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3.59 AVERAGE
3.59 AVERAGE
It took me a little while to get used to Ruby Wax's style (she writes exactly like she talks), I found it destracting at first.
But overall, I really enjoyed this book. The combination of personal stories and jokes (honest, funny, painful), and the explanations and theories about how our minds work (or don't work) is a good one. The personal part makes it relatable, personal. The science part makes it more than just another self help flick that tells you how to live without explaning why on earth you should do it their way (I haven't read any self help manuals, maybe they actually have well-researched claims too). Knowing what is happening when you are thinking anxious thoughts is already a way to loosen it's grips, I found.
The book shows:
- how a partly disfunctional mind can disrupt your ability to be happy,
- why most of us have those disfunctional tendencies (anxiety, worrying, jealousy, obsession with striped cushions, etc)
- what it means to live with depression,
- what parts of the brain do what, and what happens when they over or underperform,
- why mindfulness is a solution for a lot of these problems,
- how to exactly do this mindfulness thing.
But overall, I really enjoyed this book. The combination of personal stories and jokes (honest, funny, painful), and the explanations and theories about how our minds work (or don't work) is a good one. The personal part makes it relatable, personal. The science part makes it more than just another self help flick that tells you how to live without explaning why on earth you should do it their way (I haven't read any self help manuals, maybe they actually have well-researched claims too). Knowing what is happening when you are thinking anxious thoughts is already a way to loosen it's grips, I found.
The book shows:
- how a partly disfunctional mind can disrupt your ability to be happy,
- why most of us have those disfunctional tendencies (anxiety, worrying, jealousy, obsession with striped cushions, etc)
- what it means to live with depression,
- what parts of the brain do what, and what happens when they over or underperform,
- why mindfulness is a solution for a lot of these problems,
- how to exactly do this mindfulness thing.
Mental health is a sensitive and important subject, which Ruby Wax bludgeons in order to leave her fame-grabbing mark.
Unfortunately, Wax attempts to adopt an 'expert' position, presents a medicalised account of 'illness' and uses little research to back up her (often completely mis-stated) claims. I hope that readers cast a critical eye (or ear, as I did listening to it on audiobook) when broaching this book, rather than passively accepting the ill-informed diatribe presented as fact. I'm saddened by the sweeping generalisations made, which were not evidence-based, yet overstated with forceful conviction.
The biggest disappointment for me was the heavy reliance on the medical model of mental health. Despite lengthy discussions of the distressing elements of her life and repeatedly recalling trauma she had experienced, there was no acknowledgement of the psychosocial factors which influence mental health and emotional wellbeing. Why did I have to endure a rigid, biased and defensive recount of Ruby's own life, only for this all to be dismissed and the impact upon mental health minimised with a 'depression is when something goes wrong in the brain' message? Wax describes herself as a psychoanalyst, yet I'm sure many psychoanalysts are befuddled and bemused by this.
Ruby's reductionist rant repeatedly refers to her negative childhood experience of her mother - often at inopportune moments which jar the flow of the book rather than adding quality description - yet has no insight into the way she dismisses, abandons and rejects her own children. Wax uses this opportunity to slate those she sees as having wronged her and indulges in seething rants which she rounds off with irrelevant talk of synapses and neurons.
I am left with the sense that Ruby Wax is still trying to find her way, still in internal conflict with many anxieties and still working towards resolution of her issues.
This could be a wonderful opportunity for a reflective, open and insightful piece, which would engage many and help bring about a paradigm shift in the way emotional health is perceived. Thoughtful formulation of how Ruby's experiences have impacted upon her would have helped readers to understand that mental health problems are a product of wide and varied factors, including traumas, losses, relationships, culture, society, spirituality, physical health et al., and relate to this. Instead, it is presented as a mysterious medical illness which makes people with mental health issues seem defective, different or scary, and raises a barrier between those affected and those with better emotional health.
I am utterly disappointed and thoroughly concerned about the damaging messages which are conveyed throughout. Littered with errors and inaccurate statements, at best, this book is an insight into Wax's dark world. Dubbed as a self-help book, I can't imagine anyone wishing for support around mental health would gain anything positive from this. I recommend that you do not bother reading this book.
Unfortunately, Wax attempts to adopt an 'expert' position, presents a medicalised account of 'illness' and uses little research to back up her (often completely mis-stated) claims. I hope that readers cast a critical eye (or ear, as I did listening to it on audiobook) when broaching this book, rather than passively accepting the ill-informed diatribe presented as fact. I'm saddened by the sweeping generalisations made, which were not evidence-based, yet overstated with forceful conviction.
The biggest disappointment for me was the heavy reliance on the medical model of mental health. Despite lengthy discussions of the distressing elements of her life and repeatedly recalling trauma she had experienced, there was no acknowledgement of the psychosocial factors which influence mental health and emotional wellbeing. Why did I have to endure a rigid, biased and defensive recount of Ruby's own life, only for this all to be dismissed and the impact upon mental health minimised with a 'depression is when something goes wrong in the brain' message? Wax describes herself as a psychoanalyst, yet I'm sure many psychoanalysts are befuddled and bemused by this.
Ruby's reductionist rant repeatedly refers to her negative childhood experience of her mother - often at inopportune moments which jar the flow of the book rather than adding quality description - yet has no insight into the way she dismisses, abandons and rejects her own children. Wax uses this opportunity to slate those she sees as having wronged her and indulges in seething rants which she rounds off with irrelevant talk of synapses and neurons.
I am left with the sense that Ruby Wax is still trying to find her way, still in internal conflict with many anxieties and still working towards resolution of her issues.
This could be a wonderful opportunity for a reflective, open and insightful piece, which would engage many and help bring about a paradigm shift in the way emotional health is perceived. Thoughtful formulation of how Ruby's experiences have impacted upon her would have helped readers to understand that mental health problems are a product of wide and varied factors, including traumas, losses, relationships, culture, society, spirituality, physical health et al., and relate to this. Instead, it is presented as a mysterious medical illness which makes people with mental health issues seem defective, different or scary, and raises a barrier between those affected and those with better emotional health.
I am utterly disappointed and thoroughly concerned about the damaging messages which are conveyed throughout. Littered with errors and inaccurate statements, at best, this book is an insight into Wax's dark world. Dubbed as a self-help book, I can't imagine anyone wishing for support around mental health would gain anything positive from this. I recommend that you do not bother reading this book.
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
funny
informative
medium-paced
Contrary to other reviews, I actually found Wax funny and enjoyed her self depriving yet knowledgeable voice. She gave practice advice for mindfulness which I found useful, although by the end I was dragging a bit to finish the book. The section about neuroscience was probably my favourite part; she explained the parts of the brain and neurotransmitters in a quick and engaging way that flowed well and wasn’t overly bogged down with vocabulary. Overall, an easy read but nothing was especially standout either.
Content Warnings
Minor: Addiction, Mental illness, Self harm, Dementia
funny
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
She should've left out all of the (bad) jokes, but then there wouldn't be much left.
Wax is brave and funny woman opens up with interplay with her own story and facts on the mind. This helps the facts seem conversational, easier to process and stops from becoming overly preachy. This book has many faults though. There are very broad generalisations, repetition (her references to her degrees for instance) and a few placements of bad jokes. There are also negative jokes that are stereotyping of: illnesses, cultures or sexualities and he pronouns for refferences to humanity as a whole. It is in need of a good editor.
Aside from these faults, Wax communicates her subject matter with passion, knowledge, and wit. The book explains things in a refreshingly different manner with an easier way of comprehending the diverse subject matters within the text.
Aside from these faults, Wax communicates her subject matter with passion, knowledge, and wit. The book explains things in a refreshingly different manner with an easier way of comprehending the diverse subject matters within the text.
Humour was meh but enjoyed the practical suggestions etc
I did not really like it, i was annoyed by the authors somewhat bad sense of humor, and her excusing the harsh language with 'sorry if I offended anyone'. But I did like some parts, like when she wrote about her own depression, but after a while I got tired of the same things over and over and decided to not finish the book, something i usually do
REVIEW: Vacillates between 1 and 4-star level profundities. A few laughs, too. I may actually re-read it one day.
VERDICT: ~3 stars overall. Opinions will vary widely. This is not typical pop psychology; whether it's better or worse is up for you to decide.
VERDICT: ~3 stars overall. Opinions will vary widely. This is not typical pop psychology; whether it's better or worse is up for you to decide.