In 'First, We Make the Beast Beautiful,' Sarah Wilson explores the depths of anxiety and the personal journey towards embracing mental health. Through candid storytelling and insightful reflections, she reveals how to transform fear into resilience and beauty. Wilson intertwines her own experiences with historical anecdotes and practical wisdom, challenging readers to rethink their relationship with anxiety. This book is not just about coping; it's about thriving amidst chaos and finding peace in the storm. Prepare to be captivated by Wilson's unique perspective that turns vulnerability into strength.
By Sarah Wilson
Published: 2018
"The thing about anxiety is that it makes you feel powerless, yet it is in that very moment of feeling lost, you can uncover the strength to confront your fears and embrace the beauty of the chaotic journey."
The New York Times bestselling author of I Quit Sugar transforms cultural perceptions of the mental health issue of our age—anxiety—viewing this widespread condition not as a burdensome affliction but as a powerful spiritual teacher that can deepen our lives. While reading psychiatrist Kay Redfield Jamison’s groundbreaking account of bipolar disorder An Unquiet Mind, Sarah Wilson discovered an ancient Chinese proverb that would change her life: To conquer a beast, you must first make it beautiful. Wilson, a bestselling author, journalist, and entrepreneur, had spent years struggling with her own beast: chronic anxiety. And the words of this proverb would become the key to understanding her condition. First, We Make the Beast Beautiful charts Wilson’s epic journey to make peace with her lifetime companion, and to learn to see it as a guide, rather than as an enemy. With intensive focus and investigatory skills, Wilson examines the triggers and treatments, the fashions and fads. She reads widely and interviews fellow sufferers, mental health experts, philosophers, and even the Dalai Lama, processing all she learns through the prism of her own experiences. Pulling at the thread of accepted definitions of anxiety, she unravels the notion that it is a difficult, dangerous disease that must be medicated into submission, and re-frames it as a divine journey—a state of yearning that will lead us closer to what really matters. Practical and poetic, wise and funny, First, We Make the Beast Beautiful is a small book with a big heart. It will encourage the myriad souls who dance with this condition to embrace it as a part of who they are, and to explore the possibilities it offers for a richer, fuller life.
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“The thing about anxiety is that it makes you feel powerless, yet it is in that very moment of feeling lost, you can uncover the strength to confront your fears and embrace the beauty of the chaotic journey.”
First, We Make the Beast Beautiful
By Sarah Wilson
Discover a world of knowledge through our extensive collection of book summaries.
Sarah Wilson is an accomplished author known for her engaging and thought-provoking writing style that seamlessly blends personal narrative with social commentary. She is the author of several notable works, including 'First, We Make the Beast Beautiful' and 'This One Wild and Precious Life', which explore themes of mental health, mindfulness, and the interconnectedness of life. Wilson's writing is characterized by its honesty, vulnerability, and a deep empathy towards the human experience, making her a resonant voice in contemporary literature.
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