Good book that will stay with you for a bit after you read it. Well done and full of good lines. Defiantly one to add to you to be read pile.

Radically Content’ by Jamie Varon is a transformative guide that encourages readers to embrace a mindset of true contentment and fulfillment in their lives. With compassion and wisdom, Varon explores the essential principles and practices that can help individuals break free from the cycle of seeking external validation and find genuine happiness within themselves.

One of the most commendable aspects of ‘Radically Content’ is Varon's ability to blend personal anecdotes with relatable insights, creating a deeply empathetic and engaging reading experience. The author's writing style is warm and conversational, making the book accessible to readers from all walks of life. Varon's own journey of self-discovery and her vulnerability in sharing her experiences adds authenticity and credibility to the messages conveyed.

At the heart of ‘Radically Content’ lies the exploration of self-acceptance and self-love. Varon advocates for readers to embrace their authentic selves, imperfections and all, and to recognize their inherent worthiness. Through personal stories and reflective exercises, she guides readers on a path of self-discovery and encourages them to let go of societal pressures and expectations. The book instills a powerful reminder that contentment begins within and that genuine happiness can only be found by cultivating a deep sense of self-love and acceptance.

Another strength of ‘Radically Content’ is the author's emphasis on mindful living. Varon explores the practice of mindfulness and encourages readers to be fully present in their lives, to appreciate the simple joys, and to cultivate gratitude for the present moment. The incorporation of practical exercises and techniques throughout the book offers readers tangible tools to implement mindfulness in their daily lives, fostering a greater sense of well-being and contentment.

Varon also addresses the detrimental effects of comparison and the culture of social media, highlighting how they can hinder one's ability to find contentment. By exploring these themes, she encourages readers to shift their focus from external validation to internal fulfillment. The book serves as a reminder that true contentment is not found in external achievements or validation from others but in embracing one's unique journey and finding joy in the present.

A huge thank you to Rock Point and NetGalley for the advanced reader’s copy. All opinions are my own.

I was excited to see this book on NetGalley because I remember reading the author''s blog ages ago. I kept picking it up to read and not getting very far, and eventually realized that I was about 30% off the way through the book while still waiting for it to "start" - everything so far had felt like an intro. I wound up setting it aside in favor of starting something new, and by the time I remembered it and went to give it another try, my ARC had expired. Rating 3 stars because the parts I did get to read weren't terrible, I just ran out of patience to get into the substance instead of the set-up.

Unfortunately, this book just wasn't for me. I tried multiple times to read it and the tone and style wasn't my thing. A bit too much "memoir", and not enough "practical steps to bettering your life".

Part memoir and part critique of the social conditioning that led us, as a society, to the point of always striving for the next milestone because hustle culture is all the rage, Radically Content is Jamie Varon’s manifesto for living with intention.

I read this a few months ago while recovering from my second bout of Covid, and it felt like a much-needed pep talk from a friend. I mentioned that I was ill when I read it because this is a take what resonates and leave the rest type of book, which I know isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but I found it comforting. If I’d read it at another time, I might feel differently about it. But that’s true with most books!

Radically Content is about unlearning (unnecessary) societal expectations and learning to trust yourself. I appreciated Jamie’s acknowledgement of the privileges of being a white woman from a middle-class family. I also appreciated her talking about taking medication for anxiety and attending therapy because mental health recovery is not a one size fits all situation. What works for one person may not have the same effect on you.

Have you ever thought to yourself that you would finally be happy if only you could acheive this, afford that, be like this person, feel this? Well, that is an easy habit to fall into but it is really unproductive when it comes to practical contentment and happiness. Jamie Varon did a really amazing job at reminding me that contentment is not falling into mediocrity or complacency. Some of the topics discussed are control, guilt, shame, self-trust, defining your own version of success, living with intention and so much more. This book was a wake a call that I am grateful for.

I was hoping for more from this book. It ultimately felt droning and overly long without much substance. The author acknowledges that she comes from a privileged perspective as a young, white, middle class woman without disabilities and other issues that can make life more difficult. The book focuses on her issues and her life, and it just didn't feel relevant or helpful for me.

I first discovered Jamie Varon on Instagram. She would post a lot of blurbs/quotes that genuinely spoke to me. They were deep, concise and honestly so refreshing to read because in many instances they made me feel like I'm not alone in this.

So when I saw she had a book coming out, I did all that I could to get my hands on it (including slipping in her DMs lol).

I often think with self-help books, you take from it what you want/need. Not everyone has the same experiences in life so one person's advice isn't always going to work for others. With all that in mind, I'd say this book was done well. I'm excited for her next one and will continue to root for her.

Thank you Rock Point and Netgalley for a copy of this e-arc in exchange for my review.

I really wanted to read this book, but I could not due to the format. I tried everything, including the netgalley app, but the words were tiny and impossible to read. Really wish there had been an option for kindle!

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a great and thought provoking read! I liked the subject matter and the approach of the author. Gratefulness and self love are huge topics right now in the self help genre, but I haven’t seen many books dedicated to contentment. I liked it!

A refreshing look at ways to find contentment in a world filled with social expectations. Jamie Varon inspires the reader to create a contented life on his or her own terms.

I have a rocky relationship with self-help books. I’ve followed Jamie on Instagram for a while and since I enjoy hearing her perspective on various topics, I thought I’d give her new book a shot.

Out of all of the self-help and personal development books I’ve read, I think this one is the most relatable. It’s tackles capitalist-enforced hustle culture and the manipulative, toxic traits of our go-go-go, image-obsessed society. Jamie is honest and vulnerable, and I appreciate her willingness to share her story and experiences with the world. Also, I appreciate that Jamie disclosed her personal privilege at the beginning of the book, which is so important and generally lacking in this genre.

Much of this book is comprised of information and advice that readily exists at our fingertips. It’s not new or original, and that can often feel a little boring, lackluster, and frustrating while reading, especially when there’s not enough actionable steps on how to reach that point. Jaime isn’t a therapist, so I don’t hold that against the book but…still. It feels a bit like fluff after a while. However, I still think this book would be great for new readers of the self-help genre.

Thank you to NetGalley and Rock Point for the advanced reader copy!

Radically Content explores what it means to be content, unlearning things society has taught us. Overall it gave a clear message of what contentment truly is
This is a definite must read that should take permanent storage in your bedside table

I think it might be the burnout talking, but I am not sure if this was for me! The author does acknowledge some of her limitations of understanding in the start of the book, but the advice didn't really feel for me. Maybe I'll have to check it out again in another phase of my life.

I've been following Jamie on Instagram for years, and I really wanted to love this book. She's a great writer and her sentences really click with me. That being said, this book fell flat for me. I felt like it was a lot of telling, and not showing--mostly a lot of shoulds, and not many anecdotes or actionable ideas. The book just couldn't keep my interest.

3.75 ⭐️
I found this book super easy to follow and understand and to read. It was eye opening and a pleasant read for my first self help type book.
This is a book I will recommend as a great stepping stone to beginning a self help/self improvement journey. Jamie Varon has an enjoyable writing style to read.

#RadicallyContent #NetGalley

3.5 stars. Thanks to the publisher via NetGalley for the eARC of this book.

Self-help is a tricky genre. I think it is likely to be helpful to go into this one expecting more of a pep talk than actionable advice. In Radically Content, Jamie Varon does a good job of identifying what it is about the world we live in that makes us chronically dissatisfied with our own lives, and the opportunities that can open up when we reject the little voice in our head that tells us that sad and unfulfilled is the way we should aspire to be. Whilst this doesn't go hugely in depth, I identified quite uncannily with a lot of Varon's experiences and the thought patterns she found were making her unhappy. What it doesn't quite get into is the practical steps one must take to unlearn these behaviours - which, in a way, is fine - Varon isn't a therapist. Whilst it wasn't necessarily entirely 'radical', I came away from this feeling motivated and empowered, which is what I think it set out to do!

Thank you to Net Galley for a free copy of this book to review.

I loved this book. It was inspiring, relatable, and often spoke straight to my soul. Jamie encourages us to love ourselves where we are now, instead of constantly striving to do more and be more.

So much wisdom in this book. Also, it's beautiful. I love the design and colors.

I think this would be a great book for someone who wants activities to do to embrace their intuition but it seemed more advanced knowledge and I am just starting to learn the basics. I read this in the Netgally app so I'm guessing reading it in a physical book form will be much better. I think with learning theses practices it would be better to be away from screens so a paper book would be more helpful. I especially liked learning more about crystals and essential oils. I've been wanting to add more of this in my meditation practice.

Ugh...I hate this. I know how much work goes into writing a book and how much vulnerability and strength it takes to write a non-fiction/self-help book. I just couldn't finish this one. I made it to about the half way mark, where I think more tools were going to be discussed, but I was just so bored. I decided to throw in the towel. The cover of this book is BRILLIANT and I absolutely love it. I just wish I loved the book more. I question whether it would have helped to make this available on Kindle, but alas, thank you Netgalley for the eARC.