Professional Reviews

Teenagers often say ” nobody understands me ” . They may change their minds if they read this book. More importantly parents and adults in general will look at teenagers in a completely different light when they read it. 

Many parents want their children to grow up and be like a reflection of themselves or of some unfulfilled ambitious version of themselves.  They often don’t give them the space to grow and become their true selves. 

Teenagers don’t like being lectured to. They often rebel against this. In this book they’ll find a friend who encourages rather than lectures them. 

Tony Griffin has set out to build up young people to be happy and confident with who they are. He speaks to them in a language they can understand and identify with. They can no longer say ” nobody understands me ” The author of this book certainly does.

Jack O Connor – Multiple All-Ireland Winning Gaelic Football coach and retired Teacher

I know it’s called The Teenagers Book of Life, but after reading, I can’t imagine anyone in the world that wouldn’t find comfort in this book. The books acts as that friend or older sibling that tells you the reassurances that we all need to hear.

“You’re doing just fine”

“What you feel is completely normal”

“You’re a good person”

It brings you on a journey of questioning, reassurance, memories and personal challenges that helps you connect a little closer to yourself. The book has a tendency to know what I need to hear before I even know. I like to pick it up, flick through the pages and land on one that feels random but never is. It’s like the universe is speaking through the paper and it’s saying, here’s what you need to know…

This book doesn’t sugar coat the reality of an adult world that teens are just about to embark on but makes life challenges something that you want to take on. It somehow manages to bring a blunt honesty and comforting reassurance all in one.

Buy the book. Give yourself a hug. Go take on the world.

Moira Curran – Head of Communications, SOAR Foundation

I loved reading the Teenager’s Book of Life and I think it’s terrific! It is an impactful combination of deep spiritual/psychological truths with straightforward down to earth language. It inspires; it heals. It’s a real gift to teenagers – and to the teenager within each of us. 

Dr. Sidra Stone, Ph.D. Pioneering Psychologist

Co-creator of Voice Dialogue and the Psychology of Selves

Co-author of Embracing Our Selves

Co-author of Embracing Your Inner Critic.

A great book full of useful reflective tools and stories for young and old(er) alike! I certainly will be recommending it as part of my work with young and older people. 

Jutta Greve, PhD, Clinical Psychologist & CAMHS clinician

My daughter and I have begun reading this book together. She appreciates it’s truthful approach and how it’s clearly written for her age group rather than mine 😀 It’s giving us a space to connect and will ensure we make time to talk about the tough stuff in the midst of day to day life. As a Clinical Psychologist and Mindfulness teacher/trainer it’s wonderful to see such an emotionally intelligent resource for young people that teaches skills for life in such an engaging and relatable way. If you and/or your child want to learn how how to manage painful feelings, grow happiness and healthy relationships with yourself and others this (at last) is the book for you!
Dr Maret Dymond-Bassett – Clinical Psychologist and Mindfulness Trainer, Hampshire, UK.

Tony has successfully achieved what is a very difficult task – an adult writing a book for teenagers. He succeeds by not patronising or underestimating the reader. Instead, he poses important questions about life trusting that teenagers have the capacity to find their own answers.

Reading the book feels like he is honestly and authentically dismantling an outdated adult/child dynamic that doesn’t serve us anymore. There’s a sense of taking teenagers aside to a quiet corner and letting them know that adults don’t have all the answers. That we don’t have it all figured out. But interestingly, this is done with compassion for each other rather than blame.

If you’re looking for a quick fix, self-help book of advice then this isn’t the one for you. However, if you’re ready to break through onto the other side by understanding yourself and the world around you – then you couldn’t read a better book.

Mark Mc Donnell – CEO, The SOAR Foundation

Having worked as a clinical psychologist with young people for the last 24 years, I want to highly recommend this book to teens, parents, teachers, therapists and everyone with a passion for ensuring our younger generation develop good mental health and their potential to live a full and rich life. Once I started reading this book, I found it hard to put down.  Every chapter brought to mind a young person who could benefit from it and I have already found the ideas and exercises helpful in my sessions.

The Teenager’s Guide to Life will help young people to tap into and trust their own inner wisdom.  It speaks directly to them, in language that is honest, engaging and frank.  It includes lots of practical exercises and ‘calls to action’ aimed at developing confidence, resilience and the tools to cope with life’s inevitable challenges.  For young people who find themselves struggling, it offers understanding, acceptance and most importantly, a roadmap to guide them through.  

Adolescence has always been a challenging time, but never more so than for this generation.  At a developmental stage when comparison with others and the drive to fit in is at its height, teens have to navigate the minefield of social media where acceptance or rejection is only one click away.  This book accepts that this is the world now and shows young people how they can equip themselves, not just to survive, but to thrive.

Dr. Angela Griffin – Lead Clinical Psychologist 
University Hospital Southampton Children’s Hospital 

A beautifully crafted book that avoids talking to teenagers the way adults often do. This is a refreshingly honest and appealing resource that will be of great help to teens and parents alike as they navigate the wild waters of modern life. I can see this book becoming a perennial gift from parent to child to communicate the things they wish their parents had told them about life.

Ruairí McKiernan – Bestselling author of Hitching for Hope, founder of SpunOut.ie and former member to President Higgins’ Council of State.

Who am I? Where am I going? I am not ….. enough.

These are the questions and statements I hear most as a coach.

Tony’s writing, empathy, compassion and framing transports us back to our formative years, where these questions emerge and often remain unanswered. A beautifully written reminder that in the joy, pain, love, heartbreak and the fear that we are all unique, we are all loved and we all matter.  A book of hope for parents and young people.

Siobhan Earley – Coach

I just wanted to drop a line to say I really enjoyed reading The Teenager’s Book of Life. It is a book I definitely could have used in my own teenage years. One part I really connected with was the chapter on friends and finding your tribe. It made me appreciate how lucky I am in my own circle. My best friend turned 34 while I was reading the book. We met on our first day of school so this year we celebrate 30 years of friendship. Without reading I may not have given any time to reflect on that. Thank you for this. I work with young adults with intellectual and physical disabilities and I look forward to introducing the book and working through some of the exercises with them.
Emer Slein – Youth Worker