Counselling for Toads

by Robert de Board

There has been a lot of talk going around Augment lately regarding Counselling for Toads by Robert de Board. In the book Toad from Kenneth Grahame’s Wind in the Willows becomes depressed and is persuaded by his friends to go and see a counsellor called Heron. Over the course of 11 sessions, Heron helps Toad come to terms with his depression and learn new things about himself in the process.

Usually, when I try to read what could be classed as ‘self help’ books, I invariably hit a brick wall within the first 10-20 pages – mainly because I simply can’t get into them. I find they’re preachy and patronising. I don’t know about you, but I can’t stand being patronised. Counselling for Toads is very different. Firstly, it’s short – 154 pages which is always a good sign. Secondly and perhaps most importantly, it’s not written like a self help book. It’s a story in which both the characters and the reader learns something about themselves.

I was never a big fan of Wind in the Willows, even though I knew the story, but this book, a lovingly written pastiche on the original is an easy, well thought out and enjoyable read. At no point do you feel like you are being patronised or preached to – you are reading a story and learning at the same time, which is no mean feat.

If you are in Augment and get a chance to read Counselling for Toads, take it. You won’t be disappointed and you may learn a few things in the process – I did.