A Mindfulness Guide for Survival

by Ruby Wax

Addressing issues such as change, uncertainty and loneliness, Ruby uses her mindfulness expertise to show the reader how to be better prepared. Contains practical advice, with easy to follow, step-by-step exercises to better deal with whatever life throws at you.

Dear Reader,

I have written this workbook filled with exercises and information so that hopefully next time there's a catastrophe, from a small scale one (your dog is missing or you forgot to return an email) to another big world crisis (the spread of a future variant caused by people in Utah eating aliens), you'll be better prepared.

I hope the book can help you hold the rudder straight even in a squall and come out the other end buoyant. I know nothing about warding off another virus, immunologist, vaccines aren't my thing but I do know how and what to do with the mind. Not because I'm a naturally born 'Enlightened One' but because I studied, practised and still practise mindfulness. Anyone, after 100 reps of tummy crunches at the gym will eventually develop a muscle, unless they're cheating, same thing with mindfulness.

So wherever we are, this workbook is for you, to hopefully steady and strengthen the mind muscles to be able to take on the whips and arrows of outrageous fortune or whatever's slung at us in the future and to better survive this life.

Love, Ruby x

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help

166 pages, Paperback

Published September 7, 2021

About the author

Ruby Wax arrived in Britain in 1977 to pursue an acting career. She says "I really could never find my niche. I was a terrible actress, I couldn't sing, I couldn't do characters, I couldn't do an English accent and I lived in England, so I was narrowing it down".

She met French and Saunders at a party and worked alongside them a number of times, on television in Happy Families, at charity events such as Hysteria and notably the sitcom Girls on Top. Ruby played Shelley Dupont, a stereotypically loud American dying for a career in show-business. Not a huge hit, Girls on Top nevertheless gave the trio the chance to find their feet in comedy.

Ruby eventually got a chat show after drunkenly interviewing Michael Grade (who was head of Channel 4 at the time) in a tent at the Edinburgh festival. She subsequently made a range of programmes, many revolving around her as an interviewer. Her popularity in terms of comedy came from her interviewing technique: she was always forthright, brash and loud, conforming to the British stereotype of an American. Her physical appearance matched this image, with red hair and blood-red lipstick.

In 2002 Ruby Wax wrote her memoir, How Do You Want Me?, which became a bestseller.

Her 2010 stand-up show Losing It deals with her experience of bipolar disorder. She founded Black Dog Tribe in 2011 in response to the audience reaction from her theatre show. In September 2013, she graduated from Kellogg College at Oxford University with a master's degree in mindfulness based cognitive therapy. She had previously earned a postgraduate certificate in psychotherapy and counselling from Regents College in London.

These days she promotes understanding of the brain and campaigns for greater mental health awareness and destigmatisation.

- summarised from Dawn French Online, Wikipedia and her website

Reviews

[thewoollygeek (tea, cake, crochet & books) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Ruby Wax , her books have helped me so much, to know I’m not alone , I suffer from anxiety and depression and her words are always such a comfort, like yeah that makes sense or I do that too !
I really enjoyed reading this book and I bought a physical copy so I could follow the activities fully, it would be a great help to anyone with their mindfulness journey

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

[Nicola Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being mindful is something I think everyone would benefit from, as we can be so far removed from the here and now. Constantly looking into the future, planning and thinking and obsessing about what’s to come. Is easy to get swallowed up into life without really being present for it.

The mindfulness guide for survival was a great read, drawing the reader in to consider and ponder the big questions as well as gain awareness of how to be mindful. The book teaches you how to bring your brain back for a mindful moment, how to recognise what you need to address and how to be present.

I also liked that the author included lots of snippets about her life, which helped to make you feel like you weren’t alone in the struggles or what you might be feeling. The inclusion of all the science behind mindfulness, physiology and neuroscience was great to read too and a really nice addition.

The book also includes lots of immersive and participatory exercises for you to work through and begin to learn the art of being mindful. It’s a book to have on your shelf and refer back to regularly, working those mindful muscles on a regular basis. For that, the book definitely delivers on its main aim.

A must for all those who want to learn more about mindfulness and how to navigate in today’s mad and busy society.

Thank you to the author and publishers via NetGalley for this book, in return for my honest thoughts and review.

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Mindfulness Guide for Survival by Ruby Wax is a insightful guide to learning how to be more mindful of your mental health. Written in a easy to follow and humorous way this is relevant more than ever.
Thanks to netgalley for letting me read this.

[Tony S]

Having read "And Now for The Good News" I was interested to see what the latest book had in store.
I had not read Frazzled that is mentioned in the latest book but this seems to be the same kind of theme and ideas and almost a manual for mindfulness.
Being written in the time of the pandemic the idea of mindfulness is needed even more than before with a lot of isolation and disconnection.
As with the previous book I ended up looking up several other books and looking at YouTube for speakers and their ideas that are mentioned in the book. There are so many quotes in this book that you can take away but I loved the following
"We are Velcro for negative thoughts and Teflon for positive ones" absolutely right and as an educator I see this all the time.
I would love Ruby to do a tour of schools and impart some of her knowledge to stressed kids- there are certainly techniques in the book I will be passing on and recommending the book to a few of my students.
A great read for those into - or getting started with mindfulness.

[Savanahhh · Rating 2 out of 5]

Doing the activities in the journal was helpful to an extent, but I felt that it could have gone a bit deeper. I guess I've just been on my mindfulness journey a bit longer, so I'm not really the target audience for the book (which I think are first-timers or seekers). I can see why it can be helpful to some. I think it's worth a read if you're looking for ways to make sense of the world for the first time, or would like to learn more about mindfulness. If you've been in the habit of mindfulness for a bit longer than a year or so, then you can skip this read.

[Histoire et fiction · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are interested in learning how to be more mindful in your daily life but if you are allergic to meditation and yoga, you should give a try to the practical handbook of Ruby Wax, "A Minfdulness Guide for Survival". The book is concise, to the point, without too much theory and with lots of practical exercises.

Although the book intro mentions the consequences of the COVID pandemic on our habits and mental health, the tips it provides can apply in pretty much any context. The first chapter (on the "Big Six") can feel a bit simplistic, but the core of the book, "the five pillars of mindfulness", is full of good tips to feel better about yourself.

Most exercises are surprisingly simple, yet they concretely demonstrate the benefits of being more "aware" of yourself and others (e.g. the exercise involving eating chocolate). Some require a bit more effort and a follow-up over several days, but I think I will come back to some chapters at a later stage depending on my needs.

[Kate Henderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Ruby Wax's books. She writes with such honesty, and such humour they're always a pleasure to read.

I was super excited to read this book, so was super grateful to be given an early electronic copy in exchange for an honest review.
I got so much from this book. I love how it still included lots of facts and lots of the science (don't be put off by that - Wax explains everything so clearly!) as well as things to think about. It includes journal prompts too. This book was written during the Covid-19 pandemic, so it feels so relevant.

There's so much to take away from this. It's one that you can dip in and out of, or read in one go.
I loved this book so much that I have pre-ordered the physical copy when it's released in a couple of weeks.

[Vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just love Ruby's books.........Ruby always writes from her gut!!! and with such honesty, then puts the some humour into every book I have read by her......I always find her books a pleasure to read and when I finish I then have to sit and think about whet I have read and if I can use her information in my everyday routine!

A Mindfulness Guide for Survival by Ruby Wax was another excellent book. Ruby's latest book was so easy to follow throughout and it gives you a good insightful guide to learn how to be more mindful of your mental health and things around you. I found it an eye opener throughout. I highly recommend this latest book..

Big Thank you to Ruby Wax and publishers via NetGalley for this book, in return for my honest thoughts and review.

[Holly Reynolds · Rating 4 out of 5]

A refreshing take on mindfulness and how best to approach your day, week, life in general.

I loved the calendar - printed out a copy for myself and coloured in the day on waking up every morning. It was enlightening to watch the trends of my moods throughout the month and it gave me great ability to highlight incidents that were causing me distress or giving me joy.

A very useful tool written with tact and humour - I loved it!

[Heather Donaldson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Ruby Wax's books. Totally readable and informative without being too technical/overpowering. The exercises are great. If like me you boak at the thought of writing on a book just do the writing on a notepad. Can't wait for the next book.

[Bec Wright · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book did its job. It had lots of exercises for mindfulness in, but I found some of them repetitive. I have a good understanding of the brain and how mindfulness works, so this