Between the stresses of the pandemic, everyday anxieties and an unrelenting news cycle, life itself can get a bit overwhelming. The solution? Hit the reset button. Below are nine books to inspire, delight, teach, and open the door to new perspectives.

The Best Things to Scream Into by Orson Spooring

Literally that. Fifty inspired ideas, including The Grand Canyon (“nature’s most beautiful place to scream”), The Hole in a Freshly Toasted Bagel (“that is what the hole is for”) and A Glass Jar So You Can Save Your Screams for Later (“scream storage is important”).

Unwinding Anxiety by Dr. Judson Brewer

Brewer is a renowned neuroscientist and the director of research and innovation at Brown University’s Mindfulness Centre. In this book, he teaches us how we can map our brains to discover our anxiety triggers, how to simply diffuse them (it involves being curious), and how to train our brains using the mindfulness practices that his lab has proven are effective. Brewer has also developed a nifty app, also called Unwinding Anxiety, that helps you break the cycle of worry.

Finding the Mother Tree by Suzanne Simard

Suzanne Simard, a UBC professor and expert in plant communication and intelligence, brings readers into the intimate world of trees. She describes how trees are not simply a source of wood but have complicated relationships with each other and the circle of life. This read will change your view on plants and help you understand where we fit into the greater scheme of things.

The Comfort Book by Matt Haig

From the author of The Midnight Library, The Comfort Book is a collection of notes, lists and stories Haig wrote to himself over the span of several years that served as gentle reminders to his future self that things aren't as dire as they may seem in the moment.

Welcome Home by Najwa Zebian

In Welcome Home, poet Najwa Zebian weaves together memoir and poetry to tell her powerful life story—from leaving Lebanon as a young teen, to growing up as a Muslim woman in Canada, to learning how to speak her truth.

What Happened to You? by Bruce D. Perry and Oprah Winfrey

Co-written by TV icon Oprah Winfrey and renowned brain and trauma expert Dr. Bruce Perry, this book asks "what happened to you," not "what's wrong with you." Throughout the book, Winfrey and Perry are in conversation with one another about understanding people, behaviour, and ourselves as Winfrey shares her past experiences.

When the Body Says No by Gabor Maté

Written by author and medical doctor Gabor Maté, When the Body Says No is filled with the stories of real people and shows how stress plays a role in the onset of chronic illnesses such as breast cancer and Alzheimer's and inspires readers to be the biggest advocates for their health.

The Sweetness of Doing Nothing by Sophie Minchilli

This delightful book encourages readers to embrace the Italian philosophy of Dolce Far Niente, or pleasant idleness. The Sweetness of Doing Nothing teaches a lesson we could all use right now: how to slow down, focus on being in the moment, and do nothing.

An Ordinary Age by Rainesford Stauffer

An Ordinary Age is all about the pressures young adults put on themselves to live their best lives and obsessed with showing off online. This book is sure to inspire readers to think deeply about what actually fulfills us: great relationships, community and things that can't easily be flexed on Insta.