Bounce Back!: How to Thrive in the Face of Adversity

by Karen Salmansohn

“The very act of reading it makes you feel happier.” - A.J. Jacobs

A bad breakup. A serious illness. The loss of a job. Life has a habit of throwing people curveballs. To which Karen Salmansohn says: “When life throws you curveballs, hit them out of the park.”

Bounce Back! mixes from-the-gut wisdom with humor, feistiness, and sophistication, in a hip, inspiring resource that will brighten the darkest mood. The book is grounded in happiness research, psychological studies, Greek philosophy. And it delivers: Here are 70 easily digestible, potentially life-changing tips on how to bounce back from adversity, each on a spread that's as punchy in look as it is powerful in message.

Shrink negativity into nuggetivity. Think of yourself as the type of person the world says yes to. With its attitude, techniques, and advice on everything from exercise to staying connected, plus charming illustration and photography and a bold design, Bounce Back! is a full-on guide to moving forward with great positive energy.

"Salmansohn's writing is bold, playful, insightful—with powerful metaphors that provoke and inspire. Her kinetic images amplify her message and take the book to a new level of literary experience." - Deepak Chopra, author of Seven Laws of Spiritual Success

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction, Health, Personal Development, Inspirational, Spirituality, Mental Health

192 pages, Paperback

First published May 14, 2008

About the author

Karen Salmansohn is a bestselling author (with 2 million books and courses sold), leading behavioral change expert, and columnist for Oprah and Psychology Today, as well as the founder of the popular personal development site NotSalmon.com, which has a vibrant community of 1.5 million followers. Her most recent book is "Your To-Die-For Life: How to Maximize Joy and Minimize Regret . . . Before Your Time Runs Out." She’s been sparking transformations in individuals and companies for a few decades and is passionate about digging deep and finding fascinating insights, tools, and studies from all areas of life, including psychology, Eastern and Western philosophy, neuroscience, quantum physics, and more.

She began writing “self-help for people who wouldn’t be caught dead doing self help” in 1999 with the bestseller How To Be Happy Dammit—the very first personal development book of its kind to have a feisty title, edgy humor, and stylish interior design, which paved the way for self-help authors to write irreverent personal development books. Since then, she’s written many bestsellers, including The Bounce Back Book and Think Happy. Now she’s excited to pioneer the mortality awareness movement by illuminating life’s most avoided conversation—death—and reminding others to live more bravely.

Reviews

[Becca · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a big fan of Karen Salmansohn. I found this book, however, to be a little more situation specific than her other books I've read - meaning, it will be more impactful to you if you're actually recovering from some sort of big event or trauma, than if you're not. That being said, I still tagged half a dozen pages of useful quotations, activities, and stories, and I know I'll be referencing this book next time I'm dealing with something "big" in life.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everything about about this book screams "FUN!" From the red rubber cover to the thick colorful pages, it's a pleasure to read. Every left page contains a tip on how to "get going when the going gets tough" and every right page illuminates the tip and offers a small assignment. It's whimsical, yet practical and packs lots of big advice into a small package. Using quotes and cliches in a clever way, Salmansohn reminds us not to settle into our misery, but to bounce back from it in a playful way.

[ali · Rating 2 out of 5]

While this is a cute little book, it fails to deliver with the exception of three or four nuggets. It tends to be overly simplistic. I'm a therapist and read this to see if it would be appropriate to refer to clients and wouldn't recommend especially to those who have experienced complex trauma(s) or deep depression. It seems to be better suited for the "worried well".

[Liisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite simply, I adored The Bounce Back Book by Karen Salmansohn. In fact I don’t think words exist for how I feel about this book. It’s a hug in book form.

I’m all for self-improvement and making the most of our time here but I’m not overly-keen on “self-help” books: pages and pages AND PAGES of dreary and mind-numbing research. No thank you. I’d rather stay in an emotional mire!

So why did I then pick up The Bounce Back Book? Thanks to a mistaken Google search, I ended up on Salmansohn’s website, www.notsalmon.com , and instantly and categorically fell in love with her joie de vivre. So much so, I found myself on Amazon and ordered the book.

It surpassed my expectations and finding it so delightful, I paused a third of the way through and thanks to the app on my ‘phone, ordered two copies for two friends there and then.

With everything going on in the world today - so much sadness, tragedy and violence - I love how there's this one woman tour de force on a mission to spread as much peace, joy, contentment, happiness and healing as possible.

“One person can make a difference and every person should try.” John F Kennedy

You can easily read this book in one sitting but I guarantee you will go back to it time and time again. Fantastic, five star and well worth buying!

[Laurence · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a nice opus! I really loved it and it was a refreshing book to browse every day. While very simple, each and every tip made good sense, and each day's "assignment" could become a list of life saving exercises when my moods tank.

This is a book that has a good spot on your "recipe books" shelf in a prominent place in your home, in my very humble opinion!

