Emotional Agility
by Susan David
David, a psychologist, offers a method for being with difficult emotions without being ruled by them: show up, step out, walk your why, move on. It is evidence-based, warm and practical, and the distinction between rigid positivity and genuine agility is important. One of the better books on emotional skill.
Read it if…
you have tried to suppress or 'positive-think' your feelings and it is not working.
Skip it if…
you want pure motivation; the book is about acceptance first.
Three things you will actually use
- Label emotions accurately; 'stressed' is not a feeling.
- Step out: see thoughts as thoughts.
- Act on values, not on moods.
Do this first
Next time a strong feeling arises, label it precisely, 'I notice I'm feeling resentful,' and watch the distance it creates.
Our verdict
Grounded and practical; an excellent book on handling emotions.
Compare with other Resilience books
Rising Strong
Brené Brown · Resilience
Practical and compassionate; a good book for after the fall.
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Epictetus, translated by Robert Dobbin · Resilience
The source; demanding and worth it.
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