Friendly Reminders

June 19, 2023
Mental health advocate Tatum sets out a road map to self-forgiveness, discipline, and positivity in his upbeat debut. Physically and emotionally abused as a kid, the author relied on childhood “survival skills” (”not showing my true emotions, always trying to please others”) that rendered him ill-equipped to form relationships or meet goals in adulthood. By spending time in nature, his own “form of therapy,” he began to confront his trauma and became a “self-care savage”: someone unafraid to “take bold and assertive action” to prioritize their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Tatum dispenses lessons to readers wishing to undergo similar transformations, emphasizing personal initiative (“You and only you can do the work to heal”), the need for honesty with oneself (“Only when you get tired of your own shit will you be able to make positive changes”), and the benefits of mindfulness (through hiking, walking, or other physical acitvity that engages with nature). While Tatum sometimes goes heavy on platitudes (“Worrying does not take away tomorrow’s trouble, it takes away today’s peace”), his path from trauma to healing is inspiring and readers will find his advice approachable and easy to pick and choose from. Those seeking motivation will find it here.

October 1, 2023

Tatum, the host of the podcast Self-Care Savage, posts regularly on Instagram (@ucanoutdoors); the book is basically an extension of his IG posts--giving a little background about his life and how walking in nature and putting self-care first helped him get out of a deep depression. Each chapter has friendly reminders ("It's okay to not be okay. It's just not okay to stay that way") followed by general self-help guidance (setting goals; letting go of trauma). Nicely illustrated, and often blunt, this is not a self-help book that comes with statistics or summaries of studies; rather, it kindly yet firmly repeats the mantras that most self-help books boil down to: taking responsibility for one's life, forgiveness, taking care of physical health, letting go of bad habits, and more. As with nearly all self-help books, it does not address how inequalities in society impact emotional well-being. This title, while differing in style from Matt Haig's The Comfort Book, provides the same snippets of small truths for looking at things in a new way. VERDICT Fans of Tatum's podcast and Instagram will enjoy the book, but it also could be a good introduction to self-help for readers who are on the fence about the genre.--Julie Feighery

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