The Monkey Mind Workout helped me to quiet my own monkey mind which is such a blessing! Jennifer Shannon is so relatable and wrote in a lovely motivational way!

As someone who lives with and deals with anxiety on a regular basis I was happy to see this book. There is so much information packed into this book and great tips and strategies to help manage anxiety. Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for an ARC.

I would recommend this book not just for people with anxiety but for anyone who wants to navigate the changes of life a little easier. If you’re familiar with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) then the principles in this book are not new. However the way the author structures her 30-day program is unique: the book offers actual steps you can take to change your behavior. I love being able to check things off a list. And the analogy of the monkey mind makes sense in a way that I haven’t seen before.

I think Sharon’s suggestions for action and reflection in this book are excellent and I will be trying some out myself. A good book for insight into monkey mind and how to alter that habit.

“You can’t avoid uncertainty, although you can make peace with it”

And this book can help you do just that.
Whether clinically anxious or everyday anxious, everyone is wired the same way, and the intolerance of uncertainty is so deeply ingrained in our culture that it's considered normal. Even though this kind is the most common, perfectionism and over-responsibility are also to blame and the book will address all three types (specifying that it's not unusual or unexpected to find them mix up together).
The exercise program presented in this book is structured in 30 days, each with a challenging but doable task, and its purpose is to make you more resilient to the feelings and emotions that arise when you are faced with uncertainty.
Although I only read the exercises in the program without executing them, they really seem to address many sources of anxiety, and they not only come with comics depicting everyday situations you can identify yourself in, but they also have an explanation of the reason why you're going to benefit from them.
About the comics, one of them contains the only thing that stained my otherwise pleasant reading - a cheap shot and mockery disguised as a joke at the expense of vegans. I really don't appreciate the dismissal or undermining of a minority of any kind, with no correlation to the topic at all, only to push someone's agenda and make them the subject of ridicule.
If you have anxiety and don't care about a problematic issue that should be addressed, but instead you discard the author's opinion as she preaches something that goes against her high purpose of freeing you from anxiety, it's worth a shot.

“Remember, the only bad exercise is the one that didn’t happen. So, what are you waiting for? Let the welcoming begin!”

Useful activities for work through anxiety, stress and uncertainty. Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Monkey Mind Workout for Uncertainty by Jennifer Shannon is an illustrated book that shares a mental workout designed to eliminate your anxiety so you can stop spinning in uncertainty and focus on what's important. This is a 30-day program with an exercise for each day that will make your mind stronger and more flexible the more frequently you train it. After this program, you will be able to see obstacles as opportunities and cope with negative emotions during obstacles, leading to a more positive headspace.

This book is a quick read that gives the reader bite sized pieces to go through each day. I found it interesting the exercises in he book are based on cognitive behavioral techniques. It was also almost like exposure therapy as many of the exercises have you practice putting yourself in uncertain situations to build your tolerance to doubt and confusion. For me, I appreciated the Lose Your Health Assurance exercise as I frequently research and. analyze my data about my health.

This is the first book in a three book series and I am curious how future books in the series will build on this book!

Many thanks to the publisher X and Netgalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and New Harbinger for the chance to read an early copy of this book!

This book was a very fun read with easy activities to practice making peace with uncertainty. I was nervous when the introduction compare her approach to a rollercoaster, but actually the activities are quite doable, with a focus on going very slightly outside your comfort zone and observing how you felt. Some examples: drive a new route than your usual even if it's not as efficient; make a minor decision based on a coin flip; cover up the clock in your car and don't think about whether you'll be late. (The author does jokingly say to do these within reason, and maybe don't take the long way on the day of a big presentation!) There are also cute little "monkey" illustrations to bring home the point. This was a self-help book that was practical and easily actionable, but also enjoyable to read.

For the most part, I found this to be a pretty good read. The author provides a high-level explanation of the workings of anxiety, with a specific focus on the role of uncertainty, before plunging into the 30 exercises that make up the rest of the book.

I really liked how simple and actionable each of the exercises were. The author starts out small and has the reader incorporate a simple reward system for each successful completion of the exercise. Additionally, the language used in the book is very supportive and nurturing; for example, there's an emphasis on not dwelling on any perceived failures and remembering the value of effort over success.

That said, I finished this read feeling a little underwhelmed. For one thing, a lot of the exercises felt like a rewording of previous exercises. With space for only 30 exercises in order to fit the format, I just felt like there could have been more variety.
Additionally, it felt like there was a heavy focus on behaviors that are closer to what many would call OCD rather than anxiety. For example, checking and breaking routine were thoroughly explored, but there wasn't very much about avoidance or overthinking. Behaviors related to social anxiety also weren't covered.

I honestly felt a little misled once I finished the book, hence the 3-stars. As a book about anxiety, it's not super helpful because not everyone with anxiety experiences OCD, and I think it would've been better if it had been marketed toward OCD specifically.

Quite an impressive book! This read surprised me. I wasn't sure what to expect, but I truly enjoyed and appreciate the "monkey mind", a clever way to compartmentalize and externalize some of our reflex thoughts and causes of anxiety .

Each chapter targets a great cause of stress and anxiety, with accompanying brief cartoons that are humorous and embody each sentiment well. The author describes actionable ways to lean in to feelings, self-awareness, and personal acceptance in effort to overcome negative thinking.

I highly recommend. I'm sure at least a handful of the chapters will relate to a "monkey mind" version that you have experienced.

The above review is mine without influence.

"The Monkey Mind Workout for Uncertainty" is a psychologist's perspective on how to acclimate to uncertainty. In our current times, where it feels like the entire world is drowning in uncertainty, the book aims to provide tools to build one's 'resiliency muscle' in order to float as opposed to sink. The book provides 30 days worth of exercises to prevent being trapped in a cycle of worry, stress and anxiety.

Some of the exercises did not apply to me, and my individual anxiety, however, it most certainly provided me with an insight into overlooked/seemingly normal, unhealthy behaviors that infiltrate our daily lives. I loved that the book contained humorous illustrations, making it easy to understand and relate to.

If you're someone who loves control and you're struggling to adapt to a world of uncertainty, I would highly recommend giving this book a read.

Incorporating aspects of this in my private practice. This was such a great, informative read. Highly recommend!!