Books that helped you through difficult times

[Agroboy]

I was reading Parerga and Paralipomena, and that book made me think more about my life regarding relationships — not necessarily romantic ones, but friendships and connections with other people. He talks about the "hedgehog's dilemma."


The hedgehog's dilemma is the idea that, just like hedgehogs in winter, people need closeness to keep warm, but if they get too close, they end up hurting each other with their spines. So they keep searching for the right distance: close enough to feel warmth, but not so close that they wound one another. Schopenhauer used this as a metaphor for human relationships. We seek intimacy, companionship, and understanding, yet our flaws, insecurities, pride, and habits can end up hurting the people around us — and ourselves.


That idea made me realize I needed a certain moderation in how I relate to others, a healthy distance both for my own good and for theirs, so that friendship could actually last instead of collapsing under too much intensity or friction.


Do you have any book in particular that made you reflect deeply and helped you in life?

 

[trashhologram]

Unseen: How I Lost My Vision But Found My Voice by Molly Burke. I listened it as an audiobook, it was read by her. I cried, I laughed. Her style of telling a story is phenomenal! And I love her sassiness

 

[coolcow1289]

I like Calumet K. It's about a man trying to build a grain elevator. It's a book about competency and willpower. Very motivational

 

[Yknot]

Suicide Watch by Kelly York. An amazing book about a struggling young adult who joins a pro suicide forum and meets two people online.

Thx, just purchased it.

 

[Afterglow]

Completely unrelated to mental health and wellness, but the bookseries by Brandon Sanderson called The Stromlight Archive gave me something to keep myself busy with during the darkest moments of my life.

Still a goated series, anyone who's into fantasy should read/listen to it.

 

[gunmetalblue]

I read into a lot of Camus at one time in a deep depressive episode. It's a recommendation I'd have.

 

[NoHorizon]

Shoot the Damn Dog by Sally Brampton. It's a memoir of a suicidal woman describing her struggles with depression and mental health services.

 

[returntothestars]

I'm a huge reader and gravitate to a variety of genres. Currently I've been making my way through the works of Immanuel Kant, Thomas Scanlon, And Kierkegaard. Dostoevsky and Nietzsche are both on my tbr list. Reading about different philosophies sometimes gives me a new outlook on life and my own personal beliefs.

Notable mentions of books that I have read in order to comfort myself: All the bright places- Jennifer Niven.

 

[iguazo falls]

"for all my walking" by santoka taneda

the author was also suicidal. he mainly just walked and wrote haikus. i feel most at peace walking and writing too.

also unironically big nate and diary of a wimpy kid series because they're actually pretty good comedy and they have passed time for me.

the book you're reading OP sounds pretty hefty, i respect people who can make sense of big essays, i really struggle these days.

 

[instormdrains]

I liked no longer human by osamu Dazai and the Bible

 

[flowerbomb]

"Veronica decides to die" Paulo Coelho

 

[Spit On My Grave]

Great speaker by Barack Obama

 

[Forever Sleep]

I love that hedgehog metaphor. So true.

For me, 'The Power of Now' by Eckart Tolle I remember helping me when I read it (ages ago.) I've forgotten a great deal of it. Although, I do remember that kind of epihany moment when he described his own experience. That he noticed within himself- that he could observe his own emotional states. So- did that mean he was in fact two separate people?

Also, the realisation that this observing 'person' was calm so- maybe there was always a stillness within him/ us. Plus- that our minds are so often focussed on the past or the future and not the present now.

I think sometimes it can be useful to ask ourselves: 'Am I ok in this very moment?' There can be a stillness there. Plus- being aware of our emotions can sometimes help us to detach from them. I suppose it's what helped me to identify and largely put a stop to the crazy limerent crushes I would experience.

 

[StonesAndTwigs]

For me it was East of Eden by Steinbeck. It can easily drag you down, but I found that reading it helped me actually feel something as opposed to just being numb. The book has its flaws, but for me it just gives off a profound vibe...