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snugglekitty(I promise, this is the last book review I'm posting today. Really. Would I lie to you?)
This was an interesting book for me to read. It is geared towards teens who are having suicidal feelings, so I'm out of the demographic in two ways. It does not try to talk you out of suicide - Ms. Bornstein writes "No matter how many (reasons) I could come up with, you'll come up with more reasons to go through with it. This is a book about things to do instead." (p 17) The premise is not that anything you might want to do is okay. The premise is that most things you can do with your life, even if they're not good choices, are better options than killing yourself. The guiding principle? "Don't be mean."
I think this is an amazing book. It is not a palliative - "things will get better for you" - or technical manual - "the urge to die will only last five minutes, just hold out for fifteen." It talkes about the traditional solutions first - calling a suicide hotline, talking to someone you trust, getting therapy. But that only goes on for a few pages. Bornstein acknowledges that the traditional answers may not be available to everyone or comfortable for everyone, plus, for some people they may just plain not work. Her 101 Alternatives are other possibilities that might work for anyone. And although the book is written for people who want to die, it would be great for anyone who is just stuck in a rut or doesn't like their life or can't figure out how to start changing things around them. The ideas are rated on the basis of difficulty, effectiveness, how self-loving they are, and age group. Safety tips and warnings are included.
If you, or someone you know, is having a hard time surviving, you need this book. Five stars. Another grand slam from the fabulous Ms. Bornstein.
This was an interesting book for me to read. It is geared towards teens who are having suicidal feelings, so I'm out of the demographic in two ways. It does not try to talk you out of suicide - Ms. Bornstein writes "No matter how many (reasons) I could come up with, you'll come up with more reasons to go through with it. This is a book about things to do instead." (p 17) The premise is not that anything you might want to do is okay. The premise is that most things you can do with your life, even if they're not good choices, are better options than killing yourself. The guiding principle? "Don't be mean."
I think this is an amazing book. It is not a palliative - "things will get better for you" - or technical manual - "the urge to die will only last five minutes, just hold out for fifteen." It talkes about the traditional solutions first - calling a suicide hotline, talking to someone you trust, getting therapy. But that only goes on for a few pages. Bornstein acknowledges that the traditional answers may not be available to everyone or comfortable for everyone, plus, for some people they may just plain not work. Her 101 Alternatives are other possibilities that might work for anyone. And although the book is written for people who want to die, it would be great for anyone who is just stuck in a rut or doesn't like their life or can't figure out how to start changing things around them. The ideas are rated on the basis of difficulty, effectiveness, how self-loving they are, and age group. Safety tips and warnings are included.
If you, or someone you know, is having a hard time surviving, you need this book. Five stars. Another grand slam from the fabulous Ms. Bornstein.
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no subject
Date: 2008-05-15 02:55 am (UTC)got to witness a mother telling her all about how her daughter is really using the book.
it was so very touching.
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Date: 2008-05-15 11:38 am (UTC)