In his new book, “Cut Yourself Off Gently,” Ukrainian business coach and psychologist Maxim Romensky explores psychological separation as an important element of freedom and maturity. The author also shows how to break free from restrictive systems in order to build a life according to your own rules and scenarios. The book is the first project of the new Ukrainian non-fiction publishing house SIMIO.
At the heart of the book is the idea of ecological separation. It is about the conscious decision to let go of relationships, roles, or systems that no longer work for a person. The author analyzes dilemmas familiar to everyone: from distancing oneself from family and breaking up with loved ones to moving to another country.
Unlike Romensky’s previous books on business topics, this publication addresses everyday experiences. The book is based on real stories from clients, therapy sessions, and practical techniques that the author has been using for over 30 years. In addition, it includes questions for self-reflection, exercises, and specific phrases to help you get through separation in a constructive way.
“This book is about separation. Yes, today it has become commonplace, but it is still painful. It’s about separation from parents, friends, partners, or even adult children. And, ultimately, about parting with your own illusions. It is an experience that cannot be avoided. I want it to be not a full stop in loss, but a staircase that can be climbed from despair to clarity. And it became a reminder for all of us that there is always a way out — from any system or situation,” says Maksym Romenskyi.
The publication will be useful and supportive for anyone who feels the need to escape from difficult life scenarios and relationships. It will also be useful for professionals who work with people — psychologists, psychotherapists, coaches, and HR specialists. It is a practical tool designed for both reflection and action to help readers implement important internal decisions. The book is already available on the publisher’s website. An electronic version is also planned for release in October.
Maksym Romensky is the first author of the new Ukrainian publishing house SIMIO, which specializes in applied non-fiction. With this project, the publishing house immediately declares its mission: to be a guide and a signpost for readers.
The co-founders are Oleksandra Fidkevych, who has management experience and a background in writing, and Nataliia Podob, a journalist and editor with many years of media expertise.
SIMIO will publish books on psychology, personal growth, skill development, and entrepreneurship by contemporary Ukrainian and foreign experts. These will be carefully selected publications that will help readers expand their thinking, better understand themselves and the processes around them. And most importantly, they will provide practical guidelines for proactive action.
The income of Ukrainian publishers in 2024 increased by 31% compared to 2023, according to a report by the Ukrainian Book Institute (UBI).
“The annual report ‘Indicators of the Book Industry in Ukraine-2024’ was presented, during which the Ukrainian Book Institute presented the main indicators of the book industry for 2024, along with proposals for the development of the ‘Books on the Market’ catalog as a monitoring tool,” the report said.
The UIC notes that last year, Ukrainian book publishing showed signs of recovery: publishers’ revenues grew by 31% compared to 2023, and the total annual circulation increased by 21%; the Ukrainian book market saw a 31% increase in revenues and 33 million copies sold per year.
“There are over 350 publishing houses operating in Ukraine. Books can be purchased in almost 800 offline bookstores and 80 online stores. The total market volume is estimated at UAH 8 billion, which is about $200 million,” the report said.
According to the UIC, in 2024, 15,601 thousand book titles were published with a total circulation of 33.315 million copies.
Kormotech’s Save Pets of Ukraine initiative has released a charity book about saving animals and their loving people from war. All proceeds will be used to help the four-legged friends
Two women who managed to take 47 cats from Kyiv to Germany at the beginning of the full-scale invasion. The military and dogs are “at zero”. A couple who rescued pets from locked abandoned apartments. A lady with more than 60 dogs. Cats who warmed and calmed their people in the most disturbing moments. A girl who started sleeping better thanks to her dog. These are just a few of the characters in the book Saving Pets (and People) in Ukraine, published by the team of the social initiative Save Pets of Ukraine. This is a collection of inspiring stories with happy endings about cats, dogs, their owners and volunteers who were forced to evacuate from the war and supported each other. And also about the people who take care of a large number of four-legged animals on a daily basis. These are stories about how people save animals, and they save their caring people in return.
The book aims to draw attention to stray animals in Ukraine, which have become much more numerous over the past year. According to the study, this number has increased by 20-30% in the rear regions and by 100% or more in shelters in the frontline regions. Thus, 25,799 dogs and 19,473 cats are under the care of shelters and volunteers. The study was conducted by the Ukrainian public opinion research center SociOinform at the request of Kormotech, Ukraine’s largest manufacturer of cat and dog food, which founded the national initiative Save Pets of Ukraine in 2022.
The book also presents stories of four-legged adoption, which may serve as an example for readers. After all, adopting stray animals into families is the best and most humane way to reduce the number of tails in shelters and on the streets. Thus, a few weeks before the book’s release, when the editor of one of the national TV channels learned about it, he signed up for an interview to take a cat into his family.
All proceeds from the sale of Saving Pets (and People) in Ukraine will be used to help dog and cat shelters.
You can buy the book on the Save Pets of Ukraine website or through social networks:
https://www.savepetsofukraine.kormotech.com
https://www.facebook.com/savepetsofua
https://www.instagram.com/savepetsofua/
https://t.me/savepetsofua
About Kormotech
Kormotech is a global family-owned company with Ukrainian roots that has been producing high-quality pet food since 2003. The rations are developed by its own R&D center in cooperation with European and American consultants. The company has production facilities in Ukraine and the EU, and successfully exports products of its own brands Optimeal, CLUB 4 PAWS, Woof!, Meow! and its partners’ own brands to 33 countries. The product range includes more than 650 items. Kormotech is a leader in Ukraine and is among the TOP-10 most dynamic and TOP-51 most powerful pet industry producers in the world according to Petfood Industry.
https://kormotech.com/uk
Save Pets of Ukraine
Save Pets of Ukraine is an all-Ukrainian initiative to provide comprehensive assistance to four-legged animals during the war. It was founded by Kormotech, a Ukrainian manufacturer of food for cats and dogs. The initiative is implemented in partnership with the NGO Element of Life, as well as the U-Hearts charity foundation, a partner in attracting assistance from the global community.
Save Pets of Ukraine has united dozens of non-profit and business organizations and private donors in the United States, England, Europe and Ukraine.
Currently, the initiative provides food for shelters and pet volunteers, medicines for veterinarians, and provides comprehensive support to shelters for cats and dogs. During the year of its operation, the initiative has already helped 262,000 pets across Ukraine.
