Definitely takes a unique approach to self-improvement. The premise challenges the conventional idea of the self, arguing that our identities are often just constructs that lead to stress and dissatisfaction. I appreciated the clear writing and the bite-sized chapters that offered some solid insights into embracing a more expansive awareness. It’s the kind of book you can keep around for quick advice when you’re feeling overwhelmed.

However, I found myself feeling a bit let down overall. While some ideas were intriguing, it felt like just another self-help book that didn’t bring anything fresh to the table. A few sections got overly technical for my taste, and I think a lighter, more humorous touch would have made it more engaging. If you’re into exploring the concept of no-self, it might be worth a read, but I’d say it’s not for everyone—definitely a 2-star experience for me!

The No-Self Help Book was a quick read with lots of good advice. It's written in a clear and easy to understand way with examples of how to identify and embrace your thoughts and help shut the mind up! This is a good book to keep around as a guidebook for those times when you may be struggling and need some concise and good advice quickly!

Thank you for the ARC copy.

Exquisite, an invitation to a benevolent Paradigm of unified expanded consciousness

The authors begin by explaining in its study model, so very accessible, nontechnical, how our rational mind generated our personality or "self". They emphasize us that this self-image is a cognitive process and not really what we are. Limitation occurs because our mind differentiates between self and others, also arranges individual identity into categories, which results in a sense of alienation that causes us unhappiness, where we only see a part of reality about ourselves and the world, and therefore we miss the Wholeness. At this point, the authors detail us a number of distinctions that makes the Self for self-preservation and better understand this process of self-image.

This is where the book gets really interesting as the authors explain how it would be to experience ourselves and our experiences in what they have called the No-Self. This dimension of expanded experience, the Non-Self, is where we allow ourselves to go beyond this culturally conditioned identity to a state of consciousness in which we become aware of our body-mind aspects, which is also transpersonal or metatranspersonal. This universal dimension or "field of awareness, the net that includes everyone else's conciousness", is where this unified perspective comes from, we feel part of the Whole and / or where all others are part of Us, in which it is possible that we interconnect with empathy, acceptance, trust and love.

The authors invite us to choose intentionally and deliberately to participate in this new paradigm of unified collective consciousness, of the We in a satisfactory (fulfilled) shared experience, in a healthy interaction for the benefit of all. They do not suggest giving up our individuality, but to move more freely between Self and Non-Self, where if we are not slaves of the fragmented narrative of the Self we can be more empowered while still being yourself, but at the same time expand into a unified experience, of inclusiveness of the billions of beings on the planet. Seeing reality free of judgment that ennables full awareness of the moment we express our authentic being, a state of Being that allows us to respond with the same responsibility, generosity and love towards Us (myself and the others unified)..

The third part is a compendium of the extensive bibliographical research that gives substance to the content of this work. The book is presented within the theoretical framework of the neurosciences and does not contain practical exercises, although there are some routes to follow. For me these investigations are important and relevant, especially for intellectuals who give more weight to the young science than ancient wisdom traditions of the world. Regarding the latter, we can find very useful practical exercises to develop the state of No-Self.

My appreciation to the Publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to review the book

The No-Self help book has good info and advice. The info and advice are good, but I just couldn’t get into the authors writing style. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a good book, and will work, but I personally didn’t “click” with the authors style.

Another boring self-help book. So many offer great ideas, but to me this was just the run of the mill type self help. I'm getting to where self help books are just wash, rinse repeat.

'The No-Self Help Book' by Kate Gustin proposes that the inner voice inside of us has hijacked our sense of knowing who we are. Essentially, we are not our “self” because the self does not exist. The self in modern Western society and psychology is most similar to the “ego” but further research has discovered that it’s actually a complex system that is controlling, persecuting, and dis-empowering. This was layed out in the ‘Introduction’ which was easy to understand and got me interested in reading the rest of the book.

The first part of the book ‘Selfhoods’ was the strongest section of this book in my opinion. It clearly outlined all of the ways we buy into our own stories at the expense of truly living an expansive life. We tend to over-identify with our emotions and narratives which degrades any values and dreams that we might have. The theme throughout this first section was about understanding that we are not our thoughts, and this is facilitated through having a solid value system. The second section of the book ‘No-Self Speaks’ was eye-opening. It was written in first person so that it seemed like the “no-self” was speaking directly to you. It outlined all of the ways we distort reality by listening to the demands of our emotions. On a side note, this whole section could have been included in the introduction whereby we learn that the “no-self” is just a clever name for consciousness...that we are an extension of everything. The theme throughout this second section was about not taking anything personally. The third section of the book ‘To Self or Not to Self’ combined the previous two sections of the book to show how following the guidance presented in this book can bring more presence and awareness to your life, as the author says “No-self is the largest context in which awareness of everything arises.” It becomes obvious in this chapter that we do have the power to choose our thoughts and feelings. Questions to ask oneself in certain situations and in interactions were included throughout this section which was very much needed. I will say that the sub-section on ‘Decision Making’ was weak and unresolved.

I have only read this book once, but I know I will be using these techniques to the best of my ability. As someone who tends to over-think and over-analyze things, I found this book to be extremely eye-opening. It was a little unsettling to discover that most self-help books out there are indirectly serving the ego. For this reason ,I believe Kate Gustin is disrupting the whole self-help industry which is long over-due. This book is revolutionary, and ironically, ‘The No-Self Help Book’ has helped me a lot.

It was too technical and scientific for me. It was boring to read unfortunately. I am sure the author could use more her humorous facet. I liked the beginning. It would be interesting to read a psychological book written in a fun way.

I enjoyed Kate's approach to getting the reader out of the "false narratives" and view points we have for ourselves and how we can get to living our life.

The No-Self Help Book is crafted to revitalize your life by helping you to discover your inner potential and break free of self-limiting beliefs.

In No-Self Help book, Kate Gustin helps the reader take the first step in discovering their potential. She starts out by identifying the self which only exists because of the meaning we give to it, and thus hinders us from knowing who we truly are.

The second section is No-self; here the author introduces us to our no-self which we tend to overlook and reveals our true identity underneath the falsehoods of self.

Finally, “To Self or Not to self?” is a section that helps us weigh the costs and benefits associated with maintaining our identity from the self’s standpoint. Using The Effectiveness Test, Kate offers the last keys to unlocking a better path to living our fullest by choosing no-self and letting go of self.

I received my ARC from NetGalley and Non-Duality Press in exchange for an honest review.

The No-Self Help Book proposes an interesting idea about modern society, ego and listening to the voice in our heads.
In her book, Kate Gustin gives the reader reason to get out of your own head to improve yourself by having no-self. This is a Buddhist idea that is applicable to life today.

I think in an ideal worl we would all have ‘no self’ but in this world of ego and having so many people with views on our behavior makes it very difficult. I still haven’t learnt how to separate out my self but this book makes me believe it’s worth the battle to keep trying.

I first encountered the idea of an empty self or a no-self in Robert Wright's Why Buddhism Is True book. I have consciously tried to read more about it since that time.

When I saw this book, I thought this was a brilliant detail into the idea.

The book was interesting. I especially liked the first part where we talk about self. I couldn't relate much to the idea of no-self as given in part 2. I got the basic idea but couldn't really get into the chapters. The part 3 was the best part about the book where the author talks about how selfing is not effective in some situations and how to handle them.

Overall, a very interesting perspective that will keep me thinking for days.

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley.