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Clarity & Connection
From the celebrated author of Inward comes a new collection of poetry and short prose that illuminates how past wounds impact our present relationships.
In Clarity and Connection, Yung Pueblo explores how intense emotions accumulate in our subconscious and condition us to act and react the ways we do. With his distinctive voice, at once spare and evocative, the author guides us through the excavation and release of the past that is required for growth. On the topic of intimate relationships, he reflects:
find a partner who accepts you as you are but also inspires you to evolve because they take their own growth seriously. love will not seek to change you. it will embrace you so unconditionally that you will feel safe enough to heal the old and put effort into the new. the courage you both have to stay committed to the inner journey will reflect brightly on your relationship.
An unabridged audiobook, read by the author. This recording also includes a bonus audio interview with Yung Pueblo, in conversation with Tami Simon.
In Clarity and Connection, Yung Pueblo explores how intense emotions accumulate in our subconscious and condition us to act and react the ways we do. With his distinctive voice, at once spare and evocative, the author guides us through the excavation and release of the past that is required for growth. On the topic of intimate relationships, he reflects:
find a partner who accepts you as you are but also inspires you to evolve because they take their own growth seriously. love will not seek to change you. it will embrace you so unconditionally that you will feel safe enough to heal the old and put effort into the new. the courage you both have to stay committed to the inner journey will reflect brightly on your relationship.
An unabridged audiobook, read by the author. This recording also includes a bonus audio interview with Yung Pueblo, in conversation with Tami Simon.
258 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2019
3027 people are currently reading
25903 people want to read
About the author
Yung Pueblo
40 books2,050 followersDiego Perez is a meditator, writer, and speaker who is widely known on Instagram and various social media networks through his pen name Yung Pueblo. The name yung pueblo means “young people.” it serves to remind him of his Ecuadorian roots, his experiences in activism, and that the collective of humanity is in the midst of important growth. his favorite word, liberation, took on a deeper meaning once he started meditating vipassana. through writing and speaking, he aims to support the healing of the individual, realizing that when we release our personal burdens, we contribute to a global peace.
Contact: diego@yungpueblo.com
Instagram: @yung_pueblo
Contact: diego@yungpueblo.com
Instagram: @yung_pueblo
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,092 reviews
March 19, 2022
really beautiful messages to reflect on and to aid healing, but it was too repetitive, sadly
June 27, 2021
I am certain that this work will help some people and some will find it very useful. But for me it's not good poetry and it's not self help I need at this moment. Really just seemed like mantras or good advice with line breaks:
"find a partner who is as committed to
supporting you in good times as they are
in the tough moments of growth and healing.
coming together as imperfect people can be
challenging, imperfection can sometimes cause
unintentional conflict, especially when one is
going through a moment of inner turbulence."
I hope that someone finds solace and guidance from it, but it was not the book for me.
**Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
"find a partner who is as committed to
supporting you in good times as they are
in the tough moments of growth and healing.
coming together as imperfect people can be
challenging, imperfection can sometimes cause
unintentional conflict, especially when one is
going through a moment of inner turbulence."
I hope that someone finds solace and guidance from it, but it was not the book for me.
**Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
April 27, 2021
I have never encountered this author or his work before reading this book but was not surprised to learn, after finishing the book, that he began his thoughtful journey during a meditation course focused on the self. There is material on self-awareness, personal relationships, and society at large, but it all comes back to self.
Life is trauma and recovery. Not trauma as we often think of it, perhaps, but the trauma of “jealousy, anger, doubt, and low self-worth.” And the recovery “is not about managing your emotions; it is about managing your reactions to your emotions” because “our reactions tell us what our mind has internalized from our past experiences.” And since each and every one of us has different experiences, everything starts with self. I can’t truly have a healthy relationship at any level if I don't understand myself first.
His vision of self is a very healthy one. He doesn’t promote participation awards. But he does suggest, rightly so, I think, that we “throw away the idea that you need to pause your life until you are fully healed.” Life is motion. “How many times have you been unable to fully enjoy a special moment because you couldn’t stop thinking about what was missing?”
If you study Buddhism at all you will find a lot of familiar ground here although he only once, if my search worked correctly, mentions the word Buddha or Buddhism. That is very much to his credit, I think. Our language is not healing us at the moment, whatever language it is that you identify with. (And, yes, language does have both meaning and consequences.)
There is a big emphasis on listening and what he refers to as “selfless listening.” As a consultant whose name I can’t recall once asked “Are you listening to respond [selfish] or to learn [selfless]?” (I paraphrase.) On a related note, however, he reminds us “not every thought is valuable.” (The old joke about not wanting to belong to any club that would have me as a member comes to mind.)
It’s a good book and a very quick read. I read it in one sitting. I admire his studious avoidance of jargon and popular lingo although he lost his five stars toward the end when his prose started reading ever so slightly like a social manifesto. It’s a manifesto I agree with, for the most part, but manifestos of any stripe aren’t doing any of us much good at the moment.
His perspective alone would have made a valuable contribution. He didn’t really need to tie it all up in a bow and it is a bow that will sadly turn some readers off.
And I admit to sighing on almost the final page when he wrote, “fortunately, humanity is in the process of maturing. we are young, [his pen name means young people] but we are more open to learning, growing, and reorganizing our world than ever before. it is up to us to make compassion structural. [last sentence in italics]” (He uses no capitalization.)
How I wish that were true, but I fear it isn’t yet. I do, however, think his compass is sound and points in the right direction. Life is motion. The key is to move ahead. And he is right when he asks and answers the question “which comes first—inner work or working to make the world a better place? the answer is that both can happen at the same time.”
Life is trauma and recovery. Not trauma as we often think of it, perhaps, but the trauma of “jealousy, anger, doubt, and low self-worth.” And the recovery “is not about managing your emotions; it is about managing your reactions to your emotions” because “our reactions tell us what our mind has internalized from our past experiences.” And since each and every one of us has different experiences, everything starts with self. I can’t truly have a healthy relationship at any level if I don't understand myself first.
His vision of self is a very healthy one. He doesn’t promote participation awards. But he does suggest, rightly so, I think, that we “throw away the idea that you need to pause your life until you are fully healed.” Life is motion. “How many times have you been unable to fully enjoy a special moment because you couldn’t stop thinking about what was missing?”
If you study Buddhism at all you will find a lot of familiar ground here although he only once, if my search worked correctly, mentions the word Buddha or Buddhism. That is very much to his credit, I think. Our language is not healing us at the moment, whatever language it is that you identify with. (And, yes, language does have both meaning and consequences.)
There is a big emphasis on listening and what he refers to as “selfless listening.” As a consultant whose name I can’t recall once asked “Are you listening to respond [selfish] or to learn [selfless]?” (I paraphrase.) On a related note, however, he reminds us “not every thought is valuable.” (The old joke about not wanting to belong to any club that would have me as a member comes to mind.)
It’s a good book and a very quick read. I read it in one sitting. I admire his studious avoidance of jargon and popular lingo although he lost his five stars toward the end when his prose started reading ever so slightly like a social manifesto. It’s a manifesto I agree with, for the most part, but manifestos of any stripe aren’t doing any of us much good at the moment.
His perspective alone would have made a valuable contribution. He didn’t really need to tie it all up in a bow and it is a bow that will sadly turn some readers off.
And I admit to sighing on almost the final page when he wrote, “fortunately, humanity is in the process of maturing. we are young, [his pen name means young people] but we are more open to learning, growing, and reorganizing our world than ever before. it is up to us to make compassion structural. [last sentence in italics]” (He uses no capitalization.)
How I wish that were true, but I fear it isn’t yet. I do, however, think his compass is sound and points in the right direction. Life is motion. The key is to move ahead. And he is right when he asks and answers the question “which comes first—inner work or working to make the world a better place? the answer is that both can happen at the same time.”
December 18, 2021
This was Instagram poetry at its finest, albeit more experimental in terms of length and rhythm. It was simplistic, pretty pointless, and oh yes, endless, to the point where the same idea kept repeating in multiple poems, and the volume wasn't the shortest, either.
It has a target audience of Rupi-Kaur-press-space-&-share-life-advice fans.
It has a target audience of Rupi-Kaur-press-space-&-share-life-advice fans.
November 16, 2023
Very interesting read.
Really loved the way it was divided by themes and all.
Maybe a little bit repetitive but really insightful!!!!
It was eye opening at times.
It might give you different perspective on multiple subjects!!!!
Really loved the way it was divided by themes and all.
Maybe a little bit repetitive but really insightful!!!!
It was eye opening at times.
It might give you different perspective on multiple subjects!!!!
June 7, 2021
Every page for me was a gift. Yes, some were reminders of what I have heard in the past, but beautifully said. I read it during my time off and it really helped me relax and come back to my self. I also took the opportunity to reflect on my relationships and see where I can improve on with the advice this book provides. I've seen mixed reviews about this book and glad that I read it for myself. Like many things, somethings might work for someone, but not for someone else. Super fast read even for someone as slow of a reader as me.
April 26, 2022
This is another book to put on my bedside and pick up on bad days.
