Many of us will be experiencing an annual slump from the shorter days, the change in the clock, the weather, and we struggle to know how to cope, feeling that we're underperforming or wanting to retreat from our usual activities and behaviour.

The author argues that we should be responding to seasonal changes. She has visited locations where the communities have done so, through necessity or by choice. And she has found that if we embrace the cold, the dark, the short days, we might be happier and healthier. 

Think of all the things that are good about winter - wrapping up warmly in lots of layers and going for a walk in the snow or sitting by a roaring fire with a hot chocolate and a good book. And instead of complaining about the weather, we should accept and appreciate that it's different and alter the language we choose to describe it.  

With each chapter she describes research into social behaviour, gives real life examples, shares her own experiences, and then gives practical tips on how we might respond personally to aid our own rest and recovery in the winter months. It's a fascinating read and the practical tips are really interesting!