To be honest, I was skeptical, but couldn't help myself, I had to see what the fuss was all about, even though I follow Haig on socials, so I had an idea of what to expect. As we head into what is sure to be the third year of the pandemic (cringe), I know I will be picking up this book more than a few times, if only to be reminded that, “Nothing is stronger than a small hope that doesn’t give up”. Number one bestseller Matt Haig is back with another incredible self help book on survival, hope, and the 'messy miracle of being alive'. When you find people who are willing to respect your limits, you can proceed with developing a healthy, supportive relationship with them.

It's a warm, cozy evening by the fire, sipping your coffee, walking through the autumn leaves after the rain, learning to breathe in and out slowly type of book. But I’ve got to a point where I know myself well enough to know what’s good and what’s bad for me, and I feel much more in control of the bad things.Matt Haig has a way of looking at life which will make you stop and think, and by the time you reach the last page, you will understand the world just that little bit better and feel a little more comfortable being in it. He is determined to stand up to “mental health snobbery … When you’re feeling a bit rough and ropey, and your mind is distracted, you can’t absorb the most highbrow text.

As to the book itself, this isn’t the kind to read from cover to cover, rather something to dip into when you need a “comfort hit”. Ditum argued Haig’s recovery had no lessons for others, but he insists people tell him constantly that his experience echoes their own. This is the book to pick up when you need the wisdom of a friend, the comfort of a hug or a reminder that hope comes from unexpected places. It’s meant to be digested however one prefers, whether that’s in large doses (which would be easy, since it’s hard to put down when you feel like you’re being filled to the brim with encouragement) or in small ones, reading a phrase or two at a time. They had been at school in York, but weren’t particularly enjoying it, and their experiences reminded Haig of his own problems at secondary school in Newark in Nottinghamshire, where as a sensitive teenager he felt isolated and directionless in a tough, sporty environment.But couldour sheltered, temperature-controlled, overfed, under-challenged lives actually be the leading cause of many of our most urgent physical and mental health issues?

He does do this intentionally with one phrase---"Nothing is stronger than a small hope that doesn't give up. Then I remember that we have walked through so many of the same challenges: depression, anxiety, panic attacks, suicidal thoughts, etc. Haig’s many admirers will see The Comfort Book as profound, witty and uplifting, and a stirring testament to hope and the imagination.Our referral links allow us to earn commissions (at no extra cost to you) and keep the site running. You don’t have to feel guilty about fear or sadness or angerYou are the person experiencing the storm. Sentence-Summary: The Comfort Book explores how depression feels like and its effects on our mind and body, and how we can overcome it by taking small, but significant steps in that direction, starting with finding hope, being more present at the moment, and acknowledging that we’re enough. The Comfort Book, a collection of aphorisms and inspirational stories of survival against the odds, is a guide to living and finding hope in these disjointed times. Despite the adage about them never hurting you, words can also make all the difference; whether they are the ones you read, the ones you share, or the ones that play in a loop in your head.