As somebody who suffers from severe depression, I know the depressive's harshest critic is themselves. It is never helpful to be told to pull ourselves together by others but saying it to ourselves leads us in only one direction - into a spiralling descent into despair. This wise and perceptive book teaches us self-compassion and the consolations of kindness. I recommend it all the time. - Sally Brampton, author of Shoot the Damn Dog: A Memoir of Depression and the Aunt Sally column in The Sunday TimesImportant and enjoyable. - The PsychologistA landmark book. - The Scientific and Medical NetworkInteresting and helpful. - Mental Health PracticeThe increasing drive to find a competitive edge in all aspects of our lives may create efficiencies but they are cold, heartless and unpleasant to live with.

Gilbert shows how and why this occurs, and explains why our capacity for compassion is the antidote.A timely book for a time when competitiveness, materialism and narcissism have failed us. This book provides timeless wisdom that you can use every day. It will make a wonderful gift for someone you care for - especially, if you give it to yourself.Fascinating . thoughtful and well written . this book is a resource to be owned and used with enjoyment. - Nursing StandardA challenging and useful addition to anyone's self-help shelf, as well as a refreshingly rigorous look behind why our brains work the way they do.

In fact, this is a self-help book for people who don't like self-help books. - ONEinFOUR magazine.