13 Things Mentally Strong Women Don't Do

Starred review from November 15, 2018

Morin (13 Things Mentally Strong Parents Don't Do) has found through her therapeutic practice, personal life, and countless interviews that women intent on reaching their greater potential refused to indulge in counterproductive bad habits. Some of these maladaptive practices include comparing yourself to others, taking the blame when something goes wrong, and putting others down in order to lift yourself up. Morin spends a chapter on each action and provides ways to modify the behavior. The author further delves into sexism, challenging media images, and other societal issues with sage advice on building mental strength. VERDICT Exemplary guidance for women of all ages.

Copyright 2018 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

There's something about Amy Morin's performance of her latest audiobook that stirs curiosity. She's a great storyteller, and that's part of the draw, but it's her gentle pacing and tender tone that make you wonder what's going to happen to this vulnerable soul. With compelling stories from her therapy practice and her own life, she offers an intuitive list of mental habits that can make life less painful, less self-punitive. Striving for perfection, denying your vulnerability, letting others limit your potential, and habitual self-blame are some of the unproductive habits she points out. They may sound simple but are actually difficult for tenderhearted men and women to avoid. This fast-moving collection delivered with the sound of Morin's authentic experience and desire to help emerges as a powerful personal development resource. T.W. � AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine

December 15, 2018
Psychologist and TED speaker Morin, author of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do (2014) and 13 Things Mentally Strong Parents Don't Do (2017), now tailors her approach to women. Some examples of her female-specific advice: self-doubt stems, in part, from being taught that boys are brilliant and girls try hard?plus, it leads to a self-fulfilling prophecy; overthinking is self-reflection gone awry. More than lists of feelings and behaviors to avoid, each of Morin's points leads into a good examination of the whys and the issues, along with common-sense alternatives. As for self-doubt, she recommends monitoring emotions, collecting evidence, considering the worst-case scenario, and even embracing a little of that doubt. "Get your strengths back" lessons cover things like impacts on family, social life, and career, and chapter endings summarize what's helpful and what's not. Relatable case histories, including from a few prominent women (Taylor Swift, for not staying silent; Mindy Kaling, on overcoming imposter syndrome), share familiar situations and, the author hopes, provide workable solutions for endemic issues.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)