I read this instantly!

This book made me cry right from the beginning, which rarely ever happens to me anymore and funnily enough I miss. The fact that Yrsa was able to tear through my hardened heart in and of it self is a huge feat!

Yrsa is so vulnerable in her writing, she allows herself to be seen and in turn she makes the reader feel seen, it make the experience of reading this feel like you are listening to the heartfelt advice of an old friend., kind, knowing and unjudging.

This is a different kind of self-help book, it's truly about meeting ourselves, it's heartbreak opened up and its comfort and its human.

What a stunning book! I loved the writing and there were so many moments where it broke my heart. I can't wait to read more by this author.

Very informative, would recommend! Thank you for providing an advance copy of this book for review!!

*Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Press UK for providing me with a digital ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.*

I don't typically read self-help books, as they usually come off as too patronising. But I decided to give "The How" a go, just for the heck of it. And I must say, it was nowhere near as patronising as others. Yrsa Daley-Ward has this thought-provoking, poetic writing throughout which keeps it engaging. Also, advice on personal exercises is merely suggested; it isn't made to feel like some strict regime you have to follow otherwise you'll fail in life.

I wasn't particularly moved, or overwhelmingly inspired after having read this book. It's just not my cup of tea.

Original personal thoughts give the reader a chance to share the author's ideas for a healthy self. Written in a mix of exercises, ideas, and personal experiences, the book explores life's challenges and how to attain your best self. There is an underlying honesty that is refreshing. The author doesn't profess to have the solutions but suggests they are within each of us if we take the time to look.

There is an absorbing balance of lyrical musings and notes that keep the reader engaged. I particularly like the idea that dreams are important for happiness, and imagining what you want to be in as many details as possible brings it closer to fruition.

This book can be enjoyed on many levels and has a wide reader appeal.

I received a copy of this book from Penguin UK via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

After suffering from many issues over the years I always find self help books patronising in a way, but this was different. There was a mixture of this combined with poetry which give a wholly different feel. I was pleasantly surprised. Thankyou for giving the chance to read this. I actually enjoyed it much to my surprise

This is part self help guide, part memoir, and with poetic writing throughout. I read this on my kindle app on my phone and ended up screenshotting a lot of it so I can do the tasks as and when I need them.
This was straight talking but with mindfulness woven throughout. This is a real ‘wake up and smell the roses’ book. Advice is given in a non preachy way and really reminds you to take stock of what you do have in your life. Touching in important topics such as grief, depression and loneliness, reminding us we could all do to be kinder to ourselves. As self help memoirs give this is one I will continue to dip back into.

Most of us have heard of Ysra Daley-Ward even if we haven't had the chance to read her! You may also follow her on Instagram! So of course, when I saw the book was available on NetGalley, I had to read it!

I love that Ysra Daley-Ward blended self-help and poetry. As someone who finds self-help books hard to take, the poetry helped me deal with my feelings as they came up.

I also loved that she acknowledged how much self is just there to prime us to become better consumers; that we can be fixed if we buy just the right thing! She also coupled all of this with some really wonderful exercises that I thought added to the whole book!

Thank you, NetGalley for a chance to read and review this!

You can check out my full blog post here:
https://the-girl-who-reads.com/2021/11/11/the-how-by-ysra-daley-ward-poetry-for-the-self/

Yrsa Daley-Ward is a new and distinctive voice for me. She is a writer, a poet and a teller of stories. The How is her fourth book, following an acclaimed volume of poetry, a memoir and a book of poems and short stories. Not necessarily in that order. How to classify this latest book? Yrsa does not sit easily in any category; genres seem irrelevant, she is above all a communicator.

The subtitle of The How is ‘Notes on the Great Work of Meeting Yourself’. The book is a unique and personal perspective on how to get along in the modern world. So I suppose it’s a self-help book. But it’s a far cry from the usual books of that nature. The messages in the book are not new in themselves but her voice gives them vibrancy and empathy and wraps it all in a sympathetic hug without becoming maudlin or sentimental. This is not an expert telling you what to do but a friend with struggles of her own.

I enjoyed The How very much. It may not be for everyone, particularly if looking for standard self-help fare. But if you seek a book with a bright and distinctive modern voice illuminating some of the trials and triumphs of twenty-first century living then please, do consider this book.

My thanks to Net Galley and the publishers and author for an advanced review copy in exchange for an independent review.

I hold self help books to a very high standard because, often, I find them to be very patronising and condescending. A lot of the time I feel like they give useless advice like “eat better” and “live in the moment” but this one was far better than that. I found myself nodding along with so much of this book as so much of it felt like things I had thought but had never been able to vocalise. There was something very cathartic about this book that I can’t quite explain. It felt warm and comforting while also pushing me to try things that were a little out of my comfort zone.

This book is a collection of thoughts, poems, and prompts that explore creativity, the self, and change. It allows you to take a look at yourself and attempt to make small changes to the way you see the world in order to feel better. I liked that it didn’t feel overwhelming and that it focussed so much on loving yourself and making these little changes for you!

It may not be a revolutionary, life changing book, but it definitely gave me some comfort and felt like a warm hug and I would highly recommend it.

Even though the subjects from the book are not new, sometimes we need a reminder and this book is that reminder that we need. It also offers exercises on how to find ourselves and to take the necessary time to find ourselves. I loved the writing style and the tone of the book.

The How is a collection of thoughts, prompts, and poems that explore the self, creativity, and making changes. In short sections, Yrsa Daley-Ward suggests the reader asks questions of themselves, reframes what they see, and note down things about themselves to return to, whilst also meditating on various aspects of life, like self-image, grief, and dealing with bad things happening.

I thought I would like this one, but it was a bit more of a self-help or motivational type book, I think for a lot of people this style of book and way of addressing the reader will be moving and helpful for dealing with things and changing their mindset. However, it just wasn't really for me.

This book lets us see that when we are looking for answers they are usually within our self. We need to stop trying to please others and look after us first. Thought provoking.

Good for people who like: self reflection, a poetic perspective on living, comforting guidance for difficult times.

This self help book is like a warm hug. The writing flows and is vibrant - it’s clearly written by a poet, and that’s what sets it apart from similar books. The concept is bigger picture and lyrical, but at the heart of it is a simple message of rediscovering your true self and desires amongst the noise, and finding a way back to this. The How contains some references to the creative process and writing, but is mostly applicable to all.

‘<i>We are drowning in so many hows that we cannot find ourselves; and when all we are told is that we do not know how, all that we feel is weight.</i>’

The advice is fairly general, but relatable. There are plenty of examples from the author’s own life which helps the writing resonate. It’s a kind take on self improvement, one that focuses on being yourself, not being better by societal standards. There are exercises throughout, most of which are journaling or points for reflection. The aim of the book is for a change in perspective, one that can make a huge difference but doesn’t involve a big to do list of ways to change yourself.

There is a beautiful chapter about grief. There is an analogy which is particularly resonant about how it leaves you forever changed, but it is survivable. Written by someone who understands the pain and has found a way to put such a complicated and terrible subject into words perfectly.

A short book, which can be read within a couple of hours. It’s to the point and gets the message across in a clear way without a lot of preamble. However, there are lots of meditation points and things to reflect on throughout, so this is a book to work through slowly and jump to sections which feel relevant at different times, rather than read cover to cover. The chapters are all short, and leave you with something to think about.

The How is holistic, meditative, and poetically written. A gentle yet radical take on self improvement which is spiritual without being religious. A book which may be of comfort during difficult times.

This book was reviewed by Cathy.

Thank you to Penguin Books and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.

Shelves: Mind, Body and Spirit; Self Help; Poetry

This is one of those books that really makes you think about yourself, who you are, and the person you want to be. This book provides wonderful anecdotes and practical advice and I found myself nodding along in agreement as I read. There's encouragement and some wonderful examples as well as simple exercises to complete. The poems and prompts throughout were evocative and expressive and I loved them all. I throughly enjoyed reading this and I think anyone embarking on a journey of self discover will get so much out of this book. I can't wait to add it to my bookshelves.

A book which makes you think about yourself - who you really are and who you want to be. It’s filled with simple exercises to start an internal dialogue, for example setting your alarm randomly a few times at the weekend then contemplating what you are doing when it goes off. Interesting, but for me, the format was too wordy: I loved the tasks, but would have preferred them to be easier to find e.g. by putting them in a box or using bold type.

Im a fan of yrsa daley ward and was excited to see where this new form of writing would take her. I didnt find this work to be particularly groundbreaking. It was just a lot of words, none of which particularly insired me or my depression.

The How is a collection of thoughts, prompts and poems that explore the self, creativity, and making changes. In short sections, Yrsa Daley-Ward suggests the reader asks questions of themselves, reframes what they see, and note down things about themselves to return to, whilst also meditating on various aspects of life, like self-image, grief, and dealing with bad things happening.

Having enjoyed Yrsa Daley-Ward's previous books I thought I would like this one, but it was a bit more of a self-help or motivational type book and had a bit less poetry than I was hoping for. I think for a lot of people this style of book and way of addressing the reader will be moving and helpful for dealing with things and changing their mindset. However, it just wasn't really for me, with some sections I liked and other parts I just didn't get on with. If you like books that are more about musing and meditation and prompts to notice particular things in your day, then The How may be a book for you, but it's just not my thing.

An absorbing and thought-provoking book. I enjoyed it very much.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

With grateful thanks to netgalley for an early copy in return for an honest opinion.
I have never read anything by this author before, but was intrigued by the content of the book, this for me is not a book that you sit down and read from cover to cover it will be read many times over the tears different sections for different situations its quite an amazing book I confess to not having read every single page but I can I assure you it will be my go to book in times of need thank you.