Volume 270
Issue 21
05/22/2023
After the “great resignation” of the pandemic era—a phenomenon often attributed to overwork and exhaustion—it’s no surprise that burnout is the topic of several titles this season. “We constantly strive and score a goal, but the goalpost keeps moving,” says Mollie Weisenfeld, an associate editor at Hachette who worked on Rainseford Stauffer’s All the Gold Stars. “Burnout is a symptom of this whole system that makes you believe you need to achieve and achieve and achieve.” These books break down the condition that has so many feeling broken down.
All the Gold Stars
Journalist Stauffer (An Ordinary Age) examines how ambition manifests in childhood and evolves in adulthood, and advocates for prioritizing relationships rather than racking up achievements. The book also “explores the intersection of ambition and injustice,” according to PW’s review.
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Courageous Well-Being for Nurses
Nurses were among the biggest heroes of the pandemic, sacrificing their well-being to work stressful, prolonged hours. Gaffney, a nurse and psychotherapist, and Foster, a wellness coach, offer advice for caregivers on sleep, nourishment, meditation, and movement, as well as personal narratives from frontline workers.
Everybody’s Favorite
Journalist Stone charts her failings as a perfectionist in this collection of humorous essays. The book touches on the author’s experiences with fad diets, evangelicalism, and “hot or not” chats with strangers as it examines, in the words of PW’s review, “the psychological complexities of young womanhood.”
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The Grieving Therapist
In this book aimed at therapists dealing with burnout, Mastin and Garski (Starship Therapise), both therapists themselves, offer readers advice on how to take care of themselves even as they take care of others. The book employs a “grief-informed” framework suited for those feeling overwhelmed by the world’s many crises.
The Perfection Trap
Curran, a professor of psychology at the London School of Economics, lays out the complexities of perfectionism—its types, its origins, and its mental health repercussions—and calls for a reimagined, more just society that celebrates the notion of “good enough.” PW’s review called the book “smart, thorough, and reassuring.”
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Rest Easy
To stave off burnout, illustrator Vengoechea (Listen Like You Mean It) argues it’s critical to rest one’s mind, body, and spirit. With the help of illustrations, she showcases simple-to-integrate methods for physical, mental, and emotional rejuvenation.
Your Heart Was Made for This
In his guide to confronting anxiety, burnout, and other challenges, meditation teacher Sofer (Say What You Mean) outlines programs for cultivating patience, wonder, and forgiveness. Each of the book’s 26 chapters concludes with a practice aimed at promoting introspection.
You’ve Got This
Clinical psychologist Dunbar, whose @myeasytherapy Instagram account boasts a million followers, breaks down the phenomenon of “high-functioning anxiety” by exploring its various manifestations, among them people-pleasing, the feeling of being overwhelmed, and perfectionism. PW’s review noted the author’s fans “will be pleased.”
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