Hardcopy Edition

From Publishers Weekly

Emotional energy is "an aliveness of the mind, a happiness of the heart, and a spirit filled with hope"—and unfortunately, it’s not always easy to come by. When we feel grouchy and lethargic, when we drag our heels through life and avoid treating ourselves to things we enjoy, then, writes psychotherapist Kirshenbaum, we’re likely suffering from emotional fatigue. And we’re hardly alone: according to the National Institutes of Health, one individual in eight becomes saddled with a stubborn case of the blahs. In this upbeat and consumer-friendly how-to, the author of Too Good to Leave, Too Bad to Stay strives to shrink that stat. By sharing real-life anecdotes and posing pointed questions—"Do you live in fear of other people’s judgments?"; "Do you frequently compare yourself to others and feel resentful?"—Kirshenbaum helps readers identify the roots of their lethargy, and implement the appropriate strategies for regaining their spunk. Her solutions are straightforward (and perhaps easier said than done): Stop the negative thinking; focus on the positive. Envision yourself with pep; invest in what you can control. Like all self-help books, this volume should not be treated as a magical elixir, and Kirshenbaum is careful to advise readers whose fatigue may be associated with psychological or physical illness to seek professional help. But it may be enough to lift readers out of the doldrums, which makes the going worthwhile.

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