Reviews - The Upside of Stress: Why Stress Is Good for You and How to Get Good at It

140 reviews for:

The Upside of Stress: Why Stress Is Good for You and How to Get Good at It

Not bad, but the concept probably could be summarized with sufficient support in a NYT article. If you're really interested, it's worth the full read, otherwise the basics are:

1) Most of what we call "stress" is not "bad" for you (unless you think it is, in which case it can kill you)

2) You can change your physiological response to stress through a mindset shift, such as framing it as excitement instead of anxiety

I thought the most interesting part was that doctors effectively took the "stress is bad" hypothesis for granted, which likely resulted in tens of thousands of (at least premature) deaths.

Don't be afraid to get that second opinion!

twomatts's review against another edition

4.0

I really enjoyed this. I had picked it up and started to read it a few times but also went with something else. I am glad I finally read it. Good concepts that you can remember when you get stressed to the max.

_eleanorblackman1's review against another edition

5.0

fast-paced

mstosich's review against another edition

3.75

informative fast-paced

meanonymous's review against another edition

I started and restarted this book several times and I appreciate the information I learned about reframing stress as a challenge to be overcome rather than to be avoided so that it will help diminish the devastating health impacts to your body. I include this reminder in my personal cheat sheet of self care reminders. But I could never get myself to completely finish the book. I’ve already watched the author’s Ted Talk on this subject and read the Blinkist Summary, so at this point I’m calling it good for now. I’m not sure what percentage of the book I got through. I’m not rating it since I didn’t finish it completely.

shallowdepths's review against another edition

3.0

Unlike the Willpower Instinct I don't feel like I had much to learn from this one. But much of it agrees with my own experiences of stress and anxiety. Parts felt a bit repetitive, but I might have missed some nuances. That made the book drag a little for me.

I'm sensitive to toxic positivity, and I don't think this crossed that line. But some people might need to be in the right place for it. When you're in the middle of something it's not always a great time to try and find an upside.

kimberleylynn74's review against another edition

Did not finish. In the times of Covid, with our school book club on hold, and coping with a very fresh break-up, I didn't feel like reading about stress. Nope, too much, too soon.