Resilience

by Steven M. Southwick, Dennis S. Charney, Jonathan M. DePierro

Life presents us all with challenges. Most of us at some point will be struck by major traumas such as the sudden death of a loved one, a debilitating disease, or a natural disaster. What differentiates us is how we respond. In this important book, three experts in trauma and resilience answer key questions such as What helps people adapt to life's most challenging situations?, How can you build up your own resilience?, and What do we know about the science of resilience? Combining cutting-edge scientific research with the personal experiences of individuals who have survived some of the most traumatic events imaginable, including the COVID-19 pandemic, this book provides a practical resource that can be used time and time again. The experts describe ten key resilience factors, including facing fear, optimism, and relying on role models, through the experiences and personal reflections of highly resilient survivors. Each resilience factor will help you to adapt and grow from stressful life events and will bring hope and inspiration for overcoming adversity.

Genres: Personal Development, Nonfiction

282 pages, Paperback

Published September 7, 2023

Reviews

[Corinne · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was an encouraging book about how to practice resilience in daily life, and it provides some practical advice about how to build it as a skill. resilience isn't just for heroes, its for everyday people in everyday circumstances. only things I'd change would be a greater discussion about the effects of PTSD and how stabilization may be necessary before growth can occur, as well as more variety of examples throughout the book (most were either about nurses during COVID or POWs).

"if we pay attention to both the positive and the negative, ignore irrelevant negative information, let go of the negative that we cannot change, interpret information in a more positive light, and take action to solve problems that are solvable, then we will tend to see the world as exciting, challenging, and hopeful"

[Teresa Chang · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written by Dr. Southwick, MD, Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry, PTSD, and Resilience at Yale Medical School, Dr. Charney, MD, Dean of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Dr. DePierro, Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Mount Sinai, the third edition written after COVID is the most comprehensive and illuminating on the subject of resilience. Through neuroscience, resilience is defined at the biological level involved the brain, autonomous nervous system and hormones. People who are more adaptive in stressful situations, traumas and adversities are shown much more resilient and bouncing back quickly after many "curve balls" being thrown.

One of the most unique features of this manual scale book is from retelling Dr. Charney's courageous journey after a violent attack and many other extreme catastrophic challenges faced by such as POW, physicians work at ER, the readers gain many intimate insights learning first-hand coping skills. It touched on all factors which will "build" resilience skill sets such as having great role models, moral compasses, intellectual and emotional agility and spiritually.

Often self-help books shine a light on only one or two areas on how to deal with traumas and build resilience, which seemed incomplete in exploring such complex topic. "Resilience", however, provides a thorough understanding and actionable plans strengthening the core to endure and weather roughest storms.

[Mr Allan Goldie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been reading this book as part of a project to developing my knowledge of wellbeing and resilience in day to day living. This is part of a bigger project I have in taking such a subject forward as part of a wellbeing group experience within the structure of another organisation. This book covers various topics from resilience in itself, Optimism, Facing Your Fears, Moral Compass, Religion and Spirituality,Social Support, Role Models, Mind Your Body, Challenge Your Mind, Cognitive and Emotional Flexibility, Meaning and Purpose and Growth and lastly The Practice of Resilience. It all sounds very complicated and deep….however, it is well written and includes many useful details of individual lives and how they came through life events to become more resilient and found the importance of wellbeing. This is well worth reading if you want to learn how to make your own life better.

[Andrea Wenger · Rating 5 out of 5]

This entertaining and readable book provides strategies for overcoming challenges and trauma. Blending research with inspiring survivor stories, it outlines ten pivotal factors like confronting fear, cultivating optimism, and finding role models. The book offers motivation and hope to help conquer life's adversities by tapping into the science and wisdom of resilience.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

[Inevitable_choice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Theoretically it's a good book. It lists a series of ways to build resilience backed by scientific studies and interviews with various survivors, but there's just something that really rubbed me the wrong way when reading it... Maybe it was constantly using prisoners of Vietnam War as examples or circling back to Catholicism at very high rate as examples of building resilience. I'm not sure, but it was hard to stay engaged when reading it.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I appreciated reading about the examples, some more extreme than everyday life for most. We are all resilient in our own way. We've had different experiences and approach situations based on those experiences and what we've learned on our respective paths. This book promotes openness and suggests how to choose your response. I enjoyed it. The book is well laid out and easy to read and comprehend.

[John-Manuel Andriote · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a terrific book! It really covers the bases on resilience and how to build it. It’s clearly written and uses good examples to illustrate its lessons. Definitely recommend it for anyone interested in learning about resilience and how to build and strengthen their own resilience.

[Kevin Kelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A worthwhile read that identifies the characteristics of resilient people (those who are able to weather the storm when life throws unexpected tragedy their way), with advice on how the individual can develop those characteristics.

[Maude Levesque · Rating 5 out of 5]

Had to read for a seminar on health psychology, but I truly enjoyed! I appreciated the many examples from vastly different fields and situations, i'd highly recommend this book to anyone!

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

The standard text. Interesting to think about in terms of my new job.