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3.61 AVERAGE
3.61 AVERAGE
I feel bad for giving this two stars. It wasn’t bad at all, there were actual insightful passages and some of it really resonated with me, but I just couldn’t get into it? I’m not even sure what it was...but it wasn’t for me. I only got about 150 pages in before I closed it for the last time.
This was an interesting and valuable read. I appreciated the intimate and honest view through a lens of anxiety. It helped me gain awareness and appreciation for my own anxiety which is at high levels in 2020, and also have more understanding and compassion for the anxiety of others. Essential read for anyone who experiences anxiety or is in relationship with someone who does.
Not what I thought it would be. A bit too psychology textbook for me.
As a very long time follower of Sarah Wilson, I so wanted to love this book. She is an inspirational person who has helped me greatly with my health (mental and physical).
I applaud her bravery and honesty as some aspects of the book are very hard to read. Evisceratingly honest, one might say. Some of her ideas, and approaches and themes about anxiety's manifestations and how to manage and even live with it are excellent and I think will be (largely) helpful to many readers.
But dear lord it is badly written. I understand that the meandering structure is probably intended to mirror her journey to some extent, but it is sometimes a real struggle to follow her threads, internally inconsistent, has a severe over use of !!!!! and Sentences like 'But still.' or 'Do you understand where I am coming from?'
If you told me it was in fact a compilation of a whole lot of her blog posts (which I know it is not) I would not be at all surprised.
It reads like a mishmash of teenage diary, pseudo pop science, random thoughts about stuff and life, snippets of quotes from key thinkers on the topic and modern day confessional. If this grabs you then go for it.
(And I know this is such a minor point but the references to 'my staff'? Argggh).
I wonder if the structure, writing and language was a deliberate decision by her editor, or rather the result of an editor who was not able to properly control her author.
I applaud her bravery and honesty as some aspects of the book are very hard to read. Evisceratingly honest, one might say. Some of her ideas, and approaches and themes about anxiety's manifestations and how to manage and even live with it are excellent and I think will be (largely) helpful to many readers.
But dear lord it is badly written. I understand that the meandering structure is probably intended to mirror her journey to some extent, but it is sometimes a real struggle to follow her threads, internally inconsistent, has a severe over use of !!!!! and Sentences like 'But still.' or 'Do you understand where I am coming from?'
If you told me it was in fact a compilation of a whole lot of her blog posts (which I know it is not) I would not be at all surprised.
It reads like a mishmash of teenage diary, pseudo pop science, random thoughts about stuff and life, snippets of quotes from key thinkers on the topic and modern day confessional. If this grabs you then go for it.
(And I know this is such a minor point but the references to 'my staff'? Argggh).
I wonder if the structure, writing and language was a deliberate decision by her editor, or rather the result of an editor who was not able to properly control her author.
I enjoyed this book's mix of research and personal reflection. Many of her metaphors were helpful and I like the way she encourages a strengths-based view of anxiety. She lost me a couple times towards the end of the book with her reflections of laying in a hut for hours/days. I also noticed the inconsistencies in editing that others picked up. I'm a psychologist so her conclusions and generalizations stretched me a bit when they conflicted with current conclusions based on science. I do know that these, too, change, however. I could have done without the repetitive food recommendations and there was one chapter in particular that seemed very "Cosmo" or "Teen Vogue" quiz-like. She somehow grouped people by their frame, teeth!?!, and other seemingly random qualities with predictions of their anxiety levels. This section was bizarre. She made up for it, however, in her honest reflection of how lonely and isolating anxiety can feel.
A brutally honest approach to what anxiety looks like. While my experience has not been the same, I appreciate Wilson’s frankness; seeing successful, powerful women who’ve grappled with “the beast” is helpful to me. I would have liked more science to back up some of the statements made, but if you look at this book as a memoir (rather than informational nonfiction), it’s satisfying and real.
What an interesting and uneven book. A friend of mine loves this one, and I think it's because it ends SO well. The last two chapters were by far the best.
I'd describe this book as an amalgamation of anxiety-coping suggestions and memoir, uneven and messy. That's both in content and in tone, and if you like neat and tidy books this probably isn't the one for you. There's a lot of privilege that seeps through the pages (opportunities that the author has that most of us couldn't even dream of) and that could be frustrating as well.
Despite this, I enjoyed the read (even if it was a little long) and found a few helpful tips to help my friends who struggle with anxiety. As someone who is not a "life natural" but doesn't necessarily struggle with anxiety (at least beyond the normal life stress), I still liked reading this book.
I'd describe this book as an amalgamation of anxiety-coping suggestions and memoir, uneven and messy. That's both in content and in tone, and if you like neat and tidy books this probably isn't the one for you. There's a lot of privilege that seeps through the pages (opportunities that the author has that most of us couldn't even dream of) and that could be frustrating as well.
Despite this, I enjoyed the read (even if it was a little long) and found a few helpful tips to help my friends who struggle with anxiety. As someone who is not a "life natural" but doesn't necessarily struggle with anxiety (at least beyond the normal life stress), I still liked reading this book.
I’ve never had someone explain my anxiety to me in a way that makes sense. To give me actionable steps I can use and an amoebic “goal” to reach for in my journey with anxiety.
Having a tool like this book to return to when I start spiraling is a gift for people like me with generalized anxiety (meaning I am anxious about nothing in particular a lot), and for those who love someone with anxiety. Definitely earned those 5 stars.
Don’t try and read this is you’re still struggling with back to back panic attacks, though. I tried reading this during my darkest days and I got two pages in and just stared at the same page for a week. Get a handle on your anxiety spikes and then go for it.
Having a tool like this book to return to when I start spiraling is a gift for people like me with generalized anxiety (meaning I am anxious about nothing in particular a lot), and for those who love someone with anxiety. Definitely earned those 5 stars.
Don’t try and read this is you’re still struggling with back to back panic attacks, though. I tried reading this during my darkest days and I got two pages in and just stared at the same page for a week. Get a handle on your anxiety spikes and then go for it.
all the citations are hidden away in her website instead of in the book ((where they belong)) it's driving me insane
This book made me feel anxious. It moves from one topic to another very quickly, and is a bit skittish in its pacing. Plenty of actions and recommendations, which is overwhelming, and it seems to come from a woman who's got it all figured out but has skipped from one lucky stepping stone to another. No, she wasn't born into wealth, but I'm not sure her choices are very relatable (taking a month off to hide & figure you're sh** out being an example). I would recommend reading this much more articulate review before diving into this book with high expectations. https://firststepsed.co.uk/book-review-first-we-make-the-beast-beautiful/
I did like the idea of tilting amid the chaos & leaning in to things that anchor you, but I'm not sure that's good advice for a chronic yes woman like me, I think it's more likely to end in another episode of burnout...
I did like the idea of tilting amid the chaos & leaning in to things that anchor you, but I'm not sure that's good advice for a chronic yes woman like me, I think it's more likely to end in another episode of burnout...