Legally Zen: A professional skeptic's path to finding inner peace

by Kat Reilly

A skeptic walks into a cacao ceremony… For logic-first lawyer Kat Reilly, life had a study hard, pass the bar, make partner, buy a house, land a man, have 1.5 children. She was cruising (Chanel shades, venti iced oat latte, lead foot on the highway of life) until a wine-fueled bike crash, a string of baffling health scares, and a body that would no longer be ignored forced her to hit the brakes.

Legally Zen is the unflinching, funny-but-true story of what happens when a courtroom warrior finds herself diving into an Elle Woods–style, Harvard-calibre education in woo. Think crystals, breathwork, and waterfall jumps (everything she swore she’d never try) examined with the same skeptical curiosity she used to dismantle cross-examinations. What begins as a desperate hunt for pain relief becomes an education in vulnerability, surrender, and the messy, luminous work of actually living.

Witty, smart, and deeply human, Kat’s journey won’t ask you to choose between science and spirit. Instead she shows how logic and wonder can sit at the same table—and how a skeptic can learn to loosen her tie, kick off her heels, and find surprising joy along the way.

Will she heal? Maybe. Will she believe? That’s the real verdict.

If Eat Pray Love made you curious, Big Magic made you brave, and Brené Brown made you believe in vulnerability, Legally Zen will make you laugh, nod, and maybe even buy a crystal. This is the witty, real-world memoir for skeptics and seekers alike.

214 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 27, 2025

Reviews

[Christy Ascione · Rating 5 out of 5]

Obsessed!!!!!😍 so good, I love the way Kat writes.

[Crystal Adair-Benning · Rating 5 out of 5]

I devoured this in a single sitting. Kat Reilly manages to make skepticism feel spiritual and spirituality feel sane. Legally Zen is raw, funny, and deeply validating for anyone who’s ever rolled their eyes at “healing” and still secretly wanted it to work.

Smart, sassy, and surprisingly sacred—this book will make you laugh, think, and maybe buy a crystal (just one).

[Jacqueline Pohl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn’t be prouder of my dear friend Kat for creating Legally Zen. It’s heartfelt, wise, and full of her beautiful energy. Her words bring calm, clarity, and inspiration like a warm hug for the soul. This book truly reflects the amazing woman she is. 💛

[Christine Winterburn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in a day and a half. So much great information and I loved hearing about Kat’s “woo woo” journey. It has prompted me to explore the metaphysical more. I’ve always been a believer but this is something I really think I need to explore further.