Building Your Resilience: Finding Meaning in Adversity

by MOLLY BIRKHOLM

In Building Your Resilience: Finding Meaning in Adversity, Professor Birkholm shares the physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of her own fascinating, life-changing journey as she guides us to find the deeper meaning in our own lives. She tells of her own hero’s journey through trauma and how she came out on the other side with a mission to help others. Whether you’re a trauma survivor or someone who is reaching for a more fulfilling and joyful life, your life will be enriched when you proactively increase your resilience.

Genres: Psychology, Nonfiction, Self Help, Audiobook, Personal Development

450 pages, Audible Audio

Reviews

[Yaaresse · Rating 1 out of 5]

Nope. Can't do it. I cannot watch/listen to this woman for 10-12 hours. That sing-songy voice purring marketing and corporate buzz phrases while smiling like she was about to sell you, and only you because you are speshul, a miracle cure was probably much like watching Gwyneth Paltrow trying to convince her audience of fawning fans the "science" behind vag-steaming. No surprise the author's bio says she presents this stuff as a consultant to Big Tech firms at high-dollar retreats because that's exactly how it comes off: slick, contrived, insincere, empty.

I got through two and a half sections, skimmed a couple more with titles that read like they might be more promising, and finally ended up feeling like I need a shower to get the oily, cloying residue off me. I'm pretty sure wanting to turn a fire hose on the presenter is the opposite of the course's goal. I hope this isn't the direction GC is going in with new courses.

And, yeah, I'm rating it even though I didn't finish it.

___
DNF Disclaimer: Usually I don't mark my DNF/abandoned books as "read" or give them a rating. That said, I might do one or both if any of the following is applicable:
A) I read 25% or more. It's a completely arbitrary limit, but that is more than enough time for a book to prove its value to me.
B) I find the content or writing especially inane, insufferable, or just plain old dull.
C) Either the content or author's POV simply annoyed the hell out of me.

[Valia (beingshelfaware) · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not really what I expected. Half of the book is just meditating.

[Dreia · Rating 5 out of 5]

There were many moments throughout this audiobook that have really hit home for me. I have no doubt that i listened to it exactly when i needed to so that’s why it made a significant impact. The Hero’s Journey chapter (the last chapter of the audiobook) is profoundly moving - I highly recommend it for anyone going through a challenging life transition phase in their lives. Thank you Molly Birkholm and The Great Courses.

[Chris Esposo · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was ‘just ok’, as a self-help book on ‘resilience’. Despite the title, it’s very much a basic/intro course on mindfulness and not a specialist “2nd” book on focused meditations or more intermediate teaching on mindfulness. The author is a Western practitioner and teacher of Yoga, and who has an interesting path that led her to the study of Yoga.

Molly graduated in 2000 with a degree in finance from U-Miami, and was immediately on-boarded onto BoA’s analyst program within their bulge bracket investment banking division. A freak taxi car accident in NYC in 2001 was the start of many traumas, first of the intense physical rehabilitation, and the psychological trauma of witnessing the death of her driver. Though she bounced back and set to work with renewed vigor, a few months later, she was one of many who witnessed the 9-11 attacks live near her offices in Manhattan.

This diverted her path from investment finance towards the Yogic teachings. After a few years of study in Asia, she eventually became a teacher/practitioner of the craft for the Department of Veteran Affairs, to help injured veterans from the Afghanistan and Iraq wars cope and rehabilitate. A very interesting parth to be sure.

The teachings themselves are fairly elementary mindfulness material mixed with some meditation sessions. I think this is a good introductory book, but to me, I was a bit disappointed as it was advertised to be the author’s “second” course within the Great Courses platform (hinting that it would at least be more advanced). If you’ve read anything on mindfulness either from Yogic, Buddhist, or other disciplines, especially those with a Western bent, this is more of the same material, and unlikely to provide much new.

The material delivery itself feels very much geared towards the professional managerial class, with many examples taken from how one would reduce stress reduction from that world. Though minor, it may find less of an audience with a more typical / general reader. Overall, not bad, but not really anything new either. Conditional recommend only if you are new to the practice of mindfulness.

[M · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn’t finish the activities because I was listening to an audio version and didn’t see what benefit I’d get out of it. I enjoyed these lectures for the most part. Lots of things I’ve heard and appreciated before. The hero’s journey was probably the least interesting. However, I was using them to relax before bed most nights and she talks a lot about trauma in depth, and a lot about the survivors from the shootings at Marjorie Douglas which was not easy listening, but I guess fits the theme of resilience.

[Michelle Leech · Rating 2 out of 5]

I listened to the audio version of this and wasn't sent the accompanying PDF/video. A few of the chapters aren't usable without these additional resources.
Overall, I enjoyed the guided breathing sessions and got a couple of little gems but found the tone a bit patronising. It felt as though in an attempt to present a positive tone, the author failed to assign adequate weight to the difficulties of things like trauma, which, when you're experiencing them aren't so easily brushed off.
2.5 ⭐️

[Anna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't like the 'victim blaming' mantality which always seems to go along with  resilience training. Sadly this series is no different. Sometimes I'd like to say to these people, sometimes awful things happen and you know what it's ok to feel bad. Stop guilt tripping people for having perfectly natural feelings. But I digress. I think part of my problem with this series is how patronising the lecturer comes across in her delivery.

[Grazyna Nawrocka · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's an exquisite resource for people who feel they can't cope with the stress anymore. This is compendium that covers all areas of life affected by the crisis. It might seem to be in parts repetitive, but the essence of it is to create your own program, based on suggestions from the author. Two thumbs up!

[Theodore Kopoukis · Rating 1 out of 5]

Yay for the first DNF of 2024!

This coming from the Great Courses, I expected something combining psychology and philosophy, not listening to Gwyneth Paltrow Goop sh*t for hours.

If you're into that self help spiritual stuff, maybe that's for you, but I would use gemini or chatgpt for free to get the same generic trash, before spending money and time on this crap.

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not quite what I was expecting. Half of the book are practical exercises such as yoga, breathing and meditation which feels odd.

[Kevin Driskill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Practical and relevant. A good read for everyone who needs to find resilience.

[Amy]

Love it. Read it three times.

[MrKeyNotes · Rating 4 out of 5]

an informative book on getting over and past adversity. this is a must read fundamentally because our mind is our biggest asset, providing you with methods to get through the toughest moments in life

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not what I was expecting. So, I am somewhat disappointed. But for the person who is not familiar with the structure of this book, I believe it can heal.

[Kathy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Silly and useless. Sorry to be harsh, but this was a total waste of time.

[Gregp · Rating 3 out of 5]

5 out of 10