Pf Reviews
Stress: The Essential Guide – Frances Ive (Need2Know, £8.99)
This book is one of 20 titles in this eclectic ‘Need-2- Know’ series of easy-to-read paperback titles that neatly slip into your briefcase.
Stress – an over used term to encompass a whole range of symptoms that contribute to over 13 million working days lost in the UK and account for 70% of visits to doctors. This book provides information on what it is, potential causes, and solutions that include a ‘help list’ as support. If fortunate enough to have never experienced stress it will enlighten you to recognise symptoms and employ preventative measures.
Working in our ever changing, increasingly more restrictive environment there are ‘stressful’ moments aplenty. With expectations to see more, do more, and achieve better results, this book could improve your own stress management as you juggle to achieve that all important work-life balance.
Whilst largely a ‘Janet and John’ read, companies could provide this to employees as a preventative measure, however I am not convinced of its value to our clinicians as a freebie.
Trisha McGarry
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Summary: No Country for Old Men - When a drug deal goes bad, a Vietnam War veteran stumbles across a group of corpses and $2 million. His decision to take the money spectacularly backfires as he is pursued by a psychopathic hitman and Mexicans hellbent on revenge. An ageing sheriff battles to protect the fleeing veteran and his wife, but will his efforts succeed? It is: A chilling, complex tapestry of blood, relationships, violence and suspense. It isn’t: A Hollywood template with clichéd gangland dialogue and a neat ending. It will appeal to:Anyone who likes cover-your-eyes violence, casual murders and psychopaths. Worth seeing for: Javier Bardem’s frightening oscar-winning performance as psychotic Anton Chigurh and his signature weapon that looks like breathing apparatus – but has exactly the opposite effect. |
Slow down: Enjoy life and live longer — Elisabeth Wilson The Infinite Ideas Company Limited,£18.99 (hardcover)
 This book is basically a guide to achieving the blissful existence described in the title, and includes contributions from more than a dozen authors, edited and complied by Elisabeth Wilson.
The premise is that we are packing too many things into life, doing too much out of obligation/ guilt and, on the flip-side, not making time for the things we enjoy or those we love. There are sections on taking time out for yourself, getting organised, work-life balance, health and aging, managing your finances, relationships and generally making your life happier. No stones are left unturned. The book offers advice on things as minute as how to avoid losing your keys, what to cook to improve your immune system and a guide to tantric sex.
There are some useful tips on getting organised at work, such as setting weekly ‘goals’ rather than daily ‘to-dos’ and getting the things you are dreading out of the way early in the day. There is also a large section on the more-appropriately-titled ‘life-work balance’: ten minutes of complete selfishness everyday is recommended, something I’m sure anyone would be happy to incorporate into their routine! I am also now a keen supporter of the ‘40-20’ rule to getting things done around the home:‘40 minutes graft, followed by 20 sitting around feeling virtuous’.
The book is written in a friendly, confiding tone, and you really feel the authors have tried and tested the life-style changes they recommend. I appreciated the little tips, quotes and ideas that are thrown in on the pages, which make this very much a book that you can dip into or read from cover to cover.
The publishers have clearly aimed for a calming layout, with not too many ideas/words on each page and lots of illustrations of forests and tropical beaches to soothe the stressed mind. If I’m honest, I couldn’t help thinking that what is a pretty large, heavy book could have been halved in size if so much space wasn’t wasted, but this probably just indicates I’m not getting the fundamental principles of the book right!
| Pf Reader offer: Slow Down by Elisabeth Wilson is published by Infinite Ideas as part of the 52 Brilliant Ideas series. Pf readers can order it at the special price of £11.99 (normal RRP £18.99) plus postage and handling; call 01865 514 888 or visit infideas.com and enter promotion code 'brilliant 162' at the checkout. |
This could be the handbook for modern living…if you’re disciplined enough to put the ideas into action. The lifestyle changes the book recommends represent the bit of effort that could turn your life around. The only problem is it’s all too easy not to bother, whatever the potential gains, or slip back into old bad habits.
Right now, however, I’m feeling thoroughly inspired. I’m going to write out my work goals for the week, take an energy-boosting walk to the supermarket to buy fresh fruit and de-clutter my wardrobe as soon as I get home…probably.
Diana Spencer |