MindWipe: Dealing with Stress, Anger, and Ego

by Eric S. Piotrowski

A small, simple guide to dealing with stress, anger, and ego. With ordinary language, insight, and humor, this book explains mindfulness and provides specific ways to confront the destructive forces of anxiety, tension, and self-deception.

Special sections focus on mindful video gaming and stress-management for teachers.

88 pages, Paperback

Published June 27, 2016

About the author

I'm a writer and high school English teacher. I also make electronic music; design websites; and host a podcast about education, economics, and killer robots. A lifelong video game addict, I'm also the co-host of the VeteranGamers podcast.

My work has appeared in the English Journal, The 3288 Review, and the poetry collection Home: Local Writers Reflect on Its Meaning.

I'm a lifelong political agitator with a deep love for East Timor. I live with my wife and dog in Wisconsin.

Reviews

[Hailey Senior · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly a really good read. It's short which makes it easier for me to read. The structure was good and it was a very grounding book. It felt calming while reading especially the bell chapters( which I personally loved that detail). I also like the perspective on the inner monologue of oneself that I haven't heard about before.

So yeah over all a good read about mindfulness 👍

[Garrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've known Eric for a lot of years, so I'm not sure I can objectively analyze anything he writes. Fiction's easy, I can just go with my gut and describe my visceral & emotional responses to the content, but this...

This was a quick and helpful read about mindfulness from which anyone could benefit. I (like any adult) have been developing tools and strategies for dealing with stress and anger and sadness for almost my whole adult life, and I didn't find anything in this volume that conflicts with anything I already employ. Indeed, the idea of mindfulness anywhere is extremely useful, inasmuch as it can be plugged in...anywhere. The regular exhortations to take three deep breaths I did find relaxing, and I actually plan to read this again - but slower.

My one critique would be more my problem than Eric's: As someone who only really plays video games when I go to the antique stand-up arcade game place near my house, the heavy focus on videogaming here was enlightening but perhaps not terribly useful. Not a waste of time, certainly, but not directly applicable, either. Other than that, this is a near-universally useful volume that I might just employ as stocking stuffers this holiday season.

[10thumbs · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good, quick set of ideas to help establish a mindfulness practice — as free of pretense as one would want (or not want).

An observation: reading this book poolside while three 7-11 year old kids scream *may* not be the optimal reading environment.

Two minor critiques: First, I’m always interested in people’s personal experiences as a way to learn/understand new concepts. So I would have loved more this-then-that cause and effect examples of the things covered. It makes it more rooted in reality. Second, while it’s clear Eric (full disclosure: he is my little brother) is well-read but i would have liked to know where he gathered all this wisdom from. (Hint: certainly not me). A resources list or something.

Neither takes anything away from this worthwhile read.