World Mental Health Day 2024: The 10 best (and least preachy) books

It wasn’t long ago that self-help books were widely regarded as a joke, reserved for jaded Bridget Joneses or teenagers seeking to understand the opposite sex through the “wisdom” of Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus .

But these days there’s no shame in devouring tomes on mental health and self-improvement. In fact, there is so much literature on these topics that it is increasingly difficult to separate the wheat (preaching nonsense) from the chaff (well-informed psychology, well-written memoirs).

What’s worth spending your precious £11.99 on and what’s a total dud? Here, we pick 10 of the best.

1. The Body Keeps The Score by Bessel van der Kolk

penguin

Trauma may be a word thrown around these days, but The Body Keeps The Score is anything but flippant. It is an intense and detailed look at how traumatic stress can affect a person’s memory, development, and physical self. It’s great for readers looking to understand how their demons have shaped them, but like real therapy, it can bring up some uncomfortable realizations. Despite (or because of) this book, many have read it and found it useful. As of July 2021, The Body Keeps The Score had spent over 141 weeks on the New York Times nonfiction bestseller list, 27 of them at number one. Also, and I’m sure Bessel van der Kolk would hate me to say this, the Matisse on the front is a very beautiful nightstand.

2. Esther Perel’s mating in captivity

perennial harper

Is there a more stylish therapist in the world right now than Esther Perel? If Yoga with Adrienne was the woman who got us through Covid, Esther Perel has been the light that has guided the post-Covid relationship breakup period. Captive Mating is Perel’s gentle take on how domesticity interacts with desire. If you are a person in a committed relationship, or have ever been in a committed relationship, this is for you. It was published in 2006, but it is no less current. Further reading for anyone who has cheated or been cheated on: Perel’s follow-up The State of Affairs.

3. Dopamine Nation by Anna Lembke

penguin

Dopamine Nation, with its sub-sector Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence, is a book for anyone with addictive tendencies. And that doesn’t mean people who are literally in *Insert Prefix* Anonymous, although the book covers the big three addictions (sex, drugs, alcohol). This can mean someone who is addicted to scrolling on TikTok, reading romance novels, or even working out. Dopamine is something we’re chasing, and as Lembke points out, we’re all addicted to something.

4. Living Better by Alastair Campbell

John Murray

This book offers an older, wiser, and above all, masculine perspective on the mental health of a man who has literally been pushed to the edge. By the end of his time at Number 10, Alastair Campbell was in such a bad place that he repeatedly hit his head against a tree on Hampstead Heath, driven mad by depression. Now, any follower of his Instagram will know that he’s quite kind to trees and is in a much better headspace. For a journey through depression or to help heal your ill will toward trees, Campbell provides a light at the end of the tunnel.

5. My year of rest and relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh

penguin

It’s not a self-help book, it’s more of a manual on what not to do when it comes to coping techniques (ie the protagonist of the novel tries to avoid pain by sleeping for an entire year) . This is a great book to read to help you realize that a) you’re not as screwed up as you could be and b) not so special for wanting to sleep away from the pain. If you want to read about grief in a fictional way and feel better about yourself, this is a good escape from reality and can only improve your mental health.

6. Maybe you should talk to someone about Lori Gottlieb

he wrote

Have you ever wondered what your therapist was thinking? Have you ever wondered what YOUR therapist was thinking? Well, go ahead and read Maybe you should talk to someone about Lori Gottlieb and you’ll almost find out. Of course, Gottlieb isn’t your run-of-the-mill therapist, but some revelations are pretty universal, with sage advice for therapists and, in turn, their patients, including “When you diagnose someone with depression, make sure they’re not surrounded by idiots “. This is a rare case of watching sausage being made and enjoying it.

7. Jog On by Bella Mackie

William Collins

When you think of Bella Mackie and coping mechanisms, your brain probably drifts to the protagonist of her best-selling novel How To Kill Your Family, dealing with grief and class issues by constantly murdering her relatives. Jog On is a decidedly healthier lesson in coping mechanisms, offering a detailed account of how Mackie has used exercise to manage her anxiety and OCD. For those who loved Greg James’ column about how he deals with a loved one’s mental health struggles (read: how he deals with Mackie’s anxiety), here’s the other side of the coin.

8. The Outrun by Amy Liptrot

Canongate Books

If you haven’t read this book, you probably recognize its title from the new award-winning movie starring Saoirse Ronan. The Outrun is a memoir by Scottish journalist and author Amy Liptrot about her struggle with alcoholism, which led her to move home as an adult to maintain sobriety. It’s a beautiful and relaxing addiction story, set against the wild backdrop of Orkney, making it much needed reading for anyone struggling with their relationship with alcohol. Hard home truths can wait, but they are priceless.

9. Small Worlds by Caleb Azumah Nelson

Viking

Set in South London, this book explores today’s men’s mental health struggles (especially those of black men) with unflinching tenderness and warmth. Particular attention is paid to the main character’s relationship with his father, traversing relationship dynamics that are specific to certain men and broadly applicable to anyone with a father. Again, this one is fictional, but if you want to read something thoughtful and engaging about the human condition without having to wade through paragraphs about “conditioning,” this might be a balm.

10. It’s kind of a funny Ned Vizzini story

Disney editions

An oldie but a goodie, Ned Vizzini’s 2006 novel about Craig, a New York City teenager who checks himself into a mental health facility, is key reading for anyone young and overwhelmed by weight every life’s most overwhelming blow. Slowly, the weight on Craig lifts and makes its way through the weeds of his own mind. If you have experienced suicidal ideation before or know someone who is young and struggling, this can be a solid option.

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