I cannot begin to describe the beauty contained in this book, nor the enduring comfort it provided me.

As someone who has spent the entirety of life living with mental illness, often frustrated and saddened by lack of appropriate support, this book spoke to my soul in a way that few others have. It was a sense that this author knows. Truly knows. And so the advice and insights offered meant so much and connected with me so deeply that for the first time, I felt seen and also a sense of hope.

I loved the poetic style of this book, so whilst it is a kind of self-help book, it's also so much more. There are no formulaic methods offered, it was more like a kind friend offering insights into what might truly heal.

I cannot recommend this enough to anyone who's felt alone and lost. Or to someone wishing to help a loved one who is surrounded by the darkness.

Absolutely loved this! Beautifully written and so lovely and wise. Have already bought the hardback as a gift for a good friend. Stunning!

I very much enjoyed this interesting book that looks at different aspects of healing from mental illness. It included some thought provoking suggestions and was written in a sensitive and helpful way.

Whilst interesting it was a rather dry book and dives more into history or Shakespeare than be therapeutic.

I received this book from netgalley in return for a honest review.

I always found Alain de Botton's books thought provoking and a good way to change something in my life.
This one has some interesting idea but I found it a bit too dry to impact
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

While it explores the concept of therapy and self-improvement, it does so in a way that left me feeling slightly underwhelmed.

One of the main issues was its somewhat disjointed structure. It jumps between various philosophical ideas and personal anecdotes, which made it hard for me to follow. This lack of cohesion left me feeling slightly disconnected from the overall narrative.

I think the writing style just wasn’t for me, and I found it hard to relate and in turn, fully engage with the content. The exploration of therapeutic concepts sometimes felt more like a philosophical exercise than a practical guide to self-improvement (maybe I was approaching it wrong, which is a me problem!)

There are certainly some moments of wisdom but it didn’t quite live up to my expectations. Its somewhat disjointed structure and privileged approach may put off some readers, and the lack of concrete takeaways may leave others feeling underwhelmed.

Thanks to netgalley and the publishers for the e-arc.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-arc. It was interesting book but a bit overly wordy.

This is another gem from the School of Life series and from Alain De Botton.

The author has a very beautiful and descriptive way of writing about mental health which makes it relatable and interesting.

The flow of the writing is well written and really takes the reader through a journey to understand our thoughts, mental health, cultural expectations and the impact these can have on the individual.

I especially loved the chapter on childhood and parenting - I found the content interesting and thought provoking.

Although there are some hard hitting messages in this book, there was an overall sense of hope and that things can change.

A key important message was around the importance of recognising that we need to pay attention to what our minds and bodies are telling us in order to function as physically and mentally healthy human beings.

A great and informative read

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review

'A Therapeutic Journey' by Alain de Botton (published by the School of Life) aims to provide insight into mental illness, and to provide a compass for how to find oneself again. Split into five sections: challenge, love, art, freedom and hope; the author discusses what the causes of mental illness may be, their impact on thinking, and provides some suggestions for making changes that might alleviate suffering.

I work as a therapist with people with severe and enduring mental illness and so read this book to see how it may help my clients, alongside thinking how it may help myself. The author draws heavily from psychodynamic understandings of mental illness and consequently is very keen for readers to frequently stop and reflect upon their reactions in the here and now, and how this may link with their past. Whilst this is for some a very good idea, and I agree with de Botton's contention that many people's distress is routed in their childhood, there is a risk that this approach will lead to over thinking and obsessive thought cycles, as well as being impossible for those with mental health problems that have robbed them of insight.

In addition, this book is written from a position of privilege that make its ideas difficult to share with many of my clients. For example, the author talks about seeking out a therapist, and if they aren't right, finding another one until you have the perfect fit. This is fine if you are accessing therapy privately (definitely advisable in that case). However, NHS waiting lists, and limited resources make this impossible for many. As with the above, it also requires a high degree of insight and an ability not just to be moving therapist because the work has got tough or challenging (i.e. just when it is most likely to be helpful).

Despite this, there remain many ideas to draw from this book. I especially liked de Botton's opening, where he describes what mental illness is, alongside what mental wellbeing is too, which goes beyond the absence of distress and is something for all of us to aspire to (I think few would be able to tick everything off the wellbeing list).

As a person who has struggled with depression and mental health issues for decades, I thought this might shed some light on what is undoubtedly a fairly murky area for me. I am afraid it did not do that. Mostly I found myself feeling that these are the words of someone who has an enormous amount of privilege. That does not take away from the fact that the writer has clearly had some struggles of his own, and no matter how privileged a person is, suffering is suffering and I am extremely sorry that they have that to deal with. It does however, for me at least, make rather a nonsense of the things that the writer prescribes for wellness, many of which are out of reach for the vast majority of people, myself included.

A Therapeutic Journey falls flat as a book that promises insight and connection. Unfortunately, it reads more like a dry essay than an engaging exploration. The lack of personal touch makes it difficult to connect with the material, leaving the reader disengaged and uninterested. The author's approach, while informative, lacks the charisma needed to sustain attention. The book's overly formal tone and lack of relatable anecdotes make it a tedious read, ultimately failing to deliver on its potential to truly connect with readers on a personal level. I read about a third of this book and just simply couldn't go any further.