September has brought cooler temperatures at last. Not everyone likes that, but the colder the better for me! This month I’ve been curled up reading non-fiction – three very different books, each one captivating and educational in its own unique way.
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Be Useful: Seven Tools for Life by Arnold Schwarzenegger
I started the month with Be Useful: Seven Tools for Life by Arnold Schwarzenegger. Originally meant as a gift for my husband, I ended up reading it myself one night when my kindle ran out of charge. I found myself really enjoying it. There are snippets of interesting biography scattered throughout the book, but it’s primarily a roadmap for creating a clear vision for your life and pursuing your goals.
If this sounds like just another self-help book, then you’re not entirely wrong. It is. However, what sets it apart for me is its relatability. As someone with little in common with a bodybuilder, a movie star, and the former Governor of California, I still found myself inspired by Arnold Schwarzenegger’s enthusiasm for life.
Be Useful: Seven Tools for Life also deviates from the typical self-help book in that it encourages you to stop looking at yourself and what you want from life. Instead of constantly looking inward and seeking personal fulfilment, Schwarzenegger advocates for hard work, listening to others, and being useful to those around you. By doing so, you inevitably create a happier and more fulfilling life for yourself. And how different would the world be if it was filled with happier people?
The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt
The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt seems to be everywhere right now. It delves into the negative impact of a ‘phone-based childhood’ versus a ‘play-based childhood’, and how this may contribute to the rise in mental health issues among children and young people. I’m not going to get into the research or statistics here, but I will say that reading this book has been eye-opening for me and I believe every parent would benefit from reading it.
There seems to be a swell of support for Haidt’s message. More and more schools are restricting mobile phone use during the school day, and tech companies are even exploring design options for phones specifically for under 16s, with features aimed at mitigating some of the risks associated with smartphones.
Many of the articles I’ve read about The Anxious Generation focus on the effects of phones and social media, but an equally important aspect of Haidt’s message is the importance of getting kids outside to play. Encouraging children to interact with one another in real life and challenging themselves with new activities is just as crucial for their mental wellbeing as putting down their phones.
As a parent of a tween daughter, reading this book has given me more confidence in allowing her increasing independence. Personally, I’m not a heavy social media user (as you may have noticed if you follow me on Facebook), but The Anxious Generation has also made me more aware of my own phone usage, which can only be a good thing.
All That Remains: A Life in Death by Sue Black
The third non-fiction book I’ve chosen to read this month is All That Remains: A Life in Death. It’s written by Professor Dame Sue Black, an anatomist and forensic anthropologist. As well as providing expert testimony during criminal court cases, her expertise has aided investigations into war crimes and natural disasters like the Indian Ocean tsunami where she helped identify victims. I’m not yet far enough through this book to give you my thoughts, but what I have read is fascinating and I look forward to reading more every night