This is one of those books that is transformative. Allen is brilliant at using geology to dig deep into the human psyche and condition and challenging the reader to deep dive with her on this journey of personal growth and insight. This is one of those books I’ll return to again and again!

I just loved this book. First of all, Allen's writing is exquisite. The section that she wrote on grief is one of the most beautiful renderings of the emotional tenor of this deeply complex experience that I've ever read. I also loved Allen's exploration of therapy as a modality, and how she nudges at the edges of its usefulness in our modern context, opening us up to the possibility of a therapeutic support that is responsive to our times – and our human bodies.

The way Ruth writes often has me reading with my mouth open in awe. She has a stunning way with words and a beautiful way of expressing unique ideas. Her deeply reflective exploration of heavy topics somehow manages to feel comforting and uplifting. The parallels drawn in Weathering between rocks and humans was a whole new world to me and I thoroughly enjoyed it.I have both the hard copy and listened to the audio book, narrated by Ruth herself, and I highly recommend both versions.

Beautifully written and thoughtfully structured, Ruth Allen's wonderful book shows how we can connect with the bedrock of life through the ground we stand on in a creative and innovative telling of stories and connection with ourselves and others.

I’m not certain my words in a review can do this work justice. Weathering by Ruth Allen is a tour de force, taking in vast vistas of geological time and matter, and microcosms of the emotions and stories we experience every day. She weaves memoir, geology and psychotherapy together (I know, you just have to read it!) into a compelling narrative of our place on the world, and the way in which we undergo a weathering process, just as rocks do. It will be one of those core books I return to through my life as there is much to contemplate here and I am certain further layers of Ruth’s intelligent work will unfold as I do.