How to Be You

September 15, 2016

The theme of both of these guidebooks is to find enjoyment in being oneself and to be free of pursuing perfection. Kite, an acupuncture master, helps people tune in to their own rhythms and direct their perspectives toward a sense of calm self-awareness. Vine top blogger Marsh encourages self-acceptance through coloring in charts, discovering self-defeating patterns, and listening to the stories of others who have transcended societal expectations of race, age, and gender. While Kite's work provides new ways in which to think about our relationship with the world, Marsh's emphasizes achieving one's own version of success. In compassionate chapters, he pushes readers to let go of the concepts of punishment and control and feel confident about being good enough. VERDICT Neither book is groundbreaking in offering suggestions for a self-acceptance to which all people aspire, but both suggest valid feel-good ideas.

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