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Whose Mind Is It Anyway?: Get Out of Your Head and Into Your Life
A sympathetic illustrated guide to learning to live with your mind--even when it tries to trick you.
Most of us spend our lives trailing after our minds, allowing our brains to take us in directions that are safe and secure, controlled and conformed. Your mind doesn't want you to take that new job, sign up for that pottery class, or ask someone out. It wants you to stay unemployed, unfulfilled, and single because it enjoys routine and is resistant to change, no matter how positive the change may be. But more often than not, that's not what you want.
Whose Mind Is It Anyway? will help you learn how to separate what you want from what your brain wants and how to do less when your mind is trying to trick you into doing more. In a colorful, funny, and nonthreatening way, it answers the difficult question of how we can take control of our self-defeating behaviors. Filled with charming illustrations, this book will be the friendly voice in your head to counter your negative thoughts, and it will teach you how to finally be at peace with all that you are.
Most of us spend our lives trailing after our minds, allowing our brains to take us in directions that are safe and secure, controlled and conformed. Your mind doesn't want you to take that new job, sign up for that pottery class, or ask someone out. It wants you to stay unemployed, unfulfilled, and single because it enjoys routine and is resistant to change, no matter how positive the change may be. But more often than not, that's not what you want.
Whose Mind Is It Anyway? will help you learn how to separate what you want from what your brain wants and how to do less when your mind is trying to trick you into doing more. In a colorful, funny, and nonthreatening way, it answers the difficult question of how we can take control of our self-defeating behaviors. Filled with charming illustrations, this book will be the friendly voice in your head to counter your negative thoughts, and it will teach you how to finally be at peace with all that you are.
176 pages, Paperback
First published June 7, 2016
13 people are currently reading
587 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Esile
2 books6 followersLisa Esile (1972-) was born in Wellington, New Zealand but spent most of her adult life on the remote southern island. She has a Masters Degree in science from Otago University.
Lisa lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Franco. Together they wrote and illustrated 'Whose Mind Is It Anyway?' Lisa is a regular contributor to Tiny Buddha and her a blog, lisaesile.com, has over 8000 subscribers.
Likes: swimming, asparagus and new potato's with butter and salt, playing guitar with Franco, camping, reading in bed, and remembering to be lazy.
Lisa lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Franco. Together they wrote and illustrated 'Whose Mind Is It Anyway?' Lisa is a regular contributor to Tiny Buddha and her a blog, lisaesile.com, has over 8000 subscribers.
Likes: swimming, asparagus and new potato's with butter and salt, playing guitar with Franco, camping, reading in bed, and remembering to be lazy.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
July 9, 2024
Due to a random turn of events, my husband came with me to the library to pick up a book I had on hold. I realized though that I in fact did NOT have a book on hold, the library had called me because I had a book overdue. (OOPS: confessions of a delinquent reader, who has a fine-free library). I obviously couldn't leave empty-handed (I'm not a monster) so I perused the hot picks, the new fiction, but nothing was speaking to me. I was stumped but my husband said he would pick something out for me, but I had to agree to read it. I was intrigued.
After a brief walk around, he handed me this book, and I was gobsmacked. How dare he? But also, thank you, and dang you know me too well. (When he also handed me a lengthy book on economics I felt tricked and a little hostile, but that's a review for another day).
This teeny little book is a fun and calming way to kill twenty minutes, it's basically a self-help graphic novel. I was so charmed by it the next day I bought my own copy, and a week or so later I bought a copy for a friend, and will probably keep gifting it out.
It's a little book filled with a lot of wisdom about how your mind isn't always your friend, and a nice reminder that we all are plagued by doubts, and negative thoughts, but there are things you can try to get yourself out of the mire.
It's filled with a whimsical and charming illustration style (like this, on the right), which was reminiscent of one of my favorite Little Golden Books, "There's a Monster at the End of The Book." If you're looking for a pick-me-up or a gift for yourself, or someone else, check out this literary hug
(Oh, and also, if you're staring down the barrel of a reading goal as we round the corner to December, you'll be able to read this in about 20 minutes. STILL COUNTS).
After a brief walk around, he handed me this book, and I was gobsmacked. How dare he? But also, thank you, and dang you know me too well. (When he also handed me a lengthy book on economics I felt tricked and a little hostile, but that's a review for another day).
