The title already tells me that this author gets what it's like to feel rage and anxiety in these days because that's all I ever feel like shouting.

Many people could benefit from perusing this title. But, as the title suggests, many are resistant to acknowledging that issues exist or that they may be responsible for their own reactions and responses. Encouraging the people who need to do so to read this book will be the difficult part.

Don't Tell Me to Relax offers a look into how to gain emotional resiliency and deal with triggering situations in your life without losing your cool. Emotional intellgience is an incredibly important skill that is often overlooked or not properly instructed on in practical ways. The book is definitely filled with tough-love and isn't a fluffy kind of self-help book, so keep that in mind if you're someone that likes more of a feel-good tone.

Part personal memoir, part technique, part philosophy, this book delves into how to sit with your emotions and become curious in order to develop emotional intelligence and resilience. The idea is that when you become enraged or overwhelmed, self reflection and “giving more f*cks than ever” can become empowering and healing.

Trigger warnings for language, addiction, sexuality, politics, and violence.

While the main message of this book is important and the techniques offered are sound, this book’s tone and examples made me feel unsettled and anxious. I have certificates in mindfulness, meditation, stress management, integrative mental health, and brain health and the feelings this book brought up were counterintuitive to my usual ethos, so I had a hard time engaging with the text. It’s a good book to read if you seek change in how to peacefully exist in our overwhelming world, but if you prefer a more calm, nurturing tone, it is not the book for you.

Advanced readers copy provided courtesy of #NetGalley for an honest review.