These upcoming titles abandon the traditional resolution model: superficial makeover; a frustrating preparation for failure – in favor of achievable change and self-acceptance. Here are a dozen goals that won’t expire or run out in February.
Apologize and mean it
Marjorie Ingall and Susan McCarthy. Gallery, January 2023
Ingall and McCarthy analyzed apologies in news, pop culture, literature and
policy since 2012, documenting their observations on their website SorryWatch.com. In the book, they explain why it’s so difficult to apologize and why apologies so often fail, breaking down what makes a good apology into six parts. P.W.The review called it “an accessible and knowledgeable resource for navigating difficult conversations.”
Appreciate the little things
Microjoys
Cyndie Spiegel. Penguin Life, March 2023
Spiegel (A year of positive thinking, 207,000 print copies sold) offers essays and suggestions on small things that bring great happiness, such as walking into one’s favorite spice shop, spending time in nature, and discovering the beauty in perceived physical flaws such as freckles or gap teeth. Microjoys, she writes, are a “subtle and accessible practice for discerning joy in any moment.”
Wake up to experience
Life in the five senses
Gretchen Rubin. Crown, April 2023
After an eye exam revealed that Rubin had a high probability of having a detached retina that would threaten his vision, The Happiness Project The author walks the streets of New York feeling “like every button in my brain had suddenly been turned to maximum.” The 20-minute transcendent walk triggers an enterprise of studying one’s five senses, tuning into these perceptions to connect more deeply to the present moment so that readers can also do the same mindfully.
Bet on yourself
Help is on the way
Kountry Wayne, with Mim Eichler Rivas. Harmony, April 2023
Comedian Wayne’s prescriptive memoir demonstrates the importance of having faith. Chronicling his journey from the small town of Millen, Georgia to earning over a million dollars a year doing stand-up, Wayne centers his advice to readers on the concepts of self-love and the trust that “the universe has you”.
Cut your losses
Graceful exits
Geri Reid Suster. Rowman and Littlefield, November.
Releasing old relationships that no longer serve you – collegial, familial, friendly or romantic – with dignity and compassion is the premise of journalist and business consultant Suster’s book of advice for kinder, more intentional ways to move on. thing. Suster encourages readers to think about how they can thoughtfully break ties while maintaining their sanity and dignity.
Embrace eccentricity
Eric G. Wilson. Penguin, November.
Wilson (Against happiness) returns with a celebration of letting your weird flag fly. In this guide to “welcome the unconventional with humor and insight” (by P.W.), he offers 99 ways to reframe the uncanny as, he writes, “essential to a fascinating life.” Exercises such as “Forge a New Identity,” “Reorganize Your Childhood Bedroom,” and “Summon Your Own Medieval Monster” encourage readers to explore “unprecedented, unpredictable, and irreplaceable” parts of oneself.
Find balance
Ken Mogi. The experience, January 2023
Nagomi, or “a feeling of ease, emotional balance, well-being and calm,” is a Japanese concept that everyone can adopt, writes neuroscientist Mogi in this “insightful manual.” P.W.The opinion of. It encourages positive relationships with loved ones, learning new things while remaining true to yourself, and finding a sense of inner peace no matter what happens in life.
Let go
The Perfectionist’s Guide to Losing Control
Katherine Morgan Schafler. Portfolio, January 2023
Psychotherapist Schafler, who works with perfectionists in her private practice in New York, encourages them to view perfectionism as a “strength” to harness. She introduces five types of perfectionists: classic, Parisian, procrastinator, messy and intense, offering advice for each type. Its “thoughtful treatment of perfectionism offers a new perspective,” according to P.W.The opinion of.
I love the mother that you are
Jessica Grose. Mariner, December.
New York Times Opinion and parenting newsletter editor Grose dismisses the idea that the ideal mother is an Instagram-worthy bastion of calm who produces well-groomed, well-behaved children with seemingly no effort. “Mothers struggling to keep their heads above water will find companionship in this empathetic outing,” according to P.W.The opinion of. (See our Q&A with Grose, “Mom vs. the Machine,” p. 20.)
Play better
Mike Rucker. Atria, January 2023
In that P.W.In his critique, organizational psychologist Rucker objects to what he calls the “trap” of pursuing happiness rather than loving your life now. Her roadmap aims to help readers inject playfulness and wonder into busy, stressful lives.
Stop overthinking
I’m pretty sure you’re fine
David Vienne. Chronicle, November.
In this humor/self-help combo, parenting content creator Vienna titles each chapter with excuses and self-flagellations, such as “I keep cheating on my diet,” “I’m too tired to exercise,” and ” I don’t exercise.” Know what mindfulness is,” reassuring readers their current state is probably just awesome. For 2023, the pressure is off.
Value downtime
Hang out
Sheila Liming. Melville House, January 2023
Liming, an associate professor of communications and creative media at Champlain College in Vermont, advocates spending more unstructured time with others as a remedy for the distraction and isolation that comes from digital devices and online life. It defines hang out like allowing yourself to do nothing, especially in the company of others, which she considers a bold act in our productivity-obsessed society.
All print unit sales by NPD BookScan unless otherwise noted.
A version of this article appeared in the 10/31/2022 issue of Publishers Weekly under the title: 12 tips for a happier year
