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Busy and Wrecked: Create space and energy for the people and things that really matter
If 'busy and wrecked' is your common response to 'how are you?', you're not alone. Modern life, with all its demands and distractions, is set up to keep us on the hamster wheel and many of us are paying the price. Brain fog, tiredness, overwhelm … we're all busy and wrecked!
Now Dermot Whelan, the bestselling author of Mind Full, is here to take you on a unique, insightful and hilarious exploration of busyness and introduce you to his favourite tips, tools and techniques for creating space and calm in a hectic world.
Because there is another way. A way home to yourself, where your time and energy are yours to spend on whom and what you choose – not just on everyone and everything making demands on them. It's time to reclaim your calm, regain your lightness and say hello to real, lasting peace of mind.
This book will show you how.
'Guaranteed to help you stress less while actually enjoying the process. Dermot makes finding calm easy and fun.' Paul O'Connell
Now Dermot Whelan, the bestselling author of Mind Full, is here to take you on a unique, insightful and hilarious exploration of busyness and introduce you to his favourite tips, tools and techniques for creating space and calm in a hectic world.
Because there is another way. A way home to yourself, where your time and energy are yours to spend on whom and what you choose – not just on everyone and everything making demands on them. It's time to reclaim your calm, regain your lightness and say hello to real, lasting peace of mind.
This book will show you how.
'Guaranteed to help you stress less while actually enjoying the process. Dermot makes finding calm easy and fun.' Paul O'Connell
301 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 3, 2025
7 people are currently reading
31 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
September 17, 2025
From the outset, I should say that I'm a Dermot Whelan fan, so I'm slightly biased. I didn't get as much from this as his previous book, Mind Full. I enjoyed his anecdotes and interludes throughout this book, but the really important things, for me, came in the last few chapters: Dermot's 10 Tools. Those I really liked. Even the tone of the book changed during his description of these 10 tools, a bit more serious. It is worth reading for these 10 tools alone!
Would I recommend this book? Yes, I would.
Would I recommend this book? Yes, I would.
August 7, 2025
Dermot Whelan is a former radio host of the popular Irish "Today FM" station. These days, he is a podcaster and self-proclaimed meditation expert.
The reason I picked up this self-help book is because it appeared to be wildly popular in my local area and the title was mildly interesting. After all, "Busy and Wrecked" sounds like something I can identify with. I had previously never heard of the author, so at the very least I can say I've learned something about Irish cultural icons and no longer have to stare blankly at people when they bring the author up.
Full disclaimer: Meditation is not something that interests me or that I even take seriously, so I figured out pretty quickly that the book wasn't really for me; however I pushed through anyway because I'm not a quitter.
In general, the self-help part wasn't particularly illuminating and Dermot regurgitated many talking points that other authors or even grandmothers have already bestowed upon us multiple times.
Heck, even a quick Google search on how to lower your stress levels could give you similar results - basically, make time for rest, prioritise commitments, don't be a chronic people-pleaser and say "no" once in a while, try and take care of your health by staying away from alcohol and shitty food, exercise and go into nature etc.
While none of the contents of the books were a big revelation, I now understand the hype around Dermot - he's extremely charismatic and authentic (one of the values he holds dear and takes very seriously) - so I've warmed to his personality and writing style very quickly, almost against my will because I am a curmudgeon! How dare he force me to chuckle!
I was genuinely interested in the author's personal anecdotes, that usually included a good bit of Irish humour and were neatly wrapped up with an important life lesson. He always said that his goal in life is to help people and make them smile, and I think the book can do that for a lot of people.
In my opinion, the book is aimed more at men and some of Dermot's views appeared a bit old-fashioned and stereotypical - for example how he said that women go to the Doctor earlier than men, which is wildly over-generalised and not based on any statistics or evidence whatsoever (maybe anecdotal). He did bring up the mental load that women have to deal with on a daily basis, so he's done his research in that aspect - I guess you can't expect perfection.
I concede though that the loneliness epidemic that he's mentioned is real for many men and Dermot is very relatable and empathetic. If I were an Irish lad and in need of an honest pep talk, I'd pick up a copy of "Busy and Wrecked", as reading it is like talking to a friend.
Overall, rating a self-help book like this is extremely subjective, because what is useful to one person mightn't fit another. That being said, if his tour wasn't sold out, I'd have probably picked up tickets for his show due to the craic I am sure he brings to his audience.
The reason I picked up this self-help book is because it appeared to be wildly popular in my local area and the title was mildly interesting. After all, "Busy and Wrecked" sounds like something I can identify with. I had previously never heard of the author, so at the very least I can say I've learned something about Irish cultural icons and no longer have to stare blankly at people when they bring the author up.
Full disclaimer: Meditation is not something that interests me or that I even take seriously, so I figured out pretty quickly that the book wasn't really for me; however I pushed through anyway because I'm not a quitter.
In general, the self-help part wasn't particularly illuminating and Dermot regurgitated many talking points that other authors or even grandmothers have already bestowed upon us multiple times.
Heck, even a quick Google search on how to lower your stress levels could give you similar results - basically, make time for rest, prioritise commitments, don't be a chronic people-pleaser and say "no" once in a while, try and take care of your health by staying away from alcohol and shitty food, exercise and go into nature etc.
While none of the contents of the books were a big revelation, I now understand the hype around Dermot - he's extremely charismatic and authentic (one of the values he holds dear and takes very seriously) - so I've warmed to his personality and writing style very quickly, almost against my will because I am a curmudgeon! How dare he force me to chuckle!
I was genuinely interested in the author's personal anecdotes, that usually included a good bit of Irish humour and were neatly wrapped up with an important life lesson. He always said that his goal in life is to help people and make them smile, and I think the book can do that for a lot of people.
In my opinion, the book is aimed more at men and some of Dermot's views appeared a bit old-fashioned and stereotypical - for example how he said that women go to the Doctor earlier than men, which is wildly over-generalised and not based on any statistics or evidence whatsoever (maybe anecdotal). He did bring up the mental load that women have to deal with on a daily basis, so he's done his research in that aspect - I guess you can't expect perfection.
I concede though that the loneliness epidemic that he's mentioned is real for many men and Dermot is very relatable and empathetic. If I were an Irish lad and in need of an honest pep talk, I'd pick up a copy of "Busy and Wrecked", as reading it is like talking to a friend.
Overall, rating a self-help book like this is extremely subjective, because what is useful to one person mightn't fit another. That being said, if his tour wasn't sold out, I'd have probably picked up tickets for his show due to the craic I am sure he brings to his audience.
September 15, 2025
Really enjoyed this book. Its hilarious and thought provoking. Dermot gave his time to come into our hospital on International Nurses Week to give us a talk on minding our mental health and he is a superb speaker. I enjoyed this book even more than his first!
July 29, 2025
Some great advice between these covers, with handy “busy box” questions at the end of each chapter. Well worth a read as a reminder the life doesn’t need to be as busy as we are making it.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews