It feels strange to say I "loved" a book about complex trauma and the mental health challenges of the author. Suffice it to say that this is a must-read for anyone who has experienced trauma, especially within a family. I tend to learn more from people's personal stories rather than textbooks or studies. Stephanie Woo candidly talks about her family's dynamics and generational trauma and how it impacted her life. Fascinating and informative while weaving a very personal story.
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A searing memoir of reckoning and healing by acclaimed journalist Stephanie Foo, investigating the little-understood science behind complex PTSD and how it has shaped her life
“Achingly exquisite . . . providing real hope for those who long to heal.”—Lori Gottlieb, New York Times bestselling author of Maybe You Should Talk to Someone
ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: The Washington Post, Cosmopolitan, NPR, Mashable, She Reads, Publishers Weekly
By age thirty, Stephanie Foo was successful on paper: She had her dream job as an award-winning radio producer at This American Life and…
Kelly tells the story of her marriage slowly unraveling and I could painfully relate to the grief and loneliness of pulling away from the "storybook" and moving into the uncharted territory of separation and single motherhood. I read this as I was still reeling as my own marriage was slowly falling to pieces. It brought me that strange comfort one has when going through a traumatic experience and someone else shares their story and suddenly you feel relieved that you are not alone and sad that someone else has felt the same pain.
Kelly McMasters found herself in her midthirties living her fantasy: she'd moved with her husband, a painter, from New York City to rural Pennsylvania, where their children roamed idyllic acres in rainboots and diapers. The pastoral landscape and the bookshop they opened were restorative at first, for her and her marriage. But soon, she was quietly plotting her escape.
In The Leaving Season, McMasters chronicles the heady rush of falling in love and carving out a life in the city, the slow dissolution of her relationship in an isolated farmhouse, and the complexities of making a new home for herself…
When in crisis, I reach for Zen Buddhist writings and books by Thich Nhat Hanh are accessible and impactful. This book helps guide you to see that every moment can be a mindful moment, the smallest of actions can be part of the process of staying conscious to the present moment. Peace in simplicity.
'This is a very worthwhile book. It can change individual lives and the life of our society.' The Dalai Lama
Lucidly and beautifully written, Peace is Every Step contains commentaries and meditations, personal anecdotes and stories from Nhat Hanh's experiences as a peace activist, teacher, and community leader. It begins where the reader already is - in the kitchen, office, driving a car, walking in a park - and shows how deep meditative presence is available now. Nhat Hanh provides exercises to increase our awareness of our own body and mind through conscious breathing, which can bring immediate joy and…
Steer your organization away from burnout while boosting all-around performance The Happy, Healthy Nonprofit presents realistic strategies for leaders looking to optimize organizational achievement while avoiding the common nonprofit burnout. With a uniquely holistic approach to nonprofit leadership strategy, this book functions as a handbook to help leaders examine their existing organization, identify trouble spots, and resolve issues with attention to all aspects of operations and culture. The expert author team walks you through the process of building a happier, healthier organization from the ground up, with a balanced approach that considers more than just quantitative results. Employee wellbeing takes a front seat next to organizational performance, with clear guidance on establishing optimal systems and processes that bring about better results while allowing a healthier work-life balance. By improving attitudes and personal habits at all levels, you'll implement a positive cultural change with sustainable impact.
