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The Gifts of Winter: The Life-Changing Guide to Uncovering Joy, Health, and Happiness in Winter
Transform the way you see winter and unlock its quiet power to restore, heal and inspire
Too often, we brace ourselves to endure winter instead of enjoying it.
The Gifts of Winter shows how the coldest months can be a magical season of beauty, rest, and renewal, if we choose to embrace them.
Chartered psychologist Dr Stephanie Fitzgerald combines clinical expertise and personal insight to reveal winter’s hidden benefits.
With gentle mindset shifts, simple wellbeing tips, and reflection prompts, she helps you beat the winter blues, restore balance, and uncover joy in the darker months.
Beautifully illustrated and full of inspiration, this transformative guide will help you see winter in a whole new, positive light.
Too often, we brace ourselves to endure winter instead of enjoying it.
The Gifts of Winter shows how the coldest months can be a magical season of beauty, rest, and renewal, if we choose to embrace them.
Chartered psychologist Dr Stephanie Fitzgerald combines clinical expertise and personal insight to reveal winter’s hidden benefits.
With gentle mindset shifts, simple wellbeing tips, and reflection prompts, she helps you beat the winter blues, restore balance, and uncover joy in the darker months.
Beautifully illustrated and full of inspiration, this transformative guide will help you see winter in a whole new, positive light.
277 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 16, 2025
11 people are currently reading
104 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 21, 2026
What is she talking about winter is great. I really shouldn't read self help books.
February 15, 2026
I was put off this book for a long while by the twee illustration in the cover, but I eventually let a nagging curiosity win and the negative reviews lose, feeling that I ought to read it during an actual winter. Reviews in the press had offered the promise of a different take on the season, a reframing which would restore joy and meaning to the dullest and most difficult part of the temperate year, and I was drawn to what sounded to me like a refreshing thesis.
It began well. The first chapter calls for a realignment of our approach to the annual cycle, seeing winter as the time to rest and recharge, to ease off the gas, and to do so from January to March, not just the short peri-Christmas pseudo-winter we tend to perceive. The festive season is only the vestibule that leads to to a calm period of positive capitulation, and comforting adaptation, to the challenges of darkness and cold. The intent is that the year proper begins in April and the Spring, with ambition and goals aligned to start then, not in bleak January. It is suggested but never explored that symptoms of SAD are a kind of hormonal imperative to do all this which are only worsened by pathologising and resisting them.
SADly from there the book never really does anything more than offer trite advice, based on no further examination of the core idea, and certainly with very minimal evidence, or even argument. A ‘wallowing hippo’ analogy was a particular nadir for me, but there were many other meaningless ‘argument from analogy’ moments, lots of unreferenced and uncritically-cited pseudoscience, and … those drawings! With no sense of privileged irony is a winter holiday to Thailand seemingly suggested, and several other ‘as overheard in Waitrose’ moments, which frankly just made me cringe. I did no more than skim the second half, but sadly found no redemption in those pages. I rather resent the cynical trading on the author’s ‘Dr’ title and the neuropsychology credentials which have no relevance to the entirely unscientific writing to be found here.
Clearly, this book wasn’t for me, and it may be my fault for mistakenly considering myself its intended audience. I can understand some finding the well-meant practical advice helpful, but unfortunately for me it was merely self-helpy, just-so, very kitsch, poppycock which has left me feeling more depressed about winter than ever. Cheers!
It began well. The first chapter calls for a realignment of our approach to the annual cycle, seeing winter as the time to rest and recharge, to ease off the gas, and to do so from January to March, not just the short peri-Christmas pseudo-winter we tend to perceive. The festive season is only the vestibule that leads to to a calm period of positive capitulation, and comforting adaptation, to the challenges of darkness and cold. The intent is that the year proper begins in April and the Spring, with ambition and goals aligned to start then, not in bleak January. It is suggested but never explored that symptoms of SAD are a kind of hormonal imperative to do all this which are only worsened by pathologising and resisting them.
SADly from there the book never really does anything more than offer trite advice, based on no further examination of the core idea, and certainly with very minimal evidence, or even argument. A ‘wallowing hippo’ analogy was a particular nadir for me, but there were many other meaningless ‘argument from analogy’ moments, lots of unreferenced and uncritically-cited pseudoscience, and … those drawings! With no sense of privileged irony is a winter holiday to Thailand seemingly suggested, and several other ‘as overheard in Waitrose’ moments, which frankly just made me cringe. I did no more than skim the second half, but sadly found no redemption in those pages. I rather resent the cynical trading on the author’s ‘Dr’ title and the neuropsychology credentials which have no relevance to the entirely unscientific writing to be found here.
Clearly, this book wasn’t for me, and it may be my fault for mistakenly considering myself its intended audience. I can understand some finding the well-meant practical advice helpful, but unfortunately for me it was merely self-helpy, just-so, very kitsch, poppycock which has left me feeling more depressed about winter than ever. Cheers!
January 25, 2026
I have read a few books about Winter now, and this was one of my favourites. Full of practical, tangible tips and activities that was not (just) change your mindset and think more positively. Some books like this also show no awareness of most people's lives, and suggest things like three hour sunrise walks in a Thursday that are completely impractical for people who work and/or have children, but this one acknowledged both of those practicalities. Most of the advice is not new so will not change your life, but some interesting ideas in there that I will put into practice, so I really think it will help me with Winter.
January 14, 2026
This book was AMAZING. I can’t believe more people haven’t read it!! Whether you’re in a funk of winter blues or excited for the season, I think you’ll take something away from this book. The production is beautiful (the illustrations and notes from the author really increase the hygge levels), and the entire book was substantively gorgeous. Will hopefully articulate this better later (bought the book and read it in one sitting so currently in a haze), but in summary loved this and can’t recommend it enough!!
January 19, 2026
great insight and acceptance of winter rejecting the stereotype of the season
Insightful acceptance, seeing winter in a new positive light is supportive and helpful getting through this part of the year with more compassion and reverence.
Insightful acceptance, seeing winter in a new positive light is supportive and helpful getting through this part of the year with more compassion and reverence.
November 24, 2025
An ode to the sparkling, prinkling, and unfurling of winter. Lovely.
December 16, 2025
I love Winter but still found this a really lovely, useful and informative book. listened to it on audiobook and the author's voice was soothing.
December 30, 2025
Some useful stuff
January 20, 2026
great book, easy to read and full of useful, simple, inexpensive ways to embrace winter.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews