What do you think?
Rate this book
Small, Broke, and Kind of Dirty: Affirmations for the Real World
Let’s get one thing straight: Small, Broke, and Kind of Dirty: Affirmations for the Real World is not a book of advice. You’re not going to find a step-by-step guide to meditation here, or even reminders to drink lots of water and get enough sleep. Those things are all good for you, but that’s not what Hana Shafi wants to talk about.
Instead, Small, Broke, and Kind of Dirty—built around art from Shafi’s popular online affirmation series—focuses on our common and never-ending journey of self-discovery. It explores the ways in which the world can all too often wear us down, and reminds us to remember our worth, even when it’s hard to do so. Drawing on her experience as a millennial woman of colour, and writing with humour and a healthy dose of irreverence, Shafi delves into body politics and pop culture, racism and feminism, friendship and allyship. Through it all, she remains positive without being saccharine, and hopeful without being naive.
So no, this is not an advice book: it’s a call to action, one that asks us to remember that we are valid as we are—flaws and all—and to not let the bastards grind us down.
Instead, Small, Broke, and Kind of Dirty—built around art from Shafi’s popular online affirmation series—focuses on our common and never-ending journey of self-discovery. It explores the ways in which the world can all too often wear us down, and reminds us to remember our worth, even when it’s hard to do so. Drawing on her experience as a millennial woman of colour, and writing with humour and a healthy dose of irreverence, Shafi delves into body politics and pop culture, racism and feminism, friendship and allyship. Through it all, she remains positive without being saccharine, and hopeful without being naive.
So no, this is not an advice book: it’s a call to action, one that asks us to remember that we are valid as we are—flaws and all—and to not let the bastards grind us down.
180 pages, Paperback
First published September 22, 2020
9 people are currently reading
162 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
March 17, 2021
4.5!
Thank you ZG Stories for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Small, Broke, and Kind of Dirty: Affirmations for the Real World is true to its title. In this book you don’t get all that fluff from self-help books. Hana Shafi gives us what we really want to hear-she gives us tidbits from her life, so that we can use it as a sort of guide when we’re not feeling our best (plot twist: that’s totally ok!)
Ok, I’m not one books with essays on life (since Hana does not classify this as a self-help book, not like I read those anyways), so I have no other book to compare this too. But it was honest, real, and genuine in a way I wasn’t expecting it to be. This book is a realistic yet honest “you rock no matter what” approach to life that will definitely have me flipping through it from time to time. From mental health to politics to self-love, you will feel seen and heard in the short essays. The art is beautiful, and I may or may not have been tempted to colour in the black-and-white illustrations in here.
For anyone looking for a voice that understands them and the real world, this ones for you.
Thank you ZG Stories for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Small, Broke, and Kind of Dirty: Affirmations for the Real World is true to its title. In this book you don’t get all that fluff from self-help books. Hana Shafi gives us what we really want to hear-she gives us tidbits from her life, so that we can use it as a sort of guide when we’re not feeling our best (plot twist: that’s totally ok!)
Ok, I’m not one books with essays on life (since Hana does not classify this as a self-help book, not like I read those anyways), so I have no other book to compare this too. But it was honest, real, and genuine in a way I wasn’t expecting it to be. This book is a realistic yet honest “you rock no matter what” approach to life that will definitely have me flipping through it from time to time. From mental health to politics to self-love, you will feel seen and heard in the short essays. The art is beautiful, and I may or may not have been tempted to colour in the black-and-white illustrations in here.
For anyone looking for a voice that understands them and the real world, this ones for you.
September 18, 2020
Book*hug Press sent me this book in exchange for an honest review
2 stars!
TW: talks on self-image, talks on abortion*, talks on climate change
*not graphic
I went into this book very excited. I was expecting to really like this book based on how much I enjoyed a similar poetry book called You Can Do All Things.
I was ultimately disappointed because they were not as similar as I was expecting them to be, but I did not hate this book.
Hana Shafi accomplished what she wanted to with this book. It does not come across as a preachy self-help book. This book mostly just tries to speak on the worth of every person and does not try to give a specific method for self-improvement. Small, Broke, and Kind of Dirty is a great example of modern times. It has a post-modern view on everything it talks on.
Personally, I enjoyed the first chapter on self-image. I found the rejection of Toxic Positivity refreshing and healthy. I also enjoyed how the affirmations were incorporated into the book. It was clear that each one was selected and placed carefully. There were personal stories that went along with each piece of art.
The art style that Hana Shafi uses was not what I expected and it is not the kind I typically enjoy. Art is subjective and I know that this is a style that others enjoy.
Ultimately, this book was not for me, but I can appreciate how it captures a common worldview in these times and is written from a personal perspective.
2 stars!
TW: talks on self-image, talks on abortion*, talks on climate change
*not graphic
I went into this book very excited. I was expecting to really like this book based on how much I enjoyed a similar poetry book called You Can Do All Things.
I was ultimately disappointed because they were not as similar as I was expecting them to be, but I did not hate this book.
Hana Shafi accomplished what she wanted to with this book. It does not come across as a preachy self-help book. This book mostly just tries to speak on the worth of every person and does not try to give a specific method for self-improvement. Small, Broke, and Kind of Dirty is a great example of modern times. It has a post-modern view on everything it talks on.
Personally, I enjoyed the first chapter on self-image. I found the rejection of Toxic Positivity refreshing and healthy. I also enjoyed how the affirmations were incorporated into the book. It was clear that each one was selected and placed carefully. There were personal stories that went along with each piece of art.
The art style that Hana Shafi uses was not what I expected and it is not the kind I typically enjoy. Art is subjective and I know that this is a style that others enjoy.
Ultimately, this book was not for me, but I can appreciate how it captures a common worldview in these times and is written from a personal perspective.
December 29, 2021
SMALL, BROKE, AND KIND OF DIRTY: Affirmations for the Real World by Hana Shafi is the perfect book I needed to read right now! I loved this book! Hana shares affirmations on several topics including the body and mental health along with her experiences as a millennial woman of colour. Her writing is very conversational and it felt like a friend talking to me. I loved all her references such as Mean Girls and Hilary Duff. Her writing and art is also very inclusive and I loved to see the representation of all different types of people. I devoured this book and read most of it in one sitting. I connected so deeply that at the end it made me cry.
.
A couple of my fave quotes:
“Nobody is entitled to your time, space, or body”
“Your value is not determined by your productivity”
.
This book is featured in the Writers’ Trust Amplified Voices campaign and I also highly recommend you add it to your 2022 TBR!
.
Thank you to Book*hug Press for my gifted review copy!
.
A couple of my fave quotes:
“Nobody is entitled to your time, space, or body”
“Your value is not determined by your productivity”
.
This book is featured in the Writers’ Trust Amplified Voices campaign and I also highly recommend you add it to your 2022 TBR!
.
Thank you to Book*hug Press for my gifted review copy!
November 25, 2023
A gentle and direct-spoken companion, full of color, for a day when I feel tired and want to see art and want the art to see me. We're trying to move through this world at the margins and seams.
August 14, 2025
Absolutely loved this
December 31, 2023
I dug this. Half advice, half memoir, half reflections, half gallery notes on art pieces. Neat mix.
September 9, 2020
Ugh, Ms. Shafi does it again!!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️
October 8, 2020
Shafi addresses important issues that we face in daily life (from self-perception, to racism, to mental health) while discussing personal stories and traumas that we can all relate to.
A few of my favorite excerpts:
"When you show the deepest parts of your life, not everyone is going to like what they see. But through those responses, you get a sense of who truly loves you, of who is willing to offer empathy and patience..."
"It's ok to have scars. It means you're healing."
"Trauma doesn't make you "damaged goods". There's no such thing. You are a person, not a commodity."
A few of my favorite excerpts:
"When you show the deepest parts of your life, not everyone is going to like what they see. But through those responses, you get a sense of who truly loves you, of who is willing to offer empathy and patience..."
"It's ok to have scars. It means you're healing."
"Trauma doesn't make you "damaged goods". There's no such thing. You are a person, not a commodity."
September 22, 2022
I really needed these affirmations. Some folks may roll their eyes, but I know many of my students will really connect to Shafi as a feminist Muslim.
June 14, 2022
A hybrid storytelling cross between visual art and writing told through the raw voice of writer and artist Hana Shafi that makes no apologies for its intersectional and accessible exploration of feminisms, body politics, racism, self-love and mental health.
Shafi’s introduction makes it clear what this book is NOT from the get go: a self-help book, a collection of advice columns, a sunshine-and-rainbows approach to life, an assortment of trauma porn stories for mass consumption. “What I am is a storyteller. I tell stories- in words and in art- that make people feel less alone, that affirm people as they are, and that maybe get them riled up about the big-picture stuff that really matters in the world.”
Shafi’s introduction makes it clear what this book is NOT from the get go: a self-help book, a collection of advice columns, a sunshine-and-rainbows approach to life, an assortment of trauma porn stories for mass consumption. “What I am is a storyteller. I tell stories- in words and in art- that make people feel less alone, that affirm people as they are, and that maybe get them riled up about the big-picture stuff that really matters in the world.”
July 16, 2021
Wow-this was such a heart felt, honest, and strong illustration of finding comfort in who we are and what we stand for. I was so engrossed by Hana's insights, straightforwardness and unwillingness to gloss over hard things. While listening, I sought out her Instagram @frizzkidart to be able to see her work. The verbalization of her artwork in the audio is very good but it does not compare to witnessing it firsthand . She is using her talents to speak for those who have not yet found their voices or who feel alone, and reading/listening to her book is an experience that will sit with you for long after you finish.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this gifted copy
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this gifted copy
October 12, 2021
I probably wasn't the audience for this book and it didn't quite work as an audiobook (each chapter was started with a description of the illustration that is in the print version) but it was short and mostly interesting.
May 3, 2022
What a profoundly human book. It exquisitely cuts out the bullshit, and gets to the heart of being our messy, imperfect selves, in a messy imperfect world. I loved it—I’m a big fan of her honesty and perspective on life. Known as @FrizzKidArt on Instagram.
Read
July 13, 2022i'm gonna not rate this and skew the overall rating. i just don't think this book was for me!
edit: (to be clear, love everything that was said just felt disappointed overall. not enough memoir, not enough non fiction to be such an in-between?? idk :c it's 100% a me thing)
edit: (to be clear, love everything that was said just felt disappointed overall. not enough memoir, not enough non fiction to be such an in-between?? idk :c it's 100% a me thing)
March 28, 2024
This wasn't a bad book.. not my favorite. Alot of it was great to read and let my mind ponder but I also felt like I was being forced to read someone else's political opinions rather than affirmations.
November 5, 2020
Another great book by a great writer and artist!
November 8, 2020
I thoroughly enjoyed this collection of affirmations, essays and stories. Relatable, funny, yet still poignant and inspirational.
November 18, 2020
Loved this book! The art is fantastic, and Shafi is an excellent story teller. I read it all in one day which almost never happens!
December 26, 2020
Honest, witty and kind. I want to foist this into the hands of any teenagers I know.
January 1, 2021
This book is like a sigh of relief. The author's essays and drawings are relatable, validating, and encouraging.
March 19, 2021
Great read from a very real author. Love the illustrations. Highly recommend.
February 28, 2023
Sweet
I would like to see this book in person since I listened to it. The artwork sounds amazing!
I would like to see this book in person since I listened to it. The artwork sounds amazing!
December 16, 2023
For when you want to learn why boundaries matter.
October 18, 2025
For some reason this book came up as a recommendation on naive art. Really not a fan of anything here. 😬
November 6, 2025
I love her writing style and the Christmas hat story had me laughing on the floor! So relatable!
August 9, 2021
I listened and finished this audiobook in one sitting. The whole book felt like a deep conversation I was having with friends with the author projecting her thoughts and opinions but in an open way, not forcing their opinion but leaving it open for interpretation.
The print book has illustrations and the narration of the audiobook included good visual descriptions of the images.
As I'm in my early 30s I could relate to many points raised however if I was to recommend it would be more geared towards my younger self whom was still trying to understand and form opinions of the world, with this I was more just agreeing and simply nodding along all the way through!
I had never heard if Hana Shafi prior to this but Ill be keeping an eye out for her work going forwards.
The print book has illustrations and the narration of the audiobook included good visual descriptions of the images.
As I'm in my early 30s I could relate to many points raised however if I was to recommend it would be more geared towards my younger self whom was still trying to understand and form opinions of the world, with this I was more just agreeing and simply nodding along all the way through!
I had never heard if Hana Shafi prior to this but Ill be keeping an eye out for her work going forwards.
November 8, 2021
not another self help book!! super realistic and lovely.
June 19, 2023
I love books in essay format - but - just because you CAN write a book, doesn’t mean you should. The book was not something I enjoyed - definitely in the minority.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews