Reviews

Gudetama: Mindfulness for the Lazy by Wook-Jin Clark

bookswithemmie's review against another edition

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4.0

EArc provided by Netgalley
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I honestly love anything Sanrio so when I saw this graphic novel of Gudetama I knew I had to pick it up. The story itself is all about how be more mindful in your everyday life. I think it is really interesting to teach such a complex topic using a character like Gudetama,. It makes the concept approachable for all ages. This was exactly what I needed because I'm the kind of person that's always worried about the past and the future. I forget to exist in the now. I think this would be a cute gift to give a child because the content in the book is really approachable because you are experiencing it with Gudetama. Overall, I really enjoyed it! Check it out when it comes out because it's definitely worth it.

irayred's review against another edition

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3.0

The Gudetama series keeps getting better and better!

Despite being so short, I found this graphic novel to be quite entertaining. Gudetama is absolutely relatable and in this volume we see how they learn about being mindful, empathic and pretty much a kind being.

There are some really good advices that everybody should follow because, let’s face it, the world is already a terrible place, but we can make it better. 2020 taught us that thinking of others before acting too reckless is a better option than dragging everybody into the mud.

I may sound a bit cheesy but it’s surprising how small acts of kindness can do so much for our community and ultimately, for our mental health.

I would totally recommend this to adults, but is also a great book for a younger audience since it has simple yet important topics to discuss.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review via NetGalley.

PREVIOUS REVIEWS:
Gudetama: Surviving the Holidays

rapidan_'s review against another edition

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4.0

This was such a nice introduction to mindfulness. Gudetama is very relatable, and drawn adorably! I found it very easy to take in the concepts that were discussed, and it gave me a great opportunity to consider my own mindfulness practices and to understand perhaps where I can develop my own behaviour. This material was delivered with humour and a casual voice, making it an accessible read for me, that I really enjoyed.

carrot_xo's review against another edition

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4.0

4.25 stars.
Gudetama has always been my spiritual animal. I used to own a cute Gudetama squishy toy with its squishy li’l butt.
In this short and cute graphic novel, along with our Gudetama, we learn about compassion, personal space, stress management and many more things in short scenarios. All the aspects of mindfulness are explained in simple terms while never making it boring.
Adults may find this of little use but it’s good for tweens and teens.
The artwork is also very cute and easy on the eyes.

Total time spent: 21min.

~ ARC received through NetGalley for an honest review.

mousereads's review against another edition

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4.0

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Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed the bit in the work scene, because sometimes that's actually how it feels reading mindful self help things. As though they are not aware of office jobs and how they don't necessarily allow for mindful activity to relieve anxiety.

I also appreciated the explanation of the difference between sympathy and empathy with the humor aspect. Often these words are mixed up in people's language, and sometimes being aware of the best way to use them is really helpful!

"Sometimes words aren't enough. It's the act of showing up that makes a difference."

The various ways mindfulness can be applied in different circumstances looks different for everyone. There is no right or wrong way, as long as it makes you feel better and helps others around you as well. Taking care of yourself is something that can, in turn, help the people around you.

"I like that napping is a form of self-care. I will continue to do so...silently...and without interruption...alone."

This book is a quick read and would be beneficial to young people, but also many adults. The concepts are manageable and tangible, without feeling too much like you're being overwhelmed with "shoulds." Gudetama incorporates humor and self-awareness that not everything will work for everyone and you can only take it one day at a time.

I really enjoyed this and the art was true to the Gudetama style we know and love.

a_potter_nerd's review against another edition

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4.0

I received this and as an eARC to read for free in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and Oni Press for giving me access.

This comic was cute and delivered a great message of being a nice person just because. It was enjoyable and even a great read for a younger audience.

michaelamochaa's review against another edition

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5.0

I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my personal opinion and others may disagree with me.

I honestly loved this. It's such a short but lovely read and it really made my day. Fans of Gudentama or just Sanrio in general will love this beautiful book.

cjrobertson's review

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4.0

I love Gudetama! This graphic novel was adorable and really informative. It discusses mindfulness in simple terms and is a great guide for to learn from. I think it would be particularly useful for young kids and teens, however I’m in my mid-twenties and definitely learned a few tips to alleviate some of the stresses of everyday life!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

thewickedbookworm's review against another edition

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4.0

I'll admit, I've never fully understood the collective obsession with Gudetama, and I still don't. BUT, this book was really cute and is definitely a good starting point for someone who may not understand even the basics about what "mindfulness" is supposed to look like. It is just that, the basics, and isn't going to give anyone a deep dive into practices or tools. However, it's adorable and quick, and I could see it being a great mindfulness intro to, say, a teen.

One star subtracted for REALLY busy art. The PDF format may have contributed, but I did struggle to figure out the flow of some of the pages.

pizzaghost's review against another edition

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3.0

Gudetama is adorable. This thicc little egg yolk (?) wants to do nothing more than nap, but his over-enthusiastic friend (?) insists that today is the day to learn about mindfulness. The odd couple floats around town learning and teaching others about self-love, self-respect, and staying in the moment.

Mindfulness For the Lazy discusses cutting out negative influences, staying organized, and empathy. I appreciated that not all of the characters were able to accomplish this! It’s hard sometimes, and it’s important to recognize that.

This little graphic novel is 0% esoteric. It’s just a speedy PSA about not being a butt.

Honestly, I thought this graphic novel would be more about mindfulness. There’s a lot about self-care and self-regulating, not so much about how to actually be in the moment. And I can’t quite pin down who the target audience would be. It’s presented in a way that would be easily digestible and even eye-opening for children, but features office drones under mountains of paperwork and adults forgetting to pick up each other from the airport. I don’t think this book was for me, but it was fun.

There are some rays of sunshine in here. From casual non-binary pronoun usage to a character who dunked on someone while using the wrong “your,” it’s the Easter eggs that make this story shine. I especially enjoyed the flowchart of how to deal with unpleasant people on social media.

If I were already a fan of Gudetama (and I can imagine it’s very easy to become one!) I’d probably enjoy this little guide more. Gudetama: Mindfulness For the Lazy is perfect for people in a hurry and those who like humor with their self-help.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.