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100 Books to Live By: Literary Remedies for Any Occasion
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 10, 2026
| ARC REVIEW |
"Stories have the power to connect us to universal human experiences, reminding us that we are not alone in our pain or joy."
This book starts with an interesting explanation of what bibliotherapy is, and its historical origins. From the ancient Greeks, to World War I soldiers, to avid readers of today's day and age — people have used reading as a form of therapy for millennia.
I really liked the concept of this book; a book filled with book recommendations — or "prescriptions" as they are called in the book — to suit various moods, struggles or circumstances (such as unrequited love, fear of the future, overcoming personal traumas and supporting others through their own difficult experiences). Each recommendation also comes with a short description of what the prescribed book is about. I really liked that Joseph Piercy also offered an "alternative prescription" for if the book he initially suggested didn't feel quite right for you.
Although this isn't necessarily a book that you would sit down and read from cover to cover in the way you would a traditional novel, this book is perfect to have on your shelf where you can dip in and out of when a new book recommendation is needed.
It was nice to see so many classics mentioned in this book, some of which I haven't read yet but definitely want to, such as Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, and Little Women by Louisa May Alcott.
However, I was pleased to see that there were also some mentioned that I have already read, such as Lolita by Nabokov. I found the description Piercy gave for this book to be very interesting. So much so, that it actually made me reconsider some of my opinions of Nabokov's novel, which I admit, I may have potentially rated a bit too harshly (two stars) when I read it several years ago.
I do feel like it's important to mention that there are a few spoilers present when discussing the books recommended. So, definitely proceed with caution if you're reading a segment dedicated to a book you would like to read but have not yet got around to.
Overall, I thought this was a very clever idea for a book and a refreshing way of gathering new recommendations. I ended up adding several books to my (ever growing) "to be read" list. However, it would've been nice to have had a more diverse range of stories featured, such as some more contemporary/modern literature, as this book was pretty much dominated by classics.
Thank you to NetGalley, Joseph Piercy and Michael O'Mara for gifting this eBook in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. All opinions are my own.
❀ Tia ❀
"Stories have the power to connect us to universal human experiences, reminding us that we are not alone in our pain or joy."
This book starts with an interesting explanation of what bibliotherapy is, and its historical origins. From the ancient Greeks, to World War I soldiers, to avid readers of today's day and age — people have used reading as a form of therapy for millennia.
I really liked the concept of this book; a book filled with book recommendations — or "prescriptions" as they are called in the book — to suit various moods, struggles or circumstances (such as unrequited love, fear of the future, overcoming personal traumas and supporting others through their own difficult experiences). Each recommendation also comes with a short description of what the prescribed book is about. I really liked that Joseph Piercy also offered an "alternative prescription" for if the book he initially suggested didn't feel quite right for you.
Although this isn't necessarily a book that you would sit down and read from cover to cover in the way you would a traditional novel, this book is perfect to have on your shelf where you can dip in and out of when a new book recommendation is needed.
It was nice to see so many classics mentioned in this book, some of which I haven't read yet but definitely want to, such as Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, and Little Women by Louisa May Alcott.
However, I was pleased to see that there were also some mentioned that I have already read, such as Lolita by Nabokov. I found the description Piercy gave for this book to be very interesting. So much so, that it actually made me reconsider some of my opinions of Nabokov's novel, which I admit, I may have potentially rated a bit too harshly (two stars) when I read it several years ago.
I do feel like it's important to mention that there are a few spoilers present when discussing the books recommended. So, definitely proceed with caution if you're reading a segment dedicated to a book you would like to read but have not yet got around to.
Overall, I thought this was a very clever idea for a book and a refreshing way of gathering new recommendations. I ended up adding several books to my (ever growing) "to be read" list. However, it would've been nice to have had a more diverse range of stories featured, such as some more contemporary/modern literature, as this book was pretty much dominated by classics.
Thank you to NetGalley, Joseph Piercy and Michael O'Mara for gifting this eBook in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. All opinions are my own.
❀ Tia ❀
April 21, 2026
An extremely well curated list of books to help readers through different scenarios in life.This book of books offers much food for thought, as well as reflection, and it is sure to be a valuable resource for any bibliophile. Books truly do have the power to nourish and heal ones heart and soul.
October 19, 2025
I love lists of books so I was always going to love this book. It did live up to expectations - I got some new suggestions and re-found some old classics. The medicine cabinet essentials were also well chosen. There was a good balance between classics, modern and international. Thanks to NetGalley and Michael O’Mara for the ARC.
November 3, 2025
I absolutely LOVE the idea of this book!
This is one that I will probably refer back to for as long as I hold an interest in books, not only for myself but for others as well. I don't think I'm all too great at giving advice in emotional situations as I think quite rationally. Having something like this when a friend or family member is in a tight spot emotionally and being able to give them a book that could potentially help is a lovely way to try and help them.
The range of situations from a broken heart to feeling lost to facing the inevitability of death covers everything I could think of plus it also has some 'medicine cabinet' recommendations (books to cover a number of situations). Every recommendation has a meaning full quote, a detailed synopsis that includes why the book is good for the proposed situation. I also love that each recommendation gives one or two alternatives too.
There are a lot of classics in the recommended books (which I'm ashamed to say I only read a handful of) and plenty of books that I haven't heard of either.
I would like to see something similar published in future which could be more genre specific so those with certain reading preferences!
Thank you to NetGalley & Michael O'Mara Limited for this ARC ❤️
This is one that I will probably refer back to for as long as I hold an interest in books, not only for myself but for others as well. I don't think I'm all too great at giving advice in emotional situations as I think quite rationally. Having something like this when a friend or family member is in a tight spot emotionally and being able to give them a book that could potentially help is a lovely way to try and help them.
The range of situations from a broken heart to feeling lost to facing the inevitability of death covers everything I could think of plus it also has some 'medicine cabinet' recommendations (books to cover a number of situations). Every recommendation has a meaning full quote, a detailed synopsis that includes why the book is good for the proposed situation. I also love that each recommendation gives one or two alternatives too.
There are a lot of classics in the recommended books (which I'm ashamed to say I only read a handful of) and plenty of books that I haven't heard of either.
I would like to see something similar published in future which could be more genre specific so those with certain reading preferences!
Thank you to NetGalley & Michael O'Mara Limited for this ARC ❤️
October 19, 2025
100 Books to Live By by Joseph Piercy is a lovely book prescribing literary remedies for all sorts of life conditions, from anxiety and unrequited love to growing pains and other everyday struggles. I enjoyed reading about bibliotherapy and found it very interesting, especially learning that books were actually suggested to soldiers as a ‘remedy’ after the First World War. The range of titles Piercy includes spans the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries, offering something for every kind of reader. I especially loved the comprehensive list of books and authors at the back. This is definitely a book to dip in and out of, making it a thoughtful gift for a friend or a treat for yourself. I received a free advance review copy from NetGalley, and this is my honest review.
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January 15, 2026
This book was super informative, and has definitely contributed to more books in my TBR and wishlists.
I like the way the book was broken into sections, so you can dip in and out and use it for specific events and emotions or of course you could just read this book as a whole, making a note of books that spike your interest as you go.
I also liked the fact that the book covered such a diverse range of genres and ages - There was a good balance between classics, modern and translated work.
A must have for an avid reader!
I like the way the book was broken into sections, so you can dip in and out and use it for specific events and emotions or of course you could just read this book as a whole, making a note of books that spike your interest as you go.
I also liked the fact that the book covered such a diverse range of genres and ages - There was a good balance between classics, modern and translated work.
A must have for an avid reader!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews