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I Wanna Be Well: How a Punk Found Peace and You Can Too
A punk rocker’s guide to grow, learn, and appreciate the present moment—in short, to live a life that doesn’t totally suck.
All Miguel Chen ever wanted was to be happy. Just like everyone else.
But—also like everyone else—he’s suffered. A lot. Running from difficult personal losses—like the deaths of loved ones—was something he did for years, and it got the best of him. Eventually, though, he stopped running and started walking a spiritual path. That might be surprising for a dude in a relentlessly touring punk band (Teenage Bottlerocket), but Miguel quickly found that meditation, mindfulness, and yoga really helped. They allowed him to turn inward, to connect to himself and the world around him. Suddenly, he had found actual happiness.
Miguel’s realistic. He knows it'll never be all sunshine and peaches. And yet, he is (for the most part) at peace with the world and with himself. It shocks even him sometimes. But he’s come to see the interconnectedness of all things, the beauty of life…even the parts that suck.
Each short chapter ends with a hands-on practice that the reader can put into action right away—and each practice offers a distilled “TL;DR” takeaway point.
TL; Miguel Chen shares stories, meditations, and practices that can help us reconnect to each other, ourselves, and the world. They’ve worked for him—they can work for anyone.
All Miguel Chen ever wanted was to be happy. Just like everyone else.
But—also like everyone else—he’s suffered. A lot. Running from difficult personal losses—like the deaths of loved ones—was something he did for years, and it got the best of him. Eventually, though, he stopped running and started walking a spiritual path. That might be surprising for a dude in a relentlessly touring punk band (Teenage Bottlerocket), but Miguel quickly found that meditation, mindfulness, and yoga really helped. They allowed him to turn inward, to connect to himself and the world around him. Suddenly, he had found actual happiness.
Miguel’s realistic. He knows it'll never be all sunshine and peaches. And yet, he is (for the most part) at peace with the world and with himself. It shocks even him sometimes. But he’s come to see the interconnectedness of all things, the beauty of life…even the parts that suck.
Each short chapter ends with a hands-on practice that the reader can put into action right away—and each practice offers a distilled “TL;DR” takeaway point.
TL; Miguel Chen shares stories, meditations, and practices that can help us reconnect to each other, ourselves, and the world. They’ve worked for him—they can work for anyone.
192 pages, Paperback
Published February 20, 2018
21 people are currently reading
183 people want to read
About the author
Miguel Chen
5 books24 followersFather. Yogi. Buddhist. Punk.
Miguel Chen is the bassist for the long-running punk band Teenage Bottlerocket and the author of I Wanna Be Well: How a Punk Found Peace and You Can Too and The Death of You: A Book for Anyone Who Might Die Someday (both from Wisdom Publications). A longtime yoga and meditation teacher, he is also the founder of Yoga for Punks, a project dedicated to bringing mindfulness to unconventional audiences.
Chen’s work and studies have taken him to more than 40 countries across six continents, where he has performed, practiced, and taught. His writing and music have been featured on CNN, Lion’s Roar, Alternative Press, and in countless clubs, festivals, and yoga studios. He is the former director of the Dallas Meditation Center and is an owner of several yoga and wellness spaces in Wyoming and Quebec.
He lives in the suburbs of Montreal with his wife and three children and continues to tour internationally with Teenage Bottlerocket.
Miguel Chen is the bassist for the long-running punk band Teenage Bottlerocket and the author of I Wanna Be Well: How a Punk Found Peace and You Can Too and The Death of You: A Book for Anyone Who Might Die Someday (both from Wisdom Publications). A longtime yoga and meditation teacher, he is also the founder of Yoga for Punks, a project dedicated to bringing mindfulness to unconventional audiences.
Chen’s work and studies have taken him to more than 40 countries across six continents, where he has performed, practiced, and taught. His writing and music have been featured on CNN, Lion’s Roar, Alternative Press, and in countless clubs, festivals, and yoga studios. He is the former director of the Dallas Meditation Center and is an owner of several yoga and wellness spaces in Wyoming and Quebec.
He lives in the suburbs of Montreal with his wife and three children and continues to tour internationally with Teenage Bottlerocket.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
May 6, 2018
I am an complete sucker for books that talk about punk and Buddhism at the same time, so when “I Wanna Be Well” came out, there was no way I wasn’t getting a copy: it’s a book about meditation named after a Ramones song. Here’s my money.
Now did I get my money’s worth?
Well, I noticed very quickly that I am not this book’s target audience: this book is really aimed at people who have never meditated or done yoga before, and to be honest, it’s the most self-help-y book about meditation and Buddhism I have ever read. In that respect, I can only really appreciate that Chen makes basic meditation and yoga techniques accessible and easy to understand. But I also learned nothing new, nor did I get any kind of fresh insight. I’m sure it can be very helpful to people who simply want to be a bit more mindful without looking to change too many aspects of their lifestyles, but I am simply not at that level anymore…
I would recommend Brad Warner’s “Hardcore Zen”, Lodro Rinzler’s “The Buddha Walks Into a Bar” or “Be Your Shitty Self” by Mark Van Buren – all of which offer information that is accessible to beginners, but on a deeper level than what I found in the pages of “I Wanna Be Well”. Not a bad book, but it doesn’t really stand out compared to other intros to meditation that are available out there. I wish I could have given it a higher rating.
Now did I get my money’s worth?
Well, I noticed very quickly that I am not this book’s target audience: this book is really aimed at people who have never meditated or done yoga before, and to be honest, it’s the most self-help-y book about meditation and Buddhism I have ever read. In that respect, I can only really appreciate that Chen makes basic meditation and yoga techniques accessible and easy to understand. But I also learned nothing new, nor did I get any kind of fresh insight. I’m sure it can be very helpful to people who simply want to be a bit more mindful without looking to change too many aspects of their lifestyles, but I am simply not at that level anymore…
I would recommend Brad Warner’s “Hardcore Zen”, Lodro Rinzler’s “The Buddha Walks Into a Bar” or “Be Your Shitty Self” by Mark Van Buren – all of which offer information that is accessible to beginners, but on a deeper level than what I found in the pages of “I Wanna Be Well”. Not a bad book, but it doesn’t really stand out compared to other intros to meditation that are available out there. I wish I could have given it a higher rating.
April 12, 2018
Bassist Miguel Chen, of Teenage Bottlerocket, is now an author with the publication of his new book, I Wanna Be Well: How a Punk Found Peace and You Can Too, from Wisdom Publications. Part meditation and yoga instructional, part self-help book, part autobiography, Chen’s book was co-written with Rod Meade Sperry, the editor of A Beginner’s Guide to Meditation and deputy editor of Lion’s Roar magazine.
Strangely, the nearest thing I can compare it to is Alice Cooper’s autobiography and golf manual, Alice Cooper, Golf Monster: A Rock 'n' Roller's Life and 12 Steps to Becoming a Golf Addict. Much as that book alternated stories of Cooper’s life with music and the various people he met along the way with advice on how to improve one’s golf game, so does Chen’s book, but with punk rock, family, and yoga.
I Wanna Be Well is a little less rigid than most yoga or meditation instruction I’ve read over the years. While I am by no means an avowed practitioner of either discipline, many of the books have a methodology to which they want you to adhere. It’s this grand lifestyle plan which has frequently led to me giving up on most yoga regimens: they ask you to not just focus on body work in terms of stretching, but push mindfulness, diet, and all manner of lifestyle changes.
It’s like, I just wanted to be able to bend over to put on my shoes without accidentally throwing out my back, not achieve enlightenment, you know? Thankfully, Chen offers up both lengthy explanations of the mindfulness necessary for those who choose to make deeper explorations, but also shorter, end-of-chapter TL;DR synopses for the people who just need to get a little more flexible, both mentally and physically.
The part of I Wanna Be Well I most appreciated was the idea that maybe you aren’t a sober vegan, and that possibly you might want tacos (who doesn’t want tacos?) or pizza, and that doesn’t mean that you can’t sit there and appreciate the moment, in a sort of “I am smelling this taco. I am biting into this taco. I appreciate this taco. I am being fed by this taco” bit of mindfulness.
Fuck. I want tacos. That’s distracting. However, thanks to Chen’s book, I’ve gotten better at living in the moment and appreciating things right now, rather than constantly working toward a future point in time where I’ll be able to relax or something like that. So, right now, I am writing this review and concentrating on it as best I can, and focusing on this task, rather than being distracted by delicious, delicious tacos.
I am writing this review. I am thinking about I Wanna Be Well, and how Chen’s sense of humor and honest acknowledgement of his own own struggles to remain mindful and present render the book a relatable read which -- despite some concepts which he admits are a trifle “woo-woo” -- seems like it could be something to which I might no necessarily adhere to 100%, but have definitely begun utilizing in the more stressful aspects of my own life.
I Wanna Be Well: How a Punk Found Peace and You Can Too might not grant you perfect peace, but it will certainly help take those mile-a-minute thought patterns and repeated distractions in your life and tone them down a bit. And, hell -- you might be a little more flexible after, as well.
Strangely, the nearest thing I can compare it to is Alice Cooper’s autobiography and golf manual, Alice Cooper, Golf Monster: A Rock 'n' Roller's Life and 12 Steps to Becoming a Golf Addict. Much as that book alternated stories of Cooper’s life with music and the various people he met along the way with advice on how to improve one’s golf game, so does Chen’s book, but with punk rock, family, and yoga.
I Wanna Be Well is a little less rigid than most yoga or meditation instruction I’ve read over the years. While I am by no means an avowed practitioner of either discipline, many of the books have a methodology to which they want you to adhere. It’s this grand lifestyle plan which has frequently led to me giving up on most yoga regimens: they ask you to not just focus on body work in terms of stretching, but push mindfulness, diet, and all manner of lifestyle changes.
It’s like, I just wanted to be able to bend over to put on my shoes without accidentally throwing out my back, not achieve enlightenment, you know? Thankfully, Chen offers up both lengthy explanations of the mindfulness necessary for those who choose to make deeper explorations, but also shorter, end-of-chapter TL;DR synopses for the people who just need to get a little more flexible, both mentally and physically.
The part of I Wanna Be Well I most appreciated was the idea that maybe you aren’t a sober vegan, and that possibly you might want tacos (who doesn’t want tacos?) or pizza, and that doesn’t mean that you can’t sit there and appreciate the moment, in a sort of “I am smelling this taco. I am biting into this taco. I appreciate this taco. I am being fed by this taco” bit of mindfulness.
Fuck. I want tacos. That’s distracting. However, thanks to Chen’s book, I’ve gotten better at living in the moment and appreciating things right now, rather than constantly working toward a future point in time where I’ll be able to relax or something like that. So, right now, I am writing this review and concentrating on it as best I can, and focusing on this task, rather than being distracted by delicious, delicious tacos.
I am writing this review. I am thinking about I Wanna Be Well, and how Chen’s sense of humor and honest acknowledgement of his own own struggles to remain mindful and present render the book a relatable read which -- despite some concepts which he admits are a trifle “woo-woo” -- seems like it could be something to which I might no necessarily adhere to 100%, but have definitely begun utilizing in the more stressful aspects of my own life.
I Wanna Be Well: How a Punk Found Peace and You Can Too might not grant you perfect peace, but it will certainly help take those mile-a-minute thought patterns and repeated distractions in your life and tone them down a bit. And, hell -- you might be a little more flexible after, as well.
December 21, 2019
Enlightening book with personal anecdotes with enough pithy, punk, real life humor to keep me going. Less of a spiritual book and more of day to day practices to unload the baggage we're carrying around in our heads.
June 27, 2024
4.5/5
December 9, 2020
Really great read during the pandemic. Lots of simple suggestions as to practices that can start one down a road towards a meditation practice with some yoga sprinkled in. Not preachy, just practical stuff.
October 26, 2018
Originally posted at ragdollreads.co.uk
Interesting reading, if a bit sweary.
TL;DR – Bite sized chunks of wisdom, spiritual insights and self-help guidance from the punk perspective.
Ragdoll Rating: 4/5 Buttons
Recommended For: People with a more sceptical view of spirituality, who want to dip their toes in the water
About the Book…
I Wanna Be Well is sort of spiritual smorgasbord, in a good way. Drawing from a range of sources from Buddhism, yoga, the 12-Step program and others, Miguel Chen provides insights and advice, backed up by years of experience practicing what he preaches.
Each chapter takes up a specific issue, for example, breathing, compassion, forgiveness, and explains the concepts with reference to various spiritual traditions and Miguel’s own life story. Each chapter ends with a different practice for you to try, drawn from a number of sources.
What I thought…
I almost gave up on this book quite early on, because if I’m being completely honest, I was thrown by the authors use of swearing. I’m not opposed to swearing, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t swear myself, but for some reason it felt abrasive, and it made me uncomfortable. Having completed the book, I would reassess that position, and suggest that in reality it is just the way the author talks, and this book is written in an informal style to help better engage people who might find all this ‘spiritual talk’ dry and hard to follow if it was written in the style I am accustomed to. I’m still not sure I like it, but I do at least understand it.
The content of the book is actually pretty good. Miguel uses examples from his own life to explain various concepts in a simple and informal way, and offers regular reminders that none of the stuff in the book needs to be thought of as inherently religious or spiritual, it’s just useful things to help calm your mind and help you live your best life.
At the end of each chapter, there is a practice to do, broken down into simple steps and with a tl;dr after each if you just want an overview. I actually really liked this, as it tied everything together nicely. I imagine if you picked this book up and read a chapter a day, or every other day, by the time you finished you would have a really good set of tools to help you cope with life. There are also step by step pictorial instructions for the various sets of yoga practices the book contains, which I thought was another useful touch.
Final Thoughts…
I’m glad I finished this book. The writing style caught me off-guard, and kept me that way, but the practices and explanations contained in this book made that small discomfort worth enduring. Actually, thinking about it, I could have probably done with this book as a teen.
___________________________________________
Please Note: I received a copy of this book via netgalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions contained within are my own and have not been influenced by any external entity!
Interesting reading, if a bit sweary.
TL;DR – Bite sized chunks of wisdom, spiritual insights and self-help guidance from the punk perspective.
Ragdoll Rating: 4/5 Buttons
Recommended For: People with a more sceptical view of spirituality, who want to dip their toes in the water
About the Book…
I Wanna Be Well is sort of spiritual smorgasbord, in a good way. Drawing from a range of sources from Buddhism, yoga, the 12-Step program and others, Miguel Chen provides insights and advice, backed up by years of experience practicing what he preaches.
Each chapter takes up a specific issue, for example, breathing, compassion, forgiveness, and explains the concepts with reference to various spiritual traditions and Miguel’s own life story. Each chapter ends with a different practice for you to try, drawn from a number of sources.
What I thought…
I almost gave up on this book quite early on, because if I’m being completely honest, I was thrown by the authors use of swearing. I’m not opposed to swearing, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t swear myself, but for some reason it felt abrasive, and it made me uncomfortable. Having completed the book, I would reassess that position, and suggest that in reality it is just the way the author talks, and this book is written in an informal style to help better engage people who might find all this ‘spiritual talk’ dry and hard to follow if it was written in the style I am accustomed to. I’m still not sure I like it, but I do at least understand it.
The content of the book is actually pretty good. Miguel uses examples from his own life to explain various concepts in a simple and informal way, and offers regular reminders that none of the stuff in the book needs to be thought of as inherently religious or spiritual, it’s just useful things to help calm your mind and help you live your best life.
At the end of each chapter, there is a practice to do, broken down into simple steps and with a tl;dr after each if you just want an overview. I actually really liked this, as it tied everything together nicely. I imagine if you picked this book up and read a chapter a day, or every other day, by the time you finished you would have a really good set of tools to help you cope with life. There are also step by step pictorial instructions for the various sets of yoga practices the book contains, which I thought was another useful touch.
Final Thoughts…
I’m glad I finished this book. The writing style caught me off-guard, and kept me that way, but the practices and explanations contained in this book made that small discomfort worth enduring. Actually, thinking about it, I could have probably done with this book as a teen.
___________________________________________
Please Note: I received a copy of this book via netgalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions contained within are my own and have not been influenced by any external entity!
April 15, 2020
While I’ve always enjoyed reading self help books, I bought this book because I love Teenage Bottlerocket. If you’ve ever seen Teenage Bottlerocket live, you know how energetic and fun Miguel, their bassist is to watch on stage so when I heard that he wrote a book on spiritual healing, I was immediately interested.
I went into this book not really knowing much about Buddhism and other spiritual ways of thinking, and left with an appetite to learn more. Not only is this book just the right length, Miguel explains complex and lofty things in an easy to understand, humorous, vulnerable, and relatable way. This is a great introduction for anyone who wants to better themselves and their way of thinking without delving too deep into the nitty gritty.
If you love Teenage Bottlerocket, you’ll enjoy reading this. If you love punk rock, you’ll enjoy reading this. Many of the chapter’s titles reference bands and songs from Ramones, to Descendents, and Lagwagon. I also really enjoyed the way Miguel introduced each chapter with an anecdotal experience from his life, and then followed it up with a practice to incorporate into your life.
I went into this book not really knowing much about Buddhism and other spiritual ways of thinking, and left with an appetite to learn more. Not only is this book just the right length, Miguel explains complex and lofty things in an easy to understand, humorous, vulnerable, and relatable way. This is a great introduction for anyone who wants to better themselves and their way of thinking without delving too deep into the nitty gritty.
If you love Teenage Bottlerocket, you’ll enjoy reading this. If you love punk rock, you’ll enjoy reading this. Many of the chapter’s titles reference bands and songs from Ramones, to Descendents, and Lagwagon. I also really enjoyed the way Miguel introduced each chapter with an anecdotal experience from his life, and then followed it up with a practice to incorporate into your life.
April 6, 2018
THIS. BOOK. RULES. Honestly. If you've never tried meditation, don't know the first thing about yoga, think inner peace sounds like some hippie bullsh*t...or if you were born in lotus pose, are practically a walking bodhisattva, have read every translation of the Yoga Sutras...this book is for YOU. Miguel Chen explains why we humans suffer and how we can ease that suffering in such a down-to-earth, relatable, at times hilarious and at times heartbreaking way, that every single person in the universe can get something really valuable out of this book. It was an easy, engrossing read, and contains simple but profound little experiments to really illustrate the points he's trying to get across. I want to buy a copy of this for every person I know, and even for people I don't know.
*Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC, provided by the author and/or the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
*Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC, provided by the author and/or the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
August 14, 2020
I thought this was great. I am biased. Miguel is an old friend of mine. Watching him and his band ascend to the point they are has been a real treat. I am late to the game on this book, but absolutely loved it. He offers yoga positions, a lot of intro-style mindfulness techniques and breaks down some ancient and sacred concepts into easily-digestible nuggets that you can take with you. I think this book is a great jumping-off point for readings in Buddhism, spirituality and yoga. He injects a lot of humor into it too, which reads well and makes it more fun. It was really cool for me, reading it in his voice as if he were talking in my head. I recommend this to anyone open to it - I think there is something in it for everyone.
June 10, 2018
This is not my kind of book at all, but was a quick read on the beach, based on a recommendation from my brother. It was enjoyable and Miguel Chen is certainly an affable, candid author. I'm not sure that I'm ready to convert to daily meditation or yoga or anything else after reading this, but I enjoyed the general sentiment of appreciating everything around you and finding time in your day to focus on nothing....just silence and breathing. I think it's an important thing to try to do. I plan on keeping the book around to better-refer to the instructional guide...and who knows...maybe it gets 5 stars as a result.
