A simple but insightful and articulate book about self-esteem, happiness, relationships, and how to manage ones emotional behaviour so that none of those three things suffer. I found it particularly useful that the book begins with an overview of our emotional responses from a biological and evolutionary point of view. Dr Shorts theories about how to handle those responses in civilised society make a great deal of sense, and he gives some great suggestions about how to put those ideas into practice.

A lot of what he says is quite repetitive, but it only drives home his point that feeling crappy is okay, but in order not to feel even crappier, one has to behave in a way that is productive, kind, and dignified (even if one feels anything but). And there are some great analogies (and diagrams!), which really support his explanations. Not a book Id typically read, but I can see myself returning to it when in a sticky situation.