Matt Haig is well recognized for his bestseller The Midnight Library (2020) which includes the serious topic of contemplating suicide. He’s written other books that touch on this very subject, as he has experienced the negative thoughts of self-destruction himself. The Comfort Book asserts to provide an authentic perspective that is motivating and genuine for those in similar positions, but how real are these words of solace for those with dark intentions?

The number of those in the U.S. suffering from depression is alarming. The amount of Americans that think about suicide and act on it isn’t much better. A reflection is a powerful tool during difficult times. The Comfort Book is essentially Haig’s written meditation. It ranges from his serious/comical thoughts, music/movie favorites, and authors/philosophers that helped him get through that tough time.

Your first thought might be “who wants to read a book about someone’s entertainment preferences?” I don’t find the list itself to be powerful in any way (although I certainly did expand my reading list afterward) but it’s more than what’s on the list that makes it worthy of a first, second, or third read.

It encourages the audience to create their own list of things that get them through difficult times. Think about how good a song or movie makes you feel when you’re in high spirits. Why not start to keep a list handy for those down moments? Many people keep a journal to write out the negativity but don’t focus on the positive. Take time to do so!

It’s easy to hide behind a mask at work, around friends and family, or even at the grocery store. When we’re stuck with our thoughts 100% of the time, it makes sense that frustrations stay bottled in for long periods and spill out to those closest to us at any given moment.

I’ve never met a person that hasn’t claimed to be misunderstood. If we understand ourselves so well then keeping a journal of what makes us happy would be beneficial. Others can offer comfort, but ultimately we know best what inspires us to keep the fire within us tamed.

One of the concepts that Haig touches on is this obsession we have with happiness. Chasing it is part of what causes that depression. Especially during the height of social media and creating online personas.

The ideas that are suggested by Haig aren’t new and are often repetitive. I didn’t take issue with this like other reviews that I’ve read have. Reminders are important.

I really enjoyed his thoughts on creating our own narratives. We create stories in our minds about what the perfect life is based on media and what others choose to share with us. It’s okay to “give yourself some love.” Too many people feel guilty about self-care.

Going back to feeling misunderstood, many people isolate from others because of this. Think about how many missed opportunities there are because of assuming that no one gets us but refusing to share exactly how someone should understand us. If we continue to have that thought process then we will never meet new people. Guilty.

More time should go into trying to understand each other (outside of just friends and romantic relationships) instead of holding ourselves hostage until depression takes over.

There aren’t many exercises that are included, but the ones that are, I found relevant. My favorite was “experience one beautiful thing a day.” It doesn’t have to be anything significant or that costs money, but the little things also count.

For example, find somewhere new to watch the sunset, try a different dessert, play a song, or invite a friend to a virtual movie watch party.

This was one of my favorite exercises in the book. We get so caught up in routines. We sleep on the same side of the bed every night (if with a partner), we take the same route to frequent locations, & we follow the same morning and nightly routines.

What little things can change? It’s always baffling to me when I’m meeting someone at a new location and realize how much of the city I’ve never seen.

Get out and explore! You can even do this at home.

There are usually parts of every household that goes unused. Try spending more time in that room, or pulling out objects that you have stored away. The day-to-day is what contributes to that anxiety. If applicable, get someone to try these things with you but there is absolutely nothing wrong with feeling comfortable being alone.

Overall, I gave it 4/5 bookmarks due to the redundancy of some parts. I recommend it to anyone. It can be useful to read for those not struggling with symptoms. This book also gives a lot of insight into the background behind The Midnight Library.

“No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it’s not the same river and he’s not the same man.” Think about that as you reflect on what gives you daily hope.