This book is meant to show how toxic positivity is...well...toxic. but honestly, I was bored through it. It had some interesting parts, some parts that just made sense and was like *light bulb, but other than that, it was more of a push in the "if you try to be too productive, you're wrong". I did like that it pointed out you don't always have to be "yay let's do it, this is going to be great" when you know it won't be. I felt like more people need to be reminded of that (myself included). I also felt like it could have been shorter and still got the point across and helped people not feel like they had to be positive all the time, even in times positivity isn't really the best option.

This book offered some interesting ideas, though I'm not sure any of it is "new" information. However, I still would buy a copy to keep on my bookshelf.

Israa Nasir’s Toxic Productivity takes a deep dive into the cultural obsession with hustle and the dangerous toll it takes on our mental and physical well-being.

The book is well-structured and carefully planned. The author writes with clarity, offering examples and illustrations that help make psychological concepts more accessible. Her insights into self-worth, shame, burnout, and perfectionism resonate deeply, especially in a society that often equates productivity with personal value. What I also liked were the thoughtful suggestions and actionable steps the author provides.

That said, while the book is well-written and purposeful, it didn’t feel groundbreaking to me. For those already familiar with concepts like hustle culture or burnout, much of the material may feel like a reiteration of ideas we’ve heard before.

Still, a good book, worth reading.

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC.

Review courtesy of NetGalley

Toxic positivity is a term I was not wholly familiar with in theory but in practice. When I came across this book I requested it to not only learn more about it but also to examine my own experiences with it. Nasir offers not only education but practical application to help to tackle the thinking and behaviors associated with Toxic positivity and how it can do more harm than good.

Nasir focuses on emotional and behavioral habits to help process triggers and habits that may contribute to a life of ones own design.

You will find this book helpful from the very beginning with practical application guides throughout.

If you are truly looking for a book that will be helpful, you would do well to jump into this one.

this was great, exactly what I expected it to be and more, I would highly recommend this to anyone who needs it!

Thank you netgalley, pesi publishing, and bridge city books for the e-arc in exchange for a honest review. I found this book easy to read and follow along. Perfect to share with clients in helping increase awareness in noticing patterns and tendencies for hyperoptimization resulting in toxic productivity. I especially appreciate the strategies to help break the pattern for more intentional rest and mindfulness.

Therapist Israa Nasir provides a framework for understanding your toxic productivity behaviours, how to start to challenge these and create more sustainable habits towards authentic goals. This is well researched and includes helpful and appropriate case studies from Israa’s experiences with her own clients. I wished that I had read this a few years ago when I was in the depths of toxic productivity - doing 2 postgraduate degrees and working part time - perhaps I could have developed sustainable practices before developing chronic illness. This was short enough that it didn’t feel like another chore to put on your list. She provides helpful summaries at the end of each chapter and helpful questions and exercises to allow you to engage with the content. I made lots of notes of things to use with my own clients as well as myself.

If you are someone who ties your worth to your productivity or who struggles with burnout or perfectionism this is the book for you!

Some interesting tips and strategies. Be more productive, avoid stress and burnout. Nothing new to what is already out there.

I recently had the chance to read “Toxic Positivity,” which was a rewarding experience, particularly the advice on pacing oneself while reading. Given the demands of my stressful job, the book struck a chord with me. I’m eager to see how it benefits others who might be grappling with similar challenges.

When I picked up this book I wasn’t expecting things to get so deep. 😅😂 As someone who recently quit a high stress career to be a SAHM I’ve struggled with a lot of toxic productivity trying to do anything and everything to give myself a purpose at home. Add in all those learning project activities and things you “should” do with your kids on social media and I was overwhelmed. 🥴

This book not only gives tips about how to combat toxic productivity but there were a lot of useful exercises to deep dive behind the “why” of these actions for each person. I discovered a lot behind my go-getter, check list making self in this book. I’d definitely recommend to those experiencing burn out or overwhelm from all of the “shoulds” in life!

I've read a million self help books over my lifetime. What sets Toxic Productivity apart from all the others? There are practical solutions in every chapter - exercises that are easy enough to do that will bring the points home and help as your journey through life. After all, what good is reading a book if you read it and put it on the shelf? But having something you can actually do will help the concepts stick.

The chapter (and part of another chapter) on Self Care was the best part of the book for me. With everyone trying to talk about self care and scheduling spa days or finding vacation time, only to feel obligated to continue "doing" something. We seem to lose sight of the fact that the idea of self care is that it will refresh and refill our energy bank. Allowing for space in our lives is crucial.

I really recommend this book for everyone - there is an area each of us can use to help us enjoy life more. After all, we are human BEINGS and not Human DOINGs.

I was given this book by NetGaley and the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own

"Even our proudest achievements cease to have any meaning for us; they're simply a row of checkmarks on a never-ending list, a line of stepping stones toward a destination we will never reach. This is what I call toxic productivity." Woof this one hit like a gut punch!!

This is a good introduction to all things toxic productivity...a concept that has been gaining more and more traction as people are feeling burnout more than ever and learning that being the person who can do "it all" is not going to last.

I liked the explanations and definitions, definitely a good introduction and foundation for anyone looking to adopt some ways of not trying to do it all or squeeze productivity into every waking moment.

Thank you NetGalley, Bridge City Books, and Israa Nasir for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

What a great book! I enjoyed this book quite a bit - it has a lot of great teaching on not just Toxic Productivity as a concept, but the journey of getting from toxic productivity to a healthier place. The combination of client experiences and personal experience was a great mix, and Israa kept me interested throughout the entire book.

I loved this book, it was very clear and easy to see how bad habits result in difficult behaviours that we can correct by making conscious choices. It will help you understand what is important and what is holding you back from being successful. I think this is a great read for anyone who struggles with busyness at work, or guilt from juggling a job (or more than one job) and family or personal life - it will help you reset your personal expectations and get out of the overwhelm.
I received an ARC via Netgalley - thank you!

I’m quite impressed by this one. I like to go into all self development books with a healthy dose of skepticism but I was pleasantly surprised with this one. There were a lot of relatable and validator messages, as well as really great feedback and good for thought. I felt like I have a mini therapy session. I would definitely recommend this book, thank you so much for the ARC opportunity

I’m so happy I picked up this book. The whole reading experience felt like a therapy session. It was a timely topic induced with real-life experiences, relevant sources, and psychological expertise. I initially thought my shallow understanding of toxic productivity would be addressed in here and I wondered what’s in store for me. I was wrong. It was a guidebook for life— to help you find and save yourself in your chaos. I’m so thankful for everything this book had taught me. This could serve as one of the instruments that can guide you in your self-discovery journey.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, and the author, Israa Nasir for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review.

Thank you to PESI Publishing | Bridge City Books, NetGalley, and Israa Nasir for this eARC of Toxic Productivity.

As an educational leader tasked with the wellbeing of teachers, students, and school communities at large, I found Toxic Productivity to effectively balance empowering the reader vs blaming the victim; establishing ownership over one's time/emotional space/joy vs casting aspersions at society; informing & entertaining the reader vs leaving readers slack-jawed and bored.

Well done and well worth a read for anyone who lives in a capitalist society, or really anywhere.

Toxic Productivity: Reclaim Your Time and Emotional Energy in a World That Always Demands More addresses the pervasive issue of hustle culture and its detrimental effects on mental health and personal fulfillment. The book aims to redefine productivity by emphasizing that it is not merely a time-management issue, but fundamentally an emotional management issue. Nasir argues that the relentless pursuit of achievement can lead to burnout and dissatisfaction, as individuals often chase societal markers of success without aligning them with their true values and desires.

The book focuses on:
Emotional Patterns: The book explores how emotional drivers such as self-worth, shame, and perfectionism contribute to toxic productivity habits. Nasir provides insights into recognizing these patterns and their impact on well-being.
Sustainable Habits: It offers guidance on cultivating healthier perspectives on achievement and creating sustainable habits that align with personal values rather than external expectations.
Reclaiming Time and Joy: Nasir encourages readers to untangle themselves from the demands of hustle culture, aiming for a life that is not just productive but also meaningful and joyful.

In a world increasingly obsessed with achievement, Toxic Productivity serves as a timely reminder to prioritize emotional well-being over relentless productivity. It invites readers to reflect on their motivations and redefine success in a way that fosters genuine fulfillment.

Although I don’t usually read self help books I really enjoyed this one. It made me see my habits in a different way. It was so simple but such an important reminder that your habits, just like everything in the world, aren’t simple to be put in good/healthy/white and bad/destructive/black boxes. There were many things in the book that I didn’t relate to but the advice seemed good, I think. Like I said, I couldn’t relate so I can’t really say if the advice is good or not. However, when I could relate to certain chapters, I felt clarity. It’s really well written and I would 100% recommend it.

This was a great read! I liked the calling out of burnout and how to stop that cycle. I think it was an engaging read, and it had a lot of info, tips and tricks, and research backed info. I liked it!

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for an honest review!!