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8 Keys to Healing, Managing, and Preventing Burnout
Empathic and implementable strategies for anyone tired of being told to “just relax.”
Burnout will not be reversed from a meditation retreat or taking up jogging. And those who find themselves at their wit’s end due to exploitative systems are not to be blamed for simply “not taking care of themselves.”
This inclusive book is for anyone looking for evidence—based and clinically—informed strategies for real relief from burnout. Each of the eight keys presented here moves beyond typical self—care and stress—management techniques, inviting readers to learn experientially and evaluate to see what works for them. The book is designed to be used differently by each unique reader, as it’s written to support those who feel called to stay in a role that’s burning them out, those who plan to stop or step back in the future, or those who want space to discern their options. The book concludes with guidance to leverage individual privilege both socially and politically to change exploitative systems and reduce harm.
Burnout will not be reversed from a meditation retreat or taking up jogging. And those who find themselves at their wit’s end due to exploitative systems are not to be blamed for simply “not taking care of themselves.”
This inclusive book is for anyone looking for evidence—based and clinically—informed strategies for real relief from burnout. Each of the eight keys presented here moves beyond typical self—care and stress—management techniques, inviting readers to learn experientially and evaluate to see what works for them. The book is designed to be used differently by each unique reader, as it’s written to support those who feel called to stay in a role that’s burning them out, those who plan to stop or step back in the future, or those who want space to discern their options. The book concludes with guidance to leverage individual privilege both socially and politically to change exploitative systems and reduce harm.
- GenresPsychologySelf Help
240 pages, Paperback
Published September 30, 2025
2788 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 21, 2025
Book Review: 8 Keys to Healing, Managing, and Preventing Burnout by Morgan Johnson and Babette Rothschild
Perspective: Female Sociologist & Public Health Professional
Rating: 4.5/5
Reactions & Emotional Resonance
As a scholar examining systemic inequities and workforce well-being, this book struck a chord with its refusal to individualize burnout. The authors’ rejection of neoliberal self-care tropes (just relax) felt like a validation of structural critiques I’ve long advocated for in public health. Their experiential approach—prioritizing discernment over prescriptive solutions—resonated deeply, particularly their acknowledgment that not everyone can simply “leave” toxic systems. However, I wrestled with the tension between their pragmatic strategies (e.g., leveraging privilege for systemic change) and the reality that marginalized individuals often lack such leverage. The book’s inclusivity—addressing those who stay, leave, or are undecided—is its greatest strength, though I craved deeper intersectional analysis of how race, class, and gender compound burnout risks.
Strengths
-Structural Lens: The book’s critique of exploitative systems aligns with sociological research on labor alienation and public health data on occupational stressors. Its final key—systemic advocacy—bridges individual healing with collective action, a rare integration in burnout literature.
-Evidence-Based Flexibility: The eight keys offer clinically informed yet adaptable tools (e.g., privilege leverage, experiential evaluation), rejecting one-size-fits-all solutions. This mirrors trauma-informed care principles.
-Empathic Tone: The authors’ refusal to blame readers for systemic failures fosters trust—a crucial element for engagement in overburdened populations (e.g., healthcare workers, social services).
Constructive Criticism
-Intersectional Gaps: While privilege is addressed, the book underplays how burnout manifests differently across identities (e.g., Black women’s “strong Black woman” schema, gig workers’ precarity). A public health lens demands this nuance.
-Institutional Accountability: Though systemic change is urged, concrete policy levers (e.g., unionization, regulatory reforms) are underexplored. Sociologists may find this omission limiting.
-Trauma-Burnout Nexus: The link between chronic stress (e.g., racial trauma, gendered labor) and physiological burnout merits deeper unpacking, given public health’s focus on biopsychosocial pathways.
Final Thoughts
This book is a vital corrective to depoliticized burnout discourse, offering both solace and tools for resistance. Its refusal to pathologize exhaustion in oppressive systems is revolutionary, though its silences about structural violence remind us that healing cannot be fully realized without justice.
Thank you to the publisher and Edelweiss for the review copy. This book is a beacon for scholars and practitioners seeking to marry personal resilience with systemic critique—a balance we urgently need.
Rating: 4.5/5 (A transformative, if imperfect, guide for burned-out changemakers.)
Note: Insights were enriched by contemporary research on burnout’s structural determinants, including role strain theory and occupational health inequities.
Perspective: Female Sociologist & Public Health Professional
Rating: 4.5/5
Reactions & Emotional Resonance
As a scholar examining systemic inequities and workforce well-being, this book struck a chord with its refusal to individualize burnout. The authors’ rejection of neoliberal self-care tropes (just relax) felt like a validation of structural critiques I’ve long advocated for in public health. Their experiential approach—prioritizing discernment over prescriptive solutions—resonated deeply, particularly their acknowledgment that not everyone can simply “leave” toxic systems. However, I wrestled with the tension between their pragmatic strategies (e.g., leveraging privilege for systemic change) and the reality that marginalized individuals often lack such leverage. The book’s inclusivity—addressing those who stay, leave, or are undecided—is its greatest strength, though I craved deeper intersectional analysis of how race, class, and gender compound burnout risks.
Strengths
-Structural Lens: The book’s critique of exploitative systems aligns with sociological research on labor alienation and public health data on occupational stressors. Its final key—systemic advocacy—bridges individual healing with collective action, a rare integration in burnout literature.
-Evidence-Based Flexibility: The eight keys offer clinically informed yet adaptable tools (e.g., privilege leverage, experiential evaluation), rejecting one-size-fits-all solutions. This mirrors trauma-informed care principles.
-Empathic Tone: The authors’ refusal to blame readers for systemic failures fosters trust—a crucial element for engagement in overburdened populations (e.g., healthcare workers, social services).
Constructive Criticism
-Intersectional Gaps: While privilege is addressed, the book underplays how burnout manifests differently across identities (e.g., Black women’s “strong Black woman” schema, gig workers’ precarity). A public health lens demands this nuance.
-Institutional Accountability: Though systemic change is urged, concrete policy levers (e.g., unionization, regulatory reforms) are underexplored. Sociologists may find this omission limiting.
-Trauma-Burnout Nexus: The link between chronic stress (e.g., racial trauma, gendered labor) and physiological burnout merits deeper unpacking, given public health’s focus on biopsychosocial pathways.
Final Thoughts
This book is a vital corrective to depoliticized burnout discourse, offering both solace and tools for resistance. Its refusal to pathologize exhaustion in oppressive systems is revolutionary, though its silences about structural violence remind us that healing cannot be fully realized without justice.
Thank you to the publisher and Edelweiss for the review copy. This book is a beacon for scholars and practitioners seeking to marry personal resilience with systemic critique—a balance we urgently need.
Rating: 4.5/5 (A transformative, if imperfect, guide for burned-out changemakers.)
Note: Insights were enriched by contemporary research on burnout’s structural determinants, including role strain theory and occupational health inequities.
October 15, 2025
Morgan Johnson created a really approachable and accessible way to better understand burnout and how to manage your symptoms, and ideally, heal from burnout. She invites all audiences, no matter where they are in their stage of burnout. The activities offer ways for readers to truly engage in the book and take ownership in their healing process. I appreciate that she offers ideas for sharing with other people in your life. When I preordered this book, I purchased a few extra knowing that I wanted to share with my friends in my doctoral program. Fast-forward a few months and my monthly doctoral dinner group is creating a bookclub around this book! My partner has been very burned out at his work too, so I'm excited to go through the activities with him as well. Morgan does such a great job giving readers the power to use the book as they find helpful and ignore what doesn't serve them. This book is very easy to read and engaging. I am so grateful for this resource!
Much love,
A previously burned out teacher who is trying to avoid burnout in grad school
Much love,
A previously burned out teacher who is trying to avoid burnout in grad school
October 3, 2025
It's very confusing to me why left-wing social issues are brought up so much in this book. They're just kind of brought up and then it's basically said that they're brought up because they're important, but there are no dots connected.
It's just kind of repeatedly said that one goes through more hardship if they don't have privilege.
It seems to me like the author is just using ubiquitous psychological phenomena, like "burn-out" as a Trojan horse to infuse left-wing rhetoric into self-help literature.
Maybe in her professional circle she establishes herself as a person of authority when she authors books. And it's a win-win because she also gets to infuse left-wing jargon into her field of study. That's probable in my opinion.
Ultimately, the ones who lose by reading this book are people who are burned out because of all the left-wing jargon.
It's just kind of repeatedly said that one goes through more hardship if they don't have privilege.
It seems to me like the author is just using ubiquitous psychological phenomena, like "burn-out" as a Trojan horse to infuse left-wing rhetoric into self-help literature.
Maybe in her professional circle she establishes herself as a person of authority when she authors books. And it's a win-win because she also gets to infuse left-wing jargon into her field of study. That's probable in my opinion.
Ultimately, the ones who lose by reading this book are people who are burned out because of all the left-wing jargon.
September 30, 2025
8 Keys to Healing, Managing, and Preventing Burnout was a good resource with informed strategies for relief or prevention of burnout.
What I typically struggle with in regard to books like this, has to do with the fact that you don't generally recognize burnout until you're in it. 8 Keys provides good strategies and supports and across the 8, there were a wide range of methodologies that would seemingly apply to a large swath of people.
I would have appreciated more input from marginalized communities, or more discourse on how these communities are experiencing burnout.
This is due to be published on 9/30/2025 and I received an advanced copy from Netgalley in exchange for my review.
What I typically struggle with in regard to books like this, has to do with the fact that you don't generally recognize burnout until you're in it. 8 Keys provides good strategies and supports and across the 8, there were a wide range of methodologies that would seemingly apply to a large swath of people.
I would have appreciated more input from marginalized communities, or more discourse on how these communities are experiencing burnout.
This is due to be published on 9/30/2025 and I received an advanced copy from Netgalley in exchange for my review.
September 29, 2025
*8 Keys to Healing, Managing, and Preventing Burnout* is a practical and compassionate guide that offers both insight and actionable steps. Morgan Johnson combines clear explanations with approachable strategies, making it easy to connect the advice to real life. The balance of personal reflection, tools, and prevention techniques makes this book not just informative but empowering. A helpful resource for anyone seeking balance and sustainable well-being.
September 10, 2025
I was very happy to receive this ARC. I read a lot of books on this and similar topics but I like how inclusive this one is. Also it had lots of useful reflective exercises and prompts to help recalibrate. Instead of telling you what to do it helps you cultivate what is right for you.
October 15, 2025
As a professor and healthcare provider, I found this book to be an EXCELLENT guide and overall framework on how to navigate the issue of burnout. It was thoughtful, easily digestible and cohesive.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews