Category: Book Review

Lost Connections

Author: Johann Hari

In Lost Connections, Johann Hari explores an idea that challenges the status quo: what if anxiety and depression aren’t simply caused by chemical imbalances, but by the disconnection we experience in modern life? Disconnection from meaning, nature, purpose, community, and even from ourselves.

Backed by extensive research and Hari’s own experience with antidepressants, the book unfolds like an investigative journey. It doesn’t dismiss medication, but it does expand the conversation—urging us to look at the wider societal, emotional, and environmental causes of unhappiness.

Why We Recommend It:
This is a brilliant, thought-provoking read for anyone who feels like they’ve “tried everything” but are still struggling. It opens the door to a more holistic view of mental health—one that resonates deeply with our philosophy at OMH. If you’re longing for a deeper sense of connection, this book will make you feel seen—and offer practical, hopeful ways to return to yourself.

Maybe You Should Talk to Someone

Author: Lori Gottlieb

This beautifully written and often funny book follows therapist Lori Gottlieb as she navigates the lives of her clients—while unexpectedly becoming a client herself. It’s a story about vulnerability, heartbreak, healing, and the surprising ways life brings us face-to-face with ourselves.

What makes it so compelling is its honesty. Therapy is often seen as a one-way process, but Lori invites us behind the curtain to see the therapist as a human being, too—struggling, healing, and learning. Her clients’ stories mirror so many of our own fears, doubts, and longings.

Why We Recommend It:
This book is a wonderful read for anyone curious about therapy—or nervous to start. It makes the process feel less intimidating and more deeply human. It also reminds us that healing doesn’t happen in a straight line, and that sometimes being brave enough to ask for help is the most powerful thing we can do.

The Body Keeps the Score

Author: Dr. Bessel van der Kolk

This book is considered essential reading in the field of trauma recovery. Dr. van der Kolk explains with clarity and compassion how trauma—whether from childhood, relationships, accidents, or long-term stress—gets stored in the body and affects everything from our mental state to our physical health.

Rather than focus purely on talk therapy, he brings forward a new paradigm: healing through the body. Practices like yoga, EMDR, neurofeedback, and breathwork are explored as vital tools for recovery. It affirms something we deeply believe at OMH: that you don’t just think your way out of trauma—you feel, move, and release it from the body.

Why We Recommend It:
This book is foundational for understanding how trauma impacts the nervous system and why body-based therapies (like massage, movement, breathwork, or sound healing) are so important. It’s a bit of a heavier read, but incredibly empowering if you’re ready to understand your healing on a deeper level. A must-read for anyone on a trauma-informed healing path.

You Will Get Through This Night

Author: Daniel Howell

Daniel Howell, known for his openness around mental health, offers a powerful and practical guide for anyone struggling with anxiety, depression, or overwhelming emotions. This book is refreshingly real—grounded in his personal experience, but also rooted in psychological strategies that work.

What stands out is how Daniel breaks the book into three distinct parts: how to survive the worst moments (the night), how to build mental health habits over time (the day), and how to navigate the wider conversation around mental illness (the world). It’s compassionate, accessible, and full of genuinely useful tools—especially for people who don’t want fluff, but need something grounded and actionable.

Why We Recommend It:
This is one of the most practical books we’ve come across for managing anxiety or emotional overwhelm. If you’re in a dark patch, this book feels like a hand on your shoulder. It also makes mental health feel more human—less clinical, more relatable. We recommend it to anyone who wants simple tools and a sense of comfort in knowing they are not alone.