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pickleburns's review against another edition
3.0
While engaging to read, there comes a point toward the end where Pollack tips his hand in such a way that paints the entire book as an artifact of the same yoga culture he critiques -- a cynical yoga product to make another yoga buck. That may be more or less the meta-joke behind this often hilarious and fun book.
However, I'm not sure that level of cynicism was the intent, as the author makes a few seemingly genuine attempts to present the story as an arc wherein yoga helps him find something he thought he lost in himself. And to be honest there are a several moments when he shows that he either understands or directly experienced something genuinely profound, and he presents these insights very clearly. But at the end of the day he is both his best self and his worst self, and the result is pretty unspectacular, if enjoyable to follow.
However, I'm not sure that level of cynicism was the intent, as the author makes a few seemingly genuine attempts to present the story as an arc wherein yoga helps him find something he thought he lost in himself. And to be honest there are a several moments when he shows that he either understands or directly experienced something genuinely profound, and he presents these insights very clearly. But at the end of the day he is both his best self and his worst self, and the result is pretty unspectacular, if enjoyable to follow.
traceyanneg's review against another edition
4.0
This book was really entertaining for me. Neal Pollack discusses how he came to begin practicing yoga and his experiences in the yoga world. I loved reading his take on yoga festivals, retreats, some of the bigger names in yoga. He's a funny writer and, in my opinion, more of a typical yoga guy like I might meet in my classes. I don't think that this would be a fun read for a non-yoga lover, but it is good for yoga enthusiasts.
amberzieg's review against another edition
4.0
I fell in love with this book within the first thirty pages. From his first classes with teachers that obviously shouldn't have been teaching, to his absolutely unrelenting descriptions of his struggles and insecurities I was totally drawn in. I loved seeing how someone so cynical and grumpy could grow so much from a yoga practice, and Pollack does a lovely job of describing his own growth without being high and mighty. To me, yoga is a highly sacred thing, and this book describes that. It also addresses the pretentiousness that is so commonly found in the yoga scene with complete honesty and as a result is hilarious. I highly suggest it to just about anyone with a sense of humor.
mary412's review against another edition
3.0
Neal Pollack is a very clever writer, but his style grates on my after awhile. Stretch started as a magazine piece and that may be the problem. I bet I'd like him better in small doses. One of his other books is about his adventures in fatherhood and I may give that a try in a few month.
eraofkara's review against another edition
1.0
Honestly, I didn't finish this book. As someone who's newly into yoga - and as someone with a punk background who wrestles with the perceived woo-woo hippie nature of yoga - I was looking forward to reading what I hoped would be a similar journey. Instead, what I got were the clipped, unfinished-feeling tales of a guy who got big with McSweeney's, became a destructive asshole, really got into yoga, but still somehow remained a navel-gazing asshole (well, maybe the mindfulness lessened his attitude to a mere dickishness).
Maybe I need to write the book I'm looking for.
Maybe I need to write the book I'm looking for.
in2reading's review against another edition
3.0
Neil Pollack is funny guy and his story of how yoga helped him be a better person is an interesting read. However, I found myself more impressed by the yoga spiritual philosophy rather than inspired to actually try yoga positions for myself!
sbaunsgard's review against another edition
3.0
This seems similar, and yet not similar to Dan Kennedy's Rock On.
kpowers's review against another edition
2.0
So, the whole story is that Neal Pollack likes to do yoga. A lot of yoga. He travels to do yoga. He drives around town to do yoga. His wife begrudgingly lets him do all of this while she takes care of their kid. And, yes, this is the whole story. You can read the 320 pages yourself, if you'd like, but it's really just a lengthier version of what I just said.
At first, the idea of the book really interested me. How is it that a regular guy becomes a full-on yoga teacher?? But it's a dry read from there. I would have loved to see more of the struggle, because this book makes it seem so easy. I know from personal experience that dedicating so much of your life to the practice can be really hard, especially when you have a lot of things going on all at once.
I previously read "Yoga Bitch" by Suzanne Morrison. THAT is the type of yoga memoir I was hoping to get with Pollack. Morrison showed the true, genuine struggle alongside the immense joys of yoga. At the end of the day, Morrison showed a real journey with her practice and maintained the point that, "Look, despite it all, my yoga is worth it."
Pollack didn't really give me that.
It's a good read if you're looking for something kind of mindless. I read a few pages here and there while drinking my coffee or right after work to de-stress. It's not terribly written, it's just not super exciting.
At first, the idea of the book really interested me. How is it that a regular guy becomes a full-on yoga teacher?? But it's a dry read from there. I would have loved to see more of the struggle, because this book makes it seem so easy. I know from personal experience that dedicating so much of your life to the practice can be really hard, especially when you have a lot of things going on all at once.
I previously read "Yoga Bitch" by Suzanne Morrison. THAT is the type of yoga memoir I was hoping to get with Pollack. Morrison showed the true, genuine struggle alongside the immense joys of yoga. At the end of the day, Morrison showed a real journey with her practice and maintained the point that, "Look, despite it all, my yoga is worth it."
Pollack didn't really give me that.
It's a good read if you're looking for something kind of mindless. I read a few pages here and there while drinking my coffee or right after work to de-stress. It's not terribly written, it's just not super exciting.
carthurs's review against another edition
4.0
I loved this book. Pollack is not afraid to overshare, with great results. I found myself saying "hell yeah!" aloud during his passages on Yoga Thailand and Wanderlust. I was happy to read about a pop culture satirist finding his way through the yoga market BS to find truth for himself.