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very nice book - I checked it out from the library but think I will have to purchase it. It has all kinds of neat quotes, tips, and exercises. This is probably something I will pick up again and again.

[Desiree · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad. Clever, cute, nice font(s) and design. Some good nuggets of wisdom in here, most Buddhist-influenced. Liked it, didn't love it.

[Gina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick, easy self help read- lots of tips to get through life in one piece.

[Srinivasan Nanduri · Rating 4 out of 5]

A no non-sense book with completely researched tips. I personally enjoyed reading the book. I recommend to anyone in the face of adversity

Below are a few of my key takeaways

- Dr. Seligmen’s process for bouncing back

A B C D E
Adversity – describe the who, what, when and where of the situation as objectivity as possible
Beliefs - What beliefs has your adversity triggered
Consequences - Describe the consequences of your beliefs
Dispute - Dispute what you have written so far with specific evidence that points out the flaws in our beliefs
Energise - Energise when you have been effective in disputing false beliefs you often feel a surge of energy, a sense of renewed hope. Right how your answers to dispute question above change your mood

Pick a journal and write down the 5 letters above and your answers to the questions

- Create a balance the wheel of fortune. If you only have one thing bring you happiness and it suddenly stops then you will feel as if your whole life has stopped.

Never base your happiness on one thing.

The wheel of fortune consists of romance, family, career, friends, health, wealth, spiritual, fun stuff.

Let your wheel of fortune roll along smoothly by nurturing a well-rounded, consistent, balanced state of being

- Write A To Be list than a To Do list

[Rachel Johns · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a cute, easy read with some nuggets of wisdom. However, I recommend turning elsewhere if you are going through a truly dark time and want hope and help.

The author holds the view that people aren’t evil, but weak. I disagree. If we look around us we will see that people discover cures for diseases, sacrifice their lives for others and yet people also murder, kidnap and rape. We all have the capacity for both good and evil. We are broken.

One of the author’s big “Aha moments” is that “In life you always have a choice. Be weak or be strong.” That irks me. I really don’t think it’s that binary.

I believe that there is the potential for strength in weakness. Some of the greatest beauty in my life has come from brokenness. A mosaic is beautiful. Sea glass is beautiful. But first glass must be broken. The end result is more beautiful than it could be if it were never broken. And God is the gentle and skillful artist that creates beauty out of our brokenness.

Yes, we do have a choice. God does not force himself on us but invites us into relationship. We can accept or reject. And what a beautiful thing when we allow God to offer hope, help and healing amidst hardship, struggles and suffering.

[LL · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was published in 2008, and it is a reflection of the times. And it is a reflection of where I was in my healing journey when I first read the book.

As I reread this book, I felt grateful for its hopefulness and it's "you can do it" attitude. I would not recommend this book, however, to someone who will not read this book critically. It doesn't reflect the latest research about healing from trauma, and it doesn't include approaches which I personally have found healing.

What I was struck by was the author's self-judgment and impatience towards herself and her healing journey. It is natural to have self-critical thoughts and dark thoughts. Shifting to a more compassionate, patient approach to oneself is key to lowering the stress response and healing.

Since reading this book, I have been inspired by Kristin Neff, Brene Brown, and Elizabeth Gilbert to regularly practice self-compassion. I have also learned the value of somatics, a spiritual perspective, and an Internal Family Systems orientation to my thoughts and feelings. I have learned to be less ego-driven in my approach to healing. My self-worth is not tied to where I am in my healing journey.

[C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Bounce Back Book is a well-rounded view of how to process negative occurrences and still find a soft landing. Included are tips, examples, exercises, assignments, suggestions, and stats to empower a good comeback. The author includes many options besides medication, such as writing, singing, volunteering, visualization, dancing, and cuddling, and provides scientific studies to back her recommendations.

The book is a quick and cheerful message full of insight into turning negative reflections around. This is a good choice for people who need assistance finding positive thoughts and hope to overcome a complicated past or negative mindset.

[Bradley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve been working on the concepts in this book for a very long time. I decided for myself that I’d give myself a fresh start and that I had to be on the road to recovery by November 1. Today is November 1 and I’m ready to start the next chapter. I’ll keep this book because I’ll probably find myself in a position where I need to bounce back and I’ll flip through the pages because there are 75 worthy steps to follow.

[Ananda Nadya · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book with interesting premise, but the more i read it, the more i lost my interest in it since the tone of voice is too positive for me — a good book with interesting messages, but maybe not much for my liking

[alison coleman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had to read this book for school and although it had some good tips I will be using, a lot of it pertained to dealing with a specific event. It may have been more helpful if I read it after something like that.

[Yeewei Cheo · Rating 5 out of 5]

fun, concise, most importantly, applicable

[Sharon Pereira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short, sharp pearls of wisdom when you need a lift!

[ania · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great for reading like a bible: one page every morning.

[Liza · Rating 5 out of 5]

These 75 tips to bounce back after something bad happened also includes homework assignments on applying these to your life. Not every tip resonated with me, but some were exactly what I needed.

[Jen Bowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so helpful, helping me get back on my feet. Helping me see there is truly life after an assault .

[Meredith Marlin]

I'm honestly curious to re read a lot of these books around this topic I bought in 2015.

[Charlene · Rating 3 out of 5]

I used to read way more self-help books. I was kind of unhealthily addicted to them. Because I never really took all the steps that might change my life for the better. I’ve always liked Karen Salmansohn’s writing— she also has a blog. Honestly, go to her blog and you’ll actually get more in-depth advice. This is more like a compilation of short pieces of advice and exercises to help you apply it. IF you like these kind of self-help books, this book would be good to keep by the bed and randomly look at to boost your spirits and give you some ideas on how to cope when things aren’t going great. It’s all very “rah-rah” though, and a little loopy at times— some people don’t like that, lol.

[ANNIE · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Karen Salmansohn and will give her 5 stars for anything she writes. Short, witty, honest. This book hits you straight in the face and then straight in the heart. What a positive, uplifting woman she must be in person.

[Laura Ostermeyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome! Helpful and inspiring!

[Hope · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes you feel yourself spiraling downward, and you don't know what to do next. Recommended to me by a good friend, I picked up this book.

Bounce Back is packed with nuggets of uplifting, empowering wisdom. Salmansohn's book uses a conversational tone and plenty of humor to share her 75 tips for bouncing back from one (or a multitude — what she calls "The Vortex") of life's challenges: life and death, career pitfalls, assault and personal violations, relationship troubles, financial struggles, substance abuse and more. I also loved how elegantly the simple visual elements came together to illustrate her ideas. It's just a lovely little book, and I found myself finishing it in a just couple short sittings.

If you're new to self-help literature (I'm far from a connoisseur myself), this book is a nice place to start. It's both approachable and credible in the way she uses a balance of research and personal anecdotes to back her recommendations. She includes "Bounce Back Assignments' throughout, which I initially balked at until I realized how bite-sized the prompts were. Her advice is fairly broad in how you can apply it to your own situation, and she states up front that some of her tips will be more suitable than others to any given reader. I recommend keeping a few sticky notes near by to mark your favorites. I hope this also helps you find some inner strength as you begin bouncing back.

[Tami · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a clever little book that grabbed me from first glance with it's red, rubbery cover to complement the title. It is full of useful, bite-sized affirmations and assignments for overcoming life's little (and big) setbacks. You don't need to be going through a major crisis to benefit from the "75 Tips grounded in happiness research, medical studies, positive psychology, Eastern meditation, and even Greek philosophy."

The author's tone is casual and insightful, like getting a dose of much-needed straight talk from a sensible girlfriend. It's a quick read - I blew threw it in an afternoon, marking pages that warranted revisiting and reflecting upon. The takeaway for me was that everyone goes through rough patches in life, big and small, and the outcome is determined by how you look at things. You can sink into whirlpool of despair, or you can reframe your situation and view each of life's challenges as an opportunity to grow as a person, increase self-awareness, and discover new opportunities that the challenges might make possible.

[Melissa Hedges- Rankin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a second read for me. Clear writing, finished in one day.
The first time I read it, was in the middle of a personal crisis, however the book's helpful instructions and various motivational 'calls to action' techniques offers the readers varied ways to take you out of victimhood as well as a path to healing. The author herself experienced a personal and professional life crisis and could testify the effectiveness of the various methods.
I was glad I read the book a second time in that I feel I got more out of the book than the first read through. Will definitely have this book handy as a reference when facing more life challenges.

[Laurie Garcia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a really great, fun and thought provoking book offering tips, advice and antidotes for those going through loss, disappointment, and hardship. She uses her own experiences to relate to readers and utilizes information from psychologists, self help gurus, and world religions to emphasize her points. The book is full of color, illustrations, and funny stories making it a very fun and easy read. I found myself highlighting away and marking several pages that really spoke it me. I highly recommend this book for those that are looking to come back and thrive after their setback.

[Josie Derhammer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I originally bought this book over a year ago because I loved the title and texture of the cover, yes, I really do buy books just for that reason sometimes. After recently moving from Wisconsin to Florida I found myself in a mini funk and feeling kind of lost, so I picked up the book; it made me immediately smile and reconsider a lot of my feeling and reactions to things since I moved. The book is short and set up in a list format that makes it feel like you are barely reading, but it certainly uplifted my mood and helped me to readjust my attitude back to normal. =]

[Luci · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good self-help book subtitled "How to thrive in the face of adversity, setbacks, and losses."

The author cites lots of credible sources in a friendly, non-academic way, and turns phrases memorably. I liked "Feeling means you're dealing means you're healing," and "If you ask depressing questions, you will 100% get depressing answers."

That said, there wasn't a lot of new information to me, so this is a book best for people seeking support who want newsbite-sized suggestions, who haven't already read a lot on the topic.