How to Stay Sane (The School of Life)

Highly recommend for any individual in all walks of life or degrees of mental health. Revealing thoughts on the facets of how both our environment and we ourselves contribute to our overall feelings of happiness and fulfillment, and how to make small or large improvements to better our quality of life.

I found this slender volume to be a very positive guide and surprisingly helpful to short circuiting negative thinking, particularly in breaking through those destructive thought cycles that tend to hit at 3.00am when you are at your most vulnerable. I tried a few of the simple exercises the book describes, and was surprised that they have been relatively effective for me. I selected this book (somewhat sceptically) from a review I read in the Economist, and have not regretted the purchase. It underscores the truth that you cannot control what happens to you, but you can control the way you think about and react to external events.

This is a practical guide for how to live, it's a quick read with easy to apply lessons. The author gave a talk on Youtube on the School of Life station and watching that helped me to decide to purchase her book. I was not disappointed.

Ms. Perry's pithy short book is more valuable than so many others in the same domain. Don't let the number of pages devalue the content in your mind. There is exponential real advice here in every concentrated sentence. I bought more to give to colleagues and friends as everyone will relate. The cover caused comment on my boat rode in to Boston. Bewildering to the observer - a small simple clear cover- had knowledge and information that connects and you want to refer to- this has it.

Well written points about what we need to do for ourselves and others to lead a caring, balanced existence in a crazy world. I'm not finished with the whole book yet (I'm about half way through) but love the style, compassion and the fact that yeah, I think they've pretty well nailed it. Second book in the School of Life I've read. Thumbs up!

I was please to read this book and even more pleased to realize that I was already on the path suggested. The book is open enough to allow one to use their underlying culture and to move forward to a more sane and productive life.

A very Nice book. Gives a lot of understanding about behavior and behaviroual patterns. Good for anyone having interest psychology.

While the presentation meanders a bit, the advice is spot on. Helpful guide to essentially taking a deep breath and becoming aware of yourself and how you go through each moment of the day. Detailed steps for focusing yourself. If you read only the last chapter, you'll still come out ahead!

I liked a lot the exercises, very good promts to read and to write about. Very much appreciated and recommended!

E' un breve manuale con esercizi che io ho trovato molto utili anche da inserire in una routine quotidiana. Aiuta ad avere preziosi insight su di sè.

It's a good book. It says that learning the art of self-observation will help keep you sane. You can learn the art of self-observation by keeping a journal. It is a great effort by the philosopher Alain Botton (series editor) and Phillipa Perry, the author. It would be nice if more psychotherapists wrote simple and useful books on how to be mentally healthy. Another good book on the subject is Dr Janette Rainwater's You're In Charge: A guide to becoming your own therapist, but this book is hard to get.

I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to others. Had some good thoughts to consider inside. I read it after a stressful time in my life and it was good to get some new perspective. This book would be good for someone without any issues as well.

In diesem Selbsthilfebüchlein geht die Psychotherapeutin Philippa Perry der Frage nach, welche Elemente ihrer Therapien für die breite Bevölkerung nützlich sein können.Inhalt: Präzise und anwendbar schildert sie dabei, wie man sich selbst besser einschätzen lernt, wie Beziehungen gelingen, wie mit Stress umzugehen ist und dass es hilfreich ist, eine positive Perspektive auf die eigene Lebensgeschichte zu entwickeln. Das Buch schliesst mit sieben Übungen ab, die eine niedrigschwellige Einführung in die Meditation darstellen.So weit, so interessant, zum Beispiel wenn das Funktionieren des Gehirns evolutionsbiologisch, aber ganz einfach hergeleitet wird. Das ist das Hauptthema des Buchs: wie seine Gefühle, aber auch Gedanken wahrnehmen und mit ihnen umgehen.Leider erfährt man praktisch nichts aus der therapeutischen Praxis der Autorin, zum Beispiel über interessante Fälle. Ich habe mich häufig auch gefragt, wie fundiert das Gesagte ist, da meistens nur populärwissenschaftliche Bücher und eigene Erfahrung der Autorin als Nachweis herhalten müssen. Anregend, aber kein Meisterwerk.