The Book of Moods

 The Book of Moods: How I Turned My Worst Emotions Into My Best Life by Lauren Martin 256 pages

Summary from Goodreads: Five years ago, Lauren Martin was sure something was wrong with her. She had a good job in New York, an apartment in Brooklyn, a boyfriend, yet every day she wrestled with feelings of inferiority, anxiety and irritability. It wasn't until a chance encounter with a (charming, successful) stranger who revealed that she also felt these things, that Lauren set out to better understand the hold that these moods had on her, how she could change them, and began to blog about the wisdom she uncovered. It quickly exploded into an international online community of women who felt like she did: lost, depressed, moody, and desirous of change.

Inspired by her audience to press even deeper, The Book of Moods shares Lauren's journey to infuse her life with a sense of peace and stability. With observations that will resonate and inspire, she dives into the universal triggers every woman faces -- whether it's a comment from your mother, the relentless grind at your job, days when you wish the mirror had a Valencia filter, or all of the above. Blending cutting-edge science, timeless philosophy, witty anecdotes and effective forms of self-care, Martin has written a powerful, intimate, and incredibly relatable chronicle of transformation, proving that you really can turn your worst moods into your best life.

And here's what I thought: This book had some interesting insights, but I sometimes grew really tired of the author. Her reactions to things sometimes seemed really overwrought to me and as a result, I didn't usually identify with her and sometimes found I was pretty unsympathetic. But, it was interesting to read about how she learned about the science of brains and emotion to better understand herself, and how she could change her reactions.  I think just about every daughter I know can identify with the trigger that a random comment from your mom can have on your mood. And understanding how emotions work with your brain, and how you can then understand and control your reactions and stress levels, was interesting.  But, I often felt like I wasn't quite the audience for this book (maybe too old?).