When we are in painfully difficult or confusing life situations especially amidst
ever-uncertain times our minds grapple for structure: a funeral ceremony definitively lays the
dead to rest the exaggerated choreography of a surgical room confirms its sterility and a
daily schedule gives prisoners a sense of normalcy. These practices these rituals give us
peace. Though it might seem contradictory ordered rituals actually bring us freedom
creativity and mental well-being. Rituals aren't a thing of history or belonging to elaborate
ceremonies and they aren't even confined to the most painful or confusing of times. Rituals
can be at a family dinner table or in a morning bathroom routine. In Everyday Rituals Pearl
Katz shows us just how transformative rituals are no matter what kind. Unlike other titles on
the subject in the self-help genre or in anthropological reportage Katz applies her years of
fieldwork and psychiatric study to tangible everyday American life. She writes a thoroughly
persuasive argument using poignant case studies to truly inspire readers. Specific hormones
flow and brain paths open when artists follow their creative regimen and mental health
increases in patients under hospital directive in contrast young people suffer stress in
unbounded undergraduate hookup culture. And after the coronavirus ripped many rituals from
American life the ill effects of a life without routine burn bright. It's in the ordinary that
Katz discovers unlimited potential: mundane routine actually sparks incredible imagination.
With scientific evidence case studies personal narrative and guiding wisdom Katz enlightens
us as to how and why we can feel true freedom.
