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101 Essays That Will Change The Way You Think
Over the past few years, Brianna Wiest has gained renown for her deeply moving, philosophical writing. This new compilation of her published work features pieces on why you should pursue purpose over passion, embrace negative thinking, see the wisdom in daily routine, and become aware of the cognitive biases that are creating the way you see your life. Some of these pieces have never been seen; others have been read by millions of people around the world. Regardless, each will leave you thinking: this idea changed my life.
450 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 14, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 4,675 reviews
October 10, 2019
if you actually look up the credentials of the author she is a 26 year old making a living writing medium posts and posting inspirational quotes on instagram; if that doesn't tell you enough then i'll continue.
The book itself is a lazy attempt at a self help book. When i started the first page I was impressed, I thought I was in for a good book; turns out it was just an excerpt from someone else's book from 2005. The thing is, that's not really the problem, I can appreciate a "book" being a collection from other people's work, I don't mind that at all. The problem is the in between sections, the parts that the author writes herself. You can tell since the quality of the writing amounts to fluff and complete lack of relevance to practical day life.
The topics discussed are all basically "how to be happy or why your life isn't that bad", it's all meant to make you feel good (nothing wrong with that); but that's why i describe it as non-practical.
I'm not hating on this book or the author, I just didn't find it useful for my needs. There was a complete lack substance. The main reason why I chose to pick up this book was the high number of stars at the time (4.13), but it seems like there just haven't been enough critical people to actually review the book.
There are actually good parts in the book, but the amount of fluff that you have to get through; I just don't have the time and energy to do that, the editor or the author should have done that for me; she needs to learn the ability to cull irrelevant information
The book itself is a lazy attempt at a self help book. When i started the first page I was impressed, I thought I was in for a good book; turns out it was just an excerpt from someone else's book from 2005. The thing is, that's not really the problem, I can appreciate a "book" being a collection from other people's work, I don't mind that at all. The problem is the in between sections, the parts that the author writes herself. You can tell since the quality of the writing amounts to fluff and complete lack of relevance to practical day life.
The topics discussed are all basically "how to be happy or why your life isn't that bad", it's all meant to make you feel good (nothing wrong with that); but that's why i describe it as non-practical.
I'm not hating on this book or the author, I just didn't find it useful for my needs. There was a complete lack substance. The main reason why I chose to pick up this book was the high number of stars at the time (4.13), but it seems like there just haven't been enough critical people to actually review the book.
There are actually good parts in the book, but the amount of fluff that you have to get through; I just don't have the time and energy to do that, the editor or the author should have done that for me; she needs to learn the ability to cull irrelevant information
May 15, 2020
People who are using Brianna's age at writing are being unfair. We allowed Alain de Botton to swagger onto the scene with a pop philosophy book aged 23, and we called him a wunderkin, where here people are saying Wiest is easily dismissed because she was 26. I don't think that tracks.
When I realised that these were a thatched together collection of Wiest's articles, rather than essays (they're not, at all, essays), the disparity in quality between 'essays' made a lot more sense. A few are very well written, didactic and sharply focused, while some had me wondering 'was the initial target for this Buzzfeed?' One that springs to mind is in the first 100 pages, and is titled something like '101 things to think right now instead of __.' It was particularly disorienting because the first thing to think of was where I wanted to be in 20 years time, whereas a few essays up, she'd told me that people aren't happy today because they live in the future, rather than the now. It reminded me of that quote from Ned Flanders when he's despairing about God, "I did everything in the Bible! Even the stuff that contradicted all the other stuff!"
The reason for the incoherence in message is that Wiest relies heavily on other people's work, mainly pop psychology self help books to the tune of Brene Brown and Malcolm Gladwell (no hate), and then distils their books into bite-sized portions. Those are the good essays, in my opinion, and after the first 100 pages, I gave myself permission to skim to the bottoms of each essay and see if there were footnotes, indicating it was based on others' research. If it was, I read it, as Wiest's articles that are only self-driven are... extremely hit and miss. And it's okay for them to be hit and miss at this early stage in her career. But just like I wouldn't click on "Signs That The Only Problem With Your Life Is The Way You Think About It" if I was scrolling through my Facebook feed, I'm not interested in reading it in a book.
There is also an extreme level of repetition in subject matter. Some of these essays could very easily be viewed as exactly the same, just paraphrased different. Some key points:
* Feel your emotions, don't repress them.
* Perception is subjective, and realising this is a sign of emotional intelligence.
* Keeping yourself comfortable can keep you from reaching new goals.
* Pain = growth.
Also, side note - I'm not sure if it was my edition or WHAT but the formatting was insane for a lot of essay titles. "HOW TO KNOW YOU’VE EVOLVED more than you GIVE YOURSELF CREDIT FOR IT’S HARD TO SEE HOW FAR ALONG THE PATH YOU’VE COME WHILE YOU’RE SO FOCUSED ON TAKING EACH STEP—SO TO SAY. YOU’VE PROBABLY HAD THE EXPERIENCE OF A THIRD PARTY COMMENTING ON HOW MUCH YOU’VE CHANGED BUT BARELY BEING ABLE TO REALIZE ONLY BECAUSE YOU’RE WITH YOURSELF EACH DAY. THIS IS NORMAL BUT IS ALSO THE PRODUCT OF FOCUSING ON HOW WHAT’S LEFT TO DO RATHER THAN WHAT YOU’VE ALREADY ACCOMPLISHED—WHICH IS WHY IT’S OFTEN HARD TO GIVE YOURSELF THE CREDIT YOU REALLY DESERVE. HERE, A FEW LITTLE SIGNS YOU’VE EVOLVED MORE THAN YOU REALIZE" <- that is genuinely the essay title for essay 29. It is unreadable, the text is different sizes, and it feels like Wiest is grabbing me by the lapels and shrieking it at me in a busy Subway terminal while a metro is screeching to arrive. I don't know if she thinks prolix titles look good, or make her seem more intelligent, or what, but oh my God, SCRAP 'EM.
Wiest has real potential with this book. It could be better, especially if she focused more on not just hitting a certain page limit, and rather the quality and coherence of her message. If she held herself to a higher discipline as a writer, they probably would have been better. I will probably read her next book as I think she has true talent as a writer, but I often didn't enjoy her essays (articles), especially in the latter half of the book.
When I realised that these were a thatched together collection of Wiest's articles, rather than essays (they're not, at all, essays), the disparity in quality between 'essays' made a lot more sense. A few are very well written, didactic and sharply focused, while some had me wondering 'was the initial target for this Buzzfeed?' One that springs to mind is in the first 100 pages, and is titled something like '101 things to think right now instead of __.' It was particularly disorienting because the first thing to think of was where I wanted to be in 20 years time, whereas a few essays up, she'd told me that people aren't happy today because they live in the future, rather than the now. It reminded me of that quote from Ned Flanders when he's despairing about God, "I did everything in the Bible! Even the stuff that contradicted all the other stuff!"
The reason for the incoherence in message is that Wiest relies heavily on other people's work, mainly pop psychology self help books to the tune of Brene Brown and Malcolm Gladwell (no hate), and then distils their books into bite-sized portions. Those are the good essays, in my opinion, and after the first 100 pages, I gave myself permission to skim to the bottoms of each essay and see if there were footnotes, indicating it was based on others' research. If it was, I read it, as Wiest's articles that are only self-driven are... extremely hit and miss. And it's okay for them to be hit and miss at this early stage in her career. But just like I wouldn't click on "Signs That The Only Problem With Your Life Is The Way You Think About It" if I was scrolling through my Facebook feed, I'm not interested in reading it in a book.
There is also an extreme level of repetition in subject matter. Some of these essays could very easily be viewed as exactly the same, just paraphrased different. Some key points:
* Feel your emotions, don't repress them.
* Perception is subjective, and realising this is a sign of emotional intelligence.
* Keeping yourself comfortable can keep you from reaching new goals.
* Pain = growth.
Also, side note - I'm not sure if it was my edition or WHAT but the formatting was insane for a lot of essay titles. "HOW TO KNOW YOU’VE EVOLVED more than you GIVE YOURSELF CREDIT FOR IT’S HARD TO SEE HOW FAR ALONG THE PATH YOU’VE COME WHILE YOU’RE SO FOCUSED ON TAKING EACH STEP—SO TO SAY. YOU’VE PROBABLY HAD THE EXPERIENCE OF A THIRD PARTY COMMENTING ON HOW MUCH YOU’VE CHANGED BUT BARELY BEING ABLE TO REALIZE ONLY BECAUSE YOU’RE WITH YOURSELF EACH DAY. THIS IS NORMAL BUT IS ALSO THE PRODUCT OF FOCUSING ON HOW WHAT’S LEFT TO DO RATHER THAN WHAT YOU’VE ALREADY ACCOMPLISHED—WHICH IS WHY IT’S OFTEN HARD TO GIVE YOURSELF THE CREDIT YOU REALLY DESERVE. HERE, A FEW LITTLE SIGNS YOU’VE EVOLVED MORE THAN YOU REALIZE" <- that is genuinely the essay title for essay 29. It is unreadable, the text is different sizes, and it feels like Wiest is grabbing me by the lapels and shrieking it at me in a busy Subway terminal while a metro is screeching to arrive. I don't know if she thinks prolix titles look good, or make her seem more intelligent, or what, but oh my God, SCRAP 'EM.
Wiest has real potential with this book. It could be better, especially if she focused more on not just hitting a certain page limit, and rather the quality and coherence of her message. If she held herself to a higher discipline as a writer, they probably would have been better. I will probably read her next book as I think she has true talent as a writer, but I often didn't enjoy her essays (articles), especially in the latter half of the book.
January 20, 2022
Notes/Quotes from the book:
"we’re wired to believe that success is somewhere we get to—when goals are accomplished, and things are completed."
"Accomplishing goals is not a success. How much you expand in the process is." - I tend to disagree. I think both are successes but for different reasons.
"You think your past defines you, and worse, you think that it is an unchangeable reality when really, your perception of it changes as you do. Because experience is always multi-dimensional, there are a variety of memories, experiences, feelings, “gists” you can choose to recall…and what you choose is indicative of your present state of mind.
-- I am not sure about "defines you" part. I think both successes and failures play a role in the way you think and the way you act.
"In short, routine is important because habitualness creates mood, and mood creates the “nurture” aspect of your personality, not to mention that letting yourself be jerked around by impulsiveness is a breeding ground for everything you essentially do not want."
-- I hated routines throughout my life. But I had to live with routines till the age of 31. Then I started my first startup. We kept it small and worked when we were productive and rested or did other things when we were not. We ended up working a lot more than we thought but that was ok. It was either driven by interest or need. This essay has a different view. I know people who thrive on routine. Maybe I should give it a try, again. Parts of life can be structured and turned into habits through routines. It is good to have certain parts be free wheeling. That is how you come across interesting people, ideas, experiences.
"Happiness is not how many things you do, but how well you do them. More is not better."
-- It took a while to get this into my thick head. I am still doing a lot, but trying to converge to a few things I can do well.
“Flow” (in case you don’t know—you probably do) is essentially what happens when we become so completely engaged with what we’re doing.
-- I have experienced it a few times, and it is bliss. I realized that being in a continuous state of flow is neither possible nor desirable (at least for me).
"happiest countries in the world are nearly impoverished. Some of the most notable and peaceful individuals to grace the Earth died with only a few cents to their name. The commonality is a sense of purpose, belonging, and love"
-- I am thinking of Mahatma Gandhi, Kamaraj, and my grandpa. They accomplished a lot, touched many lives and did not even have a large wardrobe! They were certainly individuals of grace. I wonder what was going through their minds during moments of suffering and happiness.
"Eric Greitens says that there are three primary forms of happiness: the happiness of pleasure, the happiness of grace, and the happiness of excellence."
-- I think the term happiness seems to default to the happiness of pleasure. Only a few experience - the Happiness of excellence.
