The Book of Hope

by Jonny Benjamin (Editor), Britt Pflüger (Editor)

There is always hope, even when we cannot seem to seek it within ourselves.

From the best advice you’ll ever get to the joy of crisps, the 101 brilliant contributors to The Book of Hope will help you to find hope whenever you need it most. Award-winning mental health campaigner Jonny Benjamin, MBE, and co-editor Britt Pflüger bring together people from all walks of life – actors, musicians, athletes, psychologists and activists – to share what gives them hope.

These 101 key voices in the field of mental health, from the likes of Lemn Sissay, Dame Kelly Holmes, Frank Turner and Zoe Sugg, to Joe Tracini, Elizabeth Day, Hussain Manawer and Joe Wicks, share not only their experiences with anxiety, psychosis, panic attacks and more, but also what helps them when they are feeling low. This joyful collection is a supportive hand to anyone looking to find light on a dark day and shows that, no matter what you may be going through, you are not alone.

Genres: Nonfiction

416 pages, Hardcover

Published April 15, 2021

Reviews

[Schizanthus Nerd · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book introduces you to the lived experience of 101 contributors, people whose experiences run the gamut of what it means to be human but who have all struggled with hopelessness and found reasons to hope. Rather than attempt mini reviews for each contributor, instead I will share my favourite quote from each of the book’s eleven sections.

Always Hope

To me, hope is a gentle bridge between what is and what could be. A bridge that if crossed will lead you from desire, to belief, to knowing. Knowing that tomorrow will be different and can be better. Hope is the understanding that things will change and that life will eventually move for you, too.

- Jada Sezer

Acceptance

This is some of the best advice I have had: to take each day as it comes. Just focus on the next hour and reach for support if you need it, from people or helplines. Don’t suffer in silence as you are never truly alone, even if it feels that way.

- Eleanor Segall

Peace

It’s ok to not be ok. It doesn’t mean you’re weak or a bad person. Admitting you’re unwell is a sign of strength, not weakness.

- Oliver Kent

Tool Kits

It generally feels better when you say it out loud. It enables you to reality check your thoughts and feelings, to shine a light on them and test them out, rather than keeping them hidden in the echo chamber of your mind. Above all, it gives you the chance to connect with others and to realise you are not alone.

- Benna Waites

Compassion

For it is people who create hope; it is people who give us the strength to carry on.

- Dick Moore

Courage

Imparting hope is profound and may just be enough to save a life.

- Erin Turner

The Right Words

Trying to avoid it, because you’re scared of how it will make you feel, will only make things worse. So instead you let the feeling be. ‘This is me,’ you can say to yourself, ‘experiencing grief.’ Does it hurt? Yes. Will it kill you? No. Will it pass? Yes. Is it serious and important? Yes. Is it also just a feeling? Yes.

- Aaron Balick

Inspiration

So here’s my first piece of advice: be gentle and forgiving with yourself, as if you were talking to someone you loved. It’s OK to be weak and fallible, or at least just human, to have limits. It’s OK to stop and take a moment for yourself.

- Frank Turner

Resilience

And yet hope is determined, hope is always there, even if you can’t see it or hear it. It’s in the tiniest of moments, shining its dim light, hoping you notice it. And hope is potent stuff, you only need the smallest glimmer, the tiniest drop, to make a difference.

- Jo Love

Kindness

‘You don’t have to wait to be in a crisis to get help,’ Leah said, thirteen soothing words that finally granted me permission to speak.

- Amy Abrahams

Connection

Everyone’s feelings make sense once you get to know their story.

- Martin Seager

There are plenty of darkness and light analogies, things that contributors would like to tell their younger selves and many writers who mentioned the importance of good nutrition and getting enough sleep and exercise. I know we all know the importance of these in maintaining both our physical and mental health but there’s something about hearing things you already know from people with lived experience that make you want to pay attention. If they helped these people, then maybe, just maybe, they might work for you too.

Some contributions had sections that read a bit like a Hallmark card, although I’m not certain that that’s a criticism; Hallmark haven’t made bajillions by telling people things they don’t want to hear. It wasn’t always clear to me why specific contributions were included in a section.

One of my favourite contributions was from David Wiseman, whose descriptions of what life looks like from inside PTSD are some of the most authentic that I’ve ever come across. I highlighted more of David’s words than any other writer. I can’t choose a favourite passage so I’ve chosen the shortest one that I highlighted.

Living with PTSD means having to have a busy mind because a relaxed mind will automatically fill with things you don’t want to think about. It means being tired all the time because that amount of thinking takes energy.

Content warnings include mention of addiction, bullying, death by suicide, domestic violence, eating disorders, homophobia, mental health, racism, self harm, sexual assault, suicidal ideation and suicide attempts.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Bluebird, an imprint of Pan Macmillan, for the opportunity to read this book. I’m rounding up from 3.5 stars.

Blog - https://schizanthusnerd.com

[Mel Bunting · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much @panmacmillan and @netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

TW // this book could be extremely triggering. It covers a wide range of mental health conditions, racism, homophobia, domestic violence, addiction, bullying, baby loss, self harm, death by suicide, suicidal ideation and suicide attempts. This list is not exhaustive, I’ve tried to cover everything but unfortunately may have missed some things.

Always Hope
Acceptance
Peace
Tool Kits
Compassion
Courage
The Right Words
Inspiration
Resilience
Kindness
Connection

The above are the titles of the chapters. Whilst The Book Of Hope covers some very triggering topics, it is about what it says in the title - hope. It is 101 experiences from people who have been in very dark places, sharing their struggles with their mental health, how they found hope, and why they are glad they did.

The Book Of Hope is the best self-help book I’ve read. You can read it from cover to cover and take in every word, or you can use the chapters to navigate to experiences that you want to focus on. There’s so much to learn and take in, so much hope to absorb. I’m so glad I read this book - so much so, I’ve preordered a physical copy that I know I will keep forever!

The contributors are from a mixture of backgrounds. Some are very well known, others not at all. But each and every experience is so important, and all contributors give the same message - there is hope.

I couldn’t recommend this book more.

“You may feel at times there is no hope, that all is lost, but believe me, it is not. You may have a tear stained face and an aching heart but these experiences are the gold that bring out the best of us if we allow them to, they test us to the core, peeling back the layers and showing us what we are truly made of.” - Carrie Grant

[James Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

exceptional! could not put this book down and absolutely loved it, Jonny is so brave and a massive inspiration

[Nicky Maunder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Benjamin and Pflüger have curated over 100 voices, some very well known and others not so, who all have lived experience of mental ill health, some who have had thoughts of suicide, some who have attempted suicide and some who have been bereaved by suicide. It goes without saying that these people have been to som very dark places, and it’s just heartbreaking. So readers who have been affected beware.

They have grouped these contributions into different sections including; always hope, acceptance, peace, tool kits, compassion, courage, the right words, inspiration, resilience, kindness and connection. I loved the breadth of contributors in this; there are veterans, clinicians, bankers, athletes, campaigners galore. And they’re all united in their message for anyone suffering mental health challenges - there is always hope and things will get better.

There is a lot in here - this is a resource that readers can nip into (the sections are a great help for this!), to gain someone else’s viewpoint in fighting mental health and getting better. And to see what worked for them - but remember we’re all different and different tools work for different people.

Thank you to all the contributors (including Jonny and Britt) for sharing their deeply personal stories ❤️

Recommended reading!!

[Lisa Coffman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This arrived yesterday and I've finished my first read through already. I was totally captivated by the honest, heart-warming, heart-wrenching and in some cases relatable stories by the numerous contributors. At a time when so many of us are struggling and fearful these stories on overcoming adversity really do give hope and something to cling onto. I will be dipping in and out of this book seeking advice and positivity for a long time to come. Highly recommended reading.

[Karleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gives a range of perspective on how others may have similar symptoms as you, and you are not alone,

This book has helped me understand why I will work on my own demons and be strong like those Authors

[Jemma Lewis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmmm so so. Found the stories a bit repetitive and lots of mental illness as well, a great read if you suffer from depression or anxiety. I was just hoping it would be a bit “lighter”