I'd give this 2.5 if I could. It's a big hot mess of memoir, neurology, psychology and mindfulness textbook. Wax's writing style really grates at times, with constant 'witty' asides, plus there's some casual homophobia in there that really ought to have been edited out (references to "the gays" and references to "lesbians and their cats" in lieu of marriages. come on) alongside default male pronouns. Sheesh.Basically, a tighter edit of this book would have improved it no end and made it a bit more focused, something it lacks, ironically enough.However, underneath all these flaws are some fascinating ideas about how our minds work, and it is chock full of genuinely useful exercises to try mindfulness for yourself which I will refer back to. Wax's enthusiasm for neurology is infectious and makes the subject come alive, so this book would make a good starting point for anyone unfamiliar with mindfulness.Her descriptions of what depression is like are fantastic, so I'd also recommend this book to carers and allies of those with MH problems. An average, slightly messy, mixed bag. The first fifty pages are almost unreadable: passage after passage of incoherent self-centred short sentences, like being unable to escape a self-important lush bending your ear. In the best case scenario, Wax is trying to illustrate the chaos of the mind before gradually putting things in order in later sections, but I came close to having to give up. Things do get better – and things were so bad to start with, that means it gets a lot better – and the balance of science (albeit with the surface being only lightly skimmed) and mindfulness strikes a reasonable balance.
What do You think about Tem Je Geest (2013)?
Inspirational read about how the mind works and how we can manage it with mindfulness.
—DxJojoxD
A funny and enjoyable introduction to the concept of neuroplasticity and mindfulness.
—Tris
Ruby wax lijkt me leuker op tv of in't echt, al is dat laatste moeilijk af te zetten
—Sandika
A funny book about depression, with homework. Ace.
—Oishee
