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readingthroughthelists's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
I read Try Softer at the recommendation of my therapist, and my expectations were low. My mileage with self-help psychology books varies; I hoped for a helpful suggestion here and there on managing my anxiety, but I wasn’t expecting anything substantial.
To my surprise, Try Softer was actually very helpful in getting to the root cause of much of my anxiety (my anxious-ambivalent attachment style) and for understanding its physical manifestations. The concept of attachment styles, the window of tolerance, and an embodied approach to life are things I have already been attempting to integrate into my life and in the midst of my anxiety, but it was helpful to see them integrated and explained here.
The book is better at suggesting causes rather than cures, but knowing why you are really feeling anxious/overwhelmed/sick is usually half the battle anyway, and I think some of the grounding exercises will be helpful going forward.
Content Warnings
Minor: Miscarriage
badger_ti_robespierre's review
relaxing
slow-paced
3.0
I’m not the audience for this book. 1. Sort of basic info. I’ve read all the books she references so I have detail whereas this goes into
minimal depth 2. I’m not Christian and do not find that worldview particularly useful although her relationship with Jesus as described in the acknowledgment was actually tender likewise with her using the Lazarus story as exemplar. I think more emphasis on Jesus and less on god would have been useful. Jesus as an example is strong and is easier for me to follow as a non Christian. I think there was a missed opportunity to reach a broader audience. 3. I think her framing at the tail end was a better construct for the book try softer compared to trying more rigid has more utility than softer vs white knuckling imo.
Some will get a lot out of this. I’m not mad I read it.
minimal depth 2. I’m not Christian and do not find that worldview particularly useful although her relationship with Jesus as described in the acknowledgment was actually tender likewise with her using the Lazarus story as exemplar. I think more emphasis on Jesus and less on god would have been useful. Jesus as an example is strong and is easier for me to follow as a non Christian. I think there was a missed opportunity to reach a broader audience. 3. I think her framing at the tail end was a better construct for the book try softer compared to trying more rigid has more utility than softer vs white knuckling imo.
Some will get a lot out of this. I’m not mad I read it.
zenyamarie's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
4.0
queenhoneybee93's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.75
birdsthewords's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
carebcut's review against another edition
4.0
Great book for anyone who may not be ready to go to therapy or maybe cannot due to finances. Kolber gives great practical ways to be kind to yourself and to learn how to listen to what your body is trying to communicate. She is compassionate, understanding, and encouraging. She reads her own book on the audio version and it was helpful to hear her words read out loud.