Book Review: Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before

The self-help genre has many books promising to hold the secret to making you happy, thin, sleep better – you name it…

Table of Contents show

However, Dr Julie Smith, the author of “Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before”, is refreshingly honest that just reading the book isn’t going to fix your life magically. But what it will do is give you the tools to cope with the natural ebbs and flows of life and the challenges it brings.

Who is Dr Julie Smith?

First and foremost, Dr Julie Smith is a Clinical Psychologist with a private practice. But, in recent years, she has taken to online to get the therapy message out to a much wider audience. Dr Julie Smith was a lifeline to many on social media during the pandemic when she started loading short videos on YouTube. Now she is an online educator, vlogger, and author.

So, why has a successful psychologist taken to social media/writing a book?

Firstly, Dr Julie Smith wanted to help as many people as possible to thrive in life, not just survive. She recognised that not everyone could afford therapy or be ready to start counselling. Plus, whilst there was a lot of information available to people, particularly online – folk struggled to know what was fact, trustworthy and good information.

In addition, Dr Julie Smith witnessed many aha moments from her clients as the penny dropped on a particular problem they might be working through. The phrase “Why has nobody told me this before” was uttered many times – hence why it became the book title.

The book…

You will read the book from cover to cover in an ideal world. But, after that – it is expected that you can dip in and out as things crop up in your life. Any time you find yourself needing a little bit of extra support. If you have had therapy yourself, you may recognise some of the coping techniques described.

Many of us do not necessarily practise these techniques regularly. Dr Julie Smith feels that, like a muscle, it is essential that we work at things and get strong – so that we are ready for what life throws at us, rather than only activating techniques when we are already in trouble. It can be hard to summon the energy when you are already stressed.

Book Summary

This book is a lifeline for anyone suffering from anxiety, low mood, self-confidence issues, struggling with criticism, lacking motivation, and having forgiveness problems.

It offers practical solutions – that might change your life! Why not buy it for yourself or anyone you know who is grappling with everyday issues.

Book cover: Courtesy of Penguin Books