By Jolenta Greenberg and Kristen Meinzer.
The authors produce the "By The Book" podcast, in which they pick a self-help book and live by what it says in it for two weeks, then report back on what happened.
I've noticed sometimes that when people get book deals for their podcasts or websites or whatever (I'm thinking Anna Sale/"Death, Sex and Money," which I read recently but didn't really think of enough to say about it, so I didn't write a review, or the "Ask A Manager" book), I'm happy for them, but the book that ends up being produced ends up kind of being a summary of their usual work. This book definitely falls into that category, with sections called "Things That Worked," "Things That Didn't Work," and "Things We Wish More Books Recommended."
I can sum most of it up: they recommend being kind, positive self-talk, gratitude, apologizing, getting off your phone, decluttering, spending less, trying new things, going outside...you get the drift. They think more books should plug not comparing yourself to others, making friends with your boy, see a therapist, go on meds, that sort of thing.
But the one reason why I'm actually writing this review instead of being all "Eh, I can't think of anything much to say here," is the middle section, because I really enjoyed the "things that didn't work" section. As a natural night owl, I haaaaaaaaaaaaate all those "morning pages, go work out at 5 a.m." people and the authors straight up felt tired and ill trying to follow early bird scheduling. And of course the entire world is designed around early birds being able to do everything they want at the time of the day that they feel the most great at. Kristen didn't enjoy meditating. Jolenta points out that we believe what we believe about ourselves because others tell us those things. "You didn't create these lies that rotate through your head denigrating you every day. These lies were presented as trash by the powers that be. You are not stupid for buying into them and perpetrating them." Kristen just got totally effed up by reading "French Women Don't Get Fat." And Jolenta has the rage that I do at "Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus." So I really enjoyed that most of all.
In the end, what did they learn from all of these books? Direct quote from Kristen: "not much." Hee.
Something else I want to mention is that every chapter ends with some letter from some "anonymous" person with initials defending whatever it was that the authors weren't into, and then the authors write back their opinions. I presume these are just made up, but it just got weir after awhile.
Anyway, I enjoy the podcast when I listen to it (off and on, depends on the book they're covering), but the book is just okay. Three stars.
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