Want to develop your character? Read some Russian literature lmao

I read 10 Percent Happier and enjoyed it. I related to Dan Harris’ anxiety issues. Tried the mindfulness and meditation so I did find it helpful since even though I’d read about meditating before, I’d never really tried it. I still meditate when I’m feeling stressed even though I’m bad at it.

I’ve never really liked them. The reading experience usually feels unenjoyable to me. Oftentimes, the takes are so glaringly ridiculous that I genuinely can’t believe somebody approved of the book being published at all. A majority of them feel like a bad patchwork of 2013 instagram quotes and arbitrary bullshit, or an unpolished, lazy pep talk about being tough and waking up early. Of course, this is a gross generalization and there are also a lot of well-written, interesting and well-researched ones (absolutely not The Secret by Rhonda Byrne, though). There are a couple that I found to be somewhat helpful, but I still couldn’t finish them. I didn’t finish Atomic Habits by James Clear because I started reading my friend’s copy when I was at his place, and never picked it up again, but I thought it was actually mildly interesting, so I might give it another shot someday.

I totally understand the feeling of dissatisfaction that you evoke. I think it’s mainly associated with the fact that the sense of gratification you were seeking out of reading those books isn’t immediately substantiated by a tangible upgrade in your individual experience, especially since you don’t really get any closure like you would after finishing a novel or a collection of essays for example. You feel like you’ve just come out of a calm cream-curtained yoga mom’s apartment to the middle of a busy roundabout held up by traffic and punctuated by miscellaneous noises, which is understandably overwhelming and confusing. I would much rather explore similar themes through any other piece of well-written media, that doesn’t read like a handbook to life.

Although, I have to say that it’s still not as homespun as this, and this comment is more geared towards the specific branches of self-help that I’ve personally been exposed to, which isn’t a whole lot because I dislike the genre; so take what I said with a grain of salt.

All in all, they’re definitely not for me, but I know people who say to have benefited from them; so I wouldn’t shun them from the realms of literature per se, but I’d prefer to keep them off my bookshelves.

Self-help is 99.9% bullshit, with plenty of it being full-on scam/cult entry points.

I think it depends on the author's credentials and the type of book they're writing. I've read a few spiritual-leaning books that I thought were poorly executed, but I've found psychology focused ones better in general.

"Daring Greatly" by Brené Brown is one I can honestly say changed the way I approach life and decision making, and I highly recommend it. I've heard good things about her other books as well.

I’ve not read any. I’m sure they work for a lot of people even if they are saying things you kinda already know, it reinforces and helps focus.

The Analects by Confucius which I’m reading now and Meditations by Marcus Aurelius are more my style. I pick and choose little bits from many philosophers, historians, and thinkers and overall I think that method serves well.

I second "Atomic Habits". It's practical and clear.

Quite honestly most of them are trash in my opinion. I say this as someone who worked at a bookstore for years and has read many of them. Most of them could be condensed down to a pamphlet or they just yell at you and tell you to get off your ass and do it. That being said I have a few that I think have actually been able to help.

"How to Win Friends and Influence People" by Dale Carnegie

"Atomic Habits" by James Clear

"The Energy Bus" by Jon Gordon

"Quiet" by Susan Cain more of a psychology book

I was upset by the movie!

Obviously not something to dwell on, but the book had a perfect ambiguous ending where they made a choice to weather the storm together with love, whatever may happen.

It was beautiful.

The movie? Religious nutsos were actually right, the end. I needed something more than just "huh, they were right"

In general I'm okay with creative differences in adaptations, but not with who lives or dies. That's too important to the story.

Hi there. Your post would be better asked in our Simple Questions thread. It helps us keep the main subreddit focused around broader discussion rather topics which only apply to an individual. Thank you!

Hi there. Per rule 3.4, your post is better suited for asking in /r/WhatsThatBook or /r/tipofmytongue. Thank you!

Maybe a screentime lockout for the times you commute so you don’t find yourself distracted by other things.

Any time and happy you found them

Unfortunately, those aren’t it. But I appreciate the reply! It was The Best Little Monkeys In The World and The Wonderful Pigs of Jillian Jigs

Yes! That’s it! Thank you so much, I loved that book, lol

I think the first book is "The Best Little Monkeys in the World" by Natalie Standiford!

The first book might be "The Monkey Family" by David and Penny James (1987)

Second one is "The Sock Snatcher" by Anne Cassidy (1993) (probably)

Jillian Jiggs by Phoebe Gilman

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Thank you! I’ll post over there

You might have luck finding it at r/whatsthatbook !

I use Timecap to time my reading and follow a monthly goal. It helps me keeping my reading habit consistent.

They definitely changed it because a child dying is upsetting.

Also with how little Asian representation there still is, I wonder how many people would be upset if the one Asian character in the movie died even though that's how it went in the book.

I've also seen people spell it G.od!

There's a Jewish lady I follow on Youtube and while I'm not Jewish myself, I try hard not to write God when I comment on her things because I feel it's respectful to do so, even though it's not my belief that it needs to be "censored" (in quotes because I feel like it's weird to say it's a censor)

I completely agree with you. If you're going to adapt something, make sure you're paying respect to the source material. That being said, I detested The Cabin at the End of the World, so I'm okay with any changes the movie made.