THE ONE AND ONLY YOU!

A guide offers readers a collection of helpful hints on how to evolve into the best versions of themselves.

The key to “the treasure hunt of the self,” according to Sievers, is to stay curious and remain mentally flexible so that the discoveries of the future aren’t obscured by the insecurities of the present. Some people seem to know from a very early age who they are and what they want; the author aims her book at the rest of humanity, the people who may not be sure. The manual includes worksheets with prompts like “When I learn, I am challenged by ___.” There are spaces for younger readers to list their favorite things—even a blank page for them to attempt self-portraits. The volume is well designed for maximum interactions, with plenty of exercises and prompts for discussion. Sievers stresses that one of the best ways to gain perspective on one’s sense of self is to be interested in others, to find out how their worlds differ. Readers are cautioned to watch out for negative feelings (the author calls them “ANTs,” for Automatic Negative Thoughts, and many of Cline’s illustrations depict them that way). But readers should also acknowledge these feelings, and Sievers reassures her audience that “balanced, realistic thinking can stop…ANTs in their tracks.” The author uses this and other directly worded affirmations (aided by the volume’s varied pictures) to reinforce her overarching message of positivity, encouraging her readers that they have the potential to do something amazing with their lives by figuring out how to be the best versions of themselves. Along the way, she gives clearly worded explanations of different aspects of the brain’s neurochemistry and touches on such psychological problems as depression and anxiety, which she refers to as two sides of the same coin (sharing an overestimation of risks and an underestimation of the ability to cope with them). Even older readers will find many of these tips useful, and younger ones will find the counsel invaluable.

A helpful, well-illustrated plan for dealing with setbacks and blossoming into a better person.