You're Grounded: An Anti-Self-Help Book to Calm You the F*ck Down

by Swan Huntley

An interactive book to help you get your head out of the clouds and back on your shoulders

Where are you right now? Are you here? Or are you sort of somewhere else?
You’re Grounded is an exploration of what it means to be connected to the present moment. Sometimes your head can be in a completely different place than your body. Whether you’re checking Instagram or reliving an embarrassing scene from the past, chances are that you’re often missing what is happening right in front of you. This guide will help you figure out why you keep floating away from yourself and how to reconnect.

Genres: Nonfiction

176 pages, Paperback

Published June 11, 2024

About the author

Swan Huntley is a writer and illustrator living in Los Angeles. Her books include Getting Clean with Stevie Green, The Goddesses, We Could Be Beautiful, The Bad Mood Book, You’re Grounded and I Want You More. She earned an MFA at Columbia University and has received fellowships from MacDowell and Yaddo.

Reviews

[Sarah Cavar]

This is among the strongest pop-mental health books I've read, not least because it doesn't take itself, its readers, or its calls to practice particularly seriously. What results is an opportunity to pause, power down our phones, flip through, doodle, and most importantly, rest.

[Milly Cohen · Rating 5 out of 5]

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5nga...

¿cómo te explico lo mucho que me gustó?

[Ellen Wolintz-Fields · Rating 5 out of 5]

Borrowed from the Library - but a good book to purchase and actually write in.

[Bethany · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet, easy introduction to mindfulness and meditation.

[Patrycja · Rating 4 out of 5]

“You’re Grounded” was… an unusual reading experience for me.
This is not a traditional self-help book, and it’s definitely not one you read for polished prose or artistic illustration. The pages are made up of short sentences, prompts, stick-figure drawings, and simple exercises. At first, I wasn’t sure what to make of it — it felt almost too minimal, even a little strange.

That said, I can absolutely see how this book could be appealing to many readers.

It’s approachable, quick to get through, and intentionally low-pressure. It encourages putting the phone down, slowing your thoughts, and paying attention — gently introducing meditation and mindfulness without preaching or overcomplicating things. Some sections feel like a conversation with a therapist or a guided journal, asking questions and inviting you to write your responses directly on the page.

One recurring exercise asks you to draw a tree — again and again. By the fourth prompt, I admittedly wrote, “Why the f*ck do you want me to draw another tree?” …and then I drew it anyway. And stared at it for a little longer. Only later did it click that this repetition was the point — the act of doing, observing, and letting go, rather than creating something “good.” And quietly just looking at it. Meditating

The humor is subtle and sometimes self-aware, and the tone feels reassuring rather than authoritative. It doesn’t try to fix you; it just asks you to sit with yourself for a moment.

This won’t be for everyone — especially readers looking for depth, structure, or traditional guidance — but for those who feel overwhelmed, anxious, or burnt out, its simplicity might be exactly what they need. It’s more of an experience than a book, and it works best when approached with curiosity rather than expectations.

A quick, unconventional read that feels part meditation, part journal, part quiet reminder to slow down.

[Elizabeth G · Rating 4 out of 5]

Huntley delivers exactly what the title promises: a no-nonsense, occasionally profane guide to actually inhabiting your own life. The interactive format keeps you engaged rather than passively consuming yet another mindfulness lecture. Her observations about Instagram-induced dissociation and embarrassing memory loops feel uncomfortably accurate, yet she handles them with wit rather than judgment. What sets this apart from typical anti-self-help fare is genuine compassion beneath the irreverence. The exercises are simple enough to do while waiting for coffee, yet effective enough to notice real shifts. Perfect for anyone exhausted by wellness culture but still desperate to feel present. Refreshingly honest and surprisingly useful.

[Kelly {SpaceOnTheBookcase] · Rating 5 out of 5]

You’re Grounded: An Anti-Self-Help Book to Calm You The F*ck Down by Swan Huntley. One of the first things that jumps out about this book is that it’s purse sized and less than 200 pages; the font is large, so it’s easy to read, follow, and has space to jump around. The main character is bird-like and throughout the book there are questions and activities that ask you to look inside to inspire you to reconnect with being present in your life.

Thank you Tarcher Perigee for the gifted copy.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short, minimalistic self-help book encourages readers to meditate and connect with their body. I’m also shelving this under “first world problems” because only in a culture of plenty/too much can we indulge in worrying about if we aren’t living in the moment enough.

[Kristina Variano · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great way to perform a mediation, easy, silly, and powerful.Enjoyed it a lot, especially when I got to draw trees. Made me think of “happy trees”

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick read

Good breath to get refocused