“Mandi Em offers new ideas of how to ‘liberate your unique, authentic, untamed self,’...readers will love this guide to living your life in a more feral manner.” —Book Riot
Break free from basic self-care and reconnect with your wild, authentic self through nature, creativity, and chaos.
It’s time for a new type of self-care. No bubble baths. No yoga. Just some truly wild—truly effective—ideas and activities that are good for you and your overall wellness. It’s time to get feral!
Feral Self-Care is loaded with self-care ideas that will actually help nourish your soul and make you feel good. Each entry covers an activity that reconnects you with your authentic self, helping you feel more empowered, free, and confident in embracing this human experience—in all its messy glory.
From self-care activities that will have you connecting with nature to those that have you digging deep and exploring your truest self, Feral Self-Care goes beyond the skin creams and face masks to reveal and restore your inner being.
You’ll find inspired ideas such -Nature sounds ASMR -Dancing in the rain -Primal screaming -Creating a chaotic symphony -And much more!
It’s time to make self-care as wild as you are, and Feral Self-Care is here to help.
This book is a perfect example of making up a concept and then really, really backing yourself! It has lots of general statements about what people need, based on the author's feelings, rather than any facts. I generally agree with the suggestions in this book (get outside, connect with nature, loose the shoes, drop out of consumerist culture, take a walk) but here is also a lot of chat bout our animal nature, the sensory gremlin that lives in your animal body, and generalisations about what "you" need. This book is very negative about "wellness" but is part of that ongoing tradition criticising this while selling it back to people. The book does not contain much that is original, it's a collection of concepts from various sources and traditions, largely unacknowledged. It wasn't as cute as I think it was trying to be and I found it quite frustrating and simplistic. Suggestions like "ditch the guilt" "movement is medicine""approach sexuality without guilt or shame" are great, but not actually useful. Claiming that smearing food on your face is good for your skin is just strange. Apparently bananas have lots of vitamins, so putting them on your face must be a good idea. Nothing in this book is particularly wrong, offensive or dangerous, it's just all removed from any cultural context except industrialisation. It did not work for me, but this book might find it's audience in people looking for a simple (simplistic?) way to uplift themselves.
I was given an e-Arc in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you, Adams Media, for the advance reading copy.
This self care guidebook has a lot to offer. A LOT!
This book is for you whenever you’re looking for something that would make you forget everything and just chill for a few hours whenever you get time.
The book is written in a fun and practical way. It has a lot to do with making the best of what we have and nature.
I love the little exercises given in each section.
Just experience most of the stress leaving you instantaneously while you are reading this book. But also I would like to say that the purpose of such books is actually make you want to practice the little things mentioned. It’s perfectly fine to not read the book cover to cover. Find your part according to the section you need the most at the moment and just go for it.
DNF. I'm issuing a cease and desist on the word "unhinged." We're all using that word too much. ("Unhinged" is the "random" of the 2020s.) No suggestion in this book is "unhinged". Raw honey face masks are relatively normal. Calm down, Mandi Em.
This book could've been a blog post, but I might have been able to power through if not for the audiobook narrator who whisper/shouted words like "wild" and "delicious." Off-putting. The opposite of self-care.
Also, can we outlaw use of the word "delicious" to describe anything that's not food?
The author says at the beginning of this book that this isn't a book that needs to be read front to back, and she was absolutely correct. This is the kind of book that should be owned and consulted when needed.
That being said, I checked this out from the library, so I read it front to back. And I still got a lot out of it! Enough to make me want to own a copy to consult.
There are so many things in here that seem so simple--walk barefoot on some grass, scream into the void, create rituals, etc--but it's really nice to have it all listed in front of you. So check it out, flip to a random page, and take care of yourself.
Feral Self-Care is about taping back into our feral selves that we leave behind when we are children and embracing our messy sides. This rejects the idea that self-care can be bought or obtained through pretty methods, instead you dig through the messy reality that is life and embrace your animal nature and honor your primal instincts.
I picked this up because the title caught my attention and the premise connected more to me than most self-care books. This was an interesting and fun look at self-care. I really like the idea of going back to our feral, childhood roots and bringing back that sense of play and joy into our lives, especially during this very stressful time in the world. There were a lot of great ideas and activities for self-care in this book and I highly recommend this book if you struggle with the pretty, standard, and stereotypical self-care books you see flooding the market. This is different and might be just the perspective you need.
*ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
I was really excited about Feral Self-Care, but I ended up feeling disappointed. The concept of connecting with your inner child and embracing with the natural world was intriguing to me, but the execution fell flat for me. The book was repetitive with most sections seemed to rephrase the same ideas over and over again.
It took me forever to get through this book, and I ended up skimming large portions because it was hard to stay engaged. This book could have been way shorter and may have kept my attention better if this was the case.
Good concept. A little gimmicky and repetitive—just slap “unhinged” or “deranged” or “feral” onto just about any basic self-care concept and you’ve got a book.
