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Now What?: You, Your Life, and the Truth You’ve Been Avoiding
- GenresNonfiction
256 pages, Hardcover
Published July 14, 2026
About the author
Gary John Bishop
83 books1,191 followersGary John Bishop began his life journey in Glasgow, Scotland. The grit and wit of his early life have contributed to his tough-love, in-your-face approach to coaching. Coupled with world-class training and development, Gary has created a potent brew of effectiveness and the ability to reach through the crust of people's lives and root out the deeper issues that consume them and tie them to their hurdles. His ability to elevate and expand people's greatness makes the kind of life-altering impact that is so rare in the industry. Gary's hyper-awareness and years of elite training allow him to assess each client and guide them to the path that best expresses their lives; with micro precision, he cuts straight to the heart of what is going to make a difference.
Gary's experience and quick ascent to becoming a senior program director for one of the world's leading personal development organizations is proof that he is dedicated and committed to what is possible for every client and person he encounters. He doesn't claim perfection. He's been through life and doesn't sugar coat his folly. He uses his experience as both a human and a world class coach to mentor and coach people to raise the bar higher for what they once thought would be their greatest self.
Gary John Bishop is one of the leading Personal Development experts in the industry with a global reputation that has impacted tens of thousands of people worldwide. His "urban philosophy" approach represents a new wave of personal empowerment and life mastery that has caused miraculous results for people in the quality and performance of their lives. He calls it like it is while being influenced by ontology, phenomenology and the philosophy of some of the world's greatest thinkers. You be inspired, unburdened and grounded. Working with Gary creates the space to be an altered version of you. The greatness you once imagined becomes a reality, only its bigger, better and more incredibly freeing than you dreamed it could be. His work life changing.
Gary is willing to say what needs to be said. His writing is a higher level experience and the benefits of his philosophies have touched lives worldwide.
Gary's experience and quick ascent to becoming a senior program director for one of the world's leading personal development organizations is proof that he is dedicated and committed to what is possible for every client and person he encounters. He doesn't claim perfection. He's been through life and doesn't sugar coat his folly. He uses his experience as both a human and a world class coach to mentor and coach people to raise the bar higher for what they once thought would be their greatest self.
Gary John Bishop is one of the leading Personal Development experts in the industry with a global reputation that has impacted tens of thousands of people worldwide. His "urban philosophy" approach represents a new wave of personal empowerment and life mastery that has caused miraculous results for people in the quality and performance of their lives. He calls it like it is while being influenced by ontology, phenomenology and the philosophy of some of the world's greatest thinkers. You be inspired, unburdened and grounded. Working with Gary creates the space to be an altered version of you. The greatness you once imagined becomes a reality, only its bigger, better and more incredibly freeing than you dreamed it could be. His work life changing.
Gary is willing to say what needs to be said. His writing is a higher level experience and the benefits of his philosophies have touched lives worldwide.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
July 22, 2026
If you haven't read Gary John Bishop, diving into this book in his repertoire may prove difficult, particularly if you're accustomed to self-help books that do a lot of hand-holding, and feathering of an emotional nest, while serving up lukewarm teas of truth. There are a few styles of self-help writing, two main ones being: experts with letters, and personal essays and lived experiences. Not all the lived experience books sit well with me. Bishops however, resonate more often than not because they speak truth to nonsense in practical ways. "Now What?" is on par with this and I'm so glad I picked up this book at the library.
It is no-nonsense in that it doesn't sugarcoat truths, and tells it like it is, which is where the book may lose readers who need more of a comforting style of writing. For example, on page 62 he writes, "The personal growth industry is particularly self-centered. Coaching, therapy, counselling, you name it, one way of the other it doubles down on the idea of you being the victim". And I could not agree more. How many times have self-help authors done more to dysregulate readers only to promise to regulate, but then it sort of hooks people onto their brand, more than providing advice that helps support a healthy way of living? Bishop's book however, is not about mental toughness and an ignore-your-feelings vibe. It recognizes that the world often views feelings as facts, when they're just information. Further down the same page, he elaborates that "Whenever I say I couldn't give a f**k for your feelings, it's not because they're not important. I'm certainly not saying I have no compassion for you either. It's simply that your feelings aren't where we should be looking when it comes to empowering and enabling you, let alone transforming your life. Life change has nothing to do with changing how you feel" and as someone with C-PTSD who has been overly beholden to their emotions, I can confirm that he's right on point in that. It's the jist of what he's trying to shake loose here, because the feelings-as-facts paradigm often requires that it be uprooted from the source, which is what the first few chapters of the book cover: what to do when you have more of a relationship with your feelings than you do with your personal integrity by way of aligning thought, word, and deed.
The book invites readers, in Bishop's trademark cut-through-the-noise style, to live an examined life, and reacquaint themselves with integrity as a catalytic force, more than an abstract philosophical nice-to-have. Among the core lessons of the book are: say what you mean, and mean what you say; Ensure that what air and sound leaves our face as promises, talk, and how we relate to others isn't in tension with what we claim are our highest values. He asks readers to clean the lenses of self-reflection and calls us back to the bench for a pep talk.
What I find interesting is that books like Bishop's "Now What?" may be branded by some as too hard, or encouraging no feeling. But the truth of the matter is that he is giving readers very de-facto life truths. I've read a lot of the "stay hard" fitspo/dudebro/Navy Seal style of authors like David Goggins, Brent Gleeson, Cameron Hanes, Eric Greitens, Tim Grover, Ross Edgley, and more. What Bishop is saying isn't plow through emotional pain like it doesn't matter, or as though emotions aren't real. Bishop offers readers of a framework for how to live in relation to your actions, thoughts, and feelings so that they are coherent and reflect consistently across them; It is what integrity looks like when seen at a distance. When we tend to ourselves like we matter, and (as Phil Stutz might refer to it) like our life force matters, we include or create habits that reflect that care. We split ourselves when we say we will do something we don't want to, or when we gossip, and when we tell ourselves white lies about what we actually need (an aspect of codependence but it's been so overdone as a concept that the behavioural dynamics are a more useful lens). Bishop is calling our attention to these fissures and cracks in how we live, and it won't really be for everyone. But I really enjoyed the reminders. One more quote I'll take from the book was one that resonated the most: "Extraordinary human beings are simply ordinary folks like you and me who have a profound relationship to what they say they will do. And then they do it. What makes them follow through is the quality of that relationship between themselves and their word-nothing else" (p.159). He gets to the essence of what self-help can at times encourage: overfeeling, then activating soothing behaviours to create activity masquerading as progress. But the facts remain: if you are outside of integrity with yourself, how can anyone possibly be integrous with you--will you even be able to recognize it when you see it? How can you organize your life effectively if you constantly undermine your efforts with behaviours that allow your energy to seep out like a bad leak? He does speak a bit to ADHD, which I have, but ultimately, these are the bare bones truths of life that comfort and the best excuses would encourage us to neglect. Do I have C-PTSD and ADHD? Yup. But life still carries on, doesn't it? Those don't get to be excuses, and Bishop's book provides a supportive infrastructure for building a good life with the cards you were dealt.
This book would be ideal for readers who don't read a lot, or who are more podcast listeners than not, though there aren't bullet point lists, or to-the-point tools. The entire book is a tool, but it is in essay format, so if you're new to Bishop's style of writing, understand that it's a philosophy-essay-meets-straight talking personal improvement. Based on genre, this would be good for people who are interested in philosophy/leadership/wellbeing/mental fitness and perhaps those also at the intersection of sports psychology.
I give it 5 stars because it holds to the promises it makes in the first few pages, the style of writing is excellent, and it delivers on its core premise throughout the book. There are also numerous memorable epiphany-inducing quotes throughout the book that will resonate with readers well after the book concludes. Highly recommend this book!
It is no-nonsense in that it doesn't sugarcoat truths, and tells it like it is, which is where the book may lose readers who need more of a comforting style of writing. For example, on page 62 he writes, "The personal growth industry is particularly self-centered. Coaching, therapy, counselling, you name it, one way of the other it doubles down on the idea of you being the victim". And I could not agree more. How many times have self-help authors done more to dysregulate readers only to promise to regulate, but then it sort of hooks people onto their brand, more than providing advice that helps support a healthy way of living? Bishop's book however, is not about mental toughness and an ignore-your-feelings vibe. It recognizes that the world often views feelings as facts, when they're just information. Further down the same page, he elaborates that "Whenever I say I couldn't give a f**k for your feelings, it's not because they're not important. I'm certainly not saying I have no compassion for you either. It's simply that your feelings aren't where we should be looking when it comes to empowering and enabling you, let alone transforming your life. Life change has nothing to do with changing how you feel" and as someone with C-PTSD who has been overly beholden to their emotions, I can confirm that he's right on point in that. It's the jist of what he's trying to shake loose here, because the feelings-as-facts paradigm often requires that it be uprooted from the source, which is what the first few chapters of the book cover: what to do when you have more of a relationship with your feelings than you do with your personal integrity by way of aligning thought, word, and deed.
The book invites readers, in Bishop's trademark cut-through-the-noise style, to live an examined life, and reacquaint themselves with integrity as a catalytic force, more than an abstract philosophical nice-to-have. Among the core lessons of the book are: say what you mean, and mean what you say; Ensure that what air and sound leaves our face as promises, talk, and how we relate to others isn't in tension with what we claim are our highest values. He asks readers to clean the lenses of self-reflection and calls us back to the bench for a pep talk.
What I find interesting is that books like Bishop's "Now What?" may be branded by some as too hard, or encouraging no feeling. But the truth of the matter is that he is giving readers very de-facto life truths. I've read a lot of the "stay hard" fitspo/dudebro/Navy Seal style of authors like David Goggins, Brent Gleeson, Cameron Hanes, Eric Greitens, Tim Grover, Ross Edgley, and more. What Bishop is saying isn't plow through emotional pain like it doesn't matter, or as though emotions aren't real. Bishop offers readers of a framework for how to live in relation to your actions, thoughts, and feelings so that they are coherent and reflect consistently across them; It is what integrity looks like when seen at a distance. When we tend to ourselves like we matter, and (as Phil Stutz might refer to it) like our life force matters, we include or create habits that reflect that care. We split ourselves when we say we will do something we don't want to, or when we gossip, and when we tell ourselves white lies about what we actually need (an aspect of codependence but it's been so overdone as a concept that the behavioural dynamics are a more useful lens). Bishop is calling our attention to these fissures and cracks in how we live, and it won't really be for everyone. But I really enjoyed the reminders. One more quote I'll take from the book was one that resonated the most: "Extraordinary human beings are simply ordinary folks like you and me who have a profound relationship to what they say they will do. And then they do it. What makes them follow through is the quality of that relationship between themselves and their word-nothing else" (p.159). He gets to the essence of what self-help can at times encourage: overfeeling, then activating soothing behaviours to create activity masquerading as progress. But the facts remain: if you are outside of integrity with yourself, how can anyone possibly be integrous with you--will you even be able to recognize it when you see it? How can you organize your life effectively if you constantly undermine your efforts with behaviours that allow your energy to seep out like a bad leak? He does speak a bit to ADHD, which I have, but ultimately, these are the bare bones truths of life that comfort and the best excuses would encourage us to neglect. Do I have C-PTSD and ADHD? Yup. But life still carries on, doesn't it? Those don't get to be excuses, and Bishop's book provides a supportive infrastructure for building a good life with the cards you were dealt.
This book would be ideal for readers who don't read a lot, or who are more podcast listeners than not, though there aren't bullet point lists, or to-the-point tools. The entire book is a tool, but it is in essay format, so if you're new to Bishop's style of writing, understand that it's a philosophy-essay-meets-straight talking personal improvement. Based on genre, this would be good for people who are interested in philosophy/leadership/wellbeing/mental fitness and perhaps those also at the intersection of sports psychology.
I give it 5 stars because it holds to the promises it makes in the first few pages, the style of writing is excellent, and it delivers on its core premise throughout the book. There are also numerous memorable epiphany-inducing quotes throughout the book that will resonate with readers well after the book concludes. Highly recommend this book!
July 25, 2026
Now What
- Gary John Bishop is one of my favorite self help people
- You have been trying to fix and solve your life instead of live it
- Stop fixing, solving, and ruminating about the past, live your life
- Create a life instead of solving it
- Enter the cave your afraid to enter. Look at yourself, get honest
- You live the life that you see. You have to radically change your vision and mindset
- This is a program of action. It is not a change your shirt, change your perspective or make your bed and change your habits
- You are getting something from what you are holding onto. Like character defects, there is still something you enjoy or find useful
- Often you are getting an excuse to stay stuck, to continue to live in the past and be that old person
- You carry what you hold onto
- This is a book for you. Not for anyone else, you have to do this for you
I will get the physical copy and mark it up
Part 1:
- Ontological approach to change
- Being, authenticity, thoughts, feelings, actions, alignment
- What happened and what it meant are not connected
- Logotherapy, the meaning we place on something traps us. We are trapped by the story we have told and the meaning of that story
- The playground bully, the break up, the award, the whatever - it is about the meaning we give to it
- Wow, this book speaks to me
Good time for a change:
- Life is … you fill in the rest
- You are not your bull shit and what your brain says but you are
- No self pity, no blame, just the truth - bam, mic drop
- It’s about personal integrity- saying what lyou are gonna do and doing it
- You have been a shitty friend to yourself. You break your promises and commitments, you put yourself down
- Stop it, be your best friend
- It is about changing the meaning and changing the story - it is logotherapy
- You are far more burdened by the meaning you have given to the events of your life, than by anything that has actually happened in them
- Nail this in to your head, this is the point of the book
This is a great book by one of my favorite authors. Like most self help books, there is not much new information, it’s just packaged in a Scottish accent and a tough love approach. I like his style and accent. There are many elements of his coaching style that I will bring into my practice.
This book is not neurodiverse friendly. GJB is about taking responsibility and taking action. There is little sympathy for victim hood and procrastination. But ultimately our lives are our own. If we want to change we need to take responsibility for our lives and move our feet.
Tough love, emphasis on love
This book reminds me of my mom. She harps on integrity, holding to your word, making commitments, and following through. Don’t do things for your spouse or mother or whoever, do them for you.
This book is not a workbook or how to guide. It’s a book about living in the moment and being present. Rewrite your story, change the meaning of events, stop living in the past. Make a commitment and be a person of integrity.
I enjoyed this book, it’s tough love, logotherapy, take responsibility, overcome the past, a Scottish accent. I need to reread it or mark up the physical copy
- Gary John Bishop is one of my favorite self help people
- You have been trying to fix and solve your life instead of live it
- Stop fixing, solving, and ruminating about the past, live your life
- Create a life instead of solving it
- Enter the cave your afraid to enter. Look at yourself, get honest
- You live the life that you see. You have to radically change your vision and mindset
- This is a program of action. It is not a change your shirt, change your perspective or make your bed and change your habits
- You are getting something from what you are holding onto. Like character defects, there is still something you enjoy or find useful
- Often you are getting an excuse to stay stuck, to continue to live in the past and be that old person
- You carry what you hold onto
- This is a book for you. Not for anyone else, you have to do this for you
I will get the physical copy and mark it up
Part 1:
- Ontological approach to change
- Being, authenticity, thoughts, feelings, actions, alignment
- What happened and what it meant are not connected
- Logotherapy, the meaning we place on something traps us. We are trapped by the story we have told and the meaning of that story
- The playground bully, the break up, the award, the whatever - it is about the meaning we give to it
- Wow, this book speaks to me
Good time for a change:
- Life is … you fill in the rest
- You are not your bull shit and what your brain says but you are
- No self pity, no blame, just the truth - bam, mic drop
- It’s about personal integrity- saying what lyou are gonna do and doing it
- You have been a shitty friend to yourself. You break your promises and commitments, you put yourself down
- Stop it, be your best friend
- It is about changing the meaning and changing the story - it is logotherapy
- You are far more burdened by the meaning you have given to the events of your life, than by anything that has actually happened in them
- Nail this in to your head, this is the point of the book
This is a great book by one of my favorite authors. Like most self help books, there is not much new information, it’s just packaged in a Scottish accent and a tough love approach. I like his style and accent. There are many elements of his coaching style that I will bring into my practice.
This book is not neurodiverse friendly. GJB is about taking responsibility and taking action. There is little sympathy for victim hood and procrastination. But ultimately our lives are our own. If we want to change we need to take responsibility for our lives and move our feet.
Tough love, emphasis on love
This book reminds me of my mom. She harps on integrity, holding to your word, making commitments, and following through. Don’t do things for your spouse or mother or whoever, do them for you.
This book is not a workbook or how to guide. It’s a book about living in the moment and being present. Rewrite your story, change the meaning of events, stop living in the past. Make a commitment and be a person of integrity.
I enjoyed this book, it’s tough love, logotherapy, take responsibility, overcome the past, a Scottish accent. I need to reread it or mark up the physical copy
July 17, 2026
Gary is easily my favorite author. It sounds tacky to say his "In your face style of self-help", because I'd refer to it more like "A slap to the face from the person who believes most in what you're capable of, to truly live a happy and fulfilled life"
Gary doesn't give fluff, but at the same time it's not just man up and try harder advice. He simply calls you out on the bs you've been giving yourself as to "why" you can't change. I'm not going to lie, some of it is hard to hear (I always listen to the audiobooks because he narrates it himself in his wry Scottish accent)
The reason it's hard to hear is because it's true.
But like all of his books, read them from start to finish because working through to get to the last chapter makes it all worth it, a hundred fold. That last chapter gives you an uproar of applause, from the very bottom of my soul and makes you so excited for this life we all have.
Thank you, Gary. You are a godsend, now it's our turn to turn those words into a joyous and fulfilled life 😤🙏👏
Gary doesn't give fluff, but at the same time it's not just man up and try harder advice. He simply calls you out on the bs you've been giving yourself as to "why" you can't change. I'm not going to lie, some of it is hard to hear (I always listen to the audiobooks because he narrates it himself in his wry Scottish accent)
The reason it's hard to hear is because it's true.
But like all of his books, read them from start to finish because working through to get to the last chapter makes it all worth it, a hundred fold. That last chapter gives you an uproar of applause, from the very bottom of my soul and makes you so excited for this life we all have.
Thank you, Gary. You are a godsend, now it's our turn to turn those words into a joyous and fulfilled life 😤🙏👏
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
thank you to netgalley for allowing me to read this in exchange for a "honest" review.
2 stars - not for me
I wanted to love this because I was craving a non fiction self love book. I cringe that I can't write a glowing review. I think maybe if you are just starting your adult journey that this may be some advice you may want to consider. As someone who has lived a lot of life I felt it was just kinda basic and dumbed down for readers. I did not read anything new and didn't even agree with some of it. I saw no real information with backed up reseacrch or sources that added anything to it. Not my favorite. I have liked a previous book of the author so I say give him a try. 2
2 stars - not for me
I wanted to love this because I was craving a non fiction self love book. I cringe that I can't write a glowing review. I think maybe if you are just starting your adult journey that this may be some advice you may want to consider. As someone who has lived a lot of life I felt it was just kinda basic and dumbed down for readers. I did not read anything new and didn't even agree with some of it. I saw no real information with backed up reseacrch or sources that added anything to it. Not my favorite. I have liked a previous book of the author so I say give him a try. 2
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews