Megan Fairchild, principal ballerina with New York City Ballet, presents several chapters on preserving one's emotional and mental health while living in the demanding world of professional dance. A few dancers with both American Ballet Theatre and New York City Ballet have written memoirs recently. Each one has presented a different voice to the challenges of the physical and mental demands inherent in the stressful world of a demanding ballet career.

Ms. Fairchild's book can be read and utilized by not only elite ballet dancers, but all people who seek their own personal best within their chosen profession. She presents chapters on handling anxiety, stagefright, self esteem, and perfectionism. She manages to discuss her decision to not read reviews of her work. (I presume she won't read this review). She tempers her high anxiety with Transcendental Meditation. She explains the necessity of having alternate interests and pursuits away from ballet- not just because a ballet career is a short one, but for the balance in one's own mind and life.

The Ballerina Mindset is not all about morning plies. It is a way of relating to oneself whether nor not one is an elite ballerina.

Many thanks to the author and publisher, as well as NetGalley for the eARC.