"The ancient Greeks called it Akrasia, the Zen Buddhists call it resistance, you and I call it procrastination, every productivity guru on the Internet calls it being “stuck.” Jeffrey Pfeffer and Robert Sutton call it the “knowing-doing gap,” or the experience of knowing the best thing to do, but doing something else anyway.
-- I like the term "knowing-doing gap". Having experienced it in abundance, I often wonder why I can learn so much about what to do and never really do even a fraction of it. Needs a lot of reflection but this chapter covers it beautifully.
"self-sufficiency is just a precursor to happiness. It is the foundation. It is crucial, but it is not the connectedness on which human beings thrive."
-- kind of sad. Really sad.
"Extraordinary depends on what I do with the ordinary" -- one of the nicest quotes in the book.''
"The things you love about others are the things you love about yourself." - I wonder about this. Sometimes the things you love about others are the things you admire.
Quite a lot of questions to think about. But I think some of my friends figured out the answers for them. Me? I am still thinking.
"What, and who, is worth suffering for?
What would you stand for if you knew that nobody would judge you?
What would you do if you knew that nobody would judge you?
"
"Ask yourself: “If I could tell every single person in the world just one thing, one sentence, what would it be?” Would you say: “It’s going to be okay?” “Don’t worry so much?” “Seek the best in others?” “Follow me on Twitter?” What you think you’d want to say to everyone out there is actually a projection of what you most need to hear. That’s what you most want to tell you."
"we’re wired to believe that success is somewhere we get to—when goals are accomplished, and things are completed."
"Accomplishing goals is not a success. How much you expand in the process is." - I tend to disagree. I think both are successes but for different reasons.
"You think your past defines you, and worse, you think that it is an unchangeable reality when really, your perception of it changes as you do. Because experience is always multi-dimensional, there are a variety of memories, experiences, feelings, “gists” you can choose to recall…and what you choose is indicative of your present state of mind.
-- I am not sure about "defines you" part. I think both successes and failures play a role in the way you think and the way you act.
"In short, routine is important because habitualness creates mood, and mood creates the “nurture” aspect of your personality, not to mention that letting yourself be jerked around by impulsiveness is a breeding ground for everything you essentially do not want."
-- I hated routines throughout my life. But I had to live with routines till the age of 31. Then I started my first startup. We kept it small and worked when we were productive and rested or did other things when we were not. We ended up working a lot more than we thought but that was ok. It was either driven by interest or need. This essay has a different view. I know people who thrive on routine. Maybe I should give it a try, again. Parts of life can be structured and turned into habits through routines. It is good to have certain parts be free wheeling. That is how you come across interesting people, ideas, experiences.
"Happiness is not how many things you do, but how well you do them. More is not better."
-- It took a while to get this into my thick head. I am still doing a lot, but trying to converge to a few things I can do well.
“Flow” (in case you don’t know—you probably do) is essentially what happens when we become so completely engaged with what we’re doing.
-- I have experienced it a few times, and it is bliss. I realized that being in a continuous state of flow is neither possible nor desirable (at least for me).
"happiest countries in the world are nearly impoverished. Some of the most notable and peaceful individuals to grace the Earth died with only a few cents to their name. The commonality is a sense of purpose, belonging, and love"
-- I am thinking of Mahatma Gandhi, Kamaraj, and my grandpa. They accomplished a lot, touched many lives and did not even have a large wardrobe! They were certainly individuals of grace. I wonder what was going through their minds during moments of suffering and happiness.
"Eric Greitens says that there are three primary forms of happiness: the happiness of pleasure, the happiness of grace, and the happiness of excellence."
-- I think the term happiness seems to default to the happiness of pleasure. Only a few experience - the Happiness of excellence.
"The ancient Greeks called it Akrasia, the Zen Buddhists call it resistance, you and I call it procrastination, every productivity guru on the Internet calls it being “stuck.” Jeffrey Pfeffer and Robert Sutton call it the “knowing-doing gap,” or the experience of knowing the best thing to do, but doing something else anyway.
-- I like the term "knowing-doing gap". Having experienced it in abundance, I often wonder why I can learn so much about what to do and never really do even a fraction of it. Needs a lot of reflection but this chapter covers it beautifully.
"self-sufficiency is just a precursor to happiness. It is the foundation. It is crucial, but it is not the connectedness on which human beings thrive."
-- kind of sad. Really sad.
"Extraordinary depends on what I do with the ordinary" -- one of the nicest quotes in the book.''
"The things you love about others are the things you love about yourself." - I wonder about this. Sometimes the things you love about others are the things you admire.
Quite a lot of questions to think about. But I think some of my friends figured out the answers for them. Me? I am still thinking.
"What, and who, is worth suffering for?
What would you stand for if you knew that nobody would judge you?
What would you do if you knew that nobody would judge you?
"
"Ask yourself: “If I could tell every single person in the world just one thing, one sentence, what would it be?” Would you say: “It’s going to be okay?” “Don’t worry so much?” “Seek the best in others?” “Follow me on Twitter?” What you think you’d want to say to everyone out there is actually a projection of what you most need to hear. That’s what you most want to tell you."
February 2, 2022
Didn't change the way I think but it did change the way I pick books and to not just base things off of the title.
I do think people will find value with this - especially if you're looking for a no-frills, give me tips to me straight type of person.
I was expecting more like 101 collated essays / articles across disciplines that really are life changing or insightful. This is my own fault for not really reading the synopsis.
It was more like sometimes slightly vague life tips often into list format and it's stuff you kinda already know and the NHS website will probably already give you.
Not necessarily a bad thing just not the type of thing I wanted.
That being said I did highlight a lot here and there but just,,, yeah... from me its a 🤷
I do think people will find value with this - especially if you're looking for a no-frills, give me tips to me straight type of person.
I was expecting more like 101 collated essays / articles across disciplines that really are life changing or insightful. This is my own fault for not really reading the synopsis.
It was more like sometimes slightly vague life tips often into list format and it's stuff you kinda already know and the NHS website will probably already give you.
Not necessarily a bad thing just not the type of thing I wanted.
That being said I did highlight a lot here and there but just,,, yeah... from me its a 🤷
December 29, 2020
3.5 stars
Wow. Mixed feelings about this one. Started off very interesting and I highlighted LOADS of phrases but towards the end it became incredibly repetitive I mean literally the same sentence over and over again. I don’t think it needed to be this long at ALL and would have been nicer as a more concise, smaller book as this just made me feel bleh about it. However, loved how compact and short the chapters were and how they were divided into different issues, lists and how to dos. I learnt a lot of new and invaluable things so overall it’s much worth the read for your mental health
Wow. Mixed feelings about this one. Started off very interesting and I highlighted LOADS of phrases but towards the end it became incredibly repetitive I mean literally the same sentence over and over again. I don’t think it needed to be this long at ALL and would have been nicer as a more concise, smaller book as this just made me feel bleh about it. However, loved how compact and short the chapters were and how they were divided into different issues, lists and how to dos. I learnt a lot of new and invaluable things so overall it’s much worth the read for your mental health
Read
January 25, 2022Look, I understand the appeal of compiling 101 Essays: it's good marketing, it's great marketing even, but I'm gonna need you to stop. These are not essays, these are lists and blog posts that I could easily find in any celebrity blog—Gwyneth Paltrow and Kourtney Kardashian are giving us the same food for thought for free.
I'd rather read 10 to 15 well crafted essays (real essays) that challenge the way I tackle life, than 101 shallow lists on how to avoid positive thinking but also accept it. This sort of pseudo-profoundness makes me roll my eyes far too much, and I cannot stand the fact that all these 101 lists could have been condensed into 10. Do you know how repetitive it feels to read the same 5 sentences rewritten over and over again? I honestly wonder if any editor was involved in this project or if they just compiled a bunch of Wiest's blog posts on Teen Vogue and called it a day.
Silver lining: if you read one essay each morning, you might trick yourself into girlbossing your way to the sun for almost half a year.
I'd rather read 10 to 15 well crafted essays (real essays) that challenge the way I tackle life, than 101 shallow lists on how to avoid positive thinking but also accept it. This sort of pseudo-profoundness makes me roll my eyes far too much, and I cannot stand the fact that all these 101 lists could have been condensed into 10. Do you know how repetitive it feels to read the same 5 sentences rewritten over and over again? I honestly wonder if any editor was involved in this project or if they just compiled a bunch of Wiest's blog posts on Teen Vogue and called it a day.
Silver lining: if you read one essay each morning, you might trick yourself into girlbossing your way to the sun for almost half a year.
October 17, 2019
Some essays deserve 5 stars, some 0.
July 20, 2022
A really problematic dismissal of abuse and mental health disorders.
February 19, 2019
A few, like 3, essays are good. The rest of the book is boring. Not even essays. She makes lists: how to love yourself 1,2,3 etc, how to become etc. He instagram posts are s good though.
December 26, 2021
Amazing. Truly read this at the best time, for me.
February 27, 2024
Books like this do not change lives. They only change the author’s financial situation. For the better, of course. I do not recommend this book despite its hype and many great reviews:
It’s not 101 essays. It’s 101 easy-to-consume articles that you can find anywhere on the net. For example, one of the so-called essays is titled “16 Signs of a Socially Intelligent Person”. Quick Google search will give you that and more. Most of the essays are exactly that type. Oversimplified. She tried adding depth quoting Marcus Aurelius though. That, at least, made me chuckle.
Also, it’s better to spend money on books written by specialists or someone with experience. The author was 24 when she published this book. She also has no training in psychology or anything close to it.
Sure, age and official education doesn’t necessarily determine our abilities, but her background and the book’s content suggests me that she wanted to write her own book more than she wanted to help people change their thinking.
I understand how this book can be impressionable, especially for young people craving for a change. But to really change, we must understand ourselves, our human nature, and our background. Only then can we start changing ourselves, and with it, our lives.
It’s not 101 essays. It’s 101 easy-to-consume articles that you can find anywhere on the net. For example, one of the so-called essays is titled “16 Signs of a Socially Intelligent Person”. Quick Google search will give you that and more. Most of the essays are exactly that type. Oversimplified. She tried adding depth quoting Marcus Aurelius though. That, at least, made me chuckle.
Also, it’s better to spend money on books written by specialists or someone with experience. The author was 24 when she published this book. She also has no training in psychology or anything close to it.
Sure, age and official education doesn’t necessarily determine our abilities, but her background and the book’s content suggests me that she wanted to write her own book more than she wanted to help people change their thinking.
I understand how this book can be impressionable, especially for young people craving for a change. But to really change, we must understand ourselves, our human nature, and our background. Only then can we start changing ourselves, and with it, our lives.
June 5, 2020
DNF. It started out so good, but then I realized it’s just a collection of lists. I lost interest, as these weren’t essays at all.
December 30, 2023
INTRODUCTION
In this superb work of self-help and knowledge, Brianna West indeed points out in a very short and direct way how oft seemingly misunderstood and not always thought about things that we engage in daily profoundly goes on to shape the essence of the 'who' we're striving to become, be it for better or worse.
1. SUBCONSCIOUS BEHAVIORS that are KEEPING YOU from HAVING THE LIFE YOU WANT
In this essay, the major take home is how disparate generations have multiple differing and often conflicting ideologies about their personal search for 'truth' versus the consensus monocultures wherein subjectively identified insights can become hypocritical and difficult or taboo, to objectively accept an idea/belief or faith as the "Truth" if it doesn't register as part of your cultural heritage so in essence not your personal subjective.
Here are some good summary quotes on the 'nutshell' of this essay here:
I'm starting this review of the second essay with a quote that says a million things for the wise...
Still ploughing through this gem and more thoughts will be posted as I continue along the path of the Dao.
In this superb work of self-help and knowledge, Brianna West indeed points out in a very short and direct way how oft seemingly misunderstood and not always thought about things that we engage in daily profoundly goes on to shape the essence of the 'who' we're striving to become, be it for better or worse.
"In a sense, the notion that thoughts create reality is more than just a nice idea; it’s also a fact of evolution. It was because of language and thought that we could create a world within our minds, and ultimately, it is because of language and thought that we have evolved into the society we have today—for better and for worse."In Jordan Peterson's lectures on the Biblical Series, he explains how the concept about the fundamental and innate evolutionary ability of humanity since antiquity to first of all tell stories that transform into legends and so on to eventually become myth to which religions undeniably share those self same myths, ideas and mythos from time immemorial. While Joseph Campbell also talks about the intersection of mythology and evolution in his book The Power of Myth; that it is at the point of the development of the pre-frontal cortex that then made the modern man from an oral story telling species to one in which the abstract thoughts about a certain yet to arrive future is easily conceived intellectually. This evolutionary advanage can then be confronted wherein the best possible steps are taken to ensure further successful propagation of the species.
1. SUBCONSCIOUS BEHAVIORS that are KEEPING YOU from HAVING THE LIFE YOU WANT
In this essay, the major take home is how disparate generations have multiple differing and often conflicting ideologies about their personal search for 'truth' versus the consensus monocultures wherein subjectively identified insights can become hypocritical and difficult or taboo, to objectively accept an idea/belief or faith as the "Truth" if it doesn't register as part of your cultural heritage so in essence not your personal subjective.
Here are some good summary quotes on the 'nutshell' of this essay here:
"The objectivity required to see the effects of present monoculture is very difficult to develop. Once you have so deeply accepted an idea as “truth” it doesn’t register as “cultural” or “subjective” anymore."2. The PSYCHOLOGY of DAILY ROUTINE
"You think that to change your beliefs, you have to adopt a new line of thinking, rather than seek experiences that make that thinking self-evident.
A belief is what you know to be true because experience has made it evident to you. If you want to change your life, change your beliefs. If you want to change your beliefs, go out and have experiences that make them real to you. Not the opposite way around"
"You believe that creating your best life is a matter of deciding what you want and then going after it, but in reality, you are psychologically incapable1 of being able to predict what will make you happy.
Your brain can only perceive what it’s known, so when you choose what you want for the future, you’re actually just recreating a solution or an ideal of the past. When things don’t work out the way you want them to, you think you’ve failed only because you didn’t re-create something you perceived as desirable. In reality, you likely created something better, but foreign, and your brain misinterpreted it as “bad” because of that. (Moral of the story: Living in the moment isn’t a lofty ideal reserved for the Zen and enlightened; it’s the only way to live a life that isn’t infiltrated with illusions. It’s the only thing your brain can actually comprehend."
I'm starting this review of the second essay with a quote that says a million things for the wise...
"The most successful people in history—the ones many refer to as “geniuses” in their fields, masters of their crafts—had one thing in common, other than talent: Most adhered to rigid (and specific) routines...[T]he point is not what the routine consists of, but how steady and safe your subconscious mind is made through repetitive motions and expected outcomes."Enough said. For good further reading on the psychology behind routine and habit formations, check out the title: Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience by Csikszentmihalyi, Mihaly. and Atomic Habits by James Clear
Still ploughing through this gem and more thoughts will be posted as I continue along the path of the Dao.
May 1, 2021
DNF 34%
I'm not sure why, but I was expecting essays by different people in this book, but it's all articles by Brianna Wiest.
I struggle to call them essays, as many of the chapters are list-style and something you might find on a clickbait article (How to improve your mindset in just 5 steps).
I found myself dreading going to this book. When I did read it, I would get annoyed or just fall asleep.
I knew it was over after reading this bit of advice:
As someone who doesn't know what their 'big objective' is, this is not motivating or helpful. It's not like people like me haven't spent hours, days, months thinking about what their purpose is on this planet. It just makes me feel like giving up. If I'm not going to do much of anything at all, why bother, right?
Other reviews suggested it gets very repetitive the farther you go in, so I decided to save myself the suffering and ending it at 34%.
I'm not sure why, but I was expecting essays by different people in this book, but it's all articles by Brianna Wiest.
I struggle to call them essays, as many of the chapters are list-style and something you might find on a clickbait article (How to improve your mindset in just 5 steps).
I found myself dreading going to this book. When I did read it, I would get annoyed or just fall asleep.
I knew it was over after reading this bit of advice:
What your big objective is. If you don’t know what you generally want to do with your precious, limited time here, you’re not going to do much of anything at all.
As someone who doesn't know what their 'big objective' is, this is not motivating or helpful. It's not like people like me haven't spent hours, days, months thinking about what their purpose is on this planet. It just makes me feel like giving up. If I'm not going to do much of anything at all, why bother, right?
Other reviews suggested it gets very repetitive the farther you go in, so I decided to save myself the suffering and ending it at 34%.
June 9, 2023
~ 5/5
Honestly, the book is very well-written and covers a wide range of topics that are relevant to many people. The essays are very thought-provoking and offer a lot of practical advice for dealing with everyday challenges and struggles.The essays are also very well-organized and easy to navigate, which makes it easy to find the information you need. The essays are very short and easy to read and understand as well.
This book touch upon various universal themes and address common challenges whether it's finding purpose, navigating relationships, or understanding the complexities of the human mind. They honestly provide valuable insights and guidance that one need in their life in order to be the bestest and the highest version of themselves.
Brianna 's writing style is very engaging and easy to read. The way it is written is very encouraging and supportive, which makes it easy to feel like you have a friend who is there to help you through tough times. Honestly the way all of the essays force you into introspection is astonishing. All of the essays are very impactful and inspiring.
Overall, this book is very insightful and offers a lot of practical advice for dealing with everyday challenges and struggles. I think this book is a great resource for anyone who is looking to improve their mental health and well-being!!! 🫶🏻
Honestly, the book is very well-written and covers a wide range of topics that are relevant to many people. The essays are very thought-provoking and offer a lot of practical advice for dealing with everyday challenges and struggles.The essays are also very well-organized and easy to navigate, which makes it easy to find the information you need. The essays are very short and easy to read and understand as well.
This book touch upon various universal themes and address common challenges whether it's finding purpose, navigating relationships, or understanding the complexities of the human mind. They honestly provide valuable insights and guidance that one need in their life in order to be the bestest and the highest version of themselves.
Brianna 's writing style is very engaging and easy to read. The way it is written is very encouraging and supportive, which makes it easy to feel like you have a friend who is there to help you through tough times. Honestly the way all of the essays force you into introspection is astonishing. All of the essays are very impactful and inspiring.
Overall, this book is very insightful and offers a lot of practical advice for dealing with everyday challenges and struggles. I think this book is a great resource for anyone who is looking to improve their mental health and well-being!!! 🫶🏻
December 7, 2022
Aufgrund des ansprechenden Titels und des Hypes wurde meine Neugierde geweckt, jedoch hatte das Buch nicht die erhoffte Wirkung auf mich. Viele der Aussagen konnten mich zwar zu (selbstkritischen) Reflexionen anregen, leider beinhaltete das Buch aber nichts, was mir nachträglich in Erinnerung geblieben ist oder mich wirklich motiviert/ bewegt hat. Das könnte auch daran liegen, dass ich einige Weisheiten als eher offensichtlich empfunden habe. In der Hinsicht sei anzumerken, dass Mindset-Bücher grundsätzlich sehr persönlich sind und ich einigen Aussagen dieses Buchs einfach nicht zugestimmt habe. Zudem fällt ab einem gewissen Punkt auf, dass sich vieles wiederholt.
Sehr gut gefallen hat mir die Struktur dieses Buches und der Schreibstil der Autorin. Fazit: Das Buch hat weder "The way I think" noch mein Leben (wie der deutsche Titel verspricht) verändert😂. Trotzdem bereue ich es definitiv nicht, das Buch gekauft und gelesen zu haben.
Sehr gut gefallen hat mir die Struktur dieses Buches und der Schreibstil der Autorin. Fazit: Das Buch hat weder "The way I think" noch mein Leben (wie der deutsche Titel verspricht) verändert😂. Trotzdem bereue ich es definitiv nicht, das Buch gekauft und gelesen zu haben.
January 2, 2020
A solid compendium of articles first published on thoughtcatalog website. The title is overpromising though. When I think of an essay I mean more argumentative, more philosophical in nature. This is a nice overview of the self-help department nowadays.
May 20, 2019
I couldn't make it half way through. Not because of the overwhelming sense of naivety I felt the writer had about the real world, and how each person is different, but that I'd say from 2-28 I had no answer for myself.
For instance: "Think about your friends who you can talk to...", "Think about the joy in spending a little bit of money on yourself and knowing you deserve it...", "Dream about how you'll live the way you want to live if you could (this is proven to be unhealthy by the way - unrealistic expectations are a breading ground for disillusionment)" Think about how you have this, this and this. I don't have this, this and this.
I do not have these things. Every piece of advice given to think a certain way about what you already have, I do not have. Now what?
I am not a trophy wife with a small bout of depression because I lost my car keys this morning, so telling me to think about how great it will be to fantasize about a trip doesn't relate with me. I'm really not sure who this book is for. I cannot see anyone who actually needs help receiving help from this book. I see it as a way for someone who already has self-esteem and an ego to help get it reinflated. At points it reads as though it's trying to sound scientific: speaking of marginal gaps and expansion that disallows the brain to take action or be pro-active (without proper analytical backing or reasoning stated), and then turns around and talks about ice cream and why I'm important...
This is written as though the author has never had any real life experience with the problems they're giving advice for. And the ones that they have had even they don't have an answer to. If it did, why did I stop reading.
For instance: "Think about your friends who you can talk to...", "Think about the joy in spending a little bit of money on yourself and knowing you deserve it...", "Dream about how you'll live the way you want to live if you could (this is proven to be unhealthy by the way - unrealistic expectations are a breading ground for disillusionment)" Think about how you have this, this and this. I don't have this, this and this.
I do not have these things. Every piece of advice given to think a certain way about what you already have, I do not have. Now what?
I am not a trophy wife with a small bout of depression because I lost my car keys this morning, so telling me to think about how great it will be to fantasize about a trip doesn't relate with me. I'm really not sure who this book is for. I cannot see anyone who actually needs help receiving help from this book. I see it as a way for someone who already has self-esteem and an ego to help get it reinflated. At points it reads as though it's trying to sound scientific: speaking of marginal gaps and expansion that disallows the brain to take action or be pro-active (without proper analytical backing or reasoning stated), and then turns around and talks about ice cream and why I'm important...
This is written as though the author has never had any real life experience with the problems they're giving advice for. And the ones that they have had even they don't have an answer to. If it did, why did I stop reading.
September 20, 2021
So, I decided to not spend a day more on this and DNF it.
The first couple of essays make you look forward to the rest of the book until you start to notice it's just list after list of things emotional (strong/clever/independent/wise ... pick one) people know to do. It gets super repetitive and still sometimes contradictory.
There are good essays, true, but some of them just made my toenails curl in disgust. Invalidating people's trauma, emotions and life situation by essays that will tell you to just be grateful for the things that have not gone to shit yet in your life is simply not my favourite read.
I don't know if the essays in the second half of the book are less pretentious but unfortunately I will not stick around, devote moments of my day to continue reading and find out.
The first couple of essays make you look forward to the rest of the book until you start to notice it's just list after list of things emotional (strong/clever/independent/wise ... pick one) people know to do. It gets super repetitive and still sometimes contradictory.
There are good essays, true, but some of them just made my toenails curl in disgust. Invalidating people's trauma, emotions and life situation by essays that will tell you to just be grateful for the things that have not gone to shit yet in your life is simply not my favourite read.
I don't know if the essays in the second half of the book are less pretentious but unfortunately I will not stick around, devote moments of my day to continue reading and find out.
June 12, 2022
“It’s SO BAD I wanna give you a zero, but that’s not possible, so I give you a one” - Tyra Banks
January 6, 2022
did not finish. I couldn't read another listicle (which about 75% of the 40 essays I read are) telling me to just change the way I think about my life for it to get better. has the author not heard of socioeconomic factors? there were some nice sentiments in the book but they were rarely developed deeply enough to make me truly think about how I could incorporate them into my life. the essays also became extremely repetitive in content and I didn't even get halfway through the book.
August 23, 2021
i have NEVER, been able to read a ‘self help’ book that truly changed my outlook on life and genuinely affected my way of thinking. this book truly inspired me to do better in my life and really opened my eyes to some of my ways of thinking and the human psychological mind. i am so glad i read this book at this point in my life where i’ve been really struggling this book is really helping me. i will be able to go back and reference it to help me in my life which is something i have never got from a self help book before. this is amazing
November 7, 2021
This book wasn't for me... I wasn't even the target audience for this book.
I don't know how to review non-fictions so I'm just going to say things I liked and didn't like in bullet points
- There were a few essays I did really enjoy, like essays number 5,13, 17, 18,21, 27, 28, 34, 41, 73. 74 and 81
- The content didn't feel tight and most of the time all over the place, I felt like it wasn't getting to a point that probably didn't even exist
- It was really repetitive, like realllly sometimes to the point one sentence that appeared in an essay started to appear in other essays. It has some common advice disguised as different, like letting yourself feel all the emotions, loving yourself, how pain is sometimes good for you, practicing gratitude, and living in the moment. For a 300 page book, it felt hollow.
- I'm not the target audience like I said, this book os probably aimed at people in their late 20s and early 30s and talks about relationships and heart break and I'm here like
I don't know how to review non-fictions so I'm just going to say things I liked and didn't like in bullet points
- There were a few essays I did really enjoy, like essays number 5,13, 17, 18,21, 27, 28, 34, 41, 73. 74 and 81
- The content didn't feel tight and most of the time all over the place, I felt like it wasn't getting to a point that probably didn't even exist
- It was really repetitive, like realllly sometimes to the point one sentence that appeared in an essay started to appear in other essays. It has some common advice disguised as different, like letting yourself feel all the emotions, loving yourself, how pain is sometimes good for you, practicing gratitude, and living in the moment. For a 300 page book, it felt hollow.
- I'm not the target audience like I said, this book os probably aimed at people in their late 20s and early 30s and talks about relationships and heart break and I'm here like
October 13, 2021
I stumbled upon it and thought I could use a light read and overcome the prejudice but I could barely make it to page 60.
So instead of complaining, I will put it this way: it will not "change the way you think", if anything, it only confirmed how I feel about these types of books:')
So instead of complaining, I will put it this way: it will not "change the way you think", if anything, it only confirmed how I feel about these types of books:')
February 3, 2022
Let me start off by saying right off the bat that this book did not impress me. I didn't go into this book with skepticism, I genuinely thought I will enjoy it. I’m not saying it was bad, but it wasn’t very good either. I finished the book, it did not end up on my Did-not-finish list. The writing was good, it flowed and it was easy to read. (I especially enjoyed essays 8, 22, 37, and 72.) But it felt as if it was just a collection of “inspirational” Instagram quotes that ever-slightly make you think that there really *is* something wrong with your life and the way you are living it. As well as being painfully repetitive. The book is also mostly directed at young adults and teenagers, it is simply the thoughts most people in their 20s stumble upon. I mean essay 31 is basically just a list of logical fallacies.
I also want to say before diving in deeper that I do believe this book was written with good intentions. I know there will be people out there who read this and it will help them and it will resonate with them. I’m happy for those people. I just wasn’t one of them. I applaud the amount of work and effort that went into this book and by no means mean to shed a negative light on the author. I think the author’s thoughts are authentic. I genuinely enjoyed some parts of the book. (But I got somewhat annoyed when I realized it won’t be 101 essays, but (mostly) of various lists. Please deliver on your promises next time.)
There is truth to everything written in the book (For example, I really enjoyed the point made about everyone having different opinions and perspectives in essay 5. But it feels slightly ironic as some essays in the book seem to show you the one ‘true’ way of staying motivated or even feeling.), however (in *my* opinion) it reads as overly simplistic, western, and privileged. This book may not resonate with you if you suffer some mental health issues (especially essay 32). As well as most of the “signs you’re doing better than you think you are” are simply about money and free time. It reads like someone’s very well-written and meticulously edited diary.
It uses aspects of positive psychology to appeal to people who believe in data and science (it uses the phrase “emotional intelligence” endless amount of times), it uses philosophy for people who prefer that approach, and it uses extremely vague phrases to appeal to anyone else who might pick up the book (For example, “being routinely un-routine”… what does that even mean?). In some ways it feels like an introductory course to positive psychology (mentioning Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, Gay Hendricks, and Daniel Kahneman), however, if you are interested in this area of psychology, this is not the book for you as it mostly just name-drops these psychologists and barely talks about their work. This book is taking real science and turning it into easy-to-swallow-and-digest pseudo-science “epiphanies”.
I however see why this book got so popular on Tiktok (especially with “that girl” Tiktok), on Pinterest, on Instagram, etc. It’s pretty quotable. As well as being simplistic. But it reeks of the toxicity of “that girl” trends like waking up at 5 am and making a kale smoothie and a diet-tea you ordered from your favorite Instagram influencer. ‘You have to always be motivated and constantly feel grateful and happy. But most important be self-aware! Never stop being self-aware! And be mindful! Always practice mindfulness!’ Romanticizing life can be fun and make you feel good, but you can’t ignore reality forever. Sometimes life can just suck without it being a lesson. Awareness won’t help you or change the parts of your life you are unhappy with, only you can do so. The book tells you routine is good. But also don’t follow your routine too strictly. Emotional intelligence is good. But don’t focus too deeply on your emotions. Happiness is a choice. But don’t make yourself feel happy all the time. It’s okay not be okay. Take an inventory of your beliefs, of your feelings, of your breathing.
Yes, discomfort can mean you’re stepping out of your comfort zone, but it can also mean you’re making a decision that is wrong for *you*. Bad sleeping patterns don’t necessarily mean you are growing, but maybe you need to cut back on caffeine.
I would compare it to a book version of 101 horoscopes: simple and vague enough to make you think about them for like five minutes before moving on. None of what is mentioned in the book is false, but it lacks substance. It pretends to be as deep as the sea, but in reality, it’s barely as deep as a puddle. Maybe I’m too cynical, but this book will definitely not change the way you think. At most, it will make you more ‘self-aware’.
I also want to say before diving in deeper that I do believe this book was written with good intentions. I know there will be people out there who read this and it will help them and it will resonate with them. I’m happy for those people. I just wasn’t one of them. I applaud the amount of work and effort that went into this book and by no means mean to shed a negative light on the author. I think the author’s thoughts are authentic. I genuinely enjoyed some parts of the book. (But I got somewhat annoyed when I realized it won’t be 101 essays, but (mostly) of various lists. Please deliver on your promises next time.)
There is truth to everything written in the book (For example, I really enjoyed the point made about everyone having different opinions and perspectives in essay 5. But it feels slightly ironic as some essays in the book seem to show you the one ‘true’ way of staying motivated or even feeling.), however (in *my* opinion) it reads as overly simplistic, western, and privileged. This book may not resonate with you if you suffer some mental health issues (especially essay 32). As well as most of the “signs you’re doing better than you think you are” are simply about money and free time. It reads like someone’s very well-written and meticulously edited diary.
It uses aspects of positive psychology to appeal to people who believe in data and science (it uses the phrase “emotional intelligence” endless amount of times), it uses philosophy for people who prefer that approach, and it uses extremely vague phrases to appeal to anyone else who might pick up the book (For example, “being routinely un-routine”… what does that even mean?). In some ways it feels like an introductory course to positive psychology (mentioning Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, Gay Hendricks, and Daniel Kahneman), however, if you are interested in this area of psychology, this is not the book for you as it mostly just name-drops these psychologists and barely talks about their work. This book is taking real science and turning it into easy-to-swallow-and-digest pseudo-science “epiphanies”.
I however see why this book got so popular on Tiktok (especially with “that girl” Tiktok), on Pinterest, on Instagram, etc. It’s pretty quotable. As well as being simplistic. But it reeks of the toxicity of “that girl” trends like waking up at 5 am and making a kale smoothie and a diet-tea you ordered from your favorite Instagram influencer. ‘You have to always be motivated and constantly feel grateful and happy. But most important be self-aware! Never stop being self-aware! And be mindful! Always practice mindfulness!’ Romanticizing life can be fun and make you feel good, but you can’t ignore reality forever. Sometimes life can just suck without it being a lesson. Awareness won’t help you or change the parts of your life you are unhappy with, only you can do so. The book tells you routine is good. But also don’t follow your routine too strictly. Emotional intelligence is good. But don’t focus too deeply on your emotions. Happiness is a choice. But don’t make yourself feel happy all the time. It’s okay not be okay. Take an inventory of your beliefs, of your feelings, of your breathing.
Yes, discomfort can mean you’re stepping out of your comfort zone, but it can also mean you’re making a decision that is wrong for *you*. Bad sleeping patterns don’t necessarily mean you are growing, but maybe you need to cut back on caffeine.
I would compare it to a book version of 101 horoscopes: simple and vague enough to make you think about them for like five minutes before moving on. None of what is mentioned in the book is false, but it lacks substance. It pretends to be as deep as the sea, but in reality, it’s barely as deep as a puddle. Maybe I’m too cynical, but this book will definitely not change the way you think. At most, it will make you more ‘self-aware’.
Shelved as 'dnf'
January 11, 2024DNF for now. I don’t dislike it. I just want to read about fairies and Greek goddesses for a while first.
July 4, 2021
Fluffy pop-psych nonsense with no basis in reality.
January 28, 2024
3 1/2 stars. a bit repetitive, but it has its moment of insight, and messages to reflect on.
June 9, 2023
1.5 stars
The first 40% was decent, not life changing and then the rest are just repetitive bullet point lists essentially.
I felt like this isn’t really a self help book but more so a grandiose buzz feed article.
The first 40% was decent, not life changing and then the rest are just repetitive bullet point lists essentially.
I felt like this isn’t really a self help book but more so a grandiose buzz feed article.
December 31, 2021
Self-help books and I have a strange relationship. I didn't pay detailed attention to this book except for while I was reading I kept saying Oh ok, yea I see, that is me, I definitely need to incorporate this list into my daily habit.
BUT.
Ask me in this moment one single anecdote from the list and I can't remember a thing. This is exactly what happens to me when I read life altering, too good, lets get you better and more happy books. In the moment I'm all vested and right after I forget all that i've "learned".
That is not to say that I didn't like or enjoy this book. I found it to be beneficial on many levels. However, if I had cliff notes then I'd be getting somewhere. I would probably actually be able to organize these words into my real world.
My disclaimer is that these are not actually essays but more or less lists of things emotionally competent people do and don't do.
This may be my last book of the year and it is probably the most fitting. I wish I had marked more important facts and gotten more time to reflect on this book, but it just wasn't in the cards.
I give this book 3.5 starts, possibly rounded to 4.
BUT.
Ask me in this moment one single anecdote from the list and I can't remember a thing. This is exactly what happens to me when I read life altering, too good, lets get you better and more happy books. In the moment I'm all vested and right after I forget all that i've "learned".
That is not to say that I didn't like or enjoy this book. I found it to be beneficial on many levels. However, if I had cliff notes then I'd be getting somewhere. I would probably actually be able to organize these words into my real world.
My disclaimer is that these are not actually essays but more or less lists of things emotionally competent people do and don't do.
This may be my last book of the year and it is probably the most fitting. I wish I had marked more important facts and gotten more time to reflect on this book, but it just wasn't in the cards.
I give this book 3.5 starts, possibly rounded to 4.
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