7 Books to Get You Through Unemployment

Fleury draws on her own experience of being unexpectedly laid off to create this guide on how to turn the shock of unemployment into a plan to work on changing your life. Initially, I was skeptical (disaster rarely actually feels like opportunity), but Fleury’s optimistic, no-nonsense style helps you see the best in the worst situation.

This book is a teeny-tiny perfect stocking filler, and a great inspiration boost for anyone who’s been working on a project or striving towards a dream for a long time, and needs a little reminder on why to keep going. Written by award-winning author Jason Reynolds, For Every One is a letter in book form that will give hope to anyone who needs it.

There are lots of guides to looking for work, revamping your resume, or starting your own business, but what about the day-to-day of keeping going when you’re unemployed? In this book, Jonathan Wade gives hints and tips on how to keep yourself in a routine and live a happy life while you’re working towards finding your next job.

While not specifically aimed at people dealing with unemployment, Vanderkam’s time-management guide 168 Hours is a great resource for finding ways to keep structure in your day. When I was newly unemployed, I found that time either completely dragged, or sped by – and either way, I didn’t feel like I was achieving anything. Breaking the day down, sorting out my priorities, and making sure I knew what I was working on helped – and Vanderkam’s book shows you how to do this so easily that it soon becomes a habit.

The working world has never been overly accessible to marginalised people, particularly those with multiple marginalisations, and the current economic situation has made things that much harder. This collection of essays and short pieces by 31 working-class artists, including Riz Ahmed, Maxine Peake, and Bridget Minamore, is a fascinating and inspirational read for anyone who’s been knocked back by 2020.

Despite there being some uplifting news towards the end of this year, there’s still a lot left to fix. Corbett’s book on craftivism gives readers tips and ideas on how to carry out ‘gentle, effective protest’ and do small things that build up to great good. If unemployment has you feeling helpless and frustrated, working on a craftivist project could be a useful form of self-care, as well as helping create a better world.

This frank, funny memoir on unemployment and other parts of life isn’t just a reassuring and often hilarious read – Mase also gives the reader guidance on ways to deal with difficult experiences and move forwards. Poetry lovers will particularly enjoy the poems that Mase sprinkles throughout this unmissable book, along with a generous helping of bad jokes that will have you smiling no matter how trying things seem.