An inspiring take on a self-help book, Unconditional leaves readers with practical tips to live a better life.

I love a good non-fiction read. I wouldn’t say I’m a big self-help book junkie by any means, but this book intrigued me simply because of who wrote it. Now a doctor, Samra Zafar is an inspiring lady and her first book, A Good Wife was a wonderful (if heartbreaking) read. I was hoping from the description that this book would include some personal reflection like her first book, and I was not disappointed. Combining what she has learned in her medical training, with more memoir-like personal reflections, made this a book that stands out from your typical self-help. Dr. Zafar walks the talk. It’s a refreshing approach that I appreciated.

Like a lot of people navigating the world currently, I too am in therapy at the moment. One topic that I continually struggle with is self compassion. The concept holds a lot of value, but a lot of the work in this field just doesn’t speak to me at all. It’s a little too…soft for me. I prefer a more pragmatic approach. What blew me away about Dr. Zafar’s work is that it actually clicked for me. By including lots of real world examples of how she incorporated her learning into her own life, and being refreshingly honest about her mistakes, she clearly demonstrates how anyone can make it happen.

Each chapter tackles a different aspect of themselves that folks might be struggling with. She starts off by talking about a personal example, then tells us the research around what she was experiencing, breaking down big therapeutic ideas into understandable bites. “Whispered Wisdom” quotes from other women she’s been inspired by are a fun way to include other voices. Each chapter ends with an “Unconditioning Workbook” which summarizes what we’ve learned in the chapter and then gives us space for our own reflection with questions you can fill in. I really enjoyed the format.

Unconditional is part memoir, part self help book that will inspire you to lead a happier, healthier life.

Grounded in science and powered by personal anecdote, Unconditional offers a roadmap for uninstalling inherited programming we never knew was there. Beautifully written with pragmatic application, it's a great read for anyone drawn to Brene Brown or Gabor Mate. Readers who want to unhook from habitual patterns will find gold here.