Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

Thank you net galley for allowing me to read this in return for an honest review.
I love self help type books , they always interest me abs this was no different. A bit repetitive in parts but on the whole a good introductory book.

Written for the layman this book explains why mental health problems such as anxiety, stress and depression are so prevalent today.

I found this book a bit repetitive, but I don't think I am the target audience as I have a degree in psychology - I think the fact that it does repeat and remind would be helpful to anyone who hasn't studied the subject in depth before.

So yes, I would recommend this to anyone interested in learning about mental health.

A good introduction to psychology. Not really for me unfortunately as I already have a PhD in psychology so found this a little basic, but the book would make a good gift for a student who is looking to study psychology or to pursue a career in the field.

This is a very good introductory book for beginners in psychology, covering the absolute basics and then going a little deeper into the complexities of different mental health problems. It would make a good gift for someone interested in learning more about psychology without wanting to pursue a degree in it, as some of the information can be a little repetitive for more advanced readers.

Mental health awareness has been on the rise recently, and more people are educating themselves on the complexities of mental health conditions and the issues that may arise from it. And who better to explain it than a neuroscientist.

Burnett has made a name for himself with his previous books Happy Brain and Idiot Brain. He can take the most complex scientific facts and explain it in an easy and informative manner. In this book, he writes about depression, anxiety, addiction, and many others disorders. This is definitely a book for beginners. The information is very condensed down, so perfect for people who are approaching mental health information for the first time. For example, PTSD is only explained quickly, which was disappointing as there could’ve been more to explore. If you want to learn more about post traumatic stress disorder specifically, then Bessel Van Der Kolk’s ‘The Body Keeps the Score’ is a fantastic book about PTSD.

While this is a great introduction, I did find the book repetitive at times, especially in the beginning, as Burnett spent more time building the book up, and so waffles and wastes some time. I just wanted him to get to the point, but once Burnett gets to the meat of the book then he has your full attention.

I highly recommend this to anyone who wants to know more about mental health, or is just a big fan of Burnett’s work. He highlights the complex nature of the mind, interweaving people’s struggles and discussing potential treatments and how the brain chemistry works. It’s excellent and a fantastic introduction.

Personally, I found it a bit repetitive, but that is because I have a degree in Psychology so everything that is explained in the book I already read it before. It actually brought me back to my uni years where I had some really good lecturers! For those who are new to this or have read very little, it will help them a lot to understand how the brain works. It is written in an honest and entertaining manner.