'Stressproof', 'Burnout Survival Kit': Five books to help you stay sane at work

Most of us are struggling to keep it together. But are self-help books the answer?

Sometimes they peddle only snake-oil or watered-down versions of cultish mantras. We had Think Positive, Lean In, Win Friends, Lose Enemies, Vision Board It, Don't Sweat the Small Stuff.

Then there were the #selfcare sweary books to counteract the stodginess of older titles and gain a younger audience — for example, the uber bestseller The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson.

But the world has changed and we need to start giving f*cks. We can't be selfish any longer. In that spirit, here are a few books we have to read now.

We need, as one of the more truthful things the dubious Dr Phil says, "a safe place to fall" — and one of those places has to be where we work. Job security is precarious, and so we need our employers to step in and step up.

In Stressproof, Richard Sutton discusses the responsibilities that businesses have to workers and the community: "Business success is ultimately in the hands of its people, their capabilities, their potential and the time they are willing to invest. Leaders need to fully appreciate and realise this shared destiny and the immense responsibility that comes with it.

"By shielding those people from chronic stress and strengthening support networks, leaders are able to reduce the prevalence of mental and physical health compromise brought on by fears, distrust, insecurities and conflicts, and also create an environment where productivity increases, innovation grows and creativity blossoms." (cc management please!)

In a similar vein, Pamela Fuller tackles how employees are perceived in the workplace in The Leader's Guide to Unconscious Bias: How to reframe bias, cultivate connection, and create high-performing teams. She writes about how managers have to overcome unconscious biases, such as having a preference for private school applicants over those from government schools, or assuming a man is more entitled to speak in a meeting than his female junior colleague.

She explains that bias is a natural part of the human condition, but a workplace can only achieve its highest performance once managers recognise people as whole beings, emphasise empathy and curiosity, and make true understanding a priority.

Carice Anderson's Intelligence Isn't Enough: A black professional's guide to thriving in the workplace promises to empower young black graduates entering the workforce. Anderson shares her wisdom and insider knowledge on the harsh realities of business and gives clear advice on how people can develop the skills and the EQ they need to survive in the workplace.

We also need gentle, healing advice and the best book for this is The Gift by Dr Edith Eger. The celebrated psychologist and Auschwitz survivor provides a hands-on guide that encourages the reader to view suffering, sadness, loss and grieving in a way that's healing instead of imprisoning.

But it's Burnout Survival Kit by Imogen Dall that could be the one that helps the most. The book gives practical advice for when things are already bad — when Covid fatigue has hit, you can't think, you can't do the simplest task and your sense of humour has failed.

Dall doesn't promise any magic tips on how to unleash your inner superhero. Instead, she provides hacks on how to ground yourself, laugh again and manage work stress and anxiety.