A soothing audiobook listen. I appreciated the “how to do it” sections that gave tangible ways to practice self-care that’s different from the typical suggestions.
While I love the idea of being feral, most of the suggestions are really just..being human, which isn’t a bad thing. I think we all need a reminder of humanity.
I don’t know if this will help me or not, but I’ll give some a go and see what happens.
I am a skeptic about self care. Yes. Sometimes we all need to take a day and do something for ourselves. But you don’t need a spa day every time you do a load of laundry, Brittany.
The approach in this book was refreshing. These aren’t Instagram worthy moments, but rather strategies to give yourself space and time to process. The ideas aren’t radical or particularly revolutionary but gathered together they are a collection of starting points.
This is a handy little book full of simple suggestions for taking better care of yourself and improving your life. They aren't groundbreaking ideas or anything, but they are "friendly reminders," many of which I routinely recommend to my therapy clients. For example: the primal scream; spending more time in nature; going barefoot in the garden; watching clouds; skinny dipping; watching bugs; spending less time online; asking for help; slowing down when you eat..... you get the idea.
"Throw yourself a Pity Party -- But give yourself a Curfew!" 👏
I have been hyped about this book for MONTHS given that I have already completely devoted her other two books: Happy Witch and Witchcraft Therapy, this has been a long-awaited shot of dopamine. Both of her other books have influenced a lot of my new routines and decisions about how I function in regular daily life, so I had high hopes here and I was NOT disappointed. 😊
I purchased the Hardback cover of Feral Self-Care as well as the Audible book and have been listening to it on my way to and home from work (which has been wonderful for clearing my mind!) and I'm so close to finishing that I couldn't hold back any longer from making a post! My favorite (hands down!) is Chapter 3 "Sensory Gremlin: Embracing The Felt Experiences Of The Body" I swear I went back and dogeared every single page from that chapter. Just listening to how Mandi goes about explaining things has such a refreshing kick to it that it's so much more like hearing advice from a dear friend or older sister than it is a 'Self-Help' type of energy. Mandi knows how to make you look into the things that REALLY matter about life and help you to ditch the stupid little things we simply just do not need.
I am going to probably be carrying this book around for months to come, and I honestly can't stop sharing it with everyone around me. Thank you so much Mandi once again and as always, you're a genuine feral little light in so many lives (including mine) and I cannot thank you enough!
In a world saturated with self-care books, Mandi Em's work stands out as a refreshing departure from the usual clichés and consumer-driven advice. Em's book is a delightful and fearless journey into the realm of self-discovery, urging readers to embrace their true selves without the need for expensive products or services.
One of the book's strengths is its rejection of the notion that self-care can be bought. Instead, Em encourages us to revel in our messiness, rekindle our connection with nature, and celebrate our unique flaws and attributes. While some of the ideas may seem familiar, such as grounding exercises or self-massage, Em takes us deeper into the "why" behind each practice, offering cultural, scientific, and psychological insights into how these activities genuinely improve our well-being.
Em's writing style is engaging and humorous, making the book itself a form of self-care. It's likely to have you chuckling and eager to explore some unconventional self-care practices. Personally, I felt like Em had tapped into my own offbeat self-care rituals, which are often a necessity in our modern, consumer-driven society. I hope this book can provide you with the same sense of inspiration and uplift. I give it 4 stars.
This guide book offers a lot to the readers. Whether you are new to self care books or just love to learn more skills, you won’t be disappointed. This book helps you understand the chaos of life and how to work with it, instead of fighting against it. It’s a smooth balance you have to learn to understand.
Allowing yourself to get back to nature and find comfort within nature. Understanding that everything in life has a cycle including us. We as humans tend to slow down when the weather shifts cold, just as nature understands the gentle changes. Being barefoot outside is a practice that I do weekly if not more, it helps and allows me to ground myself.
Living a sustainable lifestyle is another key point in this journey and process. So when I say self help, it’s not in the typical sense of the word. This book is bringing you back to the roots of life and the cycles we share with nature, animals, and the planet. It’s unlearning the lessons we have learned from society.
This was a fun read to end and begin the year on. The beauty of this book is that you can pick it up and put it down anytime you like. It is more of a reference guide.
If you are feeling stuck or constrained, Mandi provides a number of suggestions and meditations to help lift you up and in to YOUR wild. She is very thorough and considerate of the fact that not everyone can just go rogue.
I love the idea of implementing what she refers to as “feral” practices into our lives daily. I appreciate the prompts given throughout as sometimes we all need a little inspiration and direction. Mandi provides both easy and in-depth variations of her exercises that make this book easy for anyone to follow.
The audiobook is beautifully narrated! I will be picking up a copy of this book to use for reference for certain! I am looking forward to digging into more of Em’s other books.
"Feral Self-Care" is a refreshing, kind, and holistic view on self-care. As someone who is often described by my loved ones as "feral", I was drawn to this book because of it's cover, title, and overall description. I love self-help books as a whole genre but I especially loved that "Feral Self-Care" hits the root of who we are as humans. The peace that can be found in nature is one that I don't think is talked about often enough, and I appreciate that Mandi Em took the time to shine a light on an important piece of self-care.
In an era where we often consider self-care to be the newest fad on Instagram, I appreciate the new take on taking care of yourself. Getting back to our base animalistic selves where humans grew from is vital to helping our bodies and minds. I can't wait to put Mandi Em's suggestions into practice!
Feral self care is a no bs guide to rewilding yourself and connecting with nature. This alternative self care book takes a mind body spirit approach to self care but goes against the traditional Pink fluffy self care that is normally peddled. This book encourages you to embrace imperfection and "dance in the rain".
With sections on: Cozying Up to Mother Nature: -REWILDING FOR WELLNESS Sensory Gremlin: - EMBRACING THE FELT EXPERIENCES OF THE BODY Chaos and Creativity: - LIBERATING YOURSELF THROUGH CREATIVE EXPRESSION AND PLAY The Swamp of the Self: NAVIGATING YOUR INNER DEPTHS The Village Around You: EMBRACING THE HUMAN NEED FOR COMMUNITY
This truly is the alternate self care guide we need
For me, this book was filled with stuff I basically already do as a nurodivergent weirdo.
That being said, I can totally see how this would be helpful to type a personalities, people in the corporate world, or super stressed lifestyles. It's so easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of life, and forget a lot of these things. A bunch of simple reminders with doable tasks that can be shaped into the persons local resources.
We die after this, take a breath, touch grass, become a bit more feral. You'll thank yourself for it later.
OMG absolutely loved this book with my whole heart and soul. The fun raw journey this book takes one on… remarkable. Things and places I even forgot, or forget that just bring life to one’s self. The author didn’t miss a beat, from information, to layout, making the book perfect in every way. By far my favorite of this topic by far in 2023. Must buy must have the print copy asap.
An invitation to fun, playfulness, mindfulness, breaking the rules, and honouring all parts of self! I love this "unhinged" approach to the kind of self care that doesn't cost anything except an investment of time into yourself.
I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed it so much that I plan to get the hardcover book so I can keep it nearby and dip into it regularly for inspiration. I'm also buying copies for my three daughters.
Nothing too groundbreaking here. You can probably imagine what this is about: your inner child, back to nature, goblin mode, etc. It was a wee bit repetitive. She really wants you to finger paint and primal scream, two things I will probably never do. But it did get my mind going on things I can do that aren't screens, even if the advice in here wasn't particularly interesting to me.
So.. I was mainly drawn to the suggestions to “Find Self-Care in Caregiving” and “Craft a Ritual” so possibly I’m not yet really ready to pursue Feral Self-Care for myself and I still just want to be a productive people-pleaser? lol. I enjoyed reading about all the things I am not (yet) interested in trying for myself. Highly recommended!
I liked this SO much more than I thought I would, I have no clue what anyone can dislike about this, it was so fun and real (I think that I read it as an audiobook was more powerful possibly than on paper for this specific book?)
This may be my favorite self care book I’ve ever read. I felt empowered after reading some of the 100 ways suggested in the book. This was fun, and aggressively satisfying. Green drinks be gone!
Feral Self-Care by Mandi Em is a refreshing and unconventional wellness guide that encourages readers to step away from traditional self-care practices and embrace their wild, authentic selves. This book offers a wide range of ideas and activities that go beyond bubble baths and yoga, providing readers with unique ways to nourish their souls and feel more empowered in their journey towards self-discovery.
One of the standout features of Feral Self-Care is its collection of inspired ideas that truly push the boundaries of conventional self-care. From listening to nature sounds to dancing in the rain, Mandi Em encourages readers to step outside their comfort zones and embrace the freedom and joy that comes with reconnecting with nature and their own inner being. These activities not only provide a break from the monotony of everyday life but also help individuals explore their truest selves and find a sense of empowerment and confidence.
The author's voice throughout the book is engaging, making it easy for readers to connect with the content. Mandi Em's passion for rewilding the self and soul shines through in her writing, making the book a compelling read. The content itself is well laid out and easy to follow, allowing readers to dip in and out of different activities as they see fit.
However, one area where Feral Self-Care falls a bit short is its visual appeal. While the cover is eye-catching and draws you in, the book itself lacks the visual elements that could enhance the overall reading experience. Incorporating more visuals or illustrations could have made the book more engaging and immersive.
In conclusion, Feral Self-Care by Mandi Em offers a fresh perspective on self-care, encouraging readers to embrace their wild and authentic selves. Although the book could benefit from more visual appeal, it makes up for it with its engaging author's voice and well-organized content. If you're looking for unconventional self-care ideas that will help you reconnect with nature and your truest self, then Feral Self-Care is worth exploring.
⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️