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notinjersey's review against another edition
3.0
This is a book about having hope in darker days, which I was excited about as “hope” is something that I’ve been trying to have this year. I notice it is classified as a Christian book on Amazon, which is something I wondered about when I received it, but it did not seem to be a religious book to me. Although I liked the ideas of ways to find hope in various places, I found the book to be a bit slow and unfortunately, less inspiring than I’d hoped it to be.
ellahoward_'s review
informative
fast-paced
3.0
I did like the tips and go getter approach, it just felt a little too dragged out and main themes repeated
bubbaloostitch's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
3.0
bookish_spoonie's review
3.0
3.5 stars
Firstly I must say how much I love the cover of this little hardback book. It is simple and yet the gold embossing and splatter detail is so aesthetically pleasing. Plus I'm a sucker for gold embossing!
Now onto the book. I went into this book in a place of little hope. During recovery of a major surgery, unhappy with myself, worrying about COVID and climate change and being told personal bad news nearly every week. I have read many self help books over the years, mainly CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) which have helped a little but not left a lasting input.
This book is not your average self help book. The author Bernadette Russell covers a variety of topics, from finding the hope in every day life to using hope to create positive change for the community or even the world.
This book is incredibly well written. It is split up into nine chapters that look at a different aspects of hope. Within those sections are hints and tips that you can try out to try and increase your own hope or try out new thinhs that will affect the hope of others. It is a really good set up and I felt engaged in the writing and the tasks along the way.
What I struggled with was that most of the book wasn't focused on personal hope. I think this could have been explored more by putting in sections for those with chronic illness, disabilities, mental health issues, racial discrimination etc. I think if it had been a little more personal then I would have found it more effective for me, even if some sections wouldn't necessarily apply for everyone.
I wasn't a fan of the chapter on death. I personally found it a little triggering and didn't think it needed to be included.
I was also surprised that this book was written during and released during the COVID pandemic and there is much writing about it in the book. Despite this some of the tasks include going out and speaking to strangers. I therefore think this book will be useful in the future but it hasn't necessarily helped me gain more hope during this pandemic.
Please note that I was gifted this book in exchange for an honest review.
Firstly I must say how much I love the cover of this little hardback book. It is simple and yet the gold embossing and splatter detail is so aesthetically pleasing. Plus I'm a sucker for gold embossing!
Now onto the book. I went into this book in a place of little hope. During recovery of a major surgery, unhappy with myself, worrying about COVID and climate change and being told personal bad news nearly every week. I have read many self help books over the years, mainly CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) which have helped a little but not left a lasting input.
This book is not your average self help book. The author Bernadette Russell covers a variety of topics, from finding the hope in every day life to using hope to create positive change for the community or even the world.
This book is incredibly well written. It is split up into nine chapters that look at a different aspects of hope. Within those sections are hints and tips that you can try out to try and increase your own hope or try out new thinhs that will affect the hope of others. It is a really good set up and I felt engaged in the writing and the tasks along the way.
What I struggled with was that most of the book wasn't focused on personal hope. I think this could have been explored more by putting in sections for those with chronic illness, disabilities, mental health issues, racial discrimination etc. I think if it had been a little more personal then I would have found it more effective for me, even if some sections wouldn't necessarily apply for everyone.
I wasn't a fan of the chapter on death. I personally found it a little triggering and didn't think it needed to be included.
I was also surprised that this book was written during and released during the COVID pandemic and there is much writing about it in the book. Despite this some of the tasks include going out and speaking to strangers. I therefore think this book will be useful in the future but it hasn't necessarily helped me gain more hope during this pandemic.
Please note that I was gifted this book in exchange for an honest review.
salreads's review
5.0
How to be Hopeful for me was something of a mental audit, and a refuelling. It helped me understand hope, it’s value and how to keep its flame burning in the hardest of times.
Action is such an agent of hope and hope is such a driver of action and one of the brilliant aspects of this book is identifying how each of us might feed our hope through action. I’m continually frustrated and disheartened by news headlines, corrupt politicians, wars and cruelty, abuse of people and animals but this book showed me how to turn those feelings into action and to hope. The idea that I can do something has given me an amazing sense of peace.
How to be Hopeful is full of positive stories, practical exercises, resources. It is gentle, reassuring, recognises that for some each step must be very very small.
Reading the book was cathartic - I felt empowered, positive ..hopeful. I created a bookstagram challenge for world health, shared my own story of hope. I identified things I want to take action on - animal welfare, the environment ..And I knew with real clarity that I am happiest by the sea.
I recommend this book to everyone . Place it by your bedside, restore and refuel regularly, stay hopeful.
Action is such an agent of hope and hope is such a driver of action and one of the brilliant aspects of this book is identifying how each of us might feed our hope through action. I’m continually frustrated and disheartened by news headlines, corrupt politicians, wars and cruelty, abuse of people and animals but this book showed me how to turn those feelings into action and to hope. The idea that I can do something has given me an amazing sense of peace.
How to be Hopeful is full of positive stories, practical exercises, resources. It is gentle, reassuring, recognises that for some each step must be very very small.
Reading the book was cathartic - I felt empowered, positive ..hopeful. I created a bookstagram challenge for world health, shared my own story of hope. I identified things I want to take action on - animal welfare, the environment ..And I knew with real clarity that I am happiest by the sea.
I recommend this book to everyone . Place it by your bedside, restore and refuel regularly, stay hopeful.
amelia_trencher's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
sophr_reads's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
diannelebold's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
4.0
charlottesometimes's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
3.0