When Crisis Strikes by Jennifer Love and Kjell Hovik is a solid read that seems to have come out of the pandemic. This book aims to help people deal with stress and I think it is largely successful at that. At times, the book is a bit pedantic and not that engaging. At other times, the book is full of salient points and highly used. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

This book wasn’t quite what I expected, but it was definitely worth reading. It is more about learning how to respond effectively to stressful situations than how to heal, although there are some recommended lifestyle changes that will promote healing.

The authors take turns writing different sections of the book, each in their own conversational style. The effect is a bit like having a conversation with two helpful friends sharing stories over a cup of coffee.

The book starts with a chapter providing a brief, easy to understand explanation of how stress affects your health. Most of the rest of the book focuses on the authors’ five-step model for responding to crises or other stressful situations. First they explain the model, and then they provide five chapters narrating how people have used the five steps in various stressful situations. The narratives can become a bit repetitive, but they are helpful examples for how to use the five steps in different situations.

These are stressful times, and most people could probably benefit from the stress management suggestions this book provides.

I was provided an unproofed ARC through NetGalley that I volunteered to review.

This book is a useful primer for finding strategies for coping with extreme stress. The authors lay out complex psychology in a relatable, easy to understand manner and provide a template for readers interested in applying that psychology to their own lives. Would recommend to anyone interested in exploring the way their anxieties are impacting their decision-making processes.

This was an interesting book, but not quite what I was expecting. I think the layout of the book reads like a novel which wasn’t what I thought it would be like.

Thank you NetGalley for my complimentary copy in return for my honest review.

As someone who works in a stressful environment, I picked up this book in order to try to figure out how to deal with chronic stress. And while there are lots of god examples and techniques in this book, I had to wade through a lot of scientific explanations to get there. I also thought there was quite a bit of over-explaining; the "real-person" stories were too detailed and too numerous.

First let’s talk a little bit about the authors and their associations. Jennifer Love is an M.D. psychiatrist who specializes in psychiatry and also addiction psychiatry; Kjell Hovik, Psy.d, Ph.d is a Norwegian neuropsychologist. The forward is written by Daniel Amen, M.D. who runs the Amen Clinics. I have sent a few of my clients to the Amen Clinics over time, and all of them have gotten really good results. So I’m inclined to really trust this author combo on the efficacy of their research and ideas.

Basically, this book is for anyone having any kind of a crises or experiencing chronic stress. 2020 seems like an excellent time for a book like this to be released! (Its release date is December 29, 2020 but it can be pre-ordered now).

The authors begin with a discussion about the adrenal system and the brain and offer science about how the brain and the adrenals respond to crisis situations and chronic stress. This discussion is done in a really down to earth way that anyone can understand and lays the groundwork for why the 5 steps coming will work.

Then the authors lay out the 5 steps, and each step is broken down into 3 or 4 questions or sub-steps that help you to understand how to apply them. After each step is explained, the next section of the book gives a multitude of examples of how to apply the steps in different situations. The authors show us the step work with people experiencing divorce, terminal cancer, financial issues, death, etc. This section of the book felt a little bit redundant after awhile, BUT, I feel like the repetition over and over really did help to cement how this process looks in real time. Of course, if your crisis is similar to one of the ones described, you could just read that section.

Lastly, they go over some common issues when in crisis/chronic stress, like salt or sugar cravings, sleep issues, etc., and offer some ideas on how to work with these issues. My favorite part of the book is the end, where the authors outline their own "crises" - their adjustments and stress after covid-19 hit the world. I found this incredibly authentic and vulnerable of these authors, and it goes to prove that they practice what they preach. I can't think of a person this book would not be useful for.

Also reviewed on my blog: www.therapybooknook.com/blog

If you work in a field that involves stress management, as I do, or if you have been experiencing a stressful time, you want this book in your collection. It is an excellent, all inclusive book on both understanding and managing stress. The five-step plan is simple and effective. The authors are interesting, knowledgeable and well-spoken. My only grievance with the book (and it's a small one), is the title. One doesn't need to be in crisis to appreciate and gain from this book. The information is useful in everyday life, as well, in order to ensure the small stressors in life do not turn into chronic stress with time. If you are looking for a book on stress management, do yourself a favor, and get a copy of this book. You'll be glad you did.