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Two Brilliant Book Reviews of Mental Health Wisdom

By Books & AuthorsNo Comments

Early last year when I was promoting my book, I approached several bloggers to review my book. Two bloggers responded and completed brilliant reviews of my book.

The first was cats, kids, chaos. Here is what they wrote:

This is a very refreshing and sensible book, written through the eyes of someone who knows how the system works from a professional point of view but also from the empathetic side of someone who has experienced the system as a patient and user.

It’s easy to read and helpful. It is definitely a useful book to have around and it’s helpful to read as well as dip in and out of…

…A useful book to help with negotiating mental health from a personal point of view.

(From: Mental Health Wisdom – Antony Simpson, last accessed: Friday 3rd January 2020.)

You can read the full review here.

The second was Me Against Myself. Here is what they wrote:

This is a perfect starting point for anyone that wants to get clued up on mental health. It goes through the many different mental health illnesses, symptoms and has so much invaluable knowledge and wisdom embedded in it. It then goes on to list some tips on how to manage and look after your mental health and well- being. I thoroughly recommend purchasing this book. I was lucky and had this book gifted to me by the Author in return for an honest and impartial review. This review is of my own opinions and thoughts. I genuinely believe that this book will teach you a lot about mental health. I love the ideas throughout on how to top up your mental health and wellbeing. The pages on the seven essentials to be mentally and emotionally healthy and happy are especially useful for those suffering.

(From: 12 Resources You Need To Help Understand Mental Health, last accessed: Friday 3rd January 2020.)

You can read more here.

It’s great to see that people are finding my book informative, useful and helpful. If you want to learn more about the book you can do so here.

Blog soon,

Antony

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Saturday 4 January 2020

Book Review: This Is Going To Hurt by Adam Kay

By Amazon, Books & Authors, Happiness & Joy, ReviewsNo Comments
This-Is-Going-To-Hurt-Adam-Kay-Book-Cover Comedian Adam Kay hasn’t always been a Comedian. In a former life he was a Doctor in the National Health Service (NHS). At the time he dutifully kept a reflective diary, as he was encouraged to do so as best practice.

In the best-selling This Is Going To Hurt Kay shares this secret junior Doctor diary with the world. As a junior Doctor Kay mainly worked in maternity. Kay tells true stories with a humorous flare. Obviously patient’s details have been changed to ensure anonymity.

In this book Kay is completely honest and because of this honesty it really does tell you what it’s like to be a junior Doctor in the NHS. Along with what it’s really like behind the scenes in the NHS.

Throughout the book there are brilliant footnotes that explain the medical terminology in an easy to understand way.

All of the stories are interesting, made so by Kay’s constant use of humor. Writing humor in a book is difficult, so Kay should be highly commended for pulling this off as well as he did. A couple of the stories were so so funny that I laughed out loud reading the book.

Kay’s diary is dated and at each change of job, he explains his mental state and shares his thoughts around topics including: commenting on Politician’s meddling in the NHS; under funding and under resourcing; the staff often working for nothing because they feel morally obligated and want to do the best for their patients; the NHS relying too much on the goodwill of staff (in all roles) to the point were the goodwill is almost gone and staff morale is non-existent; the sneaking privatization and what it will mean for all; that our expectation of Doctors and Nurses to be super-human are unrealistic.

Kay wraps up the thoroughly enjoyable This Is Going To Hurt by telling the story of a patient that made him decide to leave the medical profession. It is deeply tragic, as is Kay’s loss to the profession. Kay describes receiving a letter after 4 years of quitting from the General Medical Council (GMC) removing him from active registration due to lack of required practice hours. The ending of the book caused me to cry.

This book reminded me that every person has and is their own story. We whom work in the NHS should always remember this, along with the fact that patient’s like to share their stories whether good or bad of contact with NHS services. Staff in the NHS generally work there to make a positive difference to people’s lives. We certainly don’t go into it for the money!

The success of This Is Going To Hurt has led Kay to recently publish a follow up book Twas The Nightshift Before Christmas, in time to be a stocking-filler for Christmas. I just hope that this follow up book has new diary entries in, rather than a reprint of stories from the first.

Review soon,

Antony

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Saturday 26 October 2019

Book Review: Dare To Lead by Brené Brown

By Amazon, Books & Authors, ReviewsNo Comments

I first discovered Brené Brown when I saw this TED talk titled The Power of Vulnerability:

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Which Brown followed up with this TED Talk, Listening to Shame:

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dare-to-lead-brene-brown-book-cover So when I started on a leadership course at work, I decided to buy Dare To Lead by Brené Brown.

Dare To Lead is about leadership that is vulnerable, values-based, trusting and resilient. The book is split into four parts.

The first and biggest part is Rumbling with Vulnerability. In this section Brown discusses what vulnerability is, why it is important, myths about vulnerability, using courage to drop our armor as leaders, dealing with shame and empathy and curiosity grounded in confidence.

The second part is Living Into Our Values. Values are very important to me, so unsurprisingly this was my favorite part of the book. This section covers what our own values are, what organisational values can be and how to turn values into measurable

behaviours. The List of Values activity I completed with some of my colleagues at work and I found it an incredibly useful in terms of learning more about them and what they value. Since I have also contributed to a consultation at work around our organisational values.

The third part of the book is Braving Trust. This section of the book is all about building trust as a leader and recognising how trust is built up gradually over time and can be easily lost.

The fourth part of the book is Learning to Rise which is all about resilience. This part of the book is about recognising emotion within ourselves and others as a leader, being curious about emotions and being self-aware enough to recognise what is going on emotionally for ourselves and others.

Throughout Dare To Lead are many helpful strategies that if implemented would make you a better leader. Including strategies around: having difficult conversations, increasing self-awareness, being aware of the values of ourselves and of the people we lead, being aware of the stories we tell ourselves (that may or may not be true), how to build trust and courage in the people that you lead.

Dare To Lead is written in a way that feels like you’re having a conversation with Brown. She gives examples from her own experience and also asks open questions styled in a coaching method to encourage the reader to think about how these experiences relate to their own life.

About Brené Brown
Brené Brown is a Research Professor at the University of Huston, is a Social Worker and delivers talks and training on leadership around innovation, creativity and change. Brown has worked with Pixar (Disney) and Facebook around leadership. You can learn more about Brené Brown on her website here.

Dare To Lead by Brené Brown is available to buy on Amazon.

Review soon,

Antony

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Tuesday 9 July 2019

Book Review: The Book of English Magic by Philip Carr-Gomm & Richard Heygate

By Amazon, Books & Authors, Paganism, ReviewsNo Comments
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 The Book of English Magic by Philip Carr-Gomm & Richard Heygate is a fascinating and comprehensive guide to English Magic, from the cave paintings of ancient man 12,000 years ago up until today.

Each chapter contains text, photos and diagrams and sections such as: Read about this Period in Fiction, Biographies of Key People, Activities (such as Hunting for Ley Lines), Stories/Experiences of People, Things To Do (including sites to visit) and a List of Resources.

In addition each chapter is extensively referenced, with a complete reference list in an Appendix at the end.

History is a topic that interests me, but even if it doesn’t interest you much, Carr-Gomm & Heygate’s passion for the topic comes through in what is a very engaging writer’s voice. Despite the book being over 500 pages long, I read it on an on and off basis, finishing it in about a month.

Some of the History of Magic is London-centric, but that’s not surprising considering historically and even today a lot of what happens is London-centric in England.

Pagans will find this brilliant book captivating and learn something new (no matter how long you’ve been a practicing pagan). This book goes into great detail about a wide range of topics including: Ley Lines, Dowsing, Druidry, Shamanism, Charms & Spells, Runes, Alchemy, Astrology, Astrological Magic, Spirits, Cunning-Folk, Herbal Remedies, Numerology, Spirit Communication, Tarot, Chaos Magic and Divination.

I would highly recommend The Book of English Magic by Philip Carr-Gomm & Richard Heygate to all. It is available to buy on Amazon and at all good book shops.

Review soon,

Antony



I aim for posts on this blog to be informative, educational and entertaining. If you have found this post useful or enjoyable, please consider making a contribution by Paypal:


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Sunday 23 June 2019
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