This teeny little book is a fun and calming way to kill twenty minutes, it's basically a self-help graphic novel. I was so charmed by it the next day I bought my own copy, and a week or so later I bought a copy for a friend, and will probably keep gifting it out.
It's a little book filled with a lot of wisdom about how your mind isn't always your friend, and a nice reminder that we all are plagued by doubts, and negative thoughts, but there are things you can try to get yourself out of the mire.
It's filled with a whimsical and charming illustration style (like this, on the right), which was reminiscent of one of my favorite Little Golden Books, "There's a Monster at the End of The Book." If you're looking for a pick-me-up or a gift for yourself, or someone else, check out this literary hug
(Oh, and also, if you're staring down the barrel of a reading goal as we round the corner to December, you'll be able to read this in about 20 minutes. STILL COUNTS).
September 27, 2024
Read this for my health psych class! Was such an enjoyable read and I’d place it on my shelf right next to The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse. I would lend it to my dearest friends and make my family read it. Five stars!!!
July 19, 2016
My Recommendation: Check it out! It took about 20-30 mins to read through the whole thing and there were some great tips and tricks on centering yourself. It’s a refreshing and lighthearted take on an oft-visited subject that could easily have become trite or dreary.
My Response: Sometimes you need to be reminded that you don’t know everything and this is one of those instances. It legitimately, is a book telling you not to always believe what you’re mind says, but to take time out and look at it from a different perspective (aka your heart) and to see what else is going on.
This isn’t one of those books I would pick up and buy for myself or even as a gift, but it’s one of those books that everyone would (or really should) read if they stumbled across it. I know if I saw it on a coffee table or in a bathroom (see photo of illustration below), I would flip through it. The publicist for the novel sent over a copy for me to check out* and it was a quick, fun and quirky read. I’m definitely going to have to check out the author’s website to see what other fun things they get up to.
Click here to continue reading on my blog The Oddness of Moving Things.
*I received a copy of this novel from the publicist in return for my honest opinion. No compensation was received.
My Response: Sometimes you need to be reminded that you don’t know everything and this is one of those instances. It legitimately, is a book telling you not to always believe what you’re mind says, but to take time out and look at it from a different perspective (aka your heart) and to see what else is going on.
This isn’t one of those books I would pick up and buy for myself or even as a gift, but it’s one of those books that everyone would (or really should) read if they stumbled across it. I know if I saw it on a coffee table or in a bathroom (see photo of illustration below), I would flip through it. The publicist for the novel sent over a copy for me to check out* and it was a quick, fun and quirky read. I’m definitely going to have to check out the author’s website to see what other fun things they get up to.
Click here to continue reading on my blog The Oddness of Moving Things.
*I received a copy of this novel from the publicist in return for my honest opinion. No compensation was received.
June 9, 2016
"Whose Mind Is It Anyway?" is a must-read for everyone! The engaging graphics, the soothing tone of the text and the message is a comforting boost to anyone, no matter if they are in a good place or not.
As I read this book I felt like I was having a conversation with a best friend. And I kept reading because I wanted the conversation to continue. The message is encouraging and engaging. I recommend this book to anyone who can read.
As I read this book I felt like I was having a conversation with a best friend. And I kept reading because I wanted the conversation to continue. The message is encouraging and engaging. I recommend this book to anyone who can read.
October 30, 2016
The illustrations in this book are super adorable, which is why it caught my eye. However, the topic just happened to be perfect for me at this time in my life. I've been trying a lot lately to stop listening to all the negative thoughts in my head, and this book just helped reassure me, as well as give me other ideas to keep my mind under control. Overall, a very short and good read.
October 4, 2016
I won this book through Goodreads giveaways. It's a cute concept and a very easy read, yet the information is simple to understand and makes you think. I passed this book onto someone who's mind is controlling her happiness, and I hope it opens her eyes like it did me! Thank you for this book.
September 16, 2017
Very entertaining and exceptional art style coupled with wisdom 👍🏻
October 4, 2023
Read it for my class but some simple ways to help your mind and yourself relax. Important to remember the mind is always worrying about stuff but gotta realize to find and make time for yourself.
July 17, 2016
I loved the whimsical cartoons and the direct messages. I was a bit skeptical to start it with all sorts of self-help and inspirational books I've read in the past, I thought this would be just another to add to my bookshelf. I was wrong. The messages are short and sweet and cute so much that I just enjoyed it that much more and the words stuck. You will enjoy it. I got it as a gift from my b.f. and she had loved reading it as well.
April 3, 2018
This book consists of sloppy-ish but tasteful pictures along with grungy short hand explanations. It does an outstanding job illustrating how the mind is both the answer to our problems and the reason for a lot of our anxiety (that troublemaker!). Also the format of this book reminds me of the "Wreck It Journal" from UO. Every time I skim through and reread the book I feel like it helps me understand my thought process better or enough to maybe rearrange some of my faulty beliefs or clean out my "mind drawer" (like when it's tangled up like my earphones or when it's full of spiders!). Finally, at the end of book there's a link to the authors' website francoandlisa.com where I got a cool ebook version of their second guide about living more mindfully. I recommend this book for both kids and adults.
August 14, 2021
"Trying to control the world is tiring."
"Feeling stressed is a choice."
"Trust that things will work out."
These are just some of many pearls of wisdom in this delightful easy-to-read book! You'll enjoy the colorful and whimsical drawings on each page. This book is a great reminder of the truth that our minds can be a playground for negativity. So pick up this little gem, read it, internalize the message, and be at peace.
"Feeling stressed is a choice."
"Trust that things will work out."
These are just some of many pearls of wisdom in this delightful easy-to-read book! You'll enjoy the colorful and whimsical drawings on each page. This book is a great reminder of the truth that our minds can be a playground for negativity. So pick up this little gem, read it, internalize the message, and be at peace.
June 6, 2018
The best!
Just finished this treasure. In the past I have done so much in regards to mental wellbeing. This is the best book I have read. It is so easy, friendly, charming and above all makes the complicated issues easy to understand. Thank you Lisa and Franco. Definitely recommend it and I will always be coming back to it.
Just finished this treasure. In the past I have done so much in regards to mental wellbeing. This is the best book I have read. It is so easy, friendly, charming and above all makes the complicated issues easy to understand. Thank you Lisa and Franco. Definitely recommend it and I will always be coming back to it.
March 8, 2019
I'm so happy I found this book!
Best self-help book I have ever read.
Incredibly enlightening, straight to the point book with easy to understand explanations divided into 7 chapters:
Wisdom, Calm, Control, Learning, Pain, Teamwork, and Acceptance.
It's a super quick read with adorable illustrations, humor, and lightheartedness woven in with the information.
Best self-help book I have ever read.
Incredibly enlightening, straight to the point book with easy to understand explanations divided into 7 chapters:
Wisdom, Calm, Control, Learning, Pain, Teamwork, and Acceptance.
It's a super quick read with adorable illustrations, humor, and lightheartedness woven in with the information.
March 27, 2020
The book is not completely theoretically consistent with ACT constructs but it’s a decent and entertaining primer for the lay person. Introducing concepts in a palatable and charming way is pretty challenging. So I think it does a nice job of that though some of the language is a bit inconsistent (such as suggesting the mutability of private events). Overall, very cute and accessible.
October 17, 2025
I had to read this for my research thesis - it totally changed my perspective on stress and its affects on our bodies. I loved how it explained that we are the ones that control our mind and the way we react to our thoughts is our choice. It is a super quick read and has some really good analogies!
August 7, 2017
This is a very quick read but "truthy" (thank you Mr Colbert!) and insightful at the same time. I read it to see if it would be a good book for my daughters, and I'm definitely going to have them read it to help them navigate uncertainties and social pressures and other fun teenage stuff!
July 2, 2018
A very cute, cartoon book with some very helpful advice. Simplified but not overly so, concise enough to read in one sitting with the art that adds clarity in some areas and amusement in all. I will reread this book many times over and have bought copies for a few of my friends/family.
October 10, 2023
Short sweet and to the point, but a little whimsical/corny for my liking. However I did resonate w a good amount of content in this book, especially with the occurrence of the mind controlling happiness.
September 19, 2017
Good book, very easy to read and the adorable graphics make it easy to relate to.
February 22, 2019
I'm generally quite averse to anything that seems like a self-help book, but I would recommend this to anyone. It made me laugh, sigh, think, and cry in the roughly 20 minutes it took to read.
March 4, 2019
Fast, easy read with fun graphics. Most of the info is not new or unique, but it is captured in an easy-to-read format and is a good reminder.
April 27, 2019
Simple and effective read that gives readers a new perspective, one that I never considered my brain could be capable of!
June 18, 2019
A cute book that came to me at the right time
December 5, 2019
Light & easy read full of humor, illustrations, and gems of wisdom. Great reminders for self-care no matter your situation or age. Will definitely be passing this one on.
February 26, 2020
very quick read, read at the gym, and funny and weird, and a book my mother wanted me to read.
March 16, 2020
Short little book. Eh.
January 10, 2022
Wonderful read on how to let go of anxiety and Intrusive thoughts. Highly recommend :) <3
December 16, 2025
Simple, straightforward and surprisingly effective. "You are already calm" is a thought I've found myself returning to since reading this book.
July 20, 2016
This book is about the ways in which your mind operates. The information is presented in a very accessible format.
When you have the book, keep it close and re-read it when you’re having a bad day. Let it remind you that bad days are not inevitable! If you enjoy yoga, which encourages finding space on the mat, you can be one of the many different types of people this book will appeal to. Authors Lisa and Franco Esile want to encourage you to find space as well, except their message is that you can find space from your thoughts at any time! This book is their passion project to remind you of this again and again.
Just knowing something, even reading it a few times, is not the same as living in accordance with your newfound knowledge. You have to work on it and with this self-help illustrated book, you just might discover freedom. After following Lisa’s blog for over 2 years I was thrilled to receive a copy of this book**. I was already loving Lisa’s blog, emails, and ebook but a physical book is the perfect extension of this message. It's about a 15 minute read cover to cover, I timed myself, and filled with cute drawings by the authors! The illustrations in this book are silly, which is great because they help you get through some annoying facts.
One of my favorite annoying facts from the book is “The [mind’s] need for predictability is why people repeat old habits over and over again even though they might be painful.” Doesn’t that just make you mad? If so, that is normal. You’ll learn about why in the book and get to throw a metaphorical punch at the authors. I enjoy how this illustrated scenario follows learning that "Stress is a choice."
This books information is as relevant today as it was when Lisa first started sharing it on her blog lisaesile.com and I believe it will continue to be relevant for decades to come. One of Lisa’s works, an ebook about the mind, has been downloaded by over 10,000 individuals, myself included. The common quest? Discovering how to be okay. The book “Who’s Mind is it Anyway?” does show how this can be achieved. I am looking forward to gifting a copy to one of my friends and sharing it with others.
**I have received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, as the authors welcome both positive and negative feedback.
First Posted on Amazon
When you have the book, keep it close and re-read it when you’re having a bad day. Let it remind you that bad days are not inevitable! If you enjoy yoga, which encourages finding space on the mat, you can be one of the many different types of people this book will appeal to. Authors Lisa and Franco Esile want to encourage you to find space as well, except their message is that you can find space from your thoughts at any time! This book is their passion project to remind you of this again and again.
Just knowing something, even reading it a few times, is not the same as living in accordance with your newfound knowledge. You have to work on it and with this self-help illustrated book, you just might discover freedom. After following Lisa’s blog for over 2 years I was thrilled to receive a copy of this book**. I was already loving Lisa’s blog, emails, and ebook but a physical book is the perfect extension of this message. It's about a 15 minute read cover to cover, I timed myself, and filled with cute drawings by the authors! The illustrations in this book are silly, which is great because they help you get through some annoying facts.
One of my favorite annoying facts from the book is “The [mind’s] need for predictability is why people repeat old habits over and over again even though they might be painful.” Doesn’t that just make you mad? If so, that is normal. You’ll learn about why in the book and get to throw a metaphorical punch at the authors. I enjoy how this illustrated scenario follows learning that "Stress is a choice."
This books information is as relevant today as it was when Lisa first started sharing it on her blog lisaesile.com and I believe it will continue to be relevant for decades to come. One of Lisa’s works, an ebook about the mind, has been downloaded by over 10,000 individuals, myself included. The common quest? Discovering how to be okay. The book “Who’s Mind is it Anyway?” does show how this can be achieved. I am looking forward to gifting a copy to one of my friends and sharing it with others.
**I have received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, as the authors welcome both positive and negative feedback.
First Posted on Amazon
February 22, 2017
I loved this book. It short, sweet, and to the point. It shares a variety of techniques that we could all use to help our mind ease up a bit. This is definitely a book I would share with my friends, as we're all overthinking about something these days.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews