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informative
slow-paced
I'm a little mixed about this book. While I thought it was very good overall, I didn't feel like it fully delivered what was promised. Let me share the good and the not great about this book.
On the good, the author puts forth a really great 4-part model for embodied leadership and breaks the book down into chapters by the actions and traits of each of the 4 parts. Each chapter has a really interesting case study on how someone used somatic work and embodied leadership to overcome their personal challenges. Each chapter also gives some great information on the science behind somatics and embodied leadership. I found that really useful and interesting. Overall, this would've made it a 5-star book IF, it had been clearer that it was primarily case studies of how working with a somatic coach for embodied leadership coach can help you.
This brings me to the bad. Actual practices that the reader can do to "Leverage your somatic intelligence...etc." are left to a short appendix in the back. They left me wanting. While there were some good practices and instruction, I don't think that they're going to allow the average reader to do what the title suggests.
Overall, the big takeaway from the book is that a somatic coach can be extremely effective and helpful. The average reader of this book will need to find and work with one to achieve the book's stated objective as it's rather light on actual techniques to put to use.
On the good, the author puts forth a really great 4-part model for embodied leadership and breaks the book down into chapters by the actions and traits of each of the 4 parts. Each chapter has a really interesting case study on how someone used somatic work and embodied leadership to overcome their personal challenges. Each chapter also gives some great information on the science behind somatics and embodied leadership. I found that really useful and interesting. Overall, this would've made it a 5-star book IF, it had been clearer that it was primarily case studies of how working with a somatic coach for embodied leadership coach can help you.
This brings me to the bad. Actual practices that the reader can do to "Leverage your somatic intelligence...etc." are left to a short appendix in the back. They left me wanting. While there were some good practices and instruction, I don't think that they're going to allow the average reader to do what the title suggests.
Overall, the big takeaway from the book is that a somatic coach can be extremely effective and helpful. The average reader of this book will need to find and work with one to achieve the book's stated objective as it's rather light on actual techniques to put to use.
What an interesting book. The premise feels simple and profound: body awareness is necessary for an integrated, whole life; an integrated life is a life worth pursuing. It's eminently readable, with many case studies and characters with different backgrounds and relatable challenges, who apply different techniques in a wealth of ways. That'd a strength for the book.
Many concepts as labeled were unfamiliar to me 'biobehavioral feedback' and 'somatic intelligence,' although after they were defined and described, they also felt familiar. So, reading this, I had the experience of awakening recognition rather than learning for the first time.
There is a four part framework to guide the book, and I found this distracting. I think an outline would have served as well, or better, than a model. Perhaps it's an adaptation from training or a different forum, and a closer reading on my part would support deeper connection.
Many concepts as labeled were unfamiliar to me 'biobehavioral feedback' and 'somatic intelligence,' although after they were defined and described, they also felt familiar. So, reading this, I had the experience of awakening recognition rather than learning for the first time.
There is a four part framework to guide the book, and I found this distracting. I think an outline would have served as well, or better, than a model. Perhaps it's an adaptation from training or a different forum, and a closer reading on my part would support deeper connection.
I think this is an important topic and we should all become more somatic intelligent. The book has nice stories of people learning that.
However, I wish it were possible to learn how to do this yourself more, but the author basically says "work with a specialist to get better at this yourself".
That's why it feels a bit unsatisfying to read the whole book and then still think like "but how?".
However, I wish it were possible to learn how to do this yourself more, but the author basically says "work with a specialist to get better at this yourself".
That's why it feels a bit unsatisfying to read the whole book and then still think like "but how?".
First book I held in my hands this year. It was the right book for this season of life.
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
(written nov 2024, 2 months after finishing this book)
This is the first book I read on somatics and coaching, per recommendation of my masseuse/somatic therapist. While definitely very "out there", it's an interesting entry point into the concept of somatic therapy. It's written for coaches/body workers and not clients, but very accessible. Part of this is because the concepts are basic and none of the science is complex (largely because none of this has been explicitly rigorously studied).
I'm a natural skeptic but enjoy dipping my toes in low-cost and low-harm areas of wellness. So far, I've benefited from embodiments, some posture exercises (starting from the feet and pelvis), and thinking of my body and brain as a cohesive unit.
The book turned a bit too "corporate" for me in parts, and some claims felt fantastical. I'm a natural skeptic and resist corporate framework, but it was easy to put that aside and focus on what I found more useful.
Recommended if you're interested in wellness modalities like yoga and meditation, gentle movement, etc. and don't mind suspending disbelief. 2.5 stars rounded up.
This is the first book I read on somatics and coaching, per recommendation of my masseuse/somatic therapist. While definitely very "out there", it's an interesting entry point into the concept of somatic therapy. It's written for coaches/body workers and not clients, but very accessible. Part of this is because the concepts are basic and none of the science is complex (largely because none of this has been explicitly rigorously studied).
I'm a natural skeptic but enjoy dipping my toes in low-cost and low-harm areas of wellness. So far, I've benefited from embodiments, some posture exercises (starting from the feet and pelvis), and thinking of my body and brain as a cohesive unit.
The book turned a bit too "corporate" for me in parts, and some claims felt fantastical. I'm a natural skeptic and resist corporate framework, but it was easy to put that aside and focus on what I found more useful.
Recommended if you're interested in wellness modalities like yoga and meditation, gentle movement, etc. and don't mind suspending disbelief. 2.5 stars rounded up.
This is a great book that explains embodied in simple terms, great stories and clear examples.