first, we make the beast beautiful

In first, we make the beast beautiful, Sarah Wilson takes readers on an intimate, poetic journey through her personal experiences with anxiety. As a bestselling author and entrepreneur who has impacted over 1.2 million people globally with her work on quitting sugar, Sarah brings her relentless curiosity and keen investigative skills to one of her lifelong companions—anxiety. This book is not just a memoir but a comprehensive exploration of the roots, triggers, and treatments of anxiety, diving deep into both scientific research and spiritual ideologies.

Rather than viewing anxiety as a frightening, debilitating affliction, Sarah reimagines it as a powerful force that can lead to profound personal growth. This book is a tapestry woven with threads of her own life, insightful interviews with fellow sufferers, mental health experts, philosophers, and even the Dalai Lama. Through these diverse perspectives, she dismantles the conventional views of anxiety, offering a refreshing and empowering outlook.

Professor Patrick McGorry AO MD PhD FRCP FRANZCP FAA FASSA, the 2010 Australian of the Year, describes the book as "...at once a nomadic journey, a cri de coeur and a compendium of hard-won wisdom ..." This reflects the book’s unique blend of practical advice and deep philosophical insights. Sarah challenges the notion that anxiety must be medicated into submission, presenting it instead as a spiritual quest that helps us discern what truly matters in life.

Through her lyrical prose, Sarah conveys a sense of both vulnerability and triumph, making first, we make the beast beautiful a beacon of hope and a manifesto for appreciating the full spectrum of human emotions. This book will inspire the millions of people worldwide suffering from anxiety to not just manage their conditions but to see the beauty and potential for growth that lies within it.

Practical and poetic, wise and funny, this is a small book with a big heart. It will encourage the myriad sufferers of the world's most common mental illness to feel not just better about their condition, but delighted by the possibilities it offers for a richer, fuller life.