A guide to psychological adulthood

We all know our physical age, but what is our emotional age?

Most of us long to be more emotionally mature and better able to face life’s challenges with poise, confidence, kindness and good-natured intelligence. We want to be proper grown-ups. But to become so means, first and foremost, that we have to understand the many curious ways in which we might not currently be as mature as we would have hoped.

This is a questionnaire that, with gentleness and insight, helps us zero in on the key markers of psychological adulthood. We’re prompted to look at how we typically respond to rejection, frustration, anxiety, ambiguity and hope. The book considers the influence of childhood, the role of self-love and the perils of perfectionism, as well as the best ways to achieve self-belief and overcome impostor syndrome. In a series of accompanying essays, we are given material to reflect on and shown how to reach the emotional age we aspire to be.

With candour, wisdom and rigour, the book delivers a realistic roadmap for how to achieve our full potential and grow into self-aware, unfrightened, joyful adults.