The Comfort Book

by Matt Haig

Reflexiones sobre la esperanza, la supervivencia y el enrevesado milagro de estar vivos

NO HAY NADA MÁS FUERTE QUE UNA PEQUEÑA ESPERANZA QUE NO SE RINDE

El libro de la esperanza es una recopilación de pequeñas islas de ilusión. Reúne formas de consuelo e historias que nos proporcionan nuevas maneras de vernos a nosotros y al mundo.

La mezcla de filosofía, memorias y autorreflexión de Matt Haig se basa en filósofos y supervivientes de todos los tiempos, desde Marco Aurelio hasta Nellie Bly, desde Emily Dickinson hasta James Baldwin.

Este es el libro al que debes recurrir cuando necesites la sabiduría de un amigo, el consuelo de un abrazo o un recordatorio de que la esperanza surge de lugares inesperados.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Mental Health, Psychology, Audiobook, Philosophy, Memoir

259 pages, Hardcover

First published July 6, 2021

About the author

Matt Haig is the author of novels such as The Midnight Library, How to Stop Time, The Humans, The Radleys, and the forthcoming The Life Impossible. He has also written books for children, such as A Boy Called Christmas, and the memoir Reasons to Stay Alive.

Reviews

[Sean Barrs · Rating 5 out of 5]

"It is a strange paradox, that many of the clearest, most comforting life lessons are learned while we are at our lowest."

This book is fresh air. It is a sunset on a summer’s evening, and it is a cold shower on a very hot day. It is a book written to help you understand yourself and it is also a book written to help you heal and appreciate life.

True growth comes during our worst times, during moments when we feel like we have no more to give but carry on anyway. Our mindset is everything, and here Matt Haig draws on stoic philosophy to understand his own experiences and impart the wisdom he learnt through a crippling bout of suicidal depression.

It is a short book, but it is also one that understands the power of words and the act of writing itself. What we think, what we do, what we reflect on through writing, is what we begin to manifest. And it is extremely important we make active choices to engage in things that bring us comfort, hope and stability.

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You can connect with me on social media via My Linktree.
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[Rowan MacDonald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perhaps the best thing about The Comfort Book is that it inspired me to create my own personal version of it. I think everyone should have a scrapbook or compilation of things that give them comfort. We could all use something like that when life gets tough, or when we simply need to pause and show gratitude.

Matt Haig’s Comfort Book does a pretty great job of providing comfort and wisdom itself. It’s the first Matt Haig book I’ve read and definitely won’t be the last. Even the colours on the front cover make my eyes happy.

This is the perfect book to dip in and out of – or even throw out the window, as Haig suggests in the first few pages. I chose to read it cover-to-cover and found it equal parts inspiring and comforting. It can be a particularly quick-read, such is the short length of many segments. A lot of stuff here is so deep, that I found myself re-reading it numerous times, so as to fully appreciate or understand what was being said. It’s thought-provoking.

Haig draws heavily from his own experiences with being suicidal and depressed; sometimes perhaps too much so. Not every nugget of wisdom hits the mark, but then, this is "his" Comfort Book. I found it occasionally delved too deep into the philosophy; but the entries were so short, it wasn’t long before another one better suited me and hit home hard.

Whether it be comfort films and music, or remarkable true tales to gain inspiration from during the tough times; there’s a bit of everything here. I found myself regularly taking notes or photos of various pages, reflect back on later, or return to when needed. I particularly enjoyed his entry about Ferris Bueller’s Day Off as well as the therapeutic power of writing.

Another favourite passage of mine:

“None of us are the same people we were ten years ago. When we feel or experience terrible things, it is useful to remember that nothing lasts. Perspective shifts. We become different versions of ourselves. The hardest question I have ever been asked is: ‘How do I stay alive for other people if I have no one?’ The answer is that you stay alive for other versions of you. For the people you will meet, yes, sure, but also the people you will be.”

