyle, condensed from a multitude of sources across cultures and over many years.
Reaching our fullest human potential is our destiny and by necessity must be our mission in life. Understanding this and making self-actualization your mission in life is the secret of true happiness. This short eBook uses Maslow’s work to paint a portrait of the self-actualizing person. Let it guide you on your own unique journey.
Let this highly readable how-to guide change loneliness into enjoyable solitude. This remarkable eBook can help you towards a fuller expression of your human potential. The happiness of a meaningful life.
Every Moment is the Best Moment is for anyone seeking a richer, deeper experience of life. The modern world is pre-occupied with material wealth. A good standard of living is great, but when wealth and status becomes an end in themselves, we have lost sight of what is most important in life. This eBook can help you cultivate a higher awareness while continuing to live in the world.
Assertiveness is a zone on the spectrum between Passivity and Aggression. This book shows you how to find that zone, that sweet-spot. Assertiveness is about rights; yours and those of others. finding a balance between them. Aggressive people violates the rights of others, while the passive person violates their own. he assertive person finds a win-win way to balance these competing interests.
In Being Happy Part 1 we explored the dynamics of happiness through self-actualisation, the achievement of your fullest potential. In Part 2, we discuss the work of Martin Seligman, a foremost proponent of the positive psychology movement and a leading source of advice on being happy.
Do you enjoy a drink or two in the company of others, or does it go beyond that? Where do you draw the line between what is good for you and what might be doing you harm? if you can stop after a couple of drinks, then you don't have a problem. But if you have difficulty stopping, when one drink is too many and twenty is not enough, then yes, maybe your drinking has moved into the red zone.
Happiness is an elusive quality for many in today’s world. But there is a powerful, little known secret in the pursuit of happiness. It takes a minute to learn and a lifetime to perfect. It is simply this; to not mind what happens and not react. It is the gentle art of not taking offence and learning to go with the flow. Settle in for the ride as the secret of strategic non-action is revealed.
Everything an absolute beginner needs to get out there on the water and start enjoying life far from the madding crowd, out where it is just you and the sea and sky.
If you're planning on buying a boat or already have one that's not being used, it's time to learn how to use it. You can start this great learning journey by reading Beginner's Guide to Boating (includes Glossary of Nautical terms).
Do you want to do a PhD? Not sure if you have what it takes? David Tuffley paints a picture of the successful PhD student; how they think, how they act, how they get the job done. Use it to put yourself in this picture. Maybe you want to do academic research, or maybe become a highly paid knowledge worker whose analytical skills and discipline put you at the top of your league.
There is an art and a science to long life and happiness. At the physical level, longevity is about keeping your body flexible and in good working order. Mentally it is keeping your mind clear and sharp, thinking creatively. Spiritually, it is being at peace with your world. Each of these is discussed in detail in this comprehensive how to guide. This might be the most useful book you ever read.
Highly creative people are among the highest paid in the world today. Prestigious organisations compete to get the most creative people on-board. It is a skill you can take to the bank. This book shows you how to cultivate a highly creative mind-set, plus the leadership qualities that will ensure you are taken seriously. Make this the year you take your life to a higher level.
In Desolation Row, Bob Dylan takes a collection of classic themes and weaves a rich fabric that expresses the reality of 1960’s America. Dylan is not only a deep thinker, but also a broad thinker who articulates and condenses his ideas into elegant verse. He has been described as one of the most significant poets of the Twentieth Century, this epic poem is arguably his finest work.
First-person account by British Army Private Albert Money of his experiences in one of the bloodiest and most futile battles of World War 1. Seriously wounded by machine gun fire he spent hours in No-man's land lying in a muddy ditch surrounded by the dead and dying, eventually crawling back to the British trenches. Casualties for the day, 10,000 men. Territory gained, not a single inch.
The Dhammapada is a foundational text of the Theravada Buddhist tradition. It is a collection of 423 verses, grouped into 26 themes that the Buddha was fond of telling to those who would gather around and listen. They are the oral teachings of the Enlightened One. How delightful it is to imagine him under a shady tree with a group of people around him, telling these gems of spiritual instruction.
As English has evolved, words that were once in common usage have slipped out of usage. Some are delightful, others not so much. This eBook blows the dust off over a thousand delightful words, bringing them back to life for a whole new audience. So if you enjoy words for their own sake, or know someone who does, this is the book for you. Makes a great gift.
What is it about airline travel (in Coach/Economy) that brings out the worst in people? Brief and to the point, this short eBook is written in plain English for anyone travelling on airlines who wants to make the experience more enjoyable. Follow the advice for a trouble-free flight. It is written by a seasoned traveller with the keen eye of the social scientist.
The Four Sublime States are the best possible relationship with the world and everyone in it. They also offer the possibility of liberation from the cycle of re-birth when your time comes to leave this life. Could there be a more worthy goal in life than this? The Buddha urged us to adopt these sublime states, making them our habitual state of mind with which to embrace the entire world.
Charisma is a subtle light that shines from within a person who is living their life to its fullest potential. It is perceived as the result of certain outward behaviors, yet true charisma comes from deep within a person approaching self-realization. This heightened awareness has been called enlightenment, Satori, awakening. In this book it is called self-actualization. Find out how you can do it.
Anger Management: a Self-Help Guide gives you a fresh perspective on the nature of anger. Once you see it in this new light, it becomes easier to manage. You understand what it is. It will never go away completely since it is part of human nature, but it can be brought under control so that it does not continue to create problems for you or the people around you.
The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius is a perennial, belonging to a very special category of book that has but a few members out of the millions of books ever published; longevity. It has a simple, powerful message that is as fresh and useful today as it was nearly two thousand years ago. The greater the Truth, the more simply it can be put. Put it to work in your own life and live better.
The Enchiridion of Epictetus is a classic Stoic text, now written in modern English. Long considered an excellent manual of practical philosophy, you can apply it beneficially to your everyday life. The timeless message of the Enchiridion is as practical today as it was in ancient Greece. Perhaps this is where the it gets its enduring power and long-life. It really does work, start using it today.
Strategic non-action is a powerful yet under-rated method of influencing events. In the West, action is considered a virtue while inaction is little more than laziness or cowardice.
An understanding of strategic non-action gives you access to a deeper intuitive awareness than that gained through action, since knowledge that comes through action is obscured by situation-specific reactions.
Despite standards of living at an all-time high, why do so many people live in misery and despair? This concise eBook can give you the tools you need to feel better and find real enjoyment in life. Healthy self-esteem is your birthright, not a luxury afforded to the lucky few.
Communications for ICT is an essential guide to technical communication for IT professionals. Whether you want to become a Technical Writer, or simply an IT professional who wants to become better at doing documentation (and that can boost your career), this handy guide is for you. It was written as a text book for a first year University course for IT students.
The Artful Traveller is a person who seeks an authentic experience of a city by strolling about it in an unstructured way, responding intuitively to what they encounter. The Artful Traveller remains detached, non-judgmental; appreciating the nuanced perceptions that come their way. Use this book to give your travel a whole new dimension.
The Writing Process is a practical, plain English guide for people who are not experienced writers of non-technical prose. By diligently applying the principles outlined here, you will extend your writing capability towards a professional level.
Writer’s Block; if you are reading this, you have probably experienced it as the painful condition of having to complete a complex writing task, but being unable to get started and/or finish the job. With the right approach, almost any writing task can be managed.
Overcoming Writer’s Block is a practical guide for anyone wishing to learn some practical strategies t
The Guide to Effective Report Writing outlines a practical method for professionals in a wide range of disciplines to develop and maintain reports that address the needs of the reader and which are expressed in language easily understood by the reader.
This eBook outlines the distilled essence of meditation practice. It is based on a broad study of the many meditation traditions that have grown up over time in different parts of the world.
Once you know the essential basics, you can adapt the technique to suit your needs. Meditation is something that can be learned in a few minutes, but which can take a lifetime to perfect.
Australian slang is richly-textured, often ribald world of understatement, complete with back-handed compliments and laconic humor. This eBook helps visitors to Australia decipher what they hear around them in everyday Australian life. It also gives the causal reader some insight into the often hilarious nature of Australian culture.
Waldeinsamkeit ist das besondere Gefühl, das Sie erhalten, wenn Sie entspannt sind und genießen, in den Wald. Es ist eine Gemeinde mit der Natur. Dieses kurze Ebook zeigt Ihnen, wie Sie in den Wald und die Gemeinde mit dem Geist der Natur zu gehen können.
True happiness, lasting happiness is within everyone's grasp through a process known as Self-Actualisation, a natural state within the reach of everyone. This kind of happiness cannot be obtained through the acquisition of things. The fleeting gratification in getting things is not true happiness. That is an illusion created by our global consumer society.
Email, what would you do without it? But do you know how to use it without annoying people? This short easy guide gives you the simple do's and don'ts. First published in 2000, this guide has been widely praised for its simplicity and ease-of-use. Let it work for you. Also contains a handy reference for commonly used acronyms and emoticons.
Tokme Zangpo's classic 14th Century guide for travellers on the path to enlightenment. A companion to Santideva’s classic work the Bodhicaryavatara.
While there are English translations of this text, they are a little difficult to understand for many readers living in the 21st Century. The mode of expression and the figures of speech are the product of that far-off time.
This ancient text was written in Sanskrit around 700 CE by Santideva, renowned Buddhist monk and scholar. This version is written in easy to understand language accessible to the modern reader.
If you are embarking on the path to enlightenment, or just curious, this book could be just the change agent you have been looking for. It is said to be one of the Dalai Lama's favorite texts.
For thousands of years people have tried to understand the elusive quality of Leadership. Still no consensus. What it means to be a leader differs according to the circumstances. This book examines the timeless, underlying qualities that must be present in a person if they are to be perceived as a leader by those around them.
The distilled essence of Buddhism in plain English. Contains the essential truths that you can apply in your life. Short and simple, packed with meaning.
Intuition can be cultivated by building an awareness of how your microcosmic inner self is a small but perfectly formed representation of the macrocosm outside. This is how you are connected to all things; in a sense you are all things. The felt awareness of this ultimate Truth is Enlightenment. You don't just think it, you feel that it is true, know it at a deep level.
Nature is the manifestation of the Cosmic Mind. There is a pervasive non-conceptual intelligence that permeates Nature and which finds expression in the billions of life-forms and intricate ecosystems that make up the biosphere of this planet. Anyone who invests the time to know Nature is richly rewarded for their effort. Close communion with Nature is one of the great pleasures in life.