I found "A Therapeutic Library" to be an interesting, informative, and easy-to-read book. It contains short (about two pages each) descriptions of a large number of historical books that have shaped philosophy, religion, and psychology throughout the past several hundred-plus years. "A Therapeutic Library" can be read in a linear fashion from front to back or simply picked up or just opened anywhere in the book and browsing through it until finding a description of a book of interest.

Some of the books discussed include well-known writings, such as the Bible, the Quron, Plato's "The Republic," Machiavelli's "The Prince," and Dale Carnegie's "How to Win Friends and Influence People." However, it also covered lesser-known (to me, anyway) writings that I am glad to now know about.

Each book discussion ends with a suggestion of how the the general premise of the book discussed may relate to our lives today.

While I did not fully agree with every suggested application, I appreciated the initial discussion of how to read well, thoughtfully, and therapeutically and the repeated acknowledgment that it is for us, the readers, to think on the material presented and ultimately form our own opinions as to how the books discussed may apply to our lives today.

Many of us don’t read books older than a few years, therefore forgetting older books can also still be great resources for all kinds of curious minds. This book is a great resource to read more books from various periods of time for an array topics like psychology, poetry, religion, etc. Many of the books recommended are often only heard/read during college courses (if mentioned at all), but this could help any book lover broaden their options than what’s usually sold or recommended today.

The introduction sets out the principle behind this list of books, that deep reading is better than plentiful reading. Each suggested book for your reading list has a beautifully designed page and illustration. Having read the eBook, I imagine it would make a beautiful coffee table book. It's an eclectic mix - The Tiger Who Came to Tea and Jilly Cooper's Riders alongside Montaigne and The Upanishads, with an emphasis on classical and older books from all around the world. There's not a great deal to help you along in your reading, just a little context and suggestions as to how it may strengthen you in troublesome areas of your own life, in trademark School of Life style.

Years ago I had read a similar book that basically talked about bibliotherapy, but from another point of view. Rather than actually believing in this therapy, because as a psychotherapist I would like to think of it as complementary and not main, I admit that I have a soft spot for books that talk about books, especially if I don't know them well, so as to enrich my already endless TBR.

Anni fa avevo letto un libro simile che parlava fondamentalmente di biblioterapia, ma da un altro punto di vista. Piú che credere concretamente in questa terapia, perché come psicoterapeuta mi piacerebbe pensarla come complementare e non principale, ammetto di avere un debole per i libri che parlano di libri, specialmente se non li conosco bene, in modo da arricchire la mia giá infinita TBR.

I received a complimentary DRC from the Publisher in exchange of a honest review.

It was very interesting to see the different books that promote therapeutic insight and enlightenment and I was positively surprised by some included.