How to Be Hopeful: An Inspirational Guide to Ignite a Life Full of Hope, Happiness, and Compassion for Yourself and Our Future

by Bernadette Russell

An inspirational mental health book to help you find hope and build it into a lifelong habit. Filled with practical exercises, questions to consider, revealing research, timeless philosophy, and tales of triumph over adversity, How to Be Hopeful is an uplifting, motivational, and essential guide to living and acting with renewed hope for self-compassion and for a more compassionate world. It shows us the places we can look for hope―in nature, art, the kindness of strangers, our own actions―and ways to keep it alive through moments of adversity. A wonderful gift for all occasions!
Author, performer, and activist, Bernadette Russell, has made it her life's mission to teach the practice of hope, allowing us to focus on the positives and the possibilities―no matter what challenges life throws at us.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help

240 pages, Paperback

First published September 10, 2020

Reviews

[Addie Yoder · Rating 2 out of 5]

While the concept of the book and the main points were fantastic, this could have easily been trimmed down a LOT. I loved the specific tasks and to dos that the author gave throughout the book, but wish it were a little more streamlined.

[Tilly · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Firstly I must say how much I love the cover of this little hardback book. It is simple and yet the gold embossing and splatter detail is so aesthetically pleasing. Plus I'm a sucker for gold embossing!

Now onto the book. I went into this book in a place of little hope. During recovery of a major surgery, unhappy with myself, worrying about COVID and climate change and being told personal bad news nearly every week. I have read many self help books over the years, mainly CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) which have helped a little but not left a lasting input.
This book is not your average self help book. The author Bernadette Russell covers a variety of topics, from finding the hope in every day life to using hope to create positive change for the community or even the world.
This book is incredibly well written. It is split up into nine chapters that look at a different aspects of hope. Within those sections are hints and tips that you can try out to try and increase your own hope or try out new thinhs that will affect the hope of others. It is a really good set up and I felt engaged in the writing and the tasks along the way.

What I struggled with was that most of the book wasn't focused on personal hope. I think this could have been explored more by putting in sections for those with chronic illness, disabilities, mental health issues, racial discrimination etc. I think if it had been a little more personal then I would have found it more effective for me, even if some sections wouldn't necessarily apply for everyone.
I wasn't a fan of the chapter on death. I personally found it a little triggering and didn't think it needed to be included.
I was also surprised that this book was written during and released during the COVID pandemic and there is much writing about it in the book. Despite this some of the tasks include going out and speaking to strangers. I therefore think this book will be useful in the future but it hasn't necessarily helped me gain more hope during this pandemic.

Please note that I was gifted this book in exchange for an honest review.

[R Kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The great thing about this book is that it doesn't suggest that hope is easy, what it does do however is inform through great interviews, thorough research, humour and practical 'to do lists', how we all might find the skills and support mechanisms to understand how the future can be made differently. As 2020 has so readily served up in spadefuls, we are in the s**t so to speak, 'How to be Hopeful' lucidly points out that by acknowledging this and beginning to understand why we are in such a predicament, hope can ferment even the smallest of actions and incrementally change what at first glance appears to be overwhelming and unchallengeable. Thanks Bernadette.

[Miriam Morgans · Rating 5 out of 5]

How to be Hopeful
By Bernadette Russell

Book Description
Bernadette Russell has made it her mission to teach the practice of hope: a lifelong habit that allows us to focus on the positives and the possibilities, no matter what challenges come our way. Even on difficult days, a little hope can go a very long way.

This uplifting and essential toolkit is filled with practical exercises, revealing research, timeless philosophy and tales of triumph over adversity. Hope is the fuel that transforms our lives and Bernadette reveals how it can be nurtured by us all step-by-step.

How to be Hopeful offers all we need to live and to act with renewed hope for ourselves and for a more compassionate world. Perfect for yourself or as a gift for family and friends.

My thoughta
I enjoyed listening to the audio version of this book.
It provides thoughtful insights in how not to be consumed and overwhelmed by the constant stream of global bad news. Its hard to move away from a negative/pesamistic mindset when you are bombarded with one tragedy after another.
Hope is something that sparks a light in the dark.
Hope is something we can draw strenghth from.
Hope is something that brings people together.
Hope is sometimes stronger than love.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ from me!🤓

[Angela Watt · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This book provides a little boost of positivity during these turbulent times. I am writing this review just as we enter into the second wave of Covid with regional restrictions, tiers, new rules and the possibility of a further lockdown. All of this is hard to take in and can leave you feeling out of control.

Reading this book on 'How to be Hopeful' provides sound guidance and practical solutions on ways to embrace hope and get involved in some activities that enable you to take control.

With this type of book, there are subjects closer to your heart than others, but it would make a nice Christmas gift and is one to dip into again and again.

Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for sharing an advance copy with me in exchange for an honest review.

[Georgina · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this was an interesting read, it wasn't really my cup of tea. I prefer my self-help books to be more of a combination of research and anecdotes, whereas 'How to be Hopeful' was far more focused on giving you exercises to do, which personally wasn't something I was particularly keen on. All in all, a nice enough book, but one that I personally struggled to connect with.

Disclaimer - I was fortunate enough to be provided with an advance reading copy of this book by NetGalley. This has not affected my review in any way, and all opinions are my own.

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

How to be Hopeful for me was something of a mental audit, and a refuelling. It helped me understand hope, it’s value and how to keep its flame burning in the hardest of times.
Action is such an agent of hope and hope is such a driver of action and one of the brilliant aspects of this book is identifying how each of us might feed our hope through action. I’m continually frustrated and disheartened by news headlines, corrupt politicians, wars and cruelty, abuse of people and animals but this book showed me how to turn those feelings into action and to hope. The idea that I can do something has given me an amazing sense of peace.
How to be Hopeful is full of positive stories, practical exercises, resources. It is gentle, reassuring, recognises that for some each step must be very very small.
Reading the book was cathartic - I felt empowered, positive ..hopeful. I created a bookstagram challenge for world health, shared my own story of hope. I identified things I want to take action on - animal welfare, the environment ..And I knew with real clarity that I am happiest by the sea.
I recommend this book to everyone . Place it by your bedside, restore and refuel regularly, stay hopeful.

[Antonia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sensitive, thoughtful, beautifully written book that reminds us how important and powerful hope is, particularly in the face of adversity. Lots of interesting, accessible suggestions for ways in which we can all take some form of positive action to be hopeful in our day to day lives (whatever works best for you) and there are great reference pages at the back to follow up on some of the amazing stories that are included in each chapter. Would definitely recommend to anyone who wants or needs some light and hopefulness in their life

[Colette Brennan · Rating 5 out of 5]

If ever there was a time to read this book it is now. 2020 has been difficult and the effects of loneliness and isolation are everywhere. This book helps us to rediscover the simple joys in life. Last weekend I stood and watched two pigeons sit on a water feature in the back garden. They were sitting there dipping themselves in the water, it was both peaceful and mesmerising. This book helps us to reconnect with the simplicity and hope.

[Stevie Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a wonderful book; the perfect tonic to all of the negative issues facing today’s society. Plus, Bernadette doesn’t half know some long words!! Both my outlook on life and my vocabulary have improved since reading this book :-)

[Skye]

Picked this up because I was feeling really sian and disheartened about everything. It did help to uplift! :)

[Lorna · Rating 5 out of 5]

* rating 4.5

[Julie-Anne Borgias · Rating 4 out of 5]

a very calming approach.

[Sophie Lyman · Rating 4 out of 5]

GIFTED BY A PUBLISHER

This self help book aims to give you the tools to unlock the hopefulness inside yourself and is full of examples of how you can do this, all backed up with a breadth of research. I wouldn’t say I’m a massive self help book reader but I found this one really enjoyable. Life is a little bit manic right now and reading a book that encourages you to slow down, enjoy the little things in life and actively be more compassionate is definitely apt. Russell shows you how to do it successfully and lists many examples where others have but she’s never patronising or preachy in her delivery which I find some self help books can be. It’s also only 222 pages long which I liked as some can be far too long and you lose interest. I’d definitely recommend this one, it’s well worth a read.

[Paul Arvidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this. Just what the world needs right now. Cracking book that looks in detail at all aspects of it's subject, with the unique eyes of Bernadette Russell, self-confessed 'hope-punk'. It's clever, well-researched, helpful and funny but not too much, if you know what I mean. Practical but never preachy. The section on bereavement is particularly inciteful, don't be scared! In fact don't be scared of any of this book, it's super accessible and easy to dip in and out of.
'Hope-punk's guide to the Galaxy.'

[Dara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book about having hope in darker days, which I was excited about as “hope” is something that I’ve been trying to have this year. I notice it is classified as a Christian book on Amazon, which is something I wondered about when I received it, but it did not seem to be a religious book to me. Although I liked the ideas of ways to find hope in various places, I found the book to be a bit slow and unfortunately, less inspiring than I’d hoped it to be.

[Aidan Matthews · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book and thoroughly enjoyed it. I see some other readers suggesting that it could have been shorter, well it is already a short read, any shorter and it would have been a pamphlet. It is a wholesome tale of the ability of us humans, even as individuals to see through the doom and gloom and to be hopeful. Nothing more, just some pointers as to how we can generate hope in our daily lives and just live together.

[Babs · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Roxanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing book. Got lost in the last few chapters but so good!

[Teao · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks Bolinda for free audiobook!

I found the first half interesting, then last half trying to lacking to keep me.

[Ella Howard · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did like the tips and go getter approach, it just felt a little too dragged out and main themes repeated

[Kristi · Rating 3 out of 5]

First half was great, lost me in the last half