A review by silverliningsandpages
How to be Sad: Everything I've learned about getting happier, by being sad, better by Helen Russell

challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad

5.0

I loved this book.  It’s very real in how it validates sadness in its many forms.  There are a lot of relatable scenarios, such as when a grieving person apologises for becoming emotional, and they are basically apologising for feeling and being human.  Yes!! been there, done that! Why do we even do that?! 🤷‍♀️

The book is part memoir and part manifesto for change in how we express our full range of emotions.  It candidly explores why we become sad, and what we should do (spoiler: there’s a chapter on bibliotherapy) and shouldn’t do.  I found the depth of research extremely valuable and illuminating, and Helen Russell (also author of How to Live Danishly)has presented research from psychologists, psychiatrists, geneticists, neuroscientists and historians as well as blending experiences of writers, comics, athletes and change-makers.

I tabbed so many pages that my family remarked how much I must have appreciated this book!  There’s too little caption space and so much covered, so I’ll touch on some of the issues raised as I’ve found them in the book: 

depression, perfectionism, institutional racism (BLM and George Floyd’s killing), survivor guilt, addiction, broken heart syndrome, unemployment, loneliness, shame, infertility, parenthood, the pandemic.

This book has a lot of thoughtful and empowering takeaways for learning to accommodate the deepest sadness whilst embracing life.