The Year of No Nonsense

September 23, 2019
Four-time Ironman triathlete Atwood (Triathlon for the Every Woman) calls out habits of lying, people pleasing, self-shame, and perfectionism, among others, as unproductive “nonsense” in this lively testament. She offers tips on how to recognize and eliminate different kinds of self-destructive behavior (nodding to Buddhism with a section on recognizing suffering); advice for rooting out the deep, subconscious reasons one allows nonsense in; and a road map for eliminating nonsense on an ongoing basis. Along the way, she includes self-reflection prompts to help readers build their blueprint for living a no nonsense life. Atwood’s brisk, humorous, and often profane writing style suits the subject matter well. A combination of hard-nosed coach and wise-cracking friend, she extols the benefits of “grit” and “hustle” at one moment before describing herself as a “Trash Panda Dumpster Diver” who will eat nearly anything being thrown out. The book’s numerous parenthetical asides and metaphors—the “Truth Onion,” the “Yard Sale Life,” the “One Nonsense Thing”—sometimes slow the pacing, but the short chapters and checkpoints help cement key concepts. Readers who appreciate their self-help with a wink and a healthy dose of pragmatism will appreciate this blunt and instructive work.