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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
My new favorite book recommendation is The More or Less Definitive Guide to Self-Care by Anna Borges. Every page in this book is practically perfect. The layout is easy to read, the personal stories are a lovely touch, and the facts are undeniable. The clarity of how to put the book into practice is amazing, and it covers every type of self care possible. I truly cannot recommend this book enough. Every therapist should have it in their office, every person who wants to show some kindness to their self should just look at any page.
This was such an interesting book to read, with lots of infos and tips (from hobbies to self improvement) and I will definitely use it again in the future (starting now).
I found it very well structured and easy to understand, truly a good guide.
I found it very well structured and easy to understand, truly a good guide.
This reads like a long, poorly researched Buzzfeed article.
I'd say it's target audience should be 14-18 year olds. The lack of depth is frustrating as there's a few nuggets of good advice in there. The lack of depth on any advice means it just falls a bit flat. There is also some pretty poorly thought out, potentially harmful advice. Disappointing.
I'd say it's target audience should be 14-18 year olds. The lack of depth is frustrating as there's a few nuggets of good advice in there. The lack of depth on any advice means it just falls a bit flat. There is also some pretty poorly thought out, potentially harmful advice. Disappointing.
I have been in various forms of therapy and medical intervention for my mental illness for five years now - and I was unwell for many years before that. I have taken innumerable classes, received every hand-out and info sheet, and read many many self-help books on the subject of mental health. Some of them were directed to my condition specifically, but others were for health-conscious folks of all backgrounds. Sometimes I feel that I have read everything and have seen everything and that nothing will ever again give me that "aha" moment when reading about mental health.
What I find sets this book apart from all others that I have come across is its accessibility and honesty.
I can be very easy in this day of commodified self-care and "treat yo' self" to fool yourself into thinking that every act of indulgence and temporary self-soothing is self-care. While sitting on the couch and having a pint of ice cream can be a self-care experience, mostly it isn't.
What Anna Borges does in this concise and eminently readable volume is to assure the reader that self-care is possible, necessarily inexpensive, and important. Despite her evident command of the subject, there are no absolutes or hard-line answers in this book. Mental health management is like anything else in life: Your Mileage May Vary. She makes this clear, while still providing ideas, options, and perspectives that I believe will be helpful to anyone looking to manage their mental health.
My favourite item in the entire book was the "OK-case Scenarios". I had never heard this term before and I found it really spoke to a need in mental health conversations. So often we vacillate between extremes of "best" and "worst" case scenarios and for someone with emotional regulation issues, it is a blessing to have a middle-ground that isn't a compromise, but rather a "medium-good" place. Excellent read.
**I was given an advance copy of this book for review via NetGalley. I received no compensation and my vies and opinions on this title are entirely my own.**
What I find sets this book apart from all others that I have come across is its accessibility and honesty.
I can be very easy in this day of commodified self-care and "treat yo' self" to fool yourself into thinking that every act of indulgence and temporary self-soothing is self-care. While sitting on the couch and having a pint of ice cream can be a self-care experience, mostly it isn't.
What Anna Borges does in this concise and eminently readable volume is to assure the reader that self-care is possible, necessarily inexpensive, and important. Despite her evident command of the subject, there are no absolutes or hard-line answers in this book. Mental health management is like anything else in life: Your Mileage May Vary. She makes this clear, while still providing ideas, options, and perspectives that I believe will be helpful to anyone looking to manage their mental health.
My favourite item in the entire book was the "OK-case Scenarios". I had never heard this term before and I found it really spoke to a need in mental health conversations. So often we vacillate between extremes of "best" and "worst" case scenarios and for someone with emotional regulation issues, it is a blessing to have a middle-ground that isn't a compromise, but rather a "medium-good" place. Excellent read.
**I was given an advance copy of this book for review via NetGalley. I received no compensation and my vies and opinions on this title are entirely my own.**
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
This book is a great overview of all the different self care techniques that you can employ. Each entry describes why the activity can be considered self care, its benefits, and its downsides. This a great place to start if you're feeling burnt out and looking to improve your mental health. There is also a brief section of Further Reading suggestions that I found very helpful for my continuing journey.
I bought this immediately after reading Borges' article "I'm not always very attached to being alive". This is one of the best books on self care and mental health I've every read. It's quick, comforting, and easy to read. Definitely one to keep rereading when things are hard. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go rearrange my houseplants and poke my cat to let her know I love her.
This book is very good! But I rented it from the library, and felt like I wanted to take notes-permanently own it, and that held me back from finishing it. I need it on my shelf as a resource!
inspiring
fast-paced
informative
fast-paced
This book reads like a poorly edited series of Tumbr posts. Don't get me wrong, I like those kinds of Tumblr posts, but it's not what I want from a book.
The book is very geared towards women/femme people, which it seems like a lot of "self care culture" is, unfortunately. Masculine people deserve self care and this "definitive guide" does not seem to make room for them.
Plus there is a bunch of just factually incorrect statements. I couldn't read anymore after the author claims that every single star in the sky is bigger and brighter than the sun. Just...blatantly false. Completely wrong. A middle school book on space would correct that.
The book is very geared towards women/femme people, which it seems like a lot of "self care culture" is, unfortunately. Masculine people deserve self care and this "definitive guide" does not seem to make room for them.
Plus there is a bunch of just factually incorrect statements. I couldn't read anymore after the author claims that every single star in the sky is bigger and brighter than the sun. Just...blatantly false. Completely wrong. A middle school book on space would correct that.