Daniel B. Smith

This book grew from the author's desire to understand further and elucidate the wisdom(s) we might glean from "our darkest emotions." He writes from his privileged, white, urban perspective, and many of his anecdotes are autobiographical. Smith is himself a therapist. I was drawn in by the personal and stayed because of the science and social science troughs from which he draws. This is not a technical book; I read it in a day. Smith's selection of annoyance, shame, envy, regret, and despair show more rang true for me. I don't view boredom as dark or as an emotion, but rather a neglected state of mind; still, his chapter was helpful and amusing to me. Smith's review, synthesis, and explanation of various psychologists, theologians, theorists, and authors brought clarity to my thinking. The book gave me language to understand the narratives of the people I meet in chaplaincy and how one might reframe their experiences to draw wisdom forth. As we wrestle in times of crisis and tragedy, "...the eye...begins to *try* to see. The effort, grasping and absurd, is the thing, the vital and beautiful thing." Insightful reading for self and for understanding others in the throes of darkness. I suspect I will return to it to wrestle in my own darkness. show less

I received Hard Feelings by Daniel Smith in Library Thing's Early Reviewer program. The subject ot the book, understanding and dealing with the "negative emotions" which are part of our human condition, appeals to me very much. Any insight is helpful in this shared experience of being human. On the whole I enjoyed reading the book very much. I really enjoyed the author's voice and his honesty about his own struggles with emotion. In the first chapter, which is a bit of an introduction, he show more writes:
......"Treat every emotion as articlate, freighted with meaning and intent. Of every difficult emotion you feel ask, 'Why have you emerged? What.... do you want?' Reject nothing. ...See what you learn."
This was a very promising beginning. Unfortunately, this was the the main insight I was able to glean from the rest of the book. It was a fine meditation on experience of negative emotion and a very enjoyable memoir, but if you're hoping for more philosophical insight or ideas on how to interpret your own difficult emotions, it will be just another piece of the puzzle on your bookshelf. show less

There are some books that really resonate with you, that are exactly what you need to be reading at the moment you are turning those pages.

This is one of those books for me.

Some personal information is important here. I have an anxiety disorder, and reading is something that helps to relax me. So when I can find a book that speaks truth about what I feel, it's really special for me.

Smith is someone who has been there, and continues to be there, and on top of that, he writes really well. I show more found myself nodding as I turned pages, feeling understood and inspired. He writes about his life and experiences, but he expands on his personal stories to make them universal truths.

Smith is honest, and heartfelt, and true. He has written the kind of book I want to give to people to help them understand what it feels like to live with anxiety, and that I want to keep on my shelf to revisit whenever it is needed. show less

I received an advance reader copy of Daniel Smith’s latest book “Hard Feelings: Finding the Wisdom in Our Darkest Emotions" for LibraryThing’s Early Reviewers. This was the first book by Smith that I have read, and it has piqued my interest in his other books. He makes a convincing case that "negative” emotions are not always problems to solve but rather signals to interpret. I personally appreciate the rejection of the pressure to stay positive at all costs. Smith’s reminder that show more discomfort can carry wisdom feels deeply relevant and useful. show less