As I start the new year off sick, I couldn't have picked a better book for my first read of 2022. This one is for anyone who is feeling anxious, depressed, or looking for some hope or inspiration. It's a hug in book form. Matt Haig's writing never lets me down. I loved this book via audio, but I'm also going to buy myself a physical copy to have on hand whenever I want to flip through and read a certain section. 

Key Themes: 

Depression; Anxiety; Life; and Recovery.
 

Best (or Worst) Moments: 

While none of the little stories were bad my favourite ones involved the breaking done of famous philosophies such as Aurelius, Nietzsche and the likes. The way Haig was able to break down all these quotes and link them together and to his experience of depression and anxiety was really intriguing. 

Was this Book What I Expected?: 

This book was what I was expecting, and I actually enjoyed it which is rare for a non-fiction novel. It kept my interest throughout, without me having to rely on the audiobook to keep me on track. 

Review: 

Overall this book was great, the stories were engaging and intriguing and really opens your eyes as to how depression can tint your world view grey and how to think around that and begin to live your life again. Alongside this it gave music playlists, book lists, ideas of what to do on a bad day which I really like the idea of. This is a book that I could pick up again and again and just pick a random spot to read and reap a comforting story to help get me through the day. 

Things to Research Further 

This book on top of Haig’s ‘The Midnight Library’, have really reawakened my love of philosophy - I need to add some philosophical texts to my TBR. 

* While I have added content warnings to my review while the listed topics are briefly mentioned the book walks through Haig's experience and recovery in a way that I found endearing? and hopeful, but feel it's only right to say the book explicitly mentions Haig's specific experience of mental illness, specifically in relation to depression, suicidal thoughts and panic attacks but doesn't go into detailed explanations. 

There is something genuinely comforting about the simplicity of this book. I mean that in the very best way, because despite it talking through some tough topics and giving insight into very specific areas of philosophy, psychology and even a bit of history it never at any point felt overwhelming or that Matt Haig was just talking at me. 

Sure, I wasn't really saying anything back but it felt like a well-needed conversation was happening within each of the little and bigger sections within this book. 

It won't be for everyone, and not everyone is going to agree with some of the things in the book 100% but it is definitely worth it to take five or ten minutes from your day to just stop and ponder what is said on these pages. 

A huge thank-you to NetGalley and Penguin Books for this e-arc of The Comfort Book by Matt Haig.

"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."

In just 272 pages, The Comfort Book became the most profound book I have ever read in my life. In fact, I don't think that another book will ever top the way this one made me feel. It was exactly what it claimed to be with its very simple and straightforward title: a comfort.

I started reading with the expectation that I would thoroughly enjoy the beautiful writing style that wormed its way into my heart when I picked up The Midnight Library, the novel that I stated was "devastatingly life-changing" upon completion. However, I'm not the biggest non-fiction reader. So, what I didn't expect was for The Comfort Book to become so monumentally important to me in the span of 48 hours. In fact, when I read the final few pages and turned off my Kindle for the night, I had no clue how to write this review. Because, truly, how does one articulate their thoughts about a book that very well altered their perspective on life forever? I just want to scream from the rooftops that every person needs to read this book!!!

Sometimes, I'm under the impression that Matt Haig has met me. Not only met me, but set up camp in my brain to take notes for his books. Then I remember that we have walked through so many of the same challenges: depression, anxiety, panic attacks, suicidal thoughts, etc. So while he hasn't taken up residency in my mind, he has experienced first-hand the same thoughts and feelings that I have over the years, and he's used what he's learned to write books that will help so many people for years to come.

"Our mind might make prisons, but it also gives us keys."

I've already mentioned that this is a relatively short book, and that's something I appreciated about it (though I would've loved it just as fiercely had it been a thousand pages long). It's meant to be digested however one prefers, whether that's in large doses (which would be easy, since it's hard to put down when you feel like you're being filled to the brim with encouragement) or in small ones, reading a phrase or two at a time. There are even segments with listicles that made me smile - and then proceed to Google all of the songs, movies, etc. that were mentioned.

You'll want to have a few copies of The Comfort Book on-hand. That's because you'll need at least one that you feel comfortable writing in, highlighting, and tabbing. If we're being really honest, I could've highlighted the entire book. That's how incredible it was. What I did as I read, was mark certain passages that really spoke to where I was, mentally and emotionally. I have annotations in my ebook that say things like "this was written just for me" and "this is breathtaking, so you need to read it again and again."

As you read this book, be prepared to feel exuberant joy and a desire to actively search for and recognize passion and love in life. Additionally, keep a box of tissues nearby because you absolutely will cry as you process the plethora of emotions The Comfort Book brings to the surface. I must say it again: every person needs to read this book!!!

"What we say aloud can never quite capture what we feel inside, but that is almost the point. Words don't capture, they release."