The Book of Me

“This book is about recognizing who you were, who you are, and who you wish to be.” In a journal devoted to the idea of self-recognition, the team behind The Happy Book (2009) urges readers to explore the interests and beliefs that define them. Activities and prompts include invitations for readers to draw their egos, superegos, and ids (following a brief description of Freud’s philosophy); write about embarrassing moments; map out timelines of their lives; and write about passions or obsessions. In an age of carefully photographed, filtered, and disseminated selfies, focusing on oneself is somewhat par for the course, yet Kempster and Leder pose questions that encourage thoughtful introspection, even as quotations from figures as varied as Paul Gauguin, Stephen King, Taylor Swift, and Walt Whitman subtly suggest that readers look outside themselves for perspective and advice. Ages 12–up. Agent: Michael Bourret, Dystel & Goderich Literary Management. (Oct.)