A GIFT OF HOPE: How We Survive Our Tragedies

Pop psychology interspersed with tales of those who survived tragedies (and what they did right) and those who didn't (and what they did wrong). Veninga, a professor at the University of Minnesota's School of Public Health, says nothing that hasn't been said before and does it at considerable length. He's great on lists, the first being the five reactions to ""heartbreak"": the bombshell (numbness), sudden activity, hitting rock-bottom (depression, anger, guilt, fear), reawakening and, finally, acceptance. Then comes the various things that helped people survive tragedy. Again nothing new: a friend helped them out, they had a reason to live, and so on. His strategies for preserving health after a traumatic experience include breathing and relaxation techniques, visualizing ""positive images"" (imagining pleasant experiences), physical exercise, proper diet, adequate sleep. Need one say more? Chicken soup for the troubled.