Gary John Bishop

I love this guy. He speaks my language, trucker with a side of rocker, gritty honest and direct. No fluff, no magical chanting, no Yes, there is language, some may say bad words. He's not for the delicate eared ones. He's not here to stroke your ego and tell you what a tiger you are. He's going to make you responsible for you and your choices if you listen. There are 4 sections covering love, loss, fear and success. Who doesn't have some issues in those categories ?
Are you willing ? That show more question was one of the Aha questions for me. (I really hate that "aha" thing but it works to explain here) I got it from his last book and use it when I'm stalled/envious/sad/ basically lost in my own headtrap. Asking myself this simple question has changed my views on my choices and stopped a lot of round and round whining. This books takes from the knowledge gained in previous books and uses it. Yes, not in some unrealistic way but in a real life way we might all face regularly. It's not all hard edges and coarse talking, there funny humorous points. I've read, listened to his audiobooks and his podcast and I still felt mesmerized by the simple, sometimes brutal truth here. It's time to wake up and open your eyes, read some Gary John Bishop your reality will thank you. I have already ordered the audio version of this. His scottish accent makes a great book even better :P show less

Unfu*k Yourself: Get out of your head and into your life by Gary John Bishop
Why I picked this book up: I am a Clinical Psychologist and used to use CBT, a lot. and although crude I figured Id read it and see if it is CBT related.

Thoughts: First of all Crude, Vulgar, Coarse. This is my first book that supposedly goes along the same path as You Are a Badas*, and F*ck Feelings comes this book, self-empowerment guide that offers no-nonsense, tough-love approach to help you move past self-imposed show more limitations.

Gary John Bishop has the answer when you are living a tough life. In this straightforward handbook, he gives you the tools and advice you need to demolish the things weighing you down and become a workable version of yourself. ''Wake up to the miracle you are,'' he directs. ''Here's what you've forgotten: You're a miracle of being.

In summary, this is a fair introduction to a various philosophical ideals: some have been around since the ancient Greeks and some being developed in the modern age: existentialism, stoicism, epistemology, ontology, etc. This author doesn't reference some of these philosophies for further reading but this is understandable as his focus is on coaching you to overcome yourself not to be a literary scholar. For little more than ~$10 and a few hours of reading, give it a shot and see if you learn something. As much as I am going to be critical, the book has its utility and will be useful to some readers.

IMO This author seems to contradict himself throughout the book and complicates his overall message. He is adamant that this is not another self-help book that focuses on positive thinking; however, it is one of the first concepts he introduces. In sum, he teaches that assertive language affects emotions, feelings, and ultimately decision making and that one should engage in healthy inner dialogue. He also later bashes the quote, "Change your thoughts, change your life," calling it bull. Where he is attempting to go with this is to say that actions speak louder than words and no matter what you think, unless you take action, your life will not change.

Okay, this is fine but he took a six-word quote and said it was invalid over the course of ~200 pages. The problem is that he views ideas singularly and criticizes them in isolation; however, if you took any one of his chapters singularly, it would contradict his overall philosophy. For instance, positive self-talk is useless without his later instructions on asserting and acting on them. Overall, I think the overt criticism of other ideas throughout the text followed up with very similar approaches hurt the message Gary was trying to send to his readers. You may find yourself confused or frustrated without having a deeper understanding of some of the philosophies on which Gary touches. In the end, Gary pulls it together but it may take a while to see the differences he is attempting to portray--the book could have been more concise and focused.

Another gripe would be that on page 21 he tells you that if you are easily offended not to read his book and to give it away immediately. The very next page he claims, "I have designed this book to be as accessible and useful to as many people as possible." Really, is anyone proof-reading this book? Look, if you're going to be a self-help coach how can you tell the people who may need to hear your words the most, to shove off? Gary, is writing for the people who he believes need help--that is his profession. Ultimately I see him as a life coach it was fair IMO but SMH too.
 In Unfu*k Yourself, Bishop leads you through a series of seven assertions:
I am willing.
I am wired to win.
I got this.
I embrace the uncertainty.
I am not my thoughts; I am what I do.
I am relentless.
I expect nothing and accept everything.

Why I finished this read: As I started this review I found this not my cup of tea.
Stars rating: 2/5 stars 5/17/22 show less

This wasn’t a touchy feely positive uplifting kind of self improvement book (which is the kind I like) but more of a take a look in the mirror and really see yourself. I think it’s a “Pay attention to the dirty bits and clean them up” sort of book. I will take pieces from this book and plan to reread and highlight but it is not my self improvement go to bible by any means. I think the reason for this is that I’m not as “f*cked up” as others so this isn’t as eye opening/life show more changing as others I’ve read. I do appreciate the very concise motivational ending and will some it up with this goal: the mirror of erised-"Let me explain. The happiest man on earth would be able to use the Mirror of Erised like a normal mirror, that is, he would look into it and see himself exactly as he is. Does that help." show less

I kept sitting there hoping for something completely profound beyond the failed tough love approach of “get up off your ass, quit bitching and do something” mantra. I paid money for some guy to tell me in the final pages of his book to ditch the self help books and go do something. You’re making millions to tell me to stop buying books JUST LIKE YOURS? This book basically offers up positive affirmations as the chapter titles with a lot of extra words.

• I am willing
• I got this
• show more I am wired to win
• I embrace the uncertainty
• I expect nothing and accept everything
• I am relentless
• I am not my thoughts, I am what I do

I just saved you several hours of examples from his life, a few good quotes from world leaders and examples of the reason you need to “quitcherbitchin.” show less