Firstly, thank you so much to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for this honest review.

I read a lot of spirituality-focused self-help books. There are dozens of titles out there that offer regimented, step-by-step plans purporting to give the reader a clear outline of what changes to make in their life to radically change themselves. Journaling! Meditation! Energy work! These are some of the habits and activities that seem to pop up in most of these, with differing levels of commitment and in which order. For those who are put off by the seemingly impersonal, almost reprimanding tone of many of these books, Devi Brown’s Living In Wisdom will be a welcome reprieve from the wide swath of other titles on the topic.

Instead of taking a you-must-do-these-things-in-this-order approach to authenticity and self-awareness, this book unfolds more like a much-needed conversation with a friend who is deeply invested in your well-being and lending guidance as you seek it. Grouped into three parts, the Living In Wisdom focuses on establishing awareness as a needed jumping off point, moving to pillars of practice and healing. Many elements are covered in other books, but Living In Wisdom encourages the reader to take time to self-reflect with the information provided and, perhaps more importantly, to ground their interest in a devotion to one’s healing, evolution, and self-care.

Having walked a difficult path to change and acceptance herself, Devi Brown includes many personal stories and first-hand accounts of how her relationships and working life have been improved by her willingness to center her healing and identify that which was blocking her path. One of my most valued insights from this book is her mention of “barriers to healing,” about which she states, “I quickly learned that I was not meant to show them— or you— how to dissolve those barriers. I am only meant to show people how to investigate the againstness they have to something.” This focus on awareness, acceptance, and internal reflection as opposed to needing to do specific things in a specific way comes across as an empowering practice, putting the capability of evolution back in the reader’s hands.

Some of my other favorite parts of this book were its chapters on movement and touch, setting boundaries, and the importance of seeking and cultivating personal joy. Having spent much reading time on the theoretical considerations of personal growth, I appreciate the encouragement to practice what feels good and to not lose sight of the necessity of joy in one’s daily practice and life overall. I think this book would be a great resource for those who are new to the topic, but also valuable to folks like me who have already read a lot of books in this theme.

This review will be posted at the below GoodReads account after March 22, 2025 (one month prior to publication).