When was the last time you felt guilty?

Chances are, you don't even want to think about it – most of us would rather not. Guilt is messy, uncomfortable and one of the most powerful emotions we experience as humans. As soon as we feel it, we want it gone.

But, despite the discomfort, guilt contains an important purpose. It provides us with an opportunity to grow, make amends and strengthen our relationships. It holds us accountable and can influence huge social change. When we can acknowledge guilt in its truest form, we become emotionally healthier and happier.

The Power of Guilt by Chris Moore is a deep dive into one of our most excruciating – and underutilised – emotions. Through extensive research in psychology, psychotherapy, philosophy, comparative religion and legal studies, as well as his own experiences with it, Moore takes the reader on an eye-opening journey through guilt and shows us that, by embracing it, we may improve our lives, our relationships and our mental health.

So no matter who you are or what you have done, you can take comfort in the fact that our ability to feel guilt is a gift, not a burden.