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3.87 AVERAGE
3.87 AVERAGE
hopeful
informative
reflective
fast-paced
I loved this book. As one who struggled with the constant chatter in my mind and likely diagnosable as add/ocd, this gave me a sense of normalcy. We all have that chatter. Learning to cope with and manage the chatter is key. I found that I naturally do some of the tool discussed in the book, likely out of how amazing the brain works to alleviate the stress of the chatter. Nonetheless, if you struggle with the chatter, or the chatter becomes too loud at times, try reading this book. I think it will provide insight.
3.5
Its a very fast read. I really like the topic.
i wish it would do a little deeper, thus a longer book.
Its a very fast read. I really like the topic.
i wish it would do a little deeper, thus a longer book.
A nice aid for overthinkers. I wasn’t looking for anxiety help, as that tends to be more vague. I was looking for help with the internal voice that I have trouble controlling. And you can’t really control it, but you can help it be a more positive force in your life, and that is really helpful.
informative
medium-paced
3.5; I honestly expected this to be a bit of a lame, self-help-ish “believe in yourself” kind of book, but it was ultimately very grounded in science and empirical data, and I learned a lot. Worth a read.
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
This book was a 5-star read for me!
things I liked:
- readable
- had citations
- had a list of actionable items (that were accessible even for those who do not have large financial resources)
- taught me a few new things
- included both personal anecdotes and stories of others
some things I learned:
- co-rumination is a thing! if you just rant to others about your problems and they just egg you on, you might end up in a worse emotional state than before
- compensatory control is also a thing, apparently it's exemplified by when you clean when you're stressed aka my main coping mechanism oop
- the techniques you learn in cognitive behavioral therapy are actually helpful and aren't just dumb even if they feel like it...
things I liked:
- readable
- had citations
- had a list of actionable items (that were accessible even for those who do not have large financial resources)
- taught me a few new things
- included both personal anecdotes and stories of others
some things I learned:
- co-rumination is a thing! if you just rant to others about your problems and they just egg you on, you might end up in a worse emotional state than before
- compensatory control is also a thing, apparently it's exemplified by when you clean when you're stressed aka my main coping mechanism oop
- the techniques you learn in cognitive behavioral therapy are actually helpful and aren't just dumb even if they feel like it...
informative
medium-paced
informative
medium-paced
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
I am always somewhat sceptical of books like this at first, fearing what I think of as 'the Malcolm Gladwell effect', where an author introduces a concept in chapter 1 that they themselves have coined (often their own wording of a phenomenon that other people have discovered) and then spends the next 300 pages listing story after story to show why they were right.
However, where 'Chatter' is different for me is in how the stories continue to deepen the concept and explore it at length, whilst looking regularly at the science that informs it (of which Ethan Kross is a central figure).
Kross' central idea, borne out of years of research, is that the inner monologue we experience in various forms is not only part of what makes us human, but is also what can lead to our greatest failures and successes.
In this sense, it becomes a muscle that we can train to help it become our best ally, and Kross explores both where the inner monologue's 'chatter' is too strong and overpowering, and it convinces us that we are worthless and/or prone to failure, but also how we can use it to reinforce positive messages, or even blank it out at specific moments.
This therefore tips this book into being a bit of a how-to guide as well as a fascinating look into research. For example, he looks at how rituals- whether religious, superstitious, cultural or seemingly bizarre- play an important role in supporting our ability to approach certain tasks at hand, from writing, to complex technical work, to high-pressure situations like fishing in shark-infested waters or playing professional sport.
Overall, I think this book is a neatly digestible joy, that is both quite challenging but also accessible. Experiencing it as an audiobook (with Kross himself reading it) is also quite interesting, as you can sometimes hear your inner monologue being pulled back into focus by the discussions.
Thank you to Net Galley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
However, where 'Chatter' is different for me is in how the stories continue to deepen the concept and explore it at length, whilst looking regularly at the science that informs it (of which Ethan Kross is a central figure).
Kross' central idea, borne out of years of research, is that the inner monologue we experience in various forms is not only part of what makes us human, but is also what can lead to our greatest failures and successes.
In this sense, it becomes a muscle that we can train to help it become our best ally, and Kross explores both where the inner monologue's 'chatter' is too strong and overpowering, and it convinces us that we are worthless and/or prone to failure, but also how we can use it to reinforce positive messages, or even blank it out at specific moments.
This therefore tips this book into being a bit of a how-to guide as well as a fascinating look into research. For example, he looks at how rituals- whether religious, superstitious, cultural or seemingly bizarre- play an important role in supporting our ability to approach certain tasks at hand, from writing, to complex technical work, to high-pressure situations like fishing in shark-infested waters or playing professional sport.
Overall, I think this book is a neatly digestible joy, that is both quite challenging but also accessible. Experiencing it as an audiobook (with Kross himself reading it) is also quite interesting, as you can sometimes hear your inner monologue being pulled back into focus by the discussions.
Thank you to Net Galley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.