Books How To Hold a Cockroach: A book for those who are free and don't know it  by Matthew Maxwell (Author), Allie Daigle (Illustrator)

"How To Hold a Cockroach: A book for those who are free and don't know it" by Matthew Maxwell, illustrated by Allie Daigle, is an allegorical and philosophical story about a boy who confronts his feelings and beliefs about cockroaches, which symbolize the negative perceptions and fears passed down to him by others. The boy initially hates cockroaches, feeling anxious and repulsed by their presence, but through the narrative, he embarks on a life-changing journey of inquiry and self-discovery. He learns to question the origin of his suffering and how his perception shapes his experience of life.

The core message of the book is that our suffering comes not from external facts but from the meaning we choose to assign to those facts—the stories we tell ourselves. The boy's encounters with various challenges prompt readers to reconsider their own limiting beliefs and to cultivate curiosity, compassion, and freedom from mental suffering. The book encourages readers to see their lives with a fresh perspective, freeing themselves from conditioned negativity.