Whether you are going through some tough times, or simply need some occasional inspiration, there’s something worthwhile in The Comfort Book for you.

I’m now off to go work on my comfort song playlist!

[Regina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ll give you three guesses what this book is about.

Oh, you only need one? Well done then.

The author of 2020’s fictional The Midnight Library and the self-help memoirs Reasons to Stay Alive and Notes on a Nervous Planet has written a new little “gifting” book that’s essentially a personal journal he’s now sharing with the world. As someone who struggles with anxiety and depression, he’s kept notes, lists, and quotes to help him find the sun on the dark days.

The Comfort Book begs to be put on a guestroom nightstand, or tucked in a condolence gift basket with a cozy blanket and herbal teas.

It is exactly what you think it is. If you take comfort in Haig’s words like I do, pick up a copy for yourself and one to share with a friend. Even if they never read it, they’ll feel your hug of encouragement between its bindings.

Blog: https://www.confettibookshelf.com/

[Liong · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cosy collection of small reminders that life is tough but you’ll survive.

No storyline. It just opens anywhere and gets a mini emotional snack. 😊

Feels like someone telling you, “Relax, you are doing better than you think.”

Simple, honest, calming… perfect for tired brains. 🥰

A gentle book for days when you just need something soft for the soul.

" If we keep going in a straight line, we will get out of here. "

[gaia ★ · Rating 2 out of 5]

instead of buying this book, search "self help" on tumblr. i swear it's the same thing

[Terrie Robinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The Comfort Book" by Matt Haig is a collection of the author's thoughts that have kept him afloat!

I enjoy having a book on my nightstand so I can read a few pages of wisdom, a short essay, or inspirational quotes from each night before I pick up the book I am currently reading at the time.

This book consists of brief thoughts, encouragements, and self-reflections from the author. He shares ideas or reminders he's written down, things he's learned from others or lessons and observations from bad times. It's "stuff" that has given him comfort and he refers to as his "life rafts".

It's divided into four untitled parts and although I tried, I never discovered or determined a reason for the divisions. Some pages are thought provoking, and while most are of interest, a few felt superfluous to me but may be helpful to others. Unfortunately, there was a repetitious feel that crept in on a couple of occasions. Skipping a couple of days helped with this.

Although this wasn't the perfect book for me, I did enjoy the authors' mission and I know this is a book that many have found helpful and loved. That's always a good thing! 3.25 stars!

I'm off in search of another bedside book. This time I'm looking for one full of short essays to devour. Suggestions anyone?

[Sujoya - theoverbookedbibliophile · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Crying releases stress hormones. Swearing increases pain tolerance. Fury can motivate us into action. Feel what you feel. Silence and smiles aren’t the only way to respond to pain. Sometimes it is good to howl.”

I read this one slowly, deliberately spaced apart over two months. I reached for this book during a particularly stressful time. I wasn’t reading much during that phase but I kept this book close to me. I usually don’t read self-help books because in most cases I find them a tad “preachy” (no offense intended, personal opinion). Having enjoyed Matt Haig’s The Midnight Library, I decided to give this book a try.

Matt Haig’s The Comfort Book is a short book filled with thoughts, reflections, stories, lists and much more written in simple words that are insightful, thought-provoking and yes, comforting! While I didn’t find all the passages/entries equally inspiring, I was moved by more than a few that I read and reread multiple times. I’m happy to have The Comfort Book as a part of my personal collection.

[Virginie Roy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Update : preordered!🎉 The cover is absolutely gorgeous!



Haig's books make me feel opposite emotions... Reading them is so good for the soul, but waiting for their publication is torture!

[Reading_ Tamishly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I needed this book today. And this book came out just at the right time just when I was in need of such a book. That too from one of my favourite authors. Thank you, Matt Haig.

The weekend just before this book's release, I was having a very difficult time dealing with pain and I was in a dilemma on what to do next with my life. I was feeling quite overwhelmed. I thought I would be able to calm down a bit when the actual week starts but Monday went to Tuesday and I was still in the same situation. Health-wise I got much better but my mind was so chaotic. I remember I was in this same state of mind just before reading Notes On a Nervous Planet and Reasons to Stay Alive. Both books did wonders for me then. And for today, this book just comforted me.

I started laughing the moment I read this sentence in the short prologue: "You can throw it out of the window." And there, no pressure and no rules.

There are so many lines and pages which comforted me.

But these simple lines do everything:

"When we can't speak, we can write. When we can't write, we can read. When we can't read, we can listen. Words are seeds. Language is a way back to life. And it is sometimes the most vital comfort we have."

Well, just the book I needed at the moment.

This is the kind of book which you will enjoy when you pick it up when you really need a good distraction from all the everyday usual distractions. When you feel like you have jad enough of the hopeless everyday routine. Otherwise, if you're okay with your day, just don't pick up this book.

And I do feel some pages were unnecessary and a waste of space in the short book. I did find some repetitive lines to be rather annoying rather than comforting.

But that's like 2 percent of the book. I loved it.

But if I have to reread a similar, much better version of it, I will always choose Reasons to Stay Alive anytime.

[Cheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

’Do not think that the person who is trying to console you lives effortlessly among the simple, quiet words that sometimes make you feel better….But if it were any different he could never have found the words that he did.’
-- Rainer Maria Rilke, Letters to a Young Poet

I’ve read, and loved, several of Matt Haig’s books, but I hesitated on reading this one. I needn’t have hesitated, but I’m glad that I did since I’d opted to add it to my library list of requests, and it arrived at the perfect time for me.

I loved that the chapters are relatively short, little snippets of thoughts, shared wisdom, Haig’s personal struggles with hard times and what helped him through those hard times.

’There is a kind of accidental theme, though. The theme is connection. We are all things. And we connect to all things. Human to human. Moment to moment. Pain to pleasure. Despair to hope. When times are hard, we need a deep kind of comfort. Something elemental. A solid support. A rock to hold on to. The kind we already have inside us. But which we sometimes need a bit of help to see.’

This was a cathartic read for me, read slowly over many days. In between when I began reading this and when I finished it, I drove for a short visit with one of my friends from childhood, a journey that took much longer than anticipated but was so worth the trip.


Many thanks to the Public Library system, and the many Librarians that manage, organize and keep it running, for the loan of this book!

[Gerardine Betancourt · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The most powerful moment in life is when you decide not to be scared anymore"
This book has created so many emotions in me. Matt Haig has definitely become my favorite author. I love that he can write different genres including non-fiction, a genre that I don't tend to read a lot and still, entertain me so much.
The Comfort Book is the kind of book that you don't have to read in order, you can skip chapters and read it when you need words of encouragement in your life, it's one of those books that I think you should always have on your nightstand.
I learned so much from this book even though in my opinion, it was extremely short. Matt Haig talks about his mental health and the way he has struggled with it his whole life while giving you different recommendations for feel-good movies, recipes, and music. In addition, Haig tells us how we can continue our lives despite the bad experiences we have had in the past, how to appreciate imperfections as a natural part of our existence and how to accept our mental health and just allow ourselves to live.
AMAZING BOOK HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT !!!
4.5 STARS
Thank you so much to Penguin Group for this Arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Jennifer ~ TarHeelReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book I’ve had on and off my nightstand since it came out. I love that it’s a smaller size and doesn’t have a dust jacket because I feel like that makes it sturdier for all the love and use it receives. The Comfort Book is ideal to reach for when you are tired but can’t sleep because the short and thoughtful passages can be read quickly, and just as the title says, each and every one provide nothing short of the comfort promised.

Emotional intelligence is a construct we talked about more often as a society. Matt Haig is exceptionally introspective and in tune with his own emotions, while also having a gift in the way he expresses, such that I feel seen and understood. I can’t think of another book that’s similar. It is absolutely not a self-help book in the traditional way we think about them. I’ve still not read it from front to back, though I know I’ve read some passages, especially those on which I’ve placed a dart, many times over. It’s hard not to mark them all for later.

I absolutely love this little book, so much so, I ordered a second copy in the form of the UK edition. Now I can’t decide on a thoughtful place to put it. 😂

Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.Jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader

[Alex · Rating 1 out of 5]

White man with depression, book agent, and multiple best sellers writes morsels of text paraphrased from other authors.

Could have been an email newsletter.

[Avani ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Comfort Book by Matt Haig, a book which is no less than a comforting hug from a loved one. This is my second book by Matt Haig and I must say I am slowly and steadily falling in love with this author's work. The book came to me at the right time.

"𝙉𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙄𝙨 𝙎𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝙖 𝙨𝙢𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙝𝙤𝙥𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙙𝙤𝙚𝙨𝙣'𝙩 𝙜𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙪𝙥."

There are times in life, when inspite of doing your best and giving your best at the things you love, everything falls short. There are times when you just feel like giving up, and think is it all worth it? There are times when you think you have given whole heart to things you do but nobody is there to acknowledge that for you.

But, its all okay, as Matt Haig says "It's okay to be broken." Let It Sink. The book is truly very comforting in terms of his words and examples he has written from other writers and memoirs. I have so much more feelings attached to this book, which cannot be described in words.

"𝙄𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙖 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙙𝙤𝙭, 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙩, 𝙢𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙚 𝙬𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙩 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙡𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙨𝙩."

I read this book after having long weeks at work and no being able to concentrate on anything else at all. This book may not have solved my problems, but definitely gave me comfort, strength and hope in difficult times. This is one of those books who has a soothing feeling. Everyone please read this book!

[Amina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second read: Update. This book gets me. It’s got all the comfort of a cozy evening.

Happiness occurs when you forget who you’re expected to be. And what you’re expected to do. Happiness is an accident of self-acceptance. It’s the warm breeze you feel when you open the door to who you are.

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I simply picked up this book after falling in love with Matt Haig's The Midnight Library. I had no idea that it was an anecdotal book designed as an allegory for life.

It's a warm, cozy evening by the fire, sipping your coffee, walking through the autumn leaves after the rain, learning to breathe in and out slowly type of book. Yeah, it's comforting.

A comfort book defines its meaning. It can be described as a simple self-help book, to the point.

Haig never makes any loaded declarations. He continually reminds us through his struggles that there is always a way out.

The best thing about rock bottom is the rock part. You discover the solid bit of you. The bit that can't be broken down further...at our lowest, we find the solid ground of our foundation. And we can build ourselves anew

The Comfort Book is a gift, made to be shared over and over.

5/5 stars

[Robyn · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is just a bunch of obvious stuff that you'll read, think is really deep, and forget 5 minutes later.

[Kid Ferrous · Rating 2 out of 5]

It’s not easy reviewing a Matt Haig book - in my opinion he is literary Marmite. You either love everything he does and draw comfort from him, or you view him as an entitled hack cashing in on misery.
His earlier work “Reasons To Stay Alive” (the title alone makes me angry) was a bestseller, of course, but I avoided it because it seemed to be nothing more than a rich, middle-class weekender monetising his depression whilst being vain enough to believe he can help others with the same condition. But whilst real people with depression face an uphill struggle just to get out of bed everyday, Haig’s struggles were more of the “Waitrose selling out of avocados” variety. Now, Matt Haig wants to comfort us.
Some people are naturally suspicious of a rich writer going all “woe is me” and your level of engagement with this latest book will depend on how you see the author. He is either the most caring man in the world or a comfortably-off author cranking out quick vanity projects. I suspect Haig wrote this latest book to cash in on the “we need hope in these dark times” bandwagon; one of the more regrettable consequences of the last eighteen months has been the rash of dilettante writers thinking they are psychologists.
As to the book itself, this isn’t the kind to read from cover to cover, rather something to dip into when you need a “comfort hit”. You may glean comfort from this book, regardless of what I think, and that’s wonderful, but in my opinion if you need a Matt Haig book to comfort you then you must be easily pleased. A lot of the content is simply lists of music, books and films that Haig likes and finds comfort in. There are anecdotes here, poetry there, some remedial philosophy inbetween. Mixed in with this is pretty much the kitchen sink - stories, quotes, a list of “things it is OK to say no to”, and an apparently serious discussion about the movie “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.” If Matt Haig’s name wasn’t on this book, it would be lucky to sell twenty copies.
“The Comfort Book” is happy-fluff. If you need that in your life then you will enjoy this book. I’ve already seen glowing reviews for it so it is sure to be another bestseller for Matt Haig, and he may very well help some people (including you), but as far as I am concerned, the world wouldn’t suffer too much if this book didn’t exist.

[Susan's Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book of daily observations and thoughts. I took my time and reread several passages more than once.



This was truly food for the soul! This is the type of book that you come back to and keep in a conspicuous spot on your book shelf. My mind and my heart felt so much better for having read it.



Highly recommended!

[Nat K · Rating 5 out of 5]

"It's ok to be a mess."

Ain't that the truth. I'm sure I'm not alone in saying that the last few years have been tough. On a personal level it's been excruciatingly hard. Countless others have also suffered tragedies in a world gone mad. Where it's hard to control where life takes you. The theatre of politics further dividing an already divisive society. There's just so much angst in the world.

Ever since reading The Humans (in another lifetime), I've been in booklove with Matt Haig. His empathy and kindness speak volumes. It emits from the pages of his writing, and The Comfort Book continues on this theme. It's a big book hug. An agony Aunt or Uncle. He doesn't sugar coat the rough edges of life. He calls it as it is. He rips off the bandaid. Life can truly suck and find you at rock bottom. It can be so, so hard, and unbearably lonely in a world of noise and angst. Think Munch's The Scream. There's no avoiding the human condition. But a new day can also bring hope, and even sitting in the darkest corner, rays of sunlight can reach you. Every morning is an opportunity to start afresh. It doesn't hurt any less, but there's the potential for happiness. Baby steps.

"...Be kind. Accept that not everyone will like you. Appreciate those who do. Don't be defined. Allow fuck-ups. Want what you already have. Learn to say no to things that get in the way of life. And say yes to the things that help you live."
- A little plan

I love that he mentions Anne Lamott. Three times! That he's included thoughts from other great thinkers, poets, musicians and writers. I love that I've learnt new things about them. I love that it's filled with random ponderings. I love that he doesn't pretend everything will be ok. I love that he says it hurts. I love that he talks about swings and roundabouts. I love that he says there's potential for change. I love that he acknowledges pain. I love that he acknowledges hope. I love that he says life isn't static but ever changing. I love that he lists his favorite books. I love that he lists his favorite music. I love that he lists his favorite movies. I love that he shares his hummus recipe. And talks about pizza. And peanut butter on toast. It is truly a book of comfort. Words hold such power.

As the placard held up in the movie Love Actually says: "To me, you are perfect." That's how I feel about this book. It touched so many raw nerves. I teared up more than once. But the emotions it evoked were worth every single tear drop.

As there were as many times that I broke out in a smile. And laughed out loud. It's that quirky kind of mishmash about the highs and lows of existence. Of life's absurdity, and hope.

"You have survived everything you have been through, and you will survive this too. Stay for the person you will become. You are more than a bad day, or week, or month, or year; or even decade. You are a future of multifarious possibility. You are another self at a point in future time looking back in gratitude that this lost and former you held on. Stay."
- For when you reach rock bottom

Truly, how can any of us imagine where we might be twelve months from now? But it could be in a good place. As he simply says "stay". For the person that you're yet to be, and for the people that you're yet to meet and love.

"Experience one beautiful thing a day. However small. However trivial."
- One beautiful thing

How amazing is that? Truth in simplicity.
Take your time with that coffee. Really savour it. Hear the leaves in the breeze.

For me books aren't about how popular they are. Which prizes they've won. If they've topped a bestseller list. What value they are to literature. Books are all about emotion. About how they make you feel. And this one is filled to the brim.

I decided to treat myself to a hardback copy of this book, as I could sense it would be special and mean a lot. I'm so glad I did. Sitting with this book in my lap, looking up at the clear blue cloudless sky, I feel the weight of each word, as I pondered on them.

This is a book I'll keep close by, to pick up and read snippets of when the moment calls. Turn to a page at random. Like a "thought of the day".

And remember:
"No physical appearance is worth not eating pasta for."

Amen to that.

This is the most fitting book to bid adieu to 2021 with. The last day of a very long and extremely trying year. Thank you Matt Haig, always ❤ I truly wish you knew the effect your words have on people.

All the stars ⭐

"If it is a clear night, watch the stars, just as Marcus Aurelius did in times of turmoil nearly two thousand years ago."
- Tips for how to make a bad day better

Do it tonight.

[Mandy White (mandylovestoread) · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an absolutely beautiful book. As I read somewhere about it.. a hug in the form of a book.

It is a book of quotes, of stories, of thoughts and so much more. In the world today we all need hope. There is something for everybody in here. Not necessarily a book you will read cover to cover. It is one that you can pick up and read just a small part of, or alot of. On days you need something to cheer you up, or just to inspire you.

As somebody who has been at the bottom of the bottom, alot of the words in The Book of Comfort spoke to me. I could absolutely relate to Matt's feelings and outlook. This is going to be a book that I go back to time after time.

Some of my favourites were about social media and the way it can make you feel. I loved the thoughts on one of my favourite movies Ferris Buellers Day Off. And the lists of songs and books to help your mind. And the list of things it is ok to say no to... I could go on all day.

Needless to say, I loved The Comfort Book by Matt Haig and I think that you will too. Thank you Allen and Unwin for sending fme this little piece of joy. In stores July 2nd.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Comforting, sure, but also a little repetitive. I think it might be four stars if they would cut about 50 pages. There were about 20-30 times where I felt like I was reading the exact same phrase or idea. He does do this intentionally with one phrase---"Nothing is stronger than a small hope that doesn't give up." He repeats throughout the book to make the point and let it sink in. But the rest of the time he is basically expressing the same thing in various ways.

I liked the recipes, poems, lists, and biographies of inspiring people. I felt there could have been more of those (a list of comforting songs AND movies but no list of comfort books in THE comfort book?) and less of his little speech-y moments. I didn't dislike all of them; as I said they were just too repetitive.

Like with any self-help book, you take what gets at you and leave the rest. Some of it felt just a touch cheesy and overdone but it was a good mood boost overall.

"Imagine yourself as a baby. You would look at that baby and think they lacked nothing. That baby came complete. Their value was innate from their first breath. Their value did not depend on external things like wealth or appearance or politics or popularity. It was the infinite value of a human life. And that value stays with us, even as it becomes easier to forget it. We stay precisely as alive and precisely as human as we were the day the day we were born. The only thing we need is to exist. And to hope."

[Bianca · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Comfort Book is, amazingly, what it claims to be, a book to comfort its reader.
To be honest, I was skeptical, but couldn't help myself, I had to see what the fuss was all about, even though I follow Haig on socials, so I had an idea of what to expect.

The audiobook was narrated by the author. He did a good job, although he's no Stephen Fry.

The book worked for me as it was structured in small chapters, with interludes comprising of poems and lists of favourite movies and music. I imagine the hardback is quite nice, I shall investigate when I find myself in a bookshop or the library.

You won't find any revelations, at least I didn't, not that I expected to. Most of us need reminders, reinforcing, gentle coaxing, or kicks in the arse now and then. This comforting book offers those, except for the kicks in the arse.

In conclusion, this won't cure your depression (not that it promises to do that), but it could lessen one's anxieties and existential dread, at least until its glow fades and one returns to old patterns of thinking and living.

[☘Misericordia☘ ⚡ϟ⚡⛈⚡☁ ❇️❤❣ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some parts felt flat yet others were sublime to the extent that I wanted nothing more than to tear those pages out of the book and put them into a sweet pie, then eat it. Maybe stew some in my tea. Maybe chew some raw... Yep, sounds crazy (a reader fantasising about eating the choice parts of a fav book, LOL!) but that's about the vividest imagery I've ever had.

[Shreya ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Happiness occurs when you forget who you’re expected to be. And what you’re expected to do. Happiness is an accident of self-acceptance. It’s the warm breeze you feel when you open the door to who you are."
.
“Life is understood backward; but it must be lived forward”
.
"Be curious. Go outside. Get to bed on time. Hydrate. Breathe from the diaphragm. Eat happy. Get a routine baggy enough to live in. Be kind. Accept that not everyone will like you. Appreciate those who do. Don’t be defined. Allow fuck-ups. Want what you already have. Learn to say no to things that get in the way of life. And to say yes to the things that help you live."
.
"Hope, in its simplest form, is the acceptance of possibility.
The acceptance that if we are suddenly lost in a forest, there will be a way through. All we need is a plan, and a little determination."
.
"There is no point spending an entire life trying to win the love you didn’t feel when you needed it. You sometimes just have to let go of an old story and start your own. Give yourself some love.
You can’t change the past. You can’t change other people. You can change you though. You narrate this story. So start to write a new chapter."
.
"No is a good word. It keeps you sane. In an age of overload, no is really yes. It is yes to having the space you need to live."
.
"We all come from randomness. We exist out of uncertainty. Out of near impossibility. And yet we exist. So, when you feel the odds are against you it is important to realize that they are never so against you as they were when you didn’t exist. And there you are, we are, existing."
.
"You don’t need to exhaust yourself trying to find your own value. You are not an iPhone needing an upgrade."
.
Tips for how to make a bad day better:

Get up. Get washed. Get dressed. Stand up. Move your body. Put your phone in another room.
Go for a walk. Stretch. Place your legs against the wall. Get some sunlight, if there is some available. Head, if you can, to somewhere green. A garden, a park, a field, a meadow, a forest.
Breathe deeply and slowly and consciously for a little while. Phone someone you love. Go to bed before midnight. Don’t try too hard to get to sleep. Just allow your mind to absorb the day, and let all those fears and frustrations float through.
.
"You don’t have to be positive. You don’t have to feel guilty about fear or sadness or angerYou are the person experiencing the storm. The storm may knock you off your feet. But you will stand again. Hold on."
.
"Check your emotional armor is actually protecting you, and not so heavy you can’t move."
.
"It is better to let people down than to blow yourself up."
.
"There will be other days. And other feelings."

[luna_inthesouth · Rating 4 out of 5]

"No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man."
-Heraclitus

_____

For when you reach rock bottom

"You have survived everything you have been through, and you will survive this too. Stay for the person you will become. You are more than a bad day, or week, or month, or year, or even decade. You are a future of multifarious possibility. You are another self at a point in future time looking back in gratitude that this lost and former you held on. Stay"


_____

"When things are taken from us, the stuff that remains has more value. It rises not only in visibility but also in intensity. What we lose breadth we gain in depth."

_____

"You don't have to always be the person reaching out. You can sometimes allow yourself to be reached. As the great writer Anne Lamott puts it: "Lighthouses don't go running all over an island for boats to save; they just stand there shining."


_____

As Ayishat Akanbi put it, "If you've decided your healing is dependent on other people acknowledging
their faults, you'll still be waiting in your grave."

[chantalsbookstuff · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't know I needed this book until I picked it up. Matt you are so inspiring and honest. I highly recommend this book for a reboot look into life.