5 stars
5 stars
December 3, 2021
0/10 do not trust the Goodreads Choice Awards poetry finalists💀
December 25, 2021
Not my thing. Couldn’t get through it all, had to stop at around 60%. I felt like I was being told what to do, think, feel, and how to live by someone who… I’m sorry, what are your qualifications? Instagram?
Maybe this is palatable on Instagram in small doses, but I cannot sit here and read nearly 300 pages of it.
Maybe this is palatable on Instagram in small doses, but I cannot sit here and read nearly 300 pages of it.
November 28, 2023
“ it is up to us to make compassion structural. to create an inclusive society in which people are not left behind because of their differences but embraced and centered so that all can flourish.”
i was gifted this a long time ago after a particularly tough breakup, and wowww i am so silly for not having read this back then. it is so beautifully written, and the poetry style of the prose made it so much easier to get into a meditative state while reading it, i could feel my breath and heart rate slow down immediately and that felt sooooo good. i tabbed all my fave sections and i can’t wait to go back and reread them as often as i need to to keep me on my healing journey.
i highly recommend this to everyone, as this book touches on how healing is not just for us, but for humanity as well - if we heal and bring more compassion into the world, we can inspire others to heal as well.
wishing everyone love and peace on their healing journey 🤍
i was gifted this a long time ago after a particularly tough breakup, and wowww i am so silly for not having read this back then. it is so beautifully written, and the poetry style of the prose made it so much easier to get into a meditative state while reading it, i could feel my breath and heart rate slow down immediately and that felt sooooo good. i tabbed all my fave sections and i can’t wait to go back and reread them as often as i need to to keep me on my healing journey.
i highly recommend this to everyone, as this book touches on how healing is not just for us, but for humanity as well - if we heal and bring more compassion into the world, we can inspire others to heal as well.
wishing everyone love and peace on their healing journey 🤍
December 6, 2021
Less poetry, more one long fortune cookie.
March 16, 2022
An insightful and impressive poetry collection of emotions, relationships, healing, self-awareness, growth, releasing, acceptance, communication, vulnerability, and love. Yung Pueblo is the pseudonym of Diego Perez, who was born in Ecuador, raised in Boston, lived in New York City, and returned to Massachusetts. He was inspired to write this body of work after seeing the power of healing and transformation while attending a silent vipassana mediation course. He and his wife continue to meditate. There were a lot of poems that I loved, and here are a few of my favorites:
how many relationships would have
gone a different way if the goal were
not just to find harmony as a couple,
but to also find harmony
as individuals?
ask yourself:
is the connection real if there
is not space to be vulnerable?
attributes of a good friend:
they feel like home
they are honest with you
they remind you of your power
they support you in your healing
they have a revitalized presence
they hold a vision of your success
they support you in new adventures
they lift you up with joy and laughter
they bring out the best version of you
give love, but don’t exhaust yourself
be peaceful, but don’t become passive
have patience, but don’t settle for less
trust yourself, but don’t develop arrogance
be open to love, but don’t force a connection
have goals, but don’t chase after each craving
hurt travels through time
from one person to another
this unwanted heaviness moves
from the past into the present
and then into the future
one of the most heroic things
anyone can do is break the line of hurt
when people heal themselves,
they stop the hurt from multiplying
and their relationships become healthier
when people heal themselves,
they also heal the future
This is a book I would like to own. 4.5 stars.
how many relationships would have
gone a different way if the goal were
not just to find harmony as a couple,
but to also find harmony
as individuals?
ask yourself:
is the connection real if there
is not space to be vulnerable?
attributes of a good friend:
they feel like home
they are honest with you
they remind you of your power
they support you in your healing
they have a revitalized presence
they hold a vision of your success
they support you in new adventures
they lift you up with joy and laughter
they bring out the best version of you
give love, but don’t exhaust yourself
be peaceful, but don’t become passive
have patience, but don’t settle for less
trust yourself, but don’t develop arrogance
be open to love, but don’t force a connection
have goals, but don’t chase after each craving
hurt travels through time
from one person to another
this unwanted heaviness moves
from the past into the present
and then into the future
one of the most heroic things
anyone can do is break the line of hurt
when people heal themselves,
they stop the hurt from multiplying
and their relationships become healthier
when people heal themselves,
they also heal the future
This is a book I would like to own. 4.5 stars.
March 20, 2021
2 stars
Self help statements in the guise of poems. The content isn’t bad, but I’d have rather read the ideas in essay format, expanded upon & explained better. These poems just didn’t feel very poem-like to me.
[What I liked:]
•Some poems are generic self help/therapy/mindfulness concepts; some are reflections on the poet’s own experiences. I preferred the latter, though those still were vague enough they felt generic. There were a handful of poems I connected with, that resonated enough to bookmark to come back to later.
•The ideas expressed in the poems are worthwhile, solid concepts about communication & emotional health my therapist would approve of. There are also some Buddhist teachings mixed in, which are interesting.
[What I didn’t like as much:]
•The poems read like self help platitudes in free verse form or in long paragraphs. Nothing particularly special or sparkly or piercing about the language.
•A lot of the poems are repetitive—the same ideas expressed multiple times throughout the volume without much meaningful variation.
[I received an ARC ebook copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you for the book!]
Self help statements in the guise of poems. The content isn’t bad, but I’d have rather read the ideas in essay format, expanded upon & explained better. These poems just didn’t feel very poem-like to me.
[What I liked:]
•Some poems are generic self help/therapy/mindfulness concepts; some are reflections on the poet’s own experiences. I preferred the latter, though those still were vague enough they felt generic. There were a handful of poems I connected with, that resonated enough to bookmark to come back to later.
•The ideas expressed in the poems are worthwhile, solid concepts about communication & emotional health my therapist would approve of. There are also some Buddhist teachings mixed in, which are interesting.
[What I didn’t like as much:]
•The poems read like self help platitudes in free verse form or in long paragraphs. Nothing particularly special or sparkly or piercing about the language.
•A lot of the poems are repetitive—the same ideas expressed multiple times throughout the volume without much meaningful variation.
[I received an ARC ebook copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you for the book!]
January 28, 2022
I can't decide if I love this book,
Or hate it,
Which is a strange place to be.
So I gave it a three.
Or hate it,
Which is a strange place to be.
So I gave it a three.
June 7, 2022
eARC Netgalley
german and english review
Ja, nein!!!
Ich mochte die Idee von dem Buch, die Umsetzung nicht so sehr. Ich weiß nicht mal genau was das Buch sein sollte. Es ist wirklich mehr Self Help anstatt Poesie, ist es wirklich dann schon Poesie wenn es einfach nur in einem besonderen Format geschrieben ist?!
Als Self Help Buch hätte mich das Buch komplett überzeugt, längere Texte, genauer auf Dinge eingegangen und nicht so viele Wiederholungen (manchmal hab ich mich echt gefühlt als wenn wir uns im Kreis drehen) und das Buch hätte mindestens 4 Sterne von mir bekommen.
Vielleicht hab ich das Buch auch zur falschen Zeit gelesen. Ich bin traurig, ich wollte das Buch so sehr mögen.
***
Yeah, no!!!
I love the whole idea about the book, the execution not so much. I don't even know what the books was supposed to be. It's more self help than poetry, is it really just poetry because of the format it was written?
As a self help book this book would have worked so much better for me, longer text, more details to everything, not so many repeats (that made me feel like we are running in circles), and this book would have at least been a 4 star read.
Maybe I just read it at the wrong time. I'm sad, I wanted to love this one so much.
german and english review
Ja, nein!!!
Ich mochte die Idee von dem Buch, die Umsetzung nicht so sehr. Ich weiß nicht mal genau was das Buch sein sollte. Es ist wirklich mehr Self Help anstatt Poesie, ist es wirklich dann schon Poesie wenn es einfach nur in einem besonderen Format geschrieben ist?!
Als Self Help Buch hätte mich das Buch komplett überzeugt, längere Texte, genauer auf Dinge eingegangen und nicht so viele Wiederholungen (manchmal hab ich mich echt gefühlt als wenn wir uns im Kreis drehen) und das Buch hätte mindestens 4 Sterne von mir bekommen.
Vielleicht hab ich das Buch auch zur falschen Zeit gelesen. Ich bin traurig, ich wollte das Buch so sehr mögen.
***
Yeah, no!!!
I love the whole idea about the book, the execution not so much. I don't even know what the books was supposed to be. It's more self help than poetry, is it really just poetry because of the format it was written?
As a self help book this book would have worked so much better for me, longer text, more details to everything, not so many repeats (that made me feel like we are running in circles), and this book would have at least been a 4 star read.
Maybe I just read it at the wrong time. I'm sad, I wanted to love this one so much.
November 24, 2021
If y'all don't know Yung Pueblo, you are seriously missing out. Follow him on his socials, sign up to get his writings delivered to your inbox, pick up a copy of CLARITY AND CONNECTION, and prepare to be blown away. Yung is a genius, and this is a book to be savored, to be read in fits and starts because you need time to digest the gorgeous prose and ruminate on how his messages apply to your own life. It’s pages are meant to be highlighted and dog-eared because they are crammed with nuggets of wisdom on personal transformation, building self-awareness, and deepening your connection with the people around you. Out now, and worth every penny
January 20, 2022
Various thoughts on topics revolving around authenticity, compassion and simply being okay and growing as a person.
I very much like the format, which sort of reminds me of a contemporary Meditations, the poetic style and the messages!
I very much like the format, which sort of reminds me of a contemporary Meditations, the poetic style and the messages!
July 7, 2021
“only in being
can i feel real peace”
this book feels like it was written FOR me to read at precisely this moment
can i feel real peace”
this book feels like it was written FOR me to read at precisely this moment
November 30, 2021
Heal yourself, but don’t rush
Help people, but have boundaries
Love others, but don’t let them harm you
Love yourself, but don’t become egotistical
Stay informed, but don’t overwhelm yourself
Embrace change, but keep pursuing your goals.
I needed to hear a big majority of these poems. I’ve been feeling overwhelmed and drained but this is something I definitely needed to read.
Help people, but have boundaries
Love others, but don’t let them harm you
Love yourself, but don’t become egotistical
Stay informed, but don’t overwhelm yourself
Embrace change, but keep pursuing your goals.
I needed to hear a big majority of these poems. I’ve been feeling overwhelmed and drained but this is something I definitely needed to read.
November 30, 2022
Recommend reading this collection of poems in chunks. Breezing through it like a regular novel will likely make this less enjoyable
August 24, 2021
2021 Reading Challenge Week 31: Poetry
I am, admittedly, the farthest thing from a poetry expert, but I had a hard time accepting this collection as actual poetry. It feels more like a collection of little informal essays that vary in both length and quality. Whatever it is, the collection is a bit uneven - it felt repetitive and overly long, but also a bit incomplete...That said, the patient, persistent reader will be rewarded with some very nice little moments.
I am, admittedly, the farthest thing from a poetry expert, but I had a hard time accepting this collection as actual poetry. It feels more like a collection of little informal essays that vary in both length and quality. Whatever it is, the collection is a bit uneven - it felt repetitive and overly long, but also a bit incomplete...That said, the patient, persistent reader will be rewarded with some very nice little moments.
January 2, 2022
Many life lessons gathered into one big heartwarming book. It took me a while to read since the passages demand some sort of reflection from the reader. I’m taking the author’s words straight to the heart and hoping to implement them in the future.
July 18, 2023
yikes. Would have DNF'd but it checked off a category for the library's reading challenge so I pushed through.
October 26, 2023
3.5 stars
Lots of relatable gems in here.
Lots of relatable gems in here.
March 3, 2025
There were some good and inspiring messages throughout the book but felt more like self help/advice than poetry. I did enjoy the part about relationships!
August 1, 2021
Atm Sydney Australia is in lockdown with the delta strain of Covid -19. While working as a Registered Nurse in this time, our anxiety and workload is through the roof.
Taking a step back to read this in down time was just what I needed. Especially to.assist me with relationships with myself and others during this pandemic
"more of us are healing ourselves
and actively helping heal the world "
I felt that.
In such an unknown time for the world, this book has helped me, by focusing on the positive while so much negativity is out there. So much healing needs to be done by us all singularly and together.
Easy to read anywhere.
Taking a step back to read this in down time was just what I needed. Especially to.assist me with relationships with myself and others during this pandemic
"more of us are healing ourselves
and actively helping heal the world "
I felt that.
In such an unknown time for the world, this book has helped me, by focusing on the positive while so much negativity is out there. So much healing needs to be done by us all singularly and together.
Easy to read anywhere.
August 16, 2024
One of my favorite books of the year. Not long, as each page is just a line or paragraph, sometimes more, with simple, universal truths and teachings that are more needed than ever.
December 31, 2021
Čudnu vezzu imam sa ovom knjgom poezije. Kako nešto može da bude "common sense" a da opet zvuči dobro i da nakon svake pesme klimam glavom "da ovo mi je trebalo da čujem". I tako svaki put. Volim što je direktan. I bez obzira što preferiram lirski stil izražavanja volim što piše jezikom naroda. Nisam mnogo moderne poezije čitaala, ali radujem se da istražim više od ovog čoveka.
February 8, 2022
This poetry book was good and it had a lot of wow poems but I found that 70% of this book was just the same repeated thing and it got repetitive and drawn out. It felt more like a philosophy book than poetry
March 31, 2023
sometimes, somebody writes a book that reads as if the words were written by you, or were borrowed using the thoughts at the forefront of your recent mind
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,092 reviews