This is a guide to take you through life’s rough patches, an examination of failure and what and how we can learn from it, to move on and survive with no regrets, becoming more resilient as a consequence. It is based on the authors podcast where she asked her guests to come up with three failures to discuss. She examines what failure means and then gives her ‘Seven Failure Principals’.

In the Instagram age of perfection equalling success, target setting and greater and greater demands for productivity or improving exam results and so on, this book is an invaluable source of relooking at the inevitability of some failure we are all likely to face in life. Imperfection and some failure means you are human not a robot. Elizabeth Day’s main message is to let go of the fear of failure, to reflect and build on it and emerge stronger for it and better able to deal with the things life throws at us. There is much to think about here especially with regard to changing your mind set and looking at problems in a more positive way. To admit failure actually makes you stronger not the reverse and it is courageous to show some vulnerability from time to time. There are some very moving accounts from people who have been on podcasts and one story of survival moved me to tears and is truly inspirational. The author is very honest about her own personal failures which were emotionally challenging and I guess she is living proof that ‘Failosophy’ works.

Overall, I find this to be a very insightful, inspiring and thought provoking read. It’s very well written as you would expect from a writer of the calibre of Elizabeth Day. It’s easy to read, with occasional humour and I found it best read in small chunks so I could absorb her thoughts. It’s very helpful at putting things into perspective, there’s good advice and a lot of common sense too, to just be your best self. This would be especially helpful and reassuring to anyone struggling with any issues.

With thanks to NetGalley and 4th Estate for the ARC for an honest review.

Both readable and helpful, Elizabeth Day's book is like a reassuring hug. Shorter than I expected but it made me want to check out the podcast on which it is based and that has proved to be a great listen.

Elizabeth Day keeps her promises! This book sets out to distill what Day has learnt from the many conversations she has sparked about failure through her podcast 'How to Fail'. Day captures the thoughtful and gently optimistic tone of her podcast without it ever feeling that she is simply repeating ground she has already trodden with her guests. Where Day's earlier non-fiction book, also titled 'How to Fail', examines her personal relationship with failure, this book provides an astute analysis of seven lessons we could all do with learning about the topic. That said, Day doesn't take the vulnerability shown by her guests for granted. Alongside discussion of the experiences of her podcast guests, the book also contains a selection of honest ruminations about some of her own most recent confrontations with failure. Here she explains how the new insights she has gained about the subject have helped her to manage challenging events and rise from them stronger, and more peaceful, than ever before.

This is a short self help book that will make you think differently to how you react when you at fail at something.

It is full of insightful solutions and good advice and be picked up re-read many times.

I'm such a keen bean that I read Failosophy on the day I got approved from NetGalley. This definitely isn't something I normally do, but I was in between books and fancied something quick! It's only 112 pages apparently, and is familiar territory for anyone who's read or listened to How to Fail. I love Elizabeth Day's writing and genuine insights and I think she's a fantastic interviewer. At the start, this book felt a little flimsy and tenuous and I wasn't entirely convinced about the need for it. But I liked it more as I went into it - Elizabeth Day explores her seven philosophies of failure, recounts what she understands failure to be, and gave me so many ideas for my writing that I spent half the time scribbling down notes. There's nothing especially new in here, to be honest, but if you're a fan then I still think you'll enjoy this. It's a book about how to gain perspective on failure, how to be ok with things not going well, and learning from your mistakes in a positive way. My favourite chapter was about how 'there's no such thing as a future you', which I think contained some really good advice that definitely worked for me. 4 🌟

I can't say that this short book was particularly memorable. The main point seemed to be that there is no such thing as failure as we can always learn something from the situation. It's a bit like there being no problems, just opportunities.

This was what I thought How to Fail was going to be, a more "practical" guide. It was marketed as more anecdote based (the list of contributors is highlighted, for example) and it isn't. I found it less irritating than How to Fail in that Day's lack of self-awareness of her own privilege wasn't so centred and there was less of a desperate focus on men and the nuclear family (clearly matters very important to Day herself, but unhelpful to large chunks of her audience and dated for 2020).

It was pretty boring though. It's actually well named, Day does spend a long time discussing the philosophy of failure. She does interview men, and I do wish this book wasn't so blatantly aimed at women as there's interesting parallels. But it seems that men can write unisex self-help books but women can't? She talks endlessly of the podcast, and yet it is unclear if this is because the book is aimed solely as merchandise for podcast fans (I'm not) or if she is trying to advertise it, in which case she is unsuccessful.

I enjoy Day's writing style, and despite finding it very irritating, I devoured How to Fail and Paradise City, finding them engaging and easy to read. This book is not truly dreadful, but it lacks any humour or the flow of her previous books.

What can I say, it was short.

It isn't that long since I read Elizabeth Day's previous books so I wasn't sure I would appreciate this enough but I love it. Some incredible thought provoking ideas. I love the idea of calling my self-doubt and critical self Becky. I now have an Eric, the name for my insomnia and a Becky, the name for my self-doubt. This was fabulous and is going to be a wonderful book to buy as a gift too.

I really enjoyed this book, It was a nice quick read. Such a brilliant approach to failure and how we can overcome the fear of it.

I have heard of Elizabeth Day's podcast but never got round to listening to it. Although she does reference it in the book quite a few times I don't feel that you need to have listened to it to be able to appreciate this book .

I loved the real life examples of failures and how it is possible to overcome them. The 7 failure principles are ones that can be applies to so many different situations.

I would definitely recommend this book and the podcast in now on my "to listen" list!

For fans of Elizabeth Day and her podcast How to Fail, this will be a familiar read. Following on from her book of the same name, this quick read expands on what the author has learned from the guests on her podcast and her own experiences or 'failures', turning these experiences into learning opportunities.

Whatever circumstances you find yourself in, Elizabeth's 7 principles of failure will help you work through it and see things from a new perspective. I’d highly recommend it for anyone looking for a new viewpoint on what most people would class as a failure, and it’s definitely one I’ll be keeping to refer back to when I need it.

Thank you to NetGalley & 4th Estate for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Elizabeth Day’s new book is a kind of extension of her previous memoir (How to Fail) and her podcast and I found it a very quick read. It’s in an extended essay format, with an introduction, a series of points, and then a conclusion, which was easily to follow but a little predictable. It does raise and address something I have often thought about her podcast; that the early male guests seemed to have no real belief that they’ve experienced failure, which made those episodes really not very enjoyable for me. The book also ends by revisiting some of the failures that guests submitted to Day, making it a must-read for real fans of the podcast. I wouldn’t bother if you’re not a listener.

I absolutely love the podcast ‘How to Fail with Elizabeth Day’ and the accompanying book so fully expected to love Failosophy. I was not disappointed. It sets out the ‘Seven Principles of Failure’ which have been devised by Day from her own experiences and those of her podcast guests in order to help us all accept failure and learn and grown from it. It is immensely readable, pragmatic and thought provoking. I devoured this book in a few hours as it is a short and punchy read brimming with advice and helpful thought processes that I will continue to dip in and out of in future. Highly recommend!

Failosophy follows on from Elizabeth Day’s fantastic book How to fail which is based on her popular podcast of the same name. She interviews famous people about their top three failures and what they have learned from them. Failosophy outlines 7 key principles of failure and what we can all gain from considering them, and potentially reprogramming our thoughts surrounding failure.

Within the book Elizabeth Day also includes quotes on the topic of failure, my favourite being Truman Capote ‘failure is the condiment that gives success its flavour’. The book is uplifting, educational and through provoking as well as incredibly sad and funny in equal parts. A great read.

I am a huge long term fan of the fantastic Elizabeth Day and have loved all of her previous work and successful podcast. This book carried on the premise of the podcast and was just fantastic. It perfectly summed up all the lessons I have been learning and thanks to this book I will be able to carry them forwards into my life. Absolutely recommend to anyone, 10/10.

A quick read (I read it in 2 hours) but also one to return to, Elizabeth Day’s Failosophy: A Handbook For When Things Go Wrong is thought-provoking and refreshingly human. In Failosophy, Day curates some of the stand-out insights and stories from her hugely successful podcast - How to Fail with Elizabeth Day - in order to come up with 7 “failure principles...intended as helpful guides through life’s rough patches.” While a lot of the book felt familiar having listened to many of Day’s podcast episodes, reading the excerpted stories were like reminiscing over a cup of tea with a friend; you remember the story but hearing it again makes the memory more profound. Those not familiar with Day’s podcast are in for a real treat. This is filled with so many take aways - both Day’s and her interviewees; you’ll be reaching for your highlighter. Day’s approach to failure is insightful, inspiring and essential.

A brilliant guide on how to. Ope with failure. Shared on the author’s podcast and now here.This is a book to pick you up lift you up and put failure behind you.Inenjoyed and learned from reading this book.#netgalley#4thestate

I’m a huge Elizabeth Day fan and was so happy to see that she’s got a new book out. Even more happy to get an early copy via netgalley 🤗 Reading it was like one long episode of How To Fail but with all the best guests and the best advice and takeaways!

Elizabeth Day shares the seven failure principles in her latest book, recurring themes, advice and insight that have cropped up through the seasons of the podcast. I read this in one go, and finished feeling less alone in the struggles of thoughts and failures I’ve not dealt with or that I’m faced with just now. Also prepared with a few strategies of changing my mindset which I’ll be giving a go 👊

For anyone facing something tough just now, give this book a go and I think it help get into a better headspace and that every human has those feelings/thoughts and failures. It’s out soon, 1 October and my inbox is always open as a chat can do wonders too.

And I LOVED the chapter combining the three failures that each guest sends in, such an insight into the show and a behind the scenes look at the episodes I love.

I really love the How To Fail podcast and this is an inspirational book on the same theme. It will provide useful words of encouragement to many people.

Do you sometimes refrain from doing something for fear of failure? Are some of the most embarrassing moments in your life still haunting you? If so, you may feel better after reading Failosophy by Elizabeth Day. This short and no-fuss self-help book contains some useful tips and anecdotes to help you accept your shortcomings – and even see them as opportunities to improve.

In Failosophy, Day, a journalist in the UK, shares her personal experience of failure (mostly in relation to her private life) as well as the main takeaways from the interviews she carried out with various individuals in the context of her podcast series How to fail. Her approach is down-to-earth and anecdotal, with no scientific pretence. But her “7 principles of failosophy” provide some useful tips on how to deal with failure in all areas of life.

Among the advice that struck a chord with me:
1. Remember that failures have made you who you are, but they do not define you.
2. Try to be proud of how you managed to survive your failures.
3. The antidote to shame is to share your bad experiences with others who had equally embarrassing stories (“When you destigmatise failure, it loses its power to harm you”).
4. See failure as “data acquisition”. Scientists work by trial and error. See every failure (for example every break-up) as a way to eliminate an option that doesn’t work for you and to get closer to the one that will.
5. Do not expect too much of yourself. Make sure that what you aim at is what you really want, and not what society, family or friends expect of you.
6. There is no such thing as a “future you”. Try to focus on who you are now, and what makes you happy now. Thoughts about the future should be realistically grounded in the present.
7. To better handle crises, get rid of fear… and of your ego!

That said, the value of the book primarily resides in the personal stories which illustrate these principles. Although I found the “catalogue of failures” in annex a bit messy, the main chapters of the book were a pleasant and invigorating read.

Failosophy is Elizabeth Day’s brilliant guide to coping with failure. While interviewing guests for her podcast ‘How To Fail’, she came up with the 7 principles of failure - statements that are both comforting and painfully honest. I’ve attended a few of her live talks where she discusses these principles, and every time I felt like a big sister had passed on her wisdom to me. Having them written now means I’ll get to revisit them whenever I feel the need to - because failure is universal. I’d recommend this book to people who like to reflect on their lives and to people who’ve had a hard time recently and need some perspective. She concludes by saying: “life is neither wholly good nor wholly bad, but a miraculous collage of myriad different experiences which we can strive to meet equally with grace” (117).