Sarah Wilson (5) (1974–)

I'm not sure what I expected when I randomly searched "anxiety" in Libby and checked out the first book that was available that looked interesting. I'd been feeling more and more anxious and wanted to read about anxiety.

This turned out to be a great read for me. I wasn't looking for medical advice or self-help. I was looking for a philosophical/personal exploration of anxiety -- and that's just what Sarah Wilson provides. This book is really more of a memoir, not science or medical advice.

The main takeaway of this book for me was to frame anxiety as existential. In other words, at the bottom of all my small worries are big worries -- meaning of life kinda stuff. It helps to think of my anxiety as a symptom of caring. In that sense, I don't have to resist it, I can sit in it. Like one of those finger traps you can only get out of when you stop trying to get out of it.

I also liked how Wilson calls not-anxious people "life naturals." Does being alive come naturally to you? Then you might be a Life Natural.

Wilson made me want to read Montaigne, so now I have [b:How to Live: A Life of Montaigne in One Question and Twenty Attempts at An Answer|7624457|How to Live A Life of Montaigne in One Question and Twenty Attempts at An Answer|Sarah Bakewell|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1320521919l/7624457._SX50_.jpg|10108715] checked out.… (mere)