Walking on Sunshine: 52 Small Steps to Happiness Hardcover – November 8, 2016

Would you trust a guide book written by someone who’d never visited the country in question? I think not.I suspect the same holds true for a book that aims to help lift your mood. Wouldn’t you rather read one from someone who truly knows what it’s like to have an absence of happiness in life?It may sound an odd thing to say, but I’m pleased to report that Rachel Kelly is just such a person. It’s an odd thing to say, only because it might imply that I’m happy that she’s suffered. And of course I’m not. How could anyone wish this on another human being?No, my point is that it’s only when you’ve been in such a dark place and come through it in a much better frame of mind, that you’ll know just how to craft the kind of book that Rachel has written.Let me tell you a little about it. Basically she acknowledges two important truths.The first is that being depressed can be overwhelmingly tough. It can feel as if you’re in the bottom of the Grand Canyon, wanting to be at the top of Mount Everest. And let’s face it, you don’t make a journey like that in a day—for one thing it’s a heck of a way from Arizona to Tibet.No, getting better when you’ve been poorly (and depression is probably best-considered a sickness) takes time and baby steps. It’s why Rachel’s book is cleverly subtitled ‘52 Small Steps To Happiness’ and explains the process through which she’ll give you one easy-to-digest positive thought for each week of the year.Walking On Sunshine’s other big advantage is that it speaks to you with a light touch and a sprinkle of humor. When I’ve been in therapy myself (yes, I too have been to that same dark place) I fared best with a counselor who smiled as she helped me. And that’s what I think you’ll feel as you work your way through this terrific book.Rachel knows her stuff, and works with more than a few mental health charities in the UK. She’s also a wonderful, really natural, writer—making her book feel like getting 52 letters from a best friend who wants nothing more than to help you get your life gently back on track.

This is one of the most relatable books I've ever read. Rachel Kelly truly delves into the sometimes disheartening problems that we all face, and it's clear that she has dealt with them herself. In fact, she is completely upfront about her own struggles. Herein is contained truly helpful, useful advice that is easily implemented and touches on everything from dealing with rejection and using breathing to control emotional reaponses to proper diet and sleep habits. The book is divided into seasons but I found myself skipping around, often randomly opening to a page and reading that selection. Give it a read. I don't think you'll regret it.

Walking on Sunshine, by British author Rachel Kelly, is a quick, easy read that is not really intended to be read through all at once. In a similar vein to Jon Cousins’ Nudge Your Way to Happiness, Walking on Sunshine provides bite-sized ideas for increasing happiness. In this case the happiness prescriptions are delivered one week at a time for one year, instead of one day at a time for one month, as was the case in Cousins’ book.Kelly organized this book by seasons, beginning with spring, loosely defined as March, April and May. Personally, this organizational calendar did not appeal, for two primary reasons. The main one stems from one of my own happiness struggles—self-diagnosed Seasonal Affective Disorder. Just seeing the word “Autumn,” although less depressing than its alternative, “Fall,” causes me to feel heaviness in my body. In a book intended to promote happiness, that feels counterproductive. I recognize that is my own issue, and others may not have the same visceral reaction to the season that I do. The second reason that I would prefer a different structure is that it seems somewhat potentially difficult for someone to pick up the book and start at the “right” week, since the weeks are numbered, but begin with March, not January. Maybe there is no real “right” way to use the book, but for those of us who like order and logic, this feels a bit unnerving.Those minor criticisms aside, I really like Kelly’s message, which, like Cousins’, is essentially that we have some power to help ourselves when we are feeling down. It does not always have to involve prescription medication or weekly therapy (although those things may have their places). Proactively brightening our own spirits can be as simple as a self-administered relaxation exercise, connecting with a beloved animal companion or volunteering for a worthwhile cause.As someone who reads a lot of positive psychology and has made significant conscious effort to boost my own mood in a variety of ways, Kelly’s simple, accessible suggestions resonate with me. She makes references to poetry in several places. While it is not poetry, specifically, that centers me, words are extremely important to my mood management. My collections of quotes are some of my most powerful happiness boosts. Kelly seems to find some of her strongest boosts in poetry.I recommend this book for its simplicity and accessibility. There is nothing Kelly suggests that can be harmful, and her easy-to-implement strategies may be just the spirit boosts someone needs.

Walking on Sunshine is everything a 'self-help' book should be: gentle, witty, practical, and infused with hard-won insight on every page. Rachel Kelly speaks to readers as a friend who truly has your best interest in mind rather than as a psychologist with an agenda or product to sell. Even if you are already happy, this book is brimming with bits of wisdom that will help you live a fuller, more mindful life. Bravo.