Reid Wilson, PhD, author of titles including Don’t Panic! and Playing With Anxiety, has written a book with a title that will resonate with many people.

Frequently, we are told to turn to happy thoughts (“go to your happy place”) when the mental machinations seem overwhelming. Dr. Wilson’s approach is different: he encourages us to move TOWARD discomfort, distress and anxiety. This seemingly paradoxical approach may cause some readers to reject it out of hand, as it can be frightening to consider moving toward whatever is causing our anxiety. But his arguments make a lot os sense, and his work is packed with scientific evidence, entertaining examples, and common sense exercises that seem likely to help many.

Thank you to HCI Books and NetGalley for providing a copy in exchange for my honest review. Five stars. This one is a keeper!