My review is here.

3.5/5

Good stuff dwells here. Will definitely revisit.

I actually really loved this book! There are so many practical exercises to try, which is so helpful. I also liked how the author wrote both as a researcher and a human, vulnerably sharing her personal experiences as a fellow traveler. I feel like so many of the world’s ills could be ameliorated by active practicing of the principles taught under the umbrella concept of self-compassion.

The content and exercises here are solid and prompted a few new ideas for perspectives and practices I may take - I'm glad I read it for those and for several of the author's personal stories and reflections. Many updates and further interpretation are needed, however, for the text to (a) be inclusive and welcoming of individuals who hold non-dominant social identities and (b) give fuller, proper credit to non-Western and Indigenous cultures and traditions for mindfulness and related practices.

I wish everybody would read that book. What a game changer for me!

This was the perfect book for me to read on the eve of turning 34. I am extremely self critical and self deprecating from years of growing up in an abusive home and school environment. And I know how unhelpful that has been and how much it has held me back in life and prevented me from accomplishing things.
So, reading this book was the wake up call I needed. And I’m trying to discern how to best implement many of these ideas into my own life.
I do think that her personal stories went on a bit too long to the point where it almost felt narcissistic. And I would have liked a little more meat and substance to what she gave us. But overall, I’m glad I read this when I did. And I hope to be able to integrate self compassion into my every day life. It won’t be easy. It will require years of undoing all those bad tapes. But I’m willing to give it a try.