Reviews: Burnout (3)

I wanted to read this book ever since I read an extract of its last chapter. The authors. Emily and Amelia Nagoski, present a book with some thoughtful ideas. I was struck by the ideas of 'human givers' and 'human beings' as well as the thought, and necessity, of 'completing' the stress cycle.
Of course the conversations within the book are more than teachings of science: the expectations- often unseen- placed upon women are also thoroughly discussed as are the challenges of often being the only woman (or woman of colour) in the board-room.

The authors explore the subject of women's health more widely than is common. They look beyond what the individual reader can change- for, there will always be stuff holding one back. (The patriarchy is an example brought up frequently. I did like reading that simply being a hijab-wearing woman in the west, I am smashing the patriarchy!)

I fully appreciated the exploration of the science through the research selected: it was valuable and discussed elaborately. But I feel for such a serious book, it was written quite casually with frequent pop-culture Disney references. Something which wasn't necessary, even if it drilled some of the lessons home. I didn't know how to describe this, beyond it making me feel uncomfortable. But thinking on it more, I've come to the conclusion that the writing style undermines the work, the severity of burn-out and the book's female audience. Sure, it makes it less stressful. But, a comforting tone can be adapted without the casual, contrived instances of humour.

The book itself isn’t revolutionary. It’s what I expected but also peppered with the subjects that feature in most ‘Women’s Health’ or ‘Wellness’ magazines. As well as common-sense. The research included was perhaps what I liked most, because a lot of the tips I’d already heard before. With Burnout being a frequently discussed subject, other readers may also have already learned some tips for how to avoid or deal with it.

Final n0te: I would recommend this book but I’d say the subject is far too complex to be covered comprehensively in just one book so perhaps also seek further reading. Also, men could definitely benefit from reading this book too.

I received this book from Netgalley for review consideration. All opinions are honest and completely my own.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Ebury for an advance e-copy of this book.
I really wanted to enjoy Burnout, as it seemed to be the book I’d been searching for. However, I just didn’t get on with it. I think I was expecting something simpler and easier to follow. Whilst I appreciate that it is science-based, the language seemed a bit wishy-washy, and studies were mentioned but with no information on size/corroboration/further research etc. (Although, having just read Ben Goldacre’s ‘Bad Science’, I was probably hypersensitive to this). It claims not to be a green juice/exercise/mindfulness solutions book, but one of the first things it suggests is that you exercise for 60 minutes a day, which seems a bit unrealistic for someone who has so much going on that they’re suffering from burnout... I found the metaphors overly long and contrived - I’d lose myself and have to re-read huge sections to see if I could understand and absorb the point being made. Overall it felt disjointed and I didn’t come away with any practical solutions to rectifying my stress levels. I may try to read it again at some point in the future, to see if it clicks then.

This book is amazing. I want to buy a copy for every woman I know. If you're looking for a textbook on the human stress response, this is not it; but if you want something that can help you understand and care for yourself better emotionally and physically, this book is absolutely brilliant.

I think other reviewers on here have missed the point; they seem to be criticising it for not being academic enough, when the point of a self help book is to make the ideas accessible, and allow them to resonate with the reader on an emotional level so you can apply them to your own life. (And if you're interested in the academic basis, the studies drawn upon are all listed in the references section at the back of the book.) What this book does better than any I have read is acknowledge the emotional and social challenges of being a woman in the world today, and offer practical strategies to deal with those challenges. The conversational and sometimes funny writing style is perfect for what the authors were trying to do, which is offer loving and helpful advice in an accessible way.

If you experience stress at all, and/or want to understand women better, this book has a lot to offer you.