How to be Sad : The Key to a Happier Life

As a key worker and exhausted mum battling through a pandemic and recovering from burnout, it really did feel as though this book appeared just when I needed it most. This book has made such a difference to how I think and feel and I’m hugely grateful to have found it. It’s so rare to find such a personal book that is both so relatable and varied. It covers so many difficult topics with a perfect mix of compassion and good humour. A real gem.

I love the concept behind this book, and the author does say some helpful things.There's so much vulgar language and discussion of sexual things (and sometimes things that are extremely embarrassing) that I often found the book more distressing than helpful for a lot of the time I was reading.I didn't pick up this book to read details about infertility treatments. I didn't pick this book up to learn novel new ways to use swear words. I picked it up to learn how to stop running from "sad."The best thing about this book is how relatable it is. I'm not coming down on the author for sharing personal stories. I just really wish that she hadn't chosen to share certain kinds of details.

Such an open, brave and insightful book. I have been left with so much food for thought, as I always seem to do after reading Helen Russell’s work. Her time taken to research and present from such a depth and variety of sources in such an enticing read is a real skill. So very needed right now, thank you.

Helen Russell always manages to fill her books with so much thoughtful research and so much meaningful advice, and she presents it in an engaging way that makes you not want to set the book down. This book is no exception! We all go through sad times, and this book provides so much helpful information on how to use that to benefit our lives, both in the sad and happy times. Definitely a wonderful read, and the podcast with the same name is an equally great listen!

Another Amazing book by Helen Russell which is insightful, moving, and incredibly helpful in trying to tackle the ups and downs of daily life.... and also many laughs!! And great book, thoroughly recommend. Also, the podcast by the same name is another great source of interesting and helpful ideas.