Your Body is Your Brain: Leverage Your Somatic Intelligence to Find Purpose, Build Resilience, Deepen Relationships and Lead More Powerfully

by Amanda Blake

Nautilus Books for a Better World - Social Science Around the world, a swelling tide of people are discovering an astonishing, life-altering truth. This book tells their extraordinary  * an anxious PhD student builds his confidence by changing his workout * back exercises help one woman negotiate a fix to a botched home repair * a Microsoft executive grows credibility by shifting her stance * an executive team leads their company to a 30% increase in valuation by dancing together In this timely and engaging book, Amanda Blake synthesizes research from over two dozen scientific fields to reveal how you, too, can come to embody vital qualities such as  * align your daily activities with a deeper sense of meaning and purpose * become more relaxed, confident, and at ease in high-pressure situations * shatter limitations that have been immune to "the power of positive thinking" * create better relationships at work and at home * turn conflict into opportunity ...and many more valuable skills that will enable you to contribute, succeed and enjoy life at the highest levels. Strengthen your social and emotional intelligence by cultivating your innate somatic intelligence. This is powerful applied mind-body science, in the workplace and beyond. Tap the intelligence hidden in posture, gesture, and sensation and you will open the door to more meaning, greater courage, deeper connection, and more powerful leadership than you imagined possible.  International Book Awards - Psychology/Mental Health  Indie Excellence Awards - Leadership

Genres: Nonfiction, Psychology, Self Help, Health, Leadership, Neuroscience, Business

338 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 11, 2018

Reviews

[EL · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great primer on somatics and the trauma-healing potential of bodywork. Numerous case-studies presented in detailed yet easy-to-read writing. As a novice somatic practitioner, I was highly curious about the exercises and activities employed in the cases, and can see their relevance in my practice. However, actual details about these methodologies are low, which is understandable from a commercial point of view. Still, I had lots of learning from reading this book, and it was thoroughly worth my time. It heightened my interest to enrol myself in Amanda or Richard's certified courses some time soon. Guess the book served its purpose *wink~.

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blake writes about the undeniable connection between your body awareness-- what she calls your somatic intelligence -- and your purpose, resilience, empathy and connection with and inspiration of others. Her mantra is best expressed (p. 119) as "practice it until it's embodied." In other words, if you want to increase your confidence, or charisma, then you need to first of all inspect your body -- feel how you feel -- when you are in your basic state, more or less confident. Then, finding a new body position to express greater confidence, or openness, or connection or whatever, you practice that new stance until it becomes second nature.

This is a useful concept. The book is full of stories that help illustrate what Blake means. Nonetheless, this is not a DIY somatic intelligence book. The principles are too high-level, and the stories too individual, to be helpful for the average reader to take on a specific self-improvement task, such as wanting to become more empathetic, and make it happen. The book lacks a usable taxonomy of somatic movement and the results that follow. So read it to get the idea, but go to a coach to make it work for you.

[Dr. K · Rating 2 out of 5]

(written nov 2024, 2 months after finishing this book)

This is the first book I read on somatics and coaching, per recommendation of my masseuse/somatic therapist. While definitely very "out there", it's an interesting entry point into the concept of somatic therapy. It's written for coaches/body workers and not clients, but very accessible. Part of this is because the concepts are basic and none of the science is complex (largely because none of this has been explicitly rigorously studied).

I'm a natural skeptic but enjoy dipping my toes in low-cost and low-harm areas of wellness. So far, I've benefited from embodiments, some posture exercises (starting from the feet and pelvis), and thinking of my body and brain as a cohesive unit.

The book turned a bit too "corporate" for me in parts, and some claims felt fantastical. I'm a natural skeptic and resist corporate framework, but it was easy to put that aside and focus on what I found more useful.

Recommended if you're interested in wellness modalities like yoga and meditation, gentle movement, etc. and don't mind suspending disbelief. 2.5 stars rounded down.

[Beth Melillo · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an interesting book. The premise feels simple and profound: body awareness is necessary for an integrated, whole life; an integrated life is a life worth pursuing. It's eminently readable, with many case studies and characters with different backgrounds and relatable challenges, who apply different techniques in a wealth of ways. That'd a strength for the book.

Many concepts as labeled were unfamiliar to me 'biobehavioral feedback' and 'somatic intelligence,' although after they were defined and described, they also felt familiar. So, reading this, I had the experience of awakening recognition rather than learning for the first time.

There is a four part framework to guide the book, and I found this distracting. I think an outline would have served as well, or better, than a model. Perhaps it's an adaptation from training or a different forum, and a closer reading on my part would support deeper connection.

[Sarah Andreas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I loved the real life examples when a concept was introduced. The examples made it easy to understand what the author was talking about. This book is part of my personal study for helping develop whole leaders. I wanted to understand us as a whole being, not a mind and a body as separate parts of a whole. This book covered the topic in a well organized and easy to understand format.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blake’s research and this book have both professional and personal implications. Somatic intelligence, as well as your ability to connect with your full embodied self, result from your own felt senses. The same qualities of embodied leadership - communicating, resolving conflict, team building - are those that resonate in interpersonal relationships too. This book will make you want to hire (or become) a somatic coach!!!

[Sytske · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this is an important topic and we should all become more somatic intelligent. The book has nice stories of people learning that.
However, I wish it were possible to learn how to do this yourself more, but the author basically says "work with a specialist to get better at this yourself".
That's why it feels a bit unsatisfying to read the whole book and then still think like "but how?".

[Sergio · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read the book with an interest in learning about neuro-somatics. I mean the current stream with strong scientific evidence.
I can say that I found some relevant neuroscience data, but not too much of what I was particularly looking for.
Too little of tools and too much of marketing story-telling.

[Stephanie Paley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book! It's so important to know how to body speaks, and how to identify patterns/habits that are running the show. this book talks about the science of the body, and many different aspects of how we hold/display patterns. I found it to be a page turner.

[Ml Lalonde · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably closer to a 3.5 for me, but some excellent and relevant observations on somatic intelligence and ethical leadership while directing mindfulness practice toward unblocking negative energy and patterns.

[Zeina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible read for anyone interested in somatics

I loved the move from scientific evidence to real life stories in this book.
There are also practical exercises you can do.
Definetly recommended

[HP CRAFFORD · Rating 5 out of 5]

Your body is your brain is one of my top 5 books on somatic coaching. Amanda ability to integrate her own expertise, that of other leaders in the field with case studies and stories all contribute to a brilliant book.

[Joanne McKinnon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before reading this book, I knew nothing about embodied awareness. The title caught my attention. I already believed that our body is our brain. I find the idea fascinating. This book turned out to be a pleasant surprise.

[Dara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book that explains embodied in simple terms, great stories and clear examples.

[Lindsay Hanson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book. Packed with practical stories demonstrating different embodiment examples. Underpinned with science - and all very accessible.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fabulous resource.

[Glennie Mercer · Rating 4 out of 5]

More aware of my “embodied” presence.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

What could be better than learning to use your body’s intelligence versus focusing on our thoughts? Awesome practical and insightful book.

[Danielle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the takeaways/content but found her stories weak. The writing was also all over the place.

[nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

excellent

Loved it, fun to read with interesting facts about relationships, effects of stress and so on. Combination of science and phsycology

[Cydne B · Rating 4 out of 5]

First book I held in my hands this year. It was the right book for this season of life.

[Sneha Nathani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting case studies. I have new insights to life now

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yes yes the trauma is stored inside the body and our brain is wired in certain ways yes yes

[YaQueMas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This helps the people -like me- who constantly is in the head and embodiment is hard.
Good book!

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life-changing.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my absolute favorite books that I recommend to others often.

[Lucy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I should have known better than to expect anything from this book, given that (1) all of its Goodreads reviews are from professional "coaches" (and not actual people looking to learn or otherwise improve themselves), and (2) this book was literally given to me by my personal coach via BetterUp, where I got a free 6-month license for unlimited coaching through work. Maybe I didn't get a very good coach, but that coaching experience was really not for me and I rage quit halfway through.

As for the book in question, it's... a bunch of mystical stories of people with the most extreme backgrounds getting the most extreme release through some body-based program? One guy violently beat up some old equipment in a barn and suddenly stopped to feel tremendous calm. One woman started crying after getting a massage. Idk I stopped reading a third of the way in.

[Nam Pham · Rating 5 out of 5]

A powerful overview of embodied intelligence. I love the intuitive link the author draws between embodiment and emotional intelligence. The most important takeaway is the appreciation of the body as having the language and wisdom of its own. Noticing and listening to the body is a doorway to further understand ourselves and becoming whole.