Category: Self help

Categories
Non Fiction Self help

Feel Better, No Matter What, Michael James

We’ve all read self-help books and they all tell us to eat healthy, exercise more and perhaps even to practice gratitude or meditate… right?

So you may be thinking oh no not another self-help book. However, this is much more than your average self-help book. Feel Better, No What holds all the secrets you need to change your mindset. It doesn’t just tell you to do certain practices, it teaches you how to do them!

In this book, Michael James guides us through a 4 week course. He teaches us how to do many techniques, which you may or may not have heard of before, explaining how we can fit these practices into everyday lives.

I didn’t actually do the course, which is why I would give this book 4/5 stars. If I were to follow through and saw an improvement in my life then I would have given it 5 stars. Nevertheless I found this book very helpful and am keen to keep referring to it to put some of the advice into practice.

Overall, a breath of fresh air. A self-help book which is relatable, understandable and practical.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Categories
Non Fiction Self help

Failosophy, Elizabeth Day

Failosophy is a Elizabeth Day’s handbook on how to cope with failure. Drawing upon experiences from her podcast ‘How to Fail… With Elizabeth Day’, Elizabeth has come up with seven principles of failure, which she explains in this book using real examples and demonstrating how we can use failures as opportunities to learn from.  

This book was a very short read but nevertheless very powerful. You can either read it in one sitting or read the chapters which you feel appropriate to you. With the guide being categorised so clearly, it makes it easy for you to revisit relevant sections in times of need.  

In a time where we are scared to fail (shout out to social media and technology) Failosophy really is a mindset changer and allows you to see failure from a new perspective. I could not stop highlighting things I wanted to take from this book and believe everyone can learn something from it.

Thank you to NetGalley and 4th Estate for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Categories
Non Fiction Self help

My Therapist Says… Advice You Should Probably (Not) Follow

I have to admit, I never did follow the @MyTherapistSays Instagram account before reading this book. I was just drawn in due to personal experiences with therapy, therefore I did not really know what to expect.

This book covers all types of life advice from relationship’s, to jobs, to self-care, and is brutally honest about life and the daily anxieties some of us face. It switches between the perspective of the writer and the opinions of her therapist. Some of the things which are mentioned in the book, I found a bit cringe and some of the things I assume people may see as common sense, but I thought it was very light hearted and a reminder that we all face the same struggles.

I really liked the graphics and the quotes throughout the book. Although, I have to say the mint green writing required me to strain my eyes (and that’s with glasses on!) but I am sure that would be fine in print format.

Overall I think this book was aimed at a younger audience than myself. I wasn’t overly keen on the whole book (I may have skipped the Astrology section). However, the open nature of this book and the honesty the anecdotes are told with, I believe will really help to destigmatise mental health and hopefully lead to people having more open conversations. Overall, a book all teenagers should read, especially when feeling like you’re on your own.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group Rock Point for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Categories
Non Fiction Self help

Attention! Rob Hatch

‘Attention!’ is a guide for how we can reclaim power and make simple decisions in a world full of endless distractions. With information available to us at the tip of our fingertips and more choices available to us than ever before it is no wonder anxiety levels are extremely high. In fact, sometimes all this information and choices almost paralyses us as we feel inhibited to make simple decisions, which are best for ourselves in terms of happiness and success. As a result, Rob teaches us approaches to reclaim power so that we can confidently make decisions which are aligned with our wants and needs.

Throughout this book many topics are touched upon including how to ‘put success in your way’, how we can reduce decision fatigue and many tips to avoid getting distracted. In a period where working from home has become the new norm, I found the latter particularly helpful. For example, just one tip Rob suggests is how when he is working, he keeps a blank piece of paper on his desk so that if anything pops into his head he writes it down without allowing it to distract him from his work. I for one, often remember I need to pay a bill, order something online or make a phone call mid work, and that distraction takes me out of my focus zone. I often let these thoughts distract me as I fear I will forget to do it later, however by writing it down Rob knows he will remember to go back to it later without losing focus of his work. This was just one of many things I related to and have vowed to implement many of the practices Rob talks about in my own life.

Overall, a great guide and lots to take from it! Whilst, it could be argued that a lot of Rob’s ideas are not new and you may have heard them in some form before, it goes without saying that this book was full of brilliant reminders and certainly could not have come at a better time.

Categories
Non Fiction Self help

I’m Fine Thanks, Chris Doveton

Men’s mental health is so often ignored so it was very refreshing to to read this heart-wrenching story, shared by Chris Doveton, who takes us through his story of caring for his wife, his journey with grief and living with depression.

Chris and Anne were happily married when in Anne was diagnosed with a rare illness similar to MND back in the 90’s. At Anne’s request, Anne and Chris kept the diagnosis a secret for many years- hiding the truth from their friends and even their daughter, Louisa. However, as Anne shows more and more signs of her illness, the time comes where they cannot keep this secret any longer and Chris cares for Anne as her body slowly shuts down until the disease eventually takes her life in 2002.

Following Anne’s death Chris embarks on a journey of grief and experiences depression and feelings of loneliness. He begins overspending to fill the void and contemplates suicide. However, Chris’ story also offers hope and encouragement to those experiencing similar feelings as he overcomes these emotions. With male grief and depression so seldom talked about I would like to think this book will talk to those experiencing similar feelings and I hope they can find comfort in the hope Chris’ story offers

I’m Fine Thanks is not an easy read but it was brutally honest, raw and emotional.

*Many thanks to Net-Galley and The Book Guild for this ARC in exchange for an honest review

Categories
Non Fiction Self help

Confidence Lost/Confidence Found, Kate McGuinness

Unlike some self-help books Confidence Lost/Confidence Found is extremely useful. This book goes above and beyond offering more than your standard clichés and instead gives practical tips and offers the science behind them.

Having gone from high flying lawyer to questioning her self-worth, Kate reflects on her own experiences to help others. I for one have suffered from lost confidence and felt I could fully relate to Kate and found her tips useful and easy to implement into everyday life. This book focuses on small steps, which may seem trivial, yet they are less daunting and therefore much easier to achieve, meaning the results of these small changes are in fact life changing.


Not only did I love the summaries at the end of each chapter meaning that upon finishing the book I could easily revise the different sections but also throughout the book you are signposted to further resources. This is fantastic for those who want to learn or work more on specific aspect which is discussed throughout the book.

All in all, Confidence Lost/Confidence Found is a very empowering read and I believe we can all take something from this book.