What's on Donate

The comfort book - Book Review

The comfort book

Haig, M. (2021). Canongate.

One thing can be said for certain about The Comfort Book by the wildly popular English author Matt Haig – it lives up to its name. Packed to the brim with bits of wisdom, coziness, and reassurance that joy and hope can be found even in the most unexpected of places, The Comfort Book is the literary equivalent of a warm hug by a dear friend or a breath of fresh spring air. It's a pick-me-up when our anxiety gets the better of us and we need a gentle nudge to get back into a positive space again.  

The pleasure the reader gets from this book stems not just from its content, but the way it is structured and broken up into bite-sized pieces that one can dip in and out of, in whichever order they please. It is, as Haig puts it, “as messy as life,” “a collection of little islands of hope.” Each of the four parts is made up of a medley of lists, aphorisms, quotes, short stories, meditations on life, and even the odd recipe. Not every thought or piece of advice will feel groundbreaking, and a few might even border on cliché, but overall Haig strongly delivers on his promise to wrap the reader in bookish comfort. 

While the author doesn’t delve into any particular topic in great depth (which wasn’t his intention anyway), this book often feels intimate, personal, and at times vulnerable. This is because Haig doesn’t shy away from openly talking about his mental health struggles; in fact, descriptions of his lived experience of depression, anxiety, panic attacks and OCD come across as the most valuable and original parts of the book. 

Much like the human experience, The Comfort Book has many (often seemingly opposing) sides to it and is equal parts philosophical, funny, inspirational, raw, and touching. Haig’s unpretentious and uplifting writing will imbue the reader with a refreshed outlook on life and help them rediscover the deep truths that they already carry inside them. 

Reviewed by Tihana Babic, Senior Communications and Marketing Officer at Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand

Rāhina / Monday

Take Notice | Me Aro Tonu

A fresh week, blank slate and a new beginning. Let's start the week by setting purpose and intention, today is the day to take stock – how have you been feeling recently, are there any events or stresses that you need to sit with and unpack? 

Developing the ability to be fully present and conscious without being overly reactive or overwhelmed is no easy feat, it takes practice to achieve the delicate balance of awareness. When we take notice or practice mindfulness, we’re creating space for ourselves—space to think, space to breathe, space between ourselves and our reactions.  

Use today as a reminder to pay more attention to the present moment, to our thoughts and feelings, and to the world around us. At the end of the week, you can reflect on how you felt at the start of the week, and how putting each of the Five Ways into practice has helped to boost your mental health.

A few ideas to help you take notice:

Rātū / Tuesday

Give | Tukua

Today is all about kindness. When we give selflessly to others, whether through our time, resources, or support, we create a positive ripple effect that extends beyond the people we engage with. Carrying out acts of kindness boosts our happiness, life satisfaction, and overall wellbeing. When we help others, it gives us purpose and a sense of belonging – it’s a win/win!  

Think about how you might be able to brighten the day of someone you care about, or even a complete stranger. A small gesture might mean the world to someone else, and you’ll get a bit of a boost, too!

A few ideas to help you give:

Rāapa / Wednesday

Be Active | Me Kori Tonu 

We're nearly over the midweek hump and are inching closer to the weekend. Today is the perfect opportunity to give yourself a refreshing boost by engaging in some physical activity. Wi tēnei rangi to get the blood flowing through your tinana/body?   

Physical activity stimulates the release of endorphins, the "feel-good" hormones, which can uplift your mood and increase feelings of happiness. It reduces stress and anxiety levels, promotes relaxation and enhances overall mental resilience. It can even sharpen our thinking and boost our creativity. 

Being active doesn’t always mean high-intensity cardio workouts, there are lots of ways you can move your tinana to uplift your mood, reduce stress, and feel a sense of achievement. Choose to do something that is purely for feeling good or having fun, and dedicate it to your wellbeing.

A few ideas hei āwhina/to help you be active:

Rāpare / Thursday

Connect | Me Whakawhanaunga

It’s nearly Friday – why not tap into those weekend vibes early, and carve out some time for some meaningful connection? Use today as a sign to arrange that outing or gathering with friends, participate in social events that you might be finding an excuse to skip, or seek out opportunities for shared experiences that deepen your connections.  

Connect refers to making social connections, or whakawhanaungatanga. A sense of feeling connected, loved or belonging with others is strongly associated with better wellbeing and other health outcomes by providing a sense of meaning, safety, support and purpose.  

A few ideas to help you connect:

Rāmere / Friday

Keep Learning | Me Ako Tonu

It might be the last day of MHAW, but today’s the day to reflect on what you’ve learnt throughout the week and implement those tools into the weekend and weeks beyond. 

Evidence suggests that learning or trying new things creates a sense of achievement, competence and stimulates engagement with the world around us. There are lots of ways that you can Keep Learning today and every day. 

A few ideas to help you keep learning: