Category: Non Fiction

Categories
Biography Non Fiction Self help

Now is Not the Time for Flowers, Stacey Heale

When Stacey’s husband, Greg, is diagnosed with incurable cancer, Stacey’s life as she knew it comes to a halt. Confronted with this devastating reality, Stacey explores the profound differences between our expectations and reality in this part self-help, part memoir book.

Stacey takes readers on a journey through the complexities of grief in modern life, revealing the messy and unexpected realities of love, desire, motherhood, death, grief, identity, personal growth, and the challenges and questions that arise from our nuanced lives.

‘Now is Not the Time for Flowers’ is a truly honest reflection of grief and all its complexities. I found Stacey’s writing refreshing; her honesty resonated, and she articulates so well what many of us fail to put into words. Her words are comforting, and her perspectives on life are encouraging – I don’t think I have highlighted so many things in one book before.

I loved how the book had short chapters and jumped between topics. Many books on grief reflect on a few topics in great detail, but in doing so, they leave out so much and become repetitive. Grief is messy; it impacts many parts of our lives and can leave our minds jumping ferociously between different thoughts and emotions, and I felt this reflected in this book. No stone is left unturned, and Stacey doesn’t shy away from any thought, making it more authentic and relatable than most books on grief.

Other themes which come to light in the book, and which I found incredibly enlightening, include the power of social media networks, the relationship between grief and capitalism, the experiences of women and how we find ourselves playing roles throughout our lives, and the concept of a teenage bedroom as a site for identity construction.

This book is not only for those who have dealt with grief or know someone who is terminally ill but for everyone, as it serves as a poignant reminder of why we should find joy in every day. Thank you, Stacey, for sharing your and Greg’s story.

Categories
Biography Non Fiction Self help

Mad Woman, Bryony Gordon

Ten years after the release of her debut book, mental health advocate Bryony Gordon’s continues to offer us a raw and unfiltered glimpse into her ongoing battles with mental illness, in her latest book ‘Mad Woman’.

In this unique blend of autobiography and self-help, Bryony delves into her recent experiences of menopause, binge eating and the continuous battle she faces with OCD, personified as the notorious Jareth the Goblin King. Through her candid storytelling, she invites us as readers to emphasise with the challenges she faces each day as someone living with mental health illnesses including her recovery from alcoholism – has she broken her sobriety by taking cough medicine?

In addition to sharing the experiences she faced throughout the years of the pandemic, Bryony also reflects on many broader societal issues, including the dismissal of women’s health concerns, and damaging assumptions about body weight and fitness. Most groundbreakingly she reflects on what she has learnt about mental health illnesses throughout her journey – perhaps we aren’t the problem but existing in a world where we are constantly in a state of perma-crisis is, offering a poignant realisation that perhaps our brains are simply trying to keep us safe (the unveil of which is emotional).

What sets Bryony apart from other mental health advocates is that she tackles difficult subjects and infuses her narrative with a touch of humility and wit. Through moments of raw honesty and humour, she takes readers on an emotional rollercoaster, offering hope and most importantly making them feel less alone and united in mental illness struggles.

Raw, honest and hilarious, Bryony is the mental health bestie we all need. 5 stars.

Categories
Non Fiction Politics

Politics, But Better, Tatton Spiller

From the founder of Simple Politics comes a guide on how we can rediscover the heart of our democracy, reshape our political system and make the UK a better place for all.

With all the issues we hear which occurs at No.10 and it’s surroundings (especially over the past few years!) it is no wonder so many have lost faith in politics! However, Tatton Spiller brings to light twenty six issues in this A-Z guide and makes suggestions on how we can deal with them putting humanity and respect at the very forefront.

Perhaps there is hope after all.

I have always had an interest in politics but in our twenty four hour always on world it can be so incredibly difficult to keep up – not to mention anxiety inducing! That is where Simple Politics is incredibly useful as if you visit their Instagram you will see you get the facts, which are always partial, and they explain things in a way which the average person can understand. As a result of following them for years- I was very excited to see this book which was written by the founder!

The book is split in an A-Z style- each letter representing a different issue which is present in politics. This was a brilliant way to touch on many different issues, which were discussed partially, drawing upon evidence, as well as suggestions being made on how we could approach certain issues.

Tatton presents his thoughts in a unbiased way and draws upon examples from both the left and right, which makes this book a decent read no matter where you sit on the political scale. My only slight draw back is that there was a chapter which explained the values of conservatism but we didn’t get a similar chapter on the left and I think that would have made a wonderful addition especially for a reader who may be completely new to politics and/or someone who may have never opened their mind to the other viewpoint.

When I finished this book the main thing I took was we need to do better. We live in a world where you do something wrong- you get cancelled. You have an opinion- it if it doesn’t suit the majority then you receive unwarranted abuse. Throughout the book we are encouraged to be able to have debates, to listen to each other and to respect different opinions which I thought was such an important message.

Overall, a very enlightening read. I really hope one day we can see respect at the heart of our government again – Tatton for PM?

Many thanks to the publishers Elliot & Thompson and to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Politics, But Better will be published on the 7th September 2023.

Categories
Health Mind & Body Non Fiction

Home Detox, Daniella Chase

Something which we aren’t often taught at school is that our homes are full of more toxins than the outside world! So many products which we use everyday are having an impact on our health, and this does not need to be the case as there are many safer alternatives out there.

In this practical and easy to understand guide toxicologist, Daniella Chace, teaches us how to identify toxins, gives us steps on how to remove them, and suggests many alternatives.

The book is split by room and for each room the author gives us a ‘Toxic Ten’ (the 10 most toxic things which are commonly found in the identified room), and gives us a step by step cleaning guide to remove toxins from that particular room. The book is concise, accessible and gives clear actions for everyone, no matter what your prior knowledge is of this subject.

I completely underestimated what I was going to get out of this book. If I am completely honest the two things which initially drew me to this book was one was that I share the same name with the author, and the other being that it is going to be published on my birthday! My initial expectations were that it would be a Marie Kondo style book- focusing on decluttering. However, it is so much more than that. Home Detox is the science lesson I never had at school and was a real eye- opener. How some of these things are allowed to be sold is really questionable!

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and found it so empowering and informative. Some habits will definitely be harder to shift that others (thinking of my candle addiction), but other things I was really keen to try straight away. This book has certainly made me more mindful of the products I use (and will make me think twice about future purchases).

With thanks to NetGalley and Storey Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Home Detox is out now.

Categories
Non Fiction Self help

Belonging, Geoffrey L. Cohen

We live in hugely divisive times. Them vs. Us cultures are on the rise, there has been growth in hate crimes, and, despite being more connected than ever before (with thanks to technology), one in five Americans suffer from chronic loneliness, it is no wonder people feel more alienated than ever!

To show how we can bridge these divides and create connection, Standford University Professor, Geoffrey L. Cohen, applies his and other’s research to the myriad problems of communal existence and offers concrete solutions for improving daily life.

Many of us have heard of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, which highlights the importance of a sense of belonging to humans. Despite living in what feels like fractured times, Cohen uses science to show how we can establish connection as well as the ripple effects this can have on our entire society.

Belonging is the most academic piece of literature I’ve read since finishing my Sociology degree four and a half years ago. Whilst it was different from my usual, crime fiction reads, it was incredibly insightful and informative, and even made me miss studying!

Filled with statistics, studies, and anecdotes this book looks at our sense of belonging within society and the impact that has in a vast number of areas including school, work, policing, politics, and health. It is evident the effect sense of belonging, or lack of it, has on society as the studies show the increased/decreased potential, well-being, and outcomes for individuals, depending on whether they feel alienated.

As well as showing us the impact of whether you feel like you belong, Geoffrey Cohen also offers us practical advice on how we can foster a sense of belonging; showing us that even just the smallest acts, such as a change in language, can validate people’s sense of belonging. Knowing that there is stuff we can all do, was inspiring leaving me thinking how I can incorporate some of these things in my own life. It also offered a lot of hope- suggesting that we don’t need to feel alone, there is another way.

Overall, a very insightful read, teachers and managers would really benefit from reading this, but really any one of us can take something from it and take responsibility for fostering a culture where we feel like we all belong. Five Stars.  

Categories
Non Fiction Self help

The School of Life: On Mental Illness, The School of Life

The School of Life: On Mental Illness is a short but very well-rounded guide on mental illness and achieving emotional wellbeing.

Rather than focusing on specific illnesses it focuses on how and why we become mentally unwell, how we can reframe ourselves and how we think to overcome some of the difficulties we face. There is also a huge emphasis on how we can dismantle stigma of mental health within through its gentle reminders that we are not alone no matter how isolated a mental illness can make us feel.

Despite being a short book, a vast number of topics are touched upon. The book starts with reasons to live and goes on to explore areas such as acceptance, medication, love, community, modernity, and self-compassion to name just a few.

Having read books by The School of Life before and enjoying them and with mental health being an area of interest of mine, I was very excited to read this book and was not disappointed.

As soon as I started reading the book felt a warm and reassuring conversation with a friend. Having had my own struggles with mental illness in the past, I felt like the book understood everything I have felt in the past and some of the theories and ideas it presented highly resonated with me and the way I think and feel about the world. Whilst a lot of the stuff was familiar the reminders were invaluable.

I have seen some people have been disappointed by this book so let me be blunt. This is a guide. If you are looking for a scientific book, with extensive research and case studies then this is not for you. The chapters are punctual and don’t leave much room for exploration. However, if you’re new to the topic of and want to get a brief well-rounded understanding of mental health, or perhaps are struggling, need some gentle reminders or just want to feel less alone in how you are feeling then this book sets out to achieve exactly that.

Overall, this is a fantastic consolidation of why some people struggle with mental health and how we can achieve mental well-being. The School of Life: On Mental Illness is like a conversation with a friend; it completely understands the harsh and isolating realities of mental illness and truly felt like a hug in a book.

Categories
Health Mind & Body Non Fiction

Are You Really OK? Stacey Dooley

How often do you say ‘Yes’ or ‘I’m’ fine when you are asked if you are OK?  Are you really OK though? No, no we are not and statistics surrounding mental health problems vouch for that.

Every week, 1 in 10 young people in the UK experience symptoms of a common mental health problem and 1 in 5 have considered taking their own life at some point.

And whilst mental health amongst young people was a concern prior to the pandemic research has found that ‘globally there were estimated to be an extra 76 million cases of anxiety in 2020 than would have been expected if the pandemic hadn’t happened, and 53 million more cases of major depressive disorder’, showing just how vital the topic of mental health is now more than ever.   

In ‘Are You Really OK’ Stacey Dooley, best known for her extraordinary documentaries, opens the conversation around mental health, exploring different conditions such as depression, eating disorders, addiction, OCD, and psychosis. In addition to facts and statistics, each topic is demonstrated through the real experiences and stories of some of the incredible people Stacey met on the wards when filming her documentary in 2020 and 2021.

In addition, to individual conditions Stacey also explores the topic of mental health amongst different social groups such as the LGBT community and the impact of racism and poverty on mental health. This was truly eye-opening and helps us to gain an understanding of mental health through the eyes of different communities within society, as well as a reminder that we can all have an identical experience, but it can impact us all very differently.

The book gives a well-rounded picture of mental health within our society. At no point does Stacey claim to have lived experience or be an expert, which is what makes this book really stand out from others. Instead, she takes us on a journey with her to learn and gain insights on what is happening in the wider world. I feel like this approach makes the book a perfect read for anyone who wants to know more, no matter their knowledge or personal experience.

Overall, a very insightful overview of the topic of mental health. We should all take the time to read this book in hope for a better tomorrow for our young people.

Categories
Non Fiction Self help

Every Family Has a Story, Julia Samuel

In Every Family Has a Story leading psychotherapist Julia Samuel shares the beautiful and insightful stories of eight families who she has personally worked with. Collectively these stories widen our eyes to the vast range of adversities families go through and show how these issues can make or break families.

Aside from the eight stories shared, Julia also draws upon academic research and shares her twelve touchstones for family rituals which provide us with tools to improve our relationships within our own families.

Despite the trauma and hardships which the families in this book courageously share with us all, this is also a book of hope.

As a huge fan of Julia and the incredible work she does, I was honoured to receive an ARC of Every Family Has a Story and have to say it truly did not disappoint my expectations.

I was absolutely captivated by the eight families in the book. Their stories were shared sensitively but really showed the complexities which families face, covering issues such as grief, suicide, addiction, and blended families to name a few.

So often (particularly when you are young) you think everyone has a perfect family. This book reinforces that no one does (or perhaps I am yet to meet someone who does), however what is important is how we work at our family relationships, how we hold time and space for others and the importance of forgiveness whilst also protecting our own individual best interests.

Overall. A strong 5 stars. This book opened my mind and taught me a lot. The only negative is I was gutted it had to end.

Thank you to NetGalley and to Penguin General UK for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Every Family Has a Story will be published on 17th March 2022.

Categories
Non Fiction Self help

Enough, Jessica Rose Williams

‘What is enough? Time enjoyed slowly, choices made intentionally, life lived gracefully’.

In a consumeristic world which markets to us to want more here is Jessica Rose Williams to tell us that we have and are enough.

Jessica takes us on a journey sharing how she has incorporated living a more minimal and intuitive life, ever since her cancer diagnosis at the age of 25, and she teaches us how we can too. Through sharing and reflecting on her own journey she shares her secrets on how to live more simply and sustainably, how we can reclaim our time in a fast paced world and how to discover our true wants and interests as opposed to following the crowd and living to achieve everyone else’s desires.

The book is split into three parts: Enough Things, Enough Space and Enough Within. Enough things focus on decluttering the stuff you own, Enough Space focuses on boundaries with others, and Enough Within focuses on the mindset of enough.  Each section features a mixture of Jessica’s own story, helpful tips and journal prompts to encourage you to reflect on your own life and put what you read into practice.

Whilst there is already some stuff around decluttering and living minimally (think Marie Kondo) please do not be put off by thinking you have heard it all before. Not only was this chapter a great reminder of things which I may have heard or seen before but I have to say I’ve not read much quite like the other two sections of the book, with the ‘Enough Within’ section particularly standing out for me.

Make 2022 the year where you stop falling into what you feel you should be doing and start doing and being your true self. Enough is out 11th January 2022.

Thank you to NetGalley and Watkins Publishing for providing me with an ARC of Enough.

Categories
Children's Non Fiction

The Pronoun Book, Cassandra Jules Corrigan

The Pronoun book is a fantastic introduction of what pronouns for children. It is factual and free of opinions, yet told in a fun way with beautiful illustrations and with references to characters throughout. At the end of the book there is information for adults, which consists of a variety of ideas and resources for them to help support their children in learning and respecting pronouns particularly when they are different to their own.

Whilst this is intended as a children’s book, I would also like to add that it is perfect for adults ,who may be lacking in understanding and want something bitesize to improve their own knowledge of what pronouns are, why people may choose less common pronouns, and why it is important we use and respect whichever pronouns people choose to use. At the age of 25, I personally learnt about neo-pronouns, which my knowledge of was very minimal, reinforcing the fact that we can all take something from this book.

Overall, a great gift for children (and people of all ages). The only fault is I wish it was around when I was a child.

The Pronoun Book will be published on 21st October 2021. Thank you to NetGalley and Jessica Kingsley Publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.