What do you think?
Rate this book
You Were Never Broken: Poems to Save Your Life
Poems for accepting all that you are—including those parts of yourself that you wish you could disown
At one time, Jeff Foster wanted to die. After a lifetime of self-loathing, crippling fear, and attempts to numb his own feelings, he was left on the verge of suicide. It was only when he opened himself completely to his emotions—both the unbearable and the wonderful—that he stopped seeking death and started truly living.
In You Were Never Broken, Foster explores this transformation through poetry so raw and vulnerable that you too will feel the full triumph of his journey. Whether exploring life’s uncertainties or the joy of personal realization, Foster’s poems embrace the full spectrum of human experience.
Amid these verses, Foster provides his signature direct teachings on meditation, the great value of stillness and silence, and what it means to surrender completely to the beauty of the present moment. For Foster, the winding path to self-acceptance started with nonjudgmental observation of the thoughts that plagued him—and here he shares his world-renowned expertise on how to begin your own journey.
With You Were Never Broken, Jeff Foster shares the true heart of his inspiring, revelatory path to awakening. In his own words, these are poems to make you stand up and cry, “Yes, I am broken . . . but I am unbreakable!”
At one time, Jeff Foster wanted to die. After a lifetime of self-loathing, crippling fear, and attempts to numb his own feelings, he was left on the verge of suicide. It was only when he opened himself completely to his emotions—both the unbearable and the wonderful—that he stopped seeking death and started truly living.
In You Were Never Broken, Foster explores this transformation through poetry so raw and vulnerable that you too will feel the full triumph of his journey. Whether exploring life’s uncertainties or the joy of personal realization, Foster’s poems embrace the full spectrum of human experience.
Amid these verses, Foster provides his signature direct teachings on meditation, the great value of stillness and silence, and what it means to surrender completely to the beauty of the present moment. For Foster, the winding path to self-acceptance started with nonjudgmental observation of the thoughts that plagued him—and here he shares his world-renowned expertise on how to begin your own journey.
With You Were Never Broken, Jeff Foster shares the true heart of his inspiring, revelatory path to awakening. In his own words, these are poems to make you stand up and cry, “Yes, I am broken . . . but I am unbreakable!”
224 pages, Paperback
Published July 28, 2020
64 people are currently reading
447 people want to read
About the author
Jeff Foster
72 books260 followersJeff Foster graduated in Astrophysics from Cambridge University in 2001. Several years after graduation, following a period of severe depression and illness, he became addicted to the idea of "spiritual enlightenment", and embarked on an intensive spiritual search which lasted for several years.
The spiritual search came to an absolute end with the clear seeing that there is only ever Oneness. In the clarity of this seeing, life became what it always was: spontaneous, clear, joyful and fully alive, and Jeff began to write and talk about "nonduality" (which he often calls "the utterly, utterly obvious").
He holds meetings and retreats in the UK and Europe, clearly and directly pointing to the frustrations surrounding the spiritual search, to the nature of mind, and to the Clarity at the heart of everything. His uncompromising approach, full of humor and compassion, shatters the mind's hopes for a future awakening, revealing the awakening that is always already present, right in the midst of life.
"
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
March 7, 2020
I really enjoy what writers are doing with poetry in our current society despite the fact that I loathed studying poetry in college. This collection was beautiful. When I first started reading it, I felt like Foster had somehow gotten into my head and put my own thoughts to words. This is a very peaceful collection that really makes you think about the expectations that we set for ourselves.
March 4, 2021
In January, on the anniversary of two of my brothers' deaths, I took a day to myself. I went into a bookstore and wandered for a few hours, my heart and mind very heavy. I was feeling particularly broken, like life had gotten so far off the track I had anticipated that I wondered if it would ever feel 'right' again. I stood looking at the poetry section and spotted a book called You Were Never Broken.
I took it to a seat and read the first several pages. And goddamn, if it didn't feel like the author was speaking directly to me and telling me the most helpful thing someone could say:
"Sometimes the present moment just feels so *unwelcomable*, doesn't it? So hot, uncomfortable, restless, boring, or painful that we long to be *anywhere other than here*. Sometimes acceptance, love, peace, surrender, joy, bliss, high vibes, healing, and spiritual awakening seem like a happy dream . . . meant for other people. Sometimes it just feels like you must be fundamentally broken or damaged in some way. I want you to hear and keep hearing the simple teaching that saved my life. *There is nothing wrong with you*. You are exactly where you should be right now, having the experiences you are meant to be having, feeling the pain or discomfort or longing or numbness or *incompleteness* you are supposed to be feeling, or not feeling, in this precise instant of your life."
And so on. The overarching theme of the poems, too, reiterates acceptance of the present moment, whatever it looks like. I especially appreciated the one about how being mindful of the current moment combats the fear that trauma gives us: that the present moment is not safe.
After I finished it, I bought several copies to gift to family members and friends who I thought might enjoy the message. Highly recommend, especially to the heavy-hearted.
I took it to a seat and read the first several pages. And goddamn, if it didn't feel like the author was speaking directly to me and telling me the most helpful thing someone could say:
"Sometimes the present moment just feels so *unwelcomable*, doesn't it? So hot, uncomfortable, restless, boring, or painful that we long to be *anywhere other than here*. Sometimes acceptance, love, peace, surrender, joy, bliss, high vibes, healing, and spiritual awakening seem like a happy dream . . . meant for other people. Sometimes it just feels like you must be fundamentally broken or damaged in some way. I want you to hear and keep hearing the simple teaching that saved my life. *There is nothing wrong with you*. You are exactly where you should be right now, having the experiences you are meant to be having, feeling the pain or discomfort or longing or numbness or *incompleteness* you are supposed to be feeling, or not feeling, in this precise instant of your life."
And so on. The overarching theme of the poems, too, reiterates acceptance of the present moment, whatever it looks like. I especially appreciated the one about how being mindful of the current moment combats the fear that trauma gives us: that the present moment is not safe.
After I finished it, I bought several copies to gift to family members and friends who I thought might enjoy the message. Highly recommend, especially to the heavy-hearted.
May 9, 2020
I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!
This book was written in 4 parts, A Field of Meditation, Saying Yes to the Mess, The Courage to Stand Alone, and Reasons to Stay Alive. I really resonated with the first two, and I loved the writing. I appreciated the way each poem follows an emotion, they have a lot of thought behind them. The book highlights meditation and embracing the harder parts of life, while challenging your emotions, I think it was a good read, especially during these hard times!!
Definitely recommend if you're looking for some positive-reinforcement!
This book was written in 4 parts, A Field of Meditation, Saying Yes to the Mess, The Courage to Stand Alone, and Reasons to Stay Alive. I really resonated with the first two, and I loved the writing. I appreciated the way each poem follows an emotion, they have a lot of thought behind them. The book highlights meditation and embracing the harder parts of life, while challenging your emotions, I think it was a good read, especially during these hard times!!
Definitely recommend if you're looking for some positive-reinforcement!
May 28, 2020
I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.
This book is a book of poems broken up into four different sections within the book and each section has information from the poet about the forthcoming poetry, his experiences etc and is then followed by poems.
The book has a very conversational feel to it almost like the author is talking just to you. This book focuses on reassuring you that you are enough and to put a bad day down to being just that - a bad day and to never think of yourself as not whole or broken as we all are unique and different. This is a great book to read when you feel low, fed up, anxious or depressed.
This book is a book of poems broken up into four different sections within the book and each section has information from the poet about the forthcoming poetry, his experiences etc and is then followed by poems.
The book has a very conversational feel to it almost like the author is talking just to you. This book focuses on reassuring you that you are enough and to put a bad day down to being just that - a bad day and to never think of yourself as not whole or broken as we all are unique and different. This is a great book to read when you feel low, fed up, anxious or depressed.
March 16, 2020
Thanks Netgalley and respective publisher for sending me a copy.
"You don’t need to take your life.
Just let your life be taken by all that you see."
The book comprises of four parts :-
A field of Meditation
Saying Yes to the mess
The Courage to stand Alone
Reasons to stay Alive
Each part starts with a detailed introduction on the topic along with the poet sharing his own experiences. This collection of poetry takes us through a journey of discovering that we're more than just our feelings, insecurities etc but that we all have a deeper power
The language is very conversational, its like Poet is in your head. The poet uses friendly tone and easy language in his poetries. Beautiful watermark effects on the pages, brings out an aesthetic feel. The poet has used repetition in many of his poems to lay emphasis on his points.
His poems are really amazing, self empowering, emphasizing, mysterious. He asks to enjoy the present moments, the feels, the sensations, the smells, the sounds and the tastes. He makes us understand the importance of living in the moment.
"Be present, be here
The teaching is damn simple
Be present be here"
"Oh, the truth you wanted to speak! The words you wanted to
scream. The tears you longed to cry. The uncontrolled, wild ways in
which you wanted to move your body. The healthy human responses,
the urges, and yearnings you intelligently squished down in order to win love, stay safe, even stay alive."
I extremely like the poetic devices he has used especially the one with the sacred lotus.
Honest and true exploration of his journey of self healing and self acceptance.
"Perhaps loneliness is like a cosmic"
"Contact your sadness, and you contact the sadness of all living beings.
Contact all living beings, and your loneliness disappears"
Your wounds, your turbulent and sorrowful places, your
imperfections, are not mistakes; they are the places in you desperately
yearning for love, waiting to be penetrated with a curious Light."
"You don’t need to take your life.
Just let your life be taken by all that you see."
The book comprises of four parts :-
A field of Meditation
Saying Yes to the mess
The Courage to stand Alone
Reasons to stay Alive
Each part starts with a detailed introduction on the topic along with the poet sharing his own experiences. This collection of poetry takes us through a journey of discovering that we're more than just our feelings, insecurities etc but that we all have a deeper power
The language is very conversational, its like Poet is in your head. The poet uses friendly tone and easy language in his poetries. Beautiful watermark effects on the pages, brings out an aesthetic feel. The poet has used repetition in many of his poems to lay emphasis on his points.
His poems are really amazing, self empowering, emphasizing, mysterious. He asks to enjoy the present moments, the feels, the sensations, the smells, the sounds and the tastes. He makes us understand the importance of living in the moment.
"Be present, be here
The teaching is damn simple
Be present be here"
"Oh, the truth you wanted to speak! The words you wanted to
scream. The tears you longed to cry. The uncontrolled, wild ways in
which you wanted to move your body. The healthy human responses,
the urges, and yearnings you intelligently squished down in order to win love, stay safe, even stay alive."
I extremely like the poetic devices he has used especially the one with the sacred lotus.
Honest and true exploration of his journey of self healing and self acceptance.
"Perhaps loneliness is like a cosmic"
"Contact your sadness, and you contact the sadness of all living beings.
Contact all living beings, and your loneliness disappears"
Your wounds, your turbulent and sorrowful places, your
imperfections, are not mistakes; they are the places in you desperately
yearning for love, waiting to be penetrated with a curious Light."
July 23, 2020
2.75
Thank you to NetGally for giving an arc in equivalent exchange for an honest review
This poetry book was about knowing your worth and how even though you are broken, you are still a powerful human being that is still currently living in a world full of hatred and narcisim.
I...didn't like this poetry book. It has certain points of views that I didn't agree with and very little on things that I do agree. The author mixed a hint of religion and spirituality in poems, which was a new way of "reaching" out to peopel through verses and stanzas. But there are just certain things that doesn't go well together. Life experience does make a good poetry content but kind of showcasing that negativity is sometimes a good thing to have in life.
I don't really knows how to fully express how I feel in terms of what's good and what's not. All I can say is that this poetry book was not something that I was looking for at the moment.
Thank you to NetGally for giving an arc in equivalent exchange for an honest review
This poetry book was about knowing your worth and how even though you are broken, you are still a powerful human being that is still currently living in a world full of hatred and narcisim.
I...didn't like this poetry book. It has certain points of views that I didn't agree with and very little on things that I do agree. The author mixed a hint of religion and spirituality in poems, which was a new way of "reaching" out to peopel through verses and stanzas. But there are just certain things that doesn't go well together. Life experience does make a good poetry content but kind of showcasing that negativity is sometimes a good thing to have in life.
I don't really knows how to fully express how I feel in terms of what's good and what's not. All I can say is that this poetry book was not something that I was looking for at the moment.
August 15, 2020
Amazingly beautiful , it was like a hug fr 😍
June 19, 2020
Yes, this is a bit of “mess” (as the second section is entitled).
I confess approaching this with positive expectations from reading other reviews. I am uncertain of the intended audience, so perhaps a young or beginning reader of this genre will find value that a more seasoned life traveler has moved beyond. For this traveler, I was disappointed in finding nothing unique or profound here.
As for being called “poetry”, I humbly disagree. My fondness for the power of poetry led me to select this title. Instead, it is a run-on reflective essay of sorts, merely in a verse style of sorts. Oh, please sort this mess out.
I was reminded of Hugh Prather’s Notes to Myself: My Struggle to Become a Person, which was a novel compilation to my 18-year young brain. Yes, I think calling this stream of consciousness, reflections, or notes, is more accurate than the talent and skill imparted by genuine poetry. Additionally, taking a few full pages of stream of consciousness writing and dividing them into a few sentences per page, and printing it as a 211-page book is ... more disappointment.
The author’s suffering and seemingly dedicated search for meaning, clarity, and relief, elicits our gentle bow of sympathy and empathy. It is difficult being human. Life has much suffering and travail. May the author deepen his study of Buddhism, which truly offers clarity and direction for our universal plight of suffering and, oh gloriously, offers a way through. Yet, it is unfortunate and misleading to “drop” Buddha’s name without a fuller grasp of his teaching. This author’s reflection shows new age exploration, some personal insight, and greatly missing wisdom of the sincere Buddhist practitioner (for example, trauma isn’t the root cause of human suffering as he claims).
In view of today’s erupting civil unrest and calls to social injustice, the opening of this book is glaringly unreachable to the economically disadvantaged, who may lack access to “therapy and new age, self-help services and materials.
Finally, the author’s tense changes from first person to second. He can speak for his own experience but lacks any authority to presume he knows what is true for others. Is this naivete or hubris?
Let us applaud his reckoning, the attention to his condition, and his effort to recover and embrace life. This is a reasonable emerging self-awareness, but it is journal writing turned toward others. I suggest it needs much more steeping to offer depth and useful insights.
I confess approaching this with positive expectations from reading other reviews. I am uncertain of the intended audience, so perhaps a young or beginning reader of this genre will find value that a more seasoned life traveler has moved beyond. For this traveler, I was disappointed in finding nothing unique or profound here.
As for being called “poetry”, I humbly disagree. My fondness for the power of poetry led me to select this title. Instead, it is a run-on reflective essay of sorts, merely in a verse style of sorts. Oh, please sort this mess out.
I was reminded of Hugh Prather’s Notes to Myself: My Struggle to Become a Person, which was a novel compilation to my 18-year young brain. Yes, I think calling this stream of consciousness, reflections, or notes, is more accurate than the talent and skill imparted by genuine poetry. Additionally, taking a few full pages of stream of consciousness writing and dividing them into a few sentences per page, and printing it as a 211-page book is ... more disappointment.
The author’s suffering and seemingly dedicated search for meaning, clarity, and relief, elicits our gentle bow of sympathy and empathy. It is difficult being human. Life has much suffering and travail. May the author deepen his study of Buddhism, which truly offers clarity and direction for our universal plight of suffering and, oh gloriously, offers a way through. Yet, it is unfortunate and misleading to “drop” Buddha’s name without a fuller grasp of his teaching. This author’s reflection shows new age exploration, some personal insight, and greatly missing wisdom of the sincere Buddhist practitioner (for example, trauma isn’t the root cause of human suffering as he claims).
In view of today’s erupting civil unrest and calls to social injustice, the opening of this book is glaringly unreachable to the economically disadvantaged, who may lack access to “therapy and new age, self-help services and materials.
Finally, the author’s tense changes from first person to second. He can speak for his own experience but lacks any authority to presume he knows what is true for others. Is this naivete or hubris?
Let us applaud his reckoning, the attention to his condition, and his effort to recover and embrace life. This is a reasonable emerging self-awareness, but it is journal writing turned toward others. I suggest it needs much more steeping to offer depth and useful insights.
May 26, 2020
I didn’t even realize this was called Poems to Save Your Life. It holds true to its name. I was afraid to delve into this as I’ve been feeling a bit down recently & cannot take certain material. This not only deals with the raw badness you are feeling but really acknowledges it. It doesn’t punch you in the face as others can sometimes do, making you weep, sit, & do nothing before & afterwards. Instead, this one places you in the middle of it & lets you go where you need to go.
He really understands what it’s like to be in that spot where you feel you cannot resurface. He doesn’t tell you, force you, or even have solutions, but that’s okay. You have the answers for yourself. In the beginning these didn’t feel like poems more like meditations but by the end of this book I felt so understood. I didn’t feel as bad as when I started & feel a bit lighter that I can move forward as well. I will continue to read his works.
He really understands what it’s like to be in that spot where you feel you cannot resurface. He doesn’t tell you, force you, or even have solutions, but that’s okay. You have the answers for yourself. In the beginning these didn’t feel like poems more like meditations but by the end of this book I felt so understood. I didn’t feel as bad as when I started & feel a bit lighter that I can move forward as well. I will continue to read his works.
December 15, 2021
A terrific book to fit in with ACT. If you ever want emotional support or poems to send to comfort friends, this is the book to turn to. Excellent gift, too
April 7, 2020
You were never broken is a sweet collection of poems about the obstacles we face in everyday life. Jeff weaves an interesting commentary on the situations we face everyday, the feeling of inadequacy that rules our emotions sometimes as well as how we can work to be in the present moment. The poems are divided into 4 collections, each with its own preamble at the beginning. I really liked these introductions because they gave insight about the poet and his life, giving more context to the poems that I was reading, rather than just freely interpreting them.
I read this collection in a time when I needed to practice some self-care and it was a great pick! The poems were easy to read, had some quite memorable lines that I will add to my bullet journal as a reminder. I liked the way Jeff described different emotions and what their existence is telling us. I had never thought of anger as giving me "the courage to speak up" and that was a good insight to it. In a time where we try so hard to live by other people's rules as well as project a perfect image on social media, Jeff's poetry collection was a reminder to be real and embrace oneselves and time for what it is.
Many thank to the publisher for providing me with an advanced reader copy of the this book via NetGalley.
I read this collection in a time when I needed to practice some self-care and it was a great pick! The poems were easy to read, had some quite memorable lines that I will add to my bullet journal as a reminder. I liked the way Jeff described different emotions and what their existence is telling us. I had never thought of anger as giving me "the courage to speak up" and that was a good insight to it. In a time where we try so hard to live by other people's rules as well as project a perfect image on social media, Jeff's poetry collection was a reminder to be real and embrace oneselves and time for what it is.
Many thank to the publisher for providing me with an advanced reader copy of the this book via NetGalley.
March 22, 2020
I received an advanced reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley.
I enjoyed reading this poetry collection. It felt a little abstract, but still lovely. The author tells the reader that they should be their authentic self. Rating: 3/5 stars
I enjoyed reading this poetry collection. It felt a little abstract, but still lovely. The author tells the reader that they should be their authentic self. Rating: 3/5 stars
November 19, 2022
This is a lovely book, it's very much one to dip into and browse. I really like it. I feel like it's someone who just wanted to put some thoughts down that might help others
January 22, 2023
Lovely beautiful show stopping. TR: suicide
A freeing approach to the world, this book makes you feel like you are being held, that is the best way to describe it. Can’t wait to read again.
A freeing approach to the world, this book makes you feel like you are being held, that is the best way to describe it. Can’t wait to read again.
December 26, 2023
Absolutely beautiful! This book is raw and emotional. I recommend this to anyone going through a rough patch. Or anyone who needs a reminder that life is crazy, but you’re on the right path
August 31, 2020
My first time reading a poetry book and i totally fell in love with it 😍😍
April 14, 2020
Firstly can I just say I squealed in delight upon receiving this book. I had heard so many great things about it and wanted to read it myself.
In summary, with a very intelligent and healing tone, this book, Jeff Foster, delivers an exceptional break from reality for those who need it most. As a mediation rookie (and skeptic) this opened my eyes to what I have been missing out on… “True meditation just means being awake and alive to this precious moment”
This book truly spoke to me. It established a connection with the reader from the very beginning. I felt as if Foster was speaking directly to me, and it was so relaxing and helpful that sometimes the tone of the book turned into the voice of my psychologist (whom I am a huge fan of) so this was a welcomed surprise.
I quite often long to be told I am worthy and that I have purpose in this world, and this book confirms that without even knowing me. Like I said, it SPOKE to me. With a very warm tone every sentence and every word in so incredibly comforting. I want Jeff Foster to be my friend, and be there to listen to me and encourage me of my darkest of days (but now I have this book).
The phrase “cry the tears you were never allowed to cry” resonated with me. Here I was thinking I was the only one not allowed to cry. We all have our different interpretations of this phrase i’m sure, but how did Foster know. It’s like he knows ME! This book has taught me new things, and reminded me of things I already knew, but forgot.
Foster has taught me to find joy or beauty in what was previously a burden and a shame. I do believe this book will truly and genuinely save some lives. Beautiful, broken, hurting but not sick, lives. I cannot wait to reach for it again on my darkest of days. Overall, an absolute pleasure to read.
My sincerest thanks go out to Sounds True and Netgalley, for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion
In summary, with a very intelligent and healing tone, this book, Jeff Foster, delivers an exceptional break from reality for those who need it most. As a mediation rookie (and skeptic) this opened my eyes to what I have been missing out on… “True meditation just means being awake and alive to this precious moment”
This book truly spoke to me. It established a connection with the reader from the very beginning. I felt as if Foster was speaking directly to me, and it was so relaxing and helpful that sometimes the tone of the book turned into the voice of my psychologist (whom I am a huge fan of) so this was a welcomed surprise.
I quite often long to be told I am worthy and that I have purpose in this world, and this book confirms that without even knowing me. Like I said, it SPOKE to me. With a very warm tone every sentence and every word in so incredibly comforting. I want Jeff Foster to be my friend, and be there to listen to me and encourage me of my darkest of days (but now I have this book).
The phrase “cry the tears you were never allowed to cry” resonated with me. Here I was thinking I was the only one not allowed to cry. We all have our different interpretations of this phrase i’m sure, but how did Foster know. It’s like he knows ME! This book has taught me new things, and reminded me of things I already knew, but forgot.
Foster has taught me to find joy or beauty in what was previously a burden and a shame. I do believe this book will truly and genuinely save some lives. Beautiful, broken, hurting but not sick, lives. I cannot wait to reach for it again on my darkest of days. Overall, an absolute pleasure to read.
My sincerest thanks go out to Sounds True and Netgalley, for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion
March 31, 2020
I received an ARC of You Were Never Broken: Poems to Save Your Life by Jeff Foster from NetGalley. This poetry collection is broken down into four sections:
1. A Field of Meditation
2. Saying yes to the mess
3. The courage to stand alone
4. Reasons to stay alive
These sections contain an introduction which is written in a friendly, chatty manner. The poems within each section relate to the matter at hand. Two which stood out to me for their fantastic use of figurative language and hidden meaning were “Listen from Silence” and “Victory”. I think the poem “Victory” sums up the intent of the poetry collection well “Breath how you breath, make mistakes and screw up and learn to love your stumbling,” (Foster).
This collection is a quick read at just a touch over 200 pages. The main problems I had were that the poems were repetitive. There was not a unique punch that really got down deep into my bones. Many of the lines did not use concrete imagery to help place a picture in the mind of the reader. Some cliches were noticeable such as “the ocean tides going in and out” being compared to our hearts beating and emotions flowing in the poem “The Sacred Lotus”.
I also struggled with the approach to trauma and the deduction that “trauma is simply “stuck life energy...”. Also the idea “These impulses you learned were “sick” or “dangerous” or “wrong” or “shameful” were always natural, and normal, and healthy, and infused with infinite intelligence,” (Foster). This is a philosophy that I cannot agree with and given to the wrong mind can be taken and used as a way to excuse unforgivable actions. Although it is mentioned you don’t have to act on these urges.
Overall, I gave the book 2/5 stars. The ideology was not something my soul aligned with and I could not get passed the repetitive nature of the poems.
1. A Field of Meditation
2. Saying yes to the mess
3. The courage to stand alone
4. Reasons to stay alive
These sections contain an introduction which is written in a friendly, chatty manner. The poems within each section relate to the matter at hand. Two which stood out to me for their fantastic use of figurative language and hidden meaning were “Listen from Silence” and “Victory”. I think the poem “Victory” sums up the intent of the poetry collection well “Breath how you breath, make mistakes and screw up and learn to love your stumbling,” (Foster).
This collection is a quick read at just a touch over 200 pages. The main problems I had were that the poems were repetitive. There was not a unique punch that really got down deep into my bones. Many of the lines did not use concrete imagery to help place a picture in the mind of the reader. Some cliches were noticeable such as “the ocean tides going in and out” being compared to our hearts beating and emotions flowing in the poem “The Sacred Lotus”.
I also struggled with the approach to trauma and the deduction that “trauma is simply “stuck life energy...”. Also the idea “These impulses you learned were “sick” or “dangerous” or “wrong” or “shameful” were always natural, and normal, and healthy, and infused with infinite intelligence,” (Foster). This is a philosophy that I cannot agree with and given to the wrong mind can be taken and used as a way to excuse unforgivable actions. Although it is mentioned you don’t have to act on these urges.
Overall, I gave the book 2/5 stars. The ideology was not something my soul aligned with and I could not get passed the repetitive nature of the poems.
March 4, 2020
Name: You were never Broken
Writer: Jeff Foster
Source: Netgalley
Genre: Poetry, Self-Help
Rating: 4/5
Review:
"Your wounds, your turbulent and sorrowful places, your
imperfections, are not mistakes; they are the places in you desperately
yearning for love, waiting to be penetrated with a curious Light."
The book is divided into four parts.
Part One : A field of Meditation
Part Two: Saying Yes to the mess
Part Three: The Courage to stand Alone
Part four: Reasons to stay Alive
Each part is divided into different sections dealing with different topics based on a single theme. Each part starts with a detailed introduction on the topic along with the poet sharing his own experiences.
The language is very conversational, its like the poet is directly talking to you. The poet uses friendly tone and easy language in his poetries. Beautiful watermark effects on the pages, brings out an aesthetic feel. The poet has used repetition in many of his poems to lay emphasis on his points.
His poems are really amazing, self empowering, emphasizing, mysterious. He asks to enjoy the present moments, the feels, the sensations, the smells, the sounds and the tastes. He makes us understand the importance of living in the moment.
"Be present, be here
The teaching is damn simple
Be present be here"
I really liked the way he used metaphors is his poems, especially the one with the sacred lotus.
Honest and true exploration of his journey of self healing and self acceptance.
"Oh, the truth you wanted to speak! The words you wanted to
scream. The tears you longed to cry. The uncontrolled, wild ways in
which you wanted to move your body. The healthy human responses,
the urges, and yearnings you intelligently squished down in order to win love, stay safe, even stay alive."
"Perhaps loneliness is like a cosmic"
"Contact your sadness, and you contact the sadness of all living beings.
Contact all living beings, and your loneliness disappears"
"You don’t need to take your life.
Just let your life be taken by all that you see."
His poetries are raw and vulnerable. But the poems are too monotonous for a book of 218 pages. It kind of gets boring till the end.
Writer: Jeff Foster
Source: Netgalley
Genre: Poetry, Self-Help
Rating: 4/5
Review:
"Your wounds, your turbulent and sorrowful places, your
imperfections, are not mistakes; they are the places in you desperately
yearning for love, waiting to be penetrated with a curious Light."
The book is divided into four parts.
Part One : A field of Meditation
Part Two: Saying Yes to the mess
Part Three: The Courage to stand Alone
Part four: Reasons to stay Alive
Each part is divided into different sections dealing with different topics based on a single theme. Each part starts with a detailed introduction on the topic along with the poet sharing his own experiences.
The language is very conversational, its like the poet is directly talking to you. The poet uses friendly tone and easy language in his poetries. Beautiful watermark effects on the pages, brings out an aesthetic feel. The poet has used repetition in many of his poems to lay emphasis on his points.
His poems are really amazing, self empowering, emphasizing, mysterious. He asks to enjoy the present moments, the feels, the sensations, the smells, the sounds and the tastes. He makes us understand the importance of living in the moment.
"Be present, be here
The teaching is damn simple
Be present be here"
I really liked the way he used metaphors is his poems, especially the one with the sacred lotus.
Honest and true exploration of his journey of self healing and self acceptance.
"Oh, the truth you wanted to speak! The words you wanted to
scream. The tears you longed to cry. The uncontrolled, wild ways in
which you wanted to move your body. The healthy human responses,
the urges, and yearnings you intelligently squished down in order to win love, stay safe, even stay alive."
"Perhaps loneliness is like a cosmic"
"Contact your sadness, and you contact the sadness of all living beings.
Contact all living beings, and your loneliness disappears"
"You don’t need to take your life.
Just let your life be taken by all that you see."
His poetries are raw and vulnerable. But the poems are too monotonous for a book of 218 pages. It kind of gets boring till the end.
March 28, 2020
Like all other works of literature, You Were Never Broken by Jeff Foster is beautiful and touching in its own way. Part of it must be due to the fact that the author's poems were derived from his own struggles and experiences. But personally, I think this book is most remarkable for having "no purpose" at all. Most self-help books I've read before always sounded a bit flaky to me, always presenting ways to improve one's self or how to handle various difficult emotions. But with this book, there is none of that. It simply asks us to be there, with the author, as he relays all the thoughts and feelings he had when he wrote these poems. Rather than feeling motivated, I felt soothed, like my mind and heart had been put to ease the more pages I read. Of course, every single one of his poems were relatable. And all the poems abide to a single theme: self-acceptance. The way the words are strung together were also wonderful. I particularly like it when I come upon verses that use paradox. Using poetry as his instrument, the author manages to hook the reader in an instant, creating feelings of bond, provoking positive thoughts and triggering a wide range of emotions. And he did all that without sounding preachy. Truly a wonderful collection. All in all, this book did a damn good job in lifting my spirits up. Nobody can go wrong with reading this.
September 2, 2020
*I received an e-ARC of this book on NetGalley.*
You Were Never Broken is one of those books that finds you at just the right time - when you really need it. This book had been sitting on my Kindle shelf for a while and this past week, when I was going through some tough things emotionally, I decided to open it up.
Jeff Foster's poetry is full of couplets and snippets that stick with you, such as "Stop trying to do it right. Do it real instead." and "You are powerful. You are worthy. You belong. And you need no proof." Thematically, his poems focus on recognizing that where you are right now is where you are meant to be. At times, Foster's spiritual language can feel dramatic, but it's clear he connects deeply with his unique belief system and so his words still seem authentic even though they may seem cheesy from a different speaker/writer. His messages remain valuable.
In 2020, our previously predictable lives have become anything but. Foster tells us "It takes courage to break the addiction to futures. And be present. And breathe. And not know." I can't think of a more important message in this time.
You Were Never Broken is one of those books that finds you at just the right time - when you really need it. This book had been sitting on my Kindle shelf for a while and this past week, when I was going through some tough things emotionally, I decided to open it up.
Jeff Foster's poetry is full of couplets and snippets that stick with you, such as "Stop trying to do it right. Do it real instead." and "You are powerful. You are worthy. You belong. And you need no proof." Thematically, his poems focus on recognizing that where you are right now is where you are meant to be. At times, Foster's spiritual language can feel dramatic, but it's clear he connects deeply with his unique belief system and so his words still seem authentic even though they may seem cheesy from a different speaker/writer. His messages remain valuable.
In 2020, our previously predictable lives have become anything but. Foster tells us "It takes courage to break the addiction to futures. And be present. And breathe. And not know." I can't think of a more important message in this time.
April 16, 2020
Jeff Foster’s new book, You Were Never Broken - Poems to Save Your Life is an intimate collection which draws on the author’s own experiences of feeling anxious, restless, and even suicidal to share insight and hope with readers.
Part poetry, part self-help book, You Were Never Broken is a beautiful reminder of what it means to be human and how to deal with some of the more difficult feelings that arise in life.
Foster challenges readers in the most comforting of ways, encouraging them to sit with their fears and difficult emotions instead of masking and suppressing them. The rawness and vulnerability in the verses is apparent and the reader is encouraged to embrace their own vulnerabilities with radical self-acceptance.
You Were Never Broken is the best poetry collection I’ve read this year, and whether or you have the same struggles as Foster or are an avid poetry reader, I’m sure there is something within the touching poems that will speak to you.
Many thanks to Sounds True Publishing and NetGalley for the advance copy.
Part poetry, part self-help book, You Were Never Broken is a beautiful reminder of what it means to be human and how to deal with some of the more difficult feelings that arise in life.
Foster challenges readers in the most comforting of ways, encouraging them to sit with their fears and difficult emotions instead of masking and suppressing them. The rawness and vulnerability in the verses is apparent and the reader is encouraged to embrace their own vulnerabilities with radical self-acceptance.
You Were Never Broken is the best poetry collection I’ve read this year, and whether or you have the same struggles as Foster or are an avid poetry reader, I’m sure there is something within the touching poems that will speak to you.
Many thanks to Sounds True Publishing and NetGalley for the advance copy.
March 14, 2020
Your Life: You Were Never Broken by Jeff Foster is a raw and personal journey of the author's struggles with self-loathing, fear, and suicidal ideation. The author breaks the poems into four sections discussing meditation, embracing the mess of your life, having the courage to stand alone, and reasons to stay alive.
The writings and poems ranged from sad and desperate to enlightened and accepting. The theme I discovered is to allow yourself to feel every emotion, not to expect the difficult ones to disappear overnight, and to be kind and gentle to yourself and to be okay in your present moment. When times are dark, not to be afraid to reach out and to breathe in and out and take one minute at a time.
I found myself highlighting several entries and sentences to reflect upon further.
Thank you to Jeff Foster for sharing your struggles and finding the strength to keep moving forward and provide hope for others in need.
#YouWereNeverBroken #NetGalley
The writings and poems ranged from sad and desperate to enlightened and accepting. The theme I discovered is to allow yourself to feel every emotion, not to expect the difficult ones to disappear overnight, and to be kind and gentle to yourself and to be okay in your present moment. When times are dark, not to be afraid to reach out and to breathe in and out and take one minute at a time.
I found myself highlighting several entries and sentences to reflect upon further.
Thank you to Jeff Foster for sharing your struggles and finding the strength to keep moving forward and provide hope for others in need.
#YouWereNeverBroken #NetGalley
April 23, 2020
I received a advanced copy from Netgalley for my review.
This book is divided into four parts and contains commentary and poetry from the author. While his book is different from other's out there, touching on things many people won't, it all seemed to be a ramble. And due to that, it just lacked sincerity for me. I feel like it would have been better for the author to focus on certain feelings or delve deeper rather than just superficially touching sensitive points before moving on.
It's a book that I don't regret reading because it contained anecdotes that I related to and he told stories and touched upon the human experience that many people won't touch. But I just kept wanting him to go deeper and reflect more and use more language that related to the senses that poetry is known for. And I was waiting for him to make me feel rather than feel like I was reading his feelings and was therefore unable to connect completely.
This book is divided into four parts and contains commentary and poetry from the author. While his book is different from other's out there, touching on things many people won't, it all seemed to be a ramble. And due to that, it just lacked sincerity for me. I feel like it would have been better for the author to focus on certain feelings or delve deeper rather than just superficially touching sensitive points before moving on.
It's a book that I don't regret reading because it contained anecdotes that I related to and he told stories and touched upon the human experience that many people won't touch. But I just kept wanting him to go deeper and reflect more and use more language that related to the senses that poetry is known for. And I was waiting for him to make me feel rather than feel like I was reading his feelings and was therefore unable to connect completely.
November 15, 2020
I really liked this book! Jeff's life experience and wisdom shines through his words. I really appreciated how raw and vulnerable his poetry is. This is a book meant to be read slowly. I tried to meditate on each poem, and found some very helpful to just sit and reflect and breath and be present and alive while reading. There are so many beautiful, uplifting individual lines that I've highlighted.
The positive message I think anyone could benefit from is: "you are not broken. You were never broken. Don't let them tell you that you are broken." The poems encourage embracing every part of life, feeling the pain and joy, and living. Some of the poems I couldn't connect with. Maybe I will in another stage of life. Maybe I won't. It didn't detract from the beauty of the words in this book, or the enjoyment and connection I felt reading it.
Thanks to NetGalley and Sounds True for a free copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review!!
The positive message I think anyone could benefit from is: "you are not broken. You were never broken. Don't let them tell you that you are broken." The poems encourage embracing every part of life, feeling the pain and joy, and living. Some of the poems I couldn't connect with. Maybe I will in another stage of life. Maybe I won't. It didn't detract from the beauty of the words in this book, or the enjoyment and connection I felt reading it.
Thanks to NetGalley and Sounds True for a free copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review!!
April 12, 2020
This is a great collection of very emotional poetry by an author that has obviously been through a lot. I could easily empathize with a lot of the content and gut wrenching sadness. If he was able to find purpose again, anyone can.
I like how he divided the book into 5 parts:
Part One : A field of Meditation
Part Two: Saying Yes to the mess
Part Three: The Courage to stand Alone
Part four: Reasons to stay Alive
Beware some of these are not uplifting but each of these poems is meant to make the reader feel. I was just amazed with this collection and raced through because I felt like I was right there with him. I have had my dark times too. A necessary read!
Thanks to Netgalley, Jeff Foster and publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Available: 7/28/20
I like how he divided the book into 5 parts:
Part One : A field of Meditation
Part Two: Saying Yes to the mess
Part Three: The Courage to stand Alone
Part four: Reasons to stay Alive
Beware some of these are not uplifting but each of these poems is meant to make the reader feel. I was just amazed with this collection and raced through because I felt like I was right there with him. I have had my dark times too. A necessary read!
Thanks to Netgalley, Jeff Foster and publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Available: 7/28/20
April 16, 2020
You Were Never Broken
Poems to Save Your Life
by Jeff Foster
Sounds True
Poetry | Self-Help
Pub Date 28 Jul 2020
I am reviewing a copy of You Were Never Broken through Sounds True and Netgalley:
In this book Author Jeff Foster points out that meditation is touching life where life touches you.
We are reminded too of the importance of slowing down as well as the importance of listening to the silence.
The author reminds us too of taking the time to slow down, to allow ourselves to feel both the joys, and the sorrows, and of the importance of having the courage of standing alone.
If you are looking for a good book, of Mediative Poetry, one that will remind you of the importance of taking a moment just to breathe, I highly recommend You Were Never Broken.
I give You Were Never Broken five out of five stars!
Happy Reading!
Poems to Save Your Life
by Jeff Foster
Sounds True
Poetry | Self-Help
Pub Date 28 Jul 2020
I am reviewing a copy of You Were Never Broken through Sounds True and Netgalley:
In this book Author Jeff Foster points out that meditation is touching life where life touches you.
We are reminded too of the importance of slowing down as well as the importance of listening to the silence.
The author reminds us too of taking the time to slow down, to allow ourselves to feel both the joys, and the sorrows, and of the importance of having the courage of standing alone.
If you are looking for a good book, of Mediative Poetry, one that will remind you of the importance of taking a moment just to breathe, I highly recommend You Were Never Broken.
I give You Were Never Broken five out of five stars!
Happy Reading!
May 21, 2020
*4.5/5
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was a really good read. It covers some heavy material so be aware of that going in (cw at end). Normally I don't enjoy intros to poetry collections that explain the content of the poetry but the sections of prose in this collection were very well done and added to the overall effect of the poetry. I'd almost go so far as to say it enhanced the poems.
This is a book about accepting yourself and the way your mind works unapologetically and finding joy in the simple act of existing. It wants you to be able to simply be, however you are, and to realize that you are not a broken individual.
On another note, every time the author refers to God as she I ascended.
CW: talk of suicidal ideation
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was a really good read. It covers some heavy material so be aware of that going in (cw at end). Normally I don't enjoy intros to poetry collections that explain the content of the poetry but the sections of prose in this collection were very well done and added to the overall effect of the poetry. I'd almost go so far as to say it enhanced the poems.
This is a book about accepting yourself and the way your mind works unapologetically and finding joy in the simple act of existing. It wants you to be able to simply be, however you are, and to realize that you are not a broken individual.
On another note, every time the author refers to God as she I ascended.
CW: talk of suicidal ideation
May 24, 2020
definitely, this was not for me. i actually think there are people who will identify more with the style, but that's not my case. i felt that the book was using the resource of "romanticizing" the trauma/sadness/depression, like it’s nothing bad, just a part of life. i know some people will agree with that thinking that is ok to live with having terrible thoughts, but i disagree a lot with that way of seeing the struggles of living with mental illness and saying that you have to "acclimate/accept" it. for me, it's not that simple. i know that is only MY impression of the poems, but it made me so difficult to connect/relate with the things I was reading.
it's short and easy to read but it made me so sleeeeepy, i almost fall asleep two times. like i said, this was not for me.
*note: i received a copy via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
it's short and easy to read but it made me so sleeeeepy, i almost fall asleep two times. like i said, this was not for me.
*note: i received a copy via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 3, 2020
Jeff Foster is a man who knows how to feel and how to express those feelings in wonderfully relatable and comforting ways.
You know all those times you feel alone, are struggling, doubt your worth to the world, wonder if there's any point in going on? Jeff has been there, and is brave enough to share his story. Above all else, this is a book about accepting yourself, accepting the world around you, and knowing that whatever is happening at the present time can be used for your growth and betterment. You are ok.
Reading this book is like having a long conversation with a dear and trusted friend where no matter what you say or express or feel, you are loved and accepted. Yes, it's exactly like that!
My thanks to NetGalley and Sounds True for allowing me to read a digital ARC of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.
You know all those times you feel alone, are struggling, doubt your worth to the world, wonder if there's any point in going on? Jeff has been there, and is brave enough to share his story. Above all else, this is a book about accepting yourself, accepting the world around you, and knowing that whatever is happening at the present time can be used for your growth and betterment. You are ok.
Reading this book is like having a long conversation with a dear and trusted friend where no matter what you say or express or feel, you are loved and accepted. Yes, it's exactly like that!
My thanks to NetGalley and Sounds True for allowing me to read a digital ARC of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews