Susan R. Gregson

Stress Management is a book I wish I had read in middle school/ high school. It is a great book on understanding what stress is, how it can affect a teen, and ways to combat it.

The book is divided up into six chapters. The first explains what stress is. It talks about good and bad types of stress, chronic stress, and symptoms of stress. The second chapter discusses the causes of stress, the internal and external. It goes through the different causes, such as family situations, school, show more peers, and sexuality. The third chapter explains the mind/ body connection, and how stress in one’s mind can affect them physically. This chapter has a great portion on how to reduce stress, as well as a short questionnaire to determine if one is stressed. The fourth chapter goes more in depth with the stress reducers, discussing how diet, exercise, sleep, the avoidance of alcohol and other drugs can reduce stress. It has some great suggestions about things like Yoga and deep breathing about which many teens may not be aware. The fifth chapter discusses managing stress, and offers tools on how to do so. It has great sections about learning to say no, and eating and exercising right. My favorite chapter is the sixth: Angela’s Day. It goes through a very stressful day with a teen who has a difficult and rough life full of stress. It offers advice on how Angela can reduce her stress so that she can feel better and be more productive.

The last parts of the book are resources, a glossary of terms, and an index.

The book is very simple. It has great colors and graphics, and is very inviting. Although it seems at first glance a bit like a textbook, it quickly merges into self-help. I enjoyed all of the anecdotes about students posted throughout, making these stressful situations very tangible for a student. I usually hate self-help books, but I found myself thinking, well, no wonder I am always tired, or Of course I feel that way. A good self-help book does that for any reader, not just the intended audience.

This book is written in a very clear, concise manner, which I also liked. It almost felt like a science book, but it kept just dodging that genre. It gives great suggestions for reducing stress in such a calm, straightforward manner, that even the most stressed out teen would find reassuring. Four Stars. show less

Superior children's biography that is attractively illustrated and discusses both the strengths and weaknesses of Grant as a general and president. John Y. Simon served as consultant.