A Simple Guide to Being Alive

by David M.L. Rabin MD PhD

We built the smartest machines in history, and we programmed them to make us feel inadequate.

A Simple Guide to Being Alive is a bold, playful, profound science-backed manual for anyone who has ever felt overwhelmed by the modern world and wondered if there was a simpler, saner way to live.

This is no ordinary book. It is a life-changing software update for your nervous system disguised as something you can read on a plane. You’ll discover why anxiety isn’t your enemy, but a signal, what psychedelics teach us about how your nervous system shapes every moment of your existence, and why the simplest things, like a deep breath, a shared laugh, or a 20-second hug, can change your life more than any optimization hack ever could.

Dr. Rabin combines cutting-edge medicine with ancient wisdom to show that safety, not productivity, is the foundation of performance, joy, and longevity. Drawing from his work as a psychiatrist and neuroscientist, A Simple Guide blends the scientific method with unapologetic humor, inviting you to return home to your breath, your body, and your beautifully human self.

Genres: Nonfiction, Health

485 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 16, 2026

Reviews

[Kenneth Rabin]

Part science, part philosophy, part poetry and part wisdom, this book provides a compelling commentary on the state of the world we currently live in and how to navigate through it. It is engaging and beautifully written with humor and empathy. I'm a physician, author, and regular human being, and I can truthfully say that this is a book that will both entertain and educate. It's the kind of book I’ll want to pick up from time to time and read random chapters that particularly resonated with me. Bravo on a wonderful book!

[Bruce Killen]

Truly excellent book everyone can benefit from.

Great book Dr Dave- really. I’ve been a psychotherapist for 34 years and this is truly excellent. Yes it is all about safety and all the ways our need for it manifest and can also be manipulated, and getting back to the body (mostly) to reclaim our amazing nervous systems and thus our lives. Thank you. Bruce Killen, PsyD, LMFT

[Reader]

My favorite book of the year. I recommend!

[Krista Marson]

A Simple Guide to Being Alive centers on the straightforward premise that modern life overstimulates our nervous systems, and that anxiety, stress, and burnout are less a consequence of personal failure than a predictable response to an environment that denies us of one of our most fundamental evolutionary needs: safety. Rabin argues that our bodies are still operating with primal instincts in a world that constantly demands our attention, leaving many of us chronically overstimulated and struggling to cope.

Overall, I found the book engaging, although Rabin occasionally repeats the same ideas. Yes, we live in a chaotic world that constantly competes for our attention. Yes, anxiety is widespread, and many of us struggle to manage it. And yes, our dependence on technology has left our nervous systems perpetually switched on. That said, Rabin does offer practical, science-based strategies for helping the body regain a sense of stability. He emphasizes the importance of nutrition, sleep, stress management, and, above all, learning how to become grounded. Pay attention. Slow down. Focus on what actually matters.

Rabin is the founder of Apollo Neuro, a neuroscience-based wearable that uses gentle vibrations intended to improve overall well-being. He explains that "the Apollo improves the function of the vagus nerve by sending gentle, silent sound-wave vibrations to the body that are recognized by the brain as soothing touch." Reading that sentence sent me on a side quest to learn about the company, where I quickly fell into a Reddit rabbit hole about the pros and cons of his product. Some users swear by the device, while others say it did little for them. The mixed reactions were a useful reminder that even when an idea has an interesting scientific basis, individual experiences can vary considerably.

I enjoyed A Simple Guide to Being Alive. Its greatest strength is its simplest message: our bodies aren't machines designed solely to keep up with modern life. Sometimes the most productive thing we can do is stop, pay attention, and simply be alive.

[Meredith Franco]

A Simple Guide to Being Alive by Dr. David M. L. Rabin is an ambitious and accessible exploration of how modern life affects the human nervous system and how readers can rediscover safety, connection, meaning, and joy. Divided into an examination of contemporary dysregulation and a practical path toward healing, the book brings together neuroscience, psychiatry, trauma research, spirituality, technology, Indigenous wisdom, and personal experience.

Rabin’s greatest strength is his ability to translate complex subjects into lively, conversational language. His humour, clinical observations, memorable equations, diagrams, and practical exercises make discussions of stress, addiction, sleep, attention, psychedelics, intimacy, and embodied learning approachable. The recurring emphasis on breathing, soothing touch, movement, play, gratitude, rest, relationships, and self-trust gives the wide-ranging material a clear emotional and practical foundation.

The book’s principal weakness is its repetition of certain ideas and its tendency to present some scientific, spiritual, and commercial claims, particularly those involving consciousness, epigenetics, and Apollo Neuro, with greater certainty than some readers may find convincing.

Nevertheless, Rabin’s compassion is unmistakable, and his refusal to portray readers as broken is both reassuring and motivating. A Simple Guide to Being Alive is a thought-provoking and practical resource for readers interested in nervous-system regulation, holistic mental health, embodied healing, and developing a more humane relationship with modern life.

[Jeremy Huffman Proctor]

A lovely and uplifting book that looks at the cause of our contemporary existential dread and provides easy and memorable ways to counter it. I found the simple equations and pro-tips extremely helpful. The only reason this isn't getting 5 stars is the repetitive push of his wearable device and app which I'm sure is amazing but began to feel like an infomercial at times. He also discusses spirituality and divinity but handles it much more adeptly than most books in this genre. Highly recommended!

[Boundbybooks]

A refreshing and approachable look at the nervous system, stress, and mental well-being. I loved how it makes science feel practical without becoming too complicated. The sections on breathing, laughter, and simple connection especially stood out to me. A thoughtful, easy-to-read guide with a great message. 5/5 ⭐️