What books have helped you to feel better about yourself when feeling down?

[JWAuthor]

I'm interested in what books have spoken to you to help you feel better about yourself when feeling down.

I've loved books like Glennon Doyle's Untamed and Gabrielle Bernstein's The Universe Has Your Back, but would love to know what all the amazing mums have ready on here to make them feel better?

Do you mean fiction or nonfiction?

I tend to like easy fiction to escape into, rather than having to think. I liked Dolly Aldertons 'Ghosts' recently.

Hmm … That isn’t the relationship I have with books.

If I need cheering up I ask Siri to turn on Taylor Swift’s Lover album, loud, on repeat, for hours. Infallible!

Btw, not everyone on MN is a mum - amazing or otherwise.

Btw2, is your thread for personal interest, or research?

Tell me if you are looking for fiction or non fiction books

Probably not what you're looking for but I read the Diary of Anne Frank when I was about 16 and realised that my life isn't that bad after all and at least I wasn't going to be killed by Nazis.

Any, I generally prefer non fiction, but always open to learning from others x

Very good points, and personal interest as opposed to research

Great book to put things into perspective @garlictwist

I don't really do self-help books and nor do I feel better after reading schadenfreudige books (misery porn, war, addiction etc) The midnight library didn't make me feel more hopeful nor did the memoir by the same author, but anything comic usually cheers me up and anything clever makes me feel a bit cleverer even if it is pseudo-clever so I usually feel better after reading Jon Ronson or Malcolm Gladwell.

I like Fredrick Backman for a bit of reading soul food.

If you like non fiction, do you have any favourite comedians? I usually find autobiographies of comics I like to be a quick read and good fun.

When things are truly shite I snuggle under the duvet with a kid's book - The Secret Garden or a Moomin book! Then suddenly everything is ok again!

I always come back to The Alchemist, it's my comfort read.