"No is a good word. It keeps you sane. In an age of overload, no is really yes. It is yes to having the space you need to live."

"If you aim to be something you are not, you will always fail. Aim to be you."

"Each of us has the power to enter a new world. All we have to do is change our mind."

"The most powerful moment in life is when you decide not to be scared anymore."

[Ellery Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is the perfect gift to give anyone at any time who might be grappling with these issues:

Low self-esteem
Anxiety
Depression
Loneliness
Isolation
Feeling lost
Stressed
Sleep-deprived
Victim of bullying or emotional abuse
Obsessed with acquiring stuff
Obsessed with numbers (how many likes/follows, stock exchange numbers, amount of money earned, etc.)
Questing their future

“Nothing is stronger than a small hope that doesn’t give up.”
—Matt Haig

This phrase is repeated multiple times throughout the book, and I love it. This entire book offers page after page of small hopes. The pages are super short, which means you can absorb a few messages, restful with all that white space in between, and close the book for a day.

This isn’t a book to be devoured but to sip like a hot, soothing cup of tea. This is a book that reads like you’re eating a piece of warm, homemade bread. It’s a soft, encouraging voice. It’s a blanket around your cold shoulders. It’s a friend. It would be an incredible gift for any occasion. I thought it was quite beautiful.

[Matt Lillywhite · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The best thing about rock bottom is the rock part. You discover the solid bit of you. The bit that can't be broken down further. The thing that you might call a soul. At our lowest we find the solid ground of our foundation. And we can build ourselves anew.”

This book was beautiful. Matt Haig uses personal experience to provide ideas and strategies for improving your mental health. Or, at the very least, making anxiety, stress, and depression easier to manage.

I love The Comfort Book so much. If you ever feel overwhelmed or stressed, read it as soon as possible. It's great!

Five stars.

[Larry H · Rating 5 out of 5]

Matt Haig's The Comfort Book is one of those perfect little books you’ll want to give as a gift over and over again.

Oh, this book, y’all! I’ve said before that sometimes books come around at just the right time, and boy, this one sure did for me. Talk about a big hug and a thumbs-up and a pat on the back, all in book form.

As Haig explains in the introduction, “I sometimes write things down to comfort myself. Stuff learned in the bad times….It is a strange paradox, that many of the clearest, most comforting life lessons are learned while we are at our lowest.”

This is truly one of those books that you can pick up from any point and just marvel at what you’re reading. It’s full of advice, anecdotes, encouragement, lists, stories, things designed to bring comfort to those in need. Many of these observations helped Haig through his serious emotional struggles.

Here are two favorites of mine:

“You don’t have to continually improve yourself to love yourself. Love is not something you deserve only if you reach a goal. The world is one of pressure but don’t let it squeeze your self-compassion. You were born worthy of love and you remain worthy of love. Be kind to yourself.”

“I used to worry about fitting in until I realized the reason I didn’t fit in was because I didn’t want to.”

This is just so beautiful. I’ll be re-reading The Comfort Book so often because just picking up the book and opening it at a random point feels so good.

See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.

Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.

[Bec · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The sky’s isn’t more beautiful if you have perfect skin. Music doesn’t sound more interesting if you have a six pack. Dogs aren’t better company if you’re famous. Pizza tastes good regardless of your job title. The best of life exists beyond the things we are encouraged to crave.”

This fabulous books is a collection of stories that ground you and give you hope in dark times. Haig covers some heavy topics in a short space of time and leaves you feeling philosophical and free.

This book is like a hug from the greatest hug giver or some words of wisdom from your bestie. Both leaving you feeling valued, supported and not alone.

“Reflections on hope, survival and the messy miracle of being alive. And in the darkness even the tiniest fragments of light can shine, capture our attention and maybe even lead us home”

I would read anything this man Matt Haig writes. This one was the perfect read for me while on holidays reflecting about life with the stunning Byron Bay as my back drop. One beautiful book to definitely add to the shelf.