I Will Not Be Broken

May 15, 2008
Because everyone's life includes setbacks as well as successes, it's important to develop coping mechanisms for difficult times. According to radio host Salmansohn ("Whip Your Career into Submission"), it's essential to be a strong person in order to rebound from life's challenges. The author distills insights from happiness research, medicine, and Eastern meditation and philosophy into 75 tips for becoming stronger and more decisive. "Bounce Back" assignments include surrounding oneself with positive people, establishing and meeting deadlines, and planning ahead for anticipated troublesome situations. Having suffered from adversity herself, Salmansohn writes with honesty and compassion, skillfully guiding readers along.

White, cofounder of the Survivor Corps, aims to help people recover from serious injury or personal catastrophe, drawing on the insights of those who have survived tragedy (White lost his leg in a land mine accident). White posits a five-step program in which he advises his audience to face the facts, choose life, reach out, get moving, and give back. Like Salmansohn, he warns readers to take steps away from victimhood and toward survivorship. A particularly valuable chapter shows how to help others through catastrophe by acknowledging the loss, sharing memories, and pitching in with chores. Both books meet the goals they set and are recommended for both public and academic libraries.

Copyright 2008 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.