Books & Literature

Book Review: Change Your Thinking to Change Your Life, by Kate James

SELF-HELP: Positive psychology, Acceptance & Commitment Therapy, and neuropsychology techniques to help connect more fully with the wonder of life.

A wordy but very practical guide to self-awareness and self-improvement.
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Australian mindfulness expert, Kate James, has released four previous self-improvement books, with this latest falling somewhere between a good read and a practical workbook.

At almost 300 text-heavy pages, it’s a hefty read, but the author’s recommendation is not to plough through it from cover to cover. Instead, each of the 30 chapters has a workbook component to complete and contemplate before moving on to the next chapter. Some of these self-reflection exercises will only take minutes; others much longer.

Although the style is chatty and warm, the book is dense with information. James uses a combination of personal reflection, hybrid stories of clients, and methodologies from a number of experts in the field. It is a smart combination to add context and examples to the theories, and to learn from the teachings of many respected voices.

Furthermore, James has divided her book into two very distinct sections. The first focusses on reconnecting with yourself–learning to understand yourself, be honest, and reflect on both the good and bad of your life. She asks the reader to recognise their strengths, values, and needs, while considering their own vision of a perfect and meaningful life.

The second section delves into techniques for change, from the way you think to creating possibilities and finding your tribe. This is where the real work begins and ends, so this section takes up the bulk of the book, as expected. Topics include recognising self-sabotage, overcoming imposter syndrome, practicing self-compassion, facing fears, and building resilience.

Change Your Thinking to Change Your Life is a comprehensive guide to self-improvement, with the workbook components helping the reader to put the knowledge to use immediately rather than simply read-and-forget. With each step separated out, it allows the end-user to take baby steps on the path to self-awareness and change. Don’t let the density of the text put you off.

Reviewed by Rod Lewis
Twitter: @StrtegicRetweet

Distributed by: Pan Macmillan Australia
Released: 27 January 2021
RRP: $32.99

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