February 23, 2018
sooo, I'm not one to typically read self help/well being types of books but as a massive Teenage Bottlerocket fan I had to support Miguel Chen by not only buying but actually reading I Wanna Be Well. And it was pretty great. A lot of good stuff in here about letting go of past shit and moving forward with your life, not dwelling on the past and also not fantasizing about the future. I do think he sums it up pretty well with "Do your best and fuck the rest" Now does anybody know where I can get a tropical toucan fart candle? I've got some breathing techniques to practice.
October 1, 2018
“Take what you want, leave the rest behind”. I like that Miguel wrote the book with a “this is what works for me” attitude. I’ve never cared for these types of books that act as if they’re the end all be all authority on things.
This is a good read and reminder that not everything sucks, or has to. Miguel offers practical practices to help tune in the good and tune out the crap. It’s a book that can be read quickly and also serves as one that should be studied with a highlighter in hand.
This is a good read and reminder that not everything sucks, or has to. Miguel offers practical practices to help tune in the good and tune out the crap. It’s a book that can be read quickly and also serves as one that should be studied with a highlighter in hand.
April 2, 2020
This book is a great primer for getting into (or returning to) a life more connected to mindfulness and meditation. It contains some really great guided meditations and breathing exercises, as well as some basic yoga poses. If you’re stressed and looking to chill out a bit, I Wanna Be Well is an excellent place to start. It’s certainly helping me during this isolating and uncertain COVID-19 situation.
July 18, 2020
Great book
Miguel writes in a relatable way and makes important teachings accessible to us punks. This book is an indication of how punk rock is evolving, and is a great starting point for punk rock fans to learn about themselves and how to lead more balanced, healthy lives. Cheers, Miggy.
Miguel writes in a relatable way and makes important teachings accessible to us punks. This book is an indication of how punk rock is evolving, and is a great starting point for punk rock fans to learn about themselves and how to lead more balanced, healthy lives. Cheers, Miggy.
February 23, 2018
Miguel took some very traditional Buddhist practices and turned them into something that everyone can practice. The conversational style and casual language was a breath of fresh air that set this book apart from a lot of other self help books.
March 13, 2018
Love the sense of humor throughout and that it's written for the reader to begin meditation and some simple yoga poses wherever he or she is at right now, which is the only moment that matters anyhow.
April 7, 2021
A short well written book that introduces various practices from Buddhism, yoga and the 12-step program to help you live "the perfect day". Every chapter contains instructions for something you can put into practice in your life right now.
August 4, 2021
“Even the seemingly shitty moments are actually perfect.” The best self-help book for people who don't like self-help books. This got me through a hard time. I've sent it to several friends during difficult times as well. Highly recommend.
February 27, 2018
Love this book so much. This book encourages exploration of meditation and yoga practices from exactly where we are now, with acceptance and openness and laughter.
June 18, 2018
Really powerful stuff. Many useful tools and exercises, and funny too. Like an older cousin passing down some universal truths without being pushy about it.
October 9, 2018
Absolutely fantastic. Recommend to all.
April 1, 2019
We don’t suffer because of the pain we feel — we suffer because we can’t accept things as they are.
April 10, 2019
Con simpleza logra incorporar elementos de yoga a la vida común y corriente.
Excelente libro con muy buenos tips de autoayuda
Excelente libro con muy buenos tips de autoayuda
October 17, 2019
This is one of those books you don't want to finish right away because they are just too fucking good and you want it to last forever.
October 28, 2020
Life changing in my twenties. I reread it periodically.
May 18, 2021
I love this book because there is zero judgment. Good take on spirituality and being gentle to yourself.
October 21, 2025
So boring
December 15, 2025
Fun and entertaining 😎
March 21, 2018
This is one of the best self-help books that I have read, as the other turned traditional Buddhist practices into something that anyone can understand and incorporate into their life. I also really enjoyed reading about letting go of the past and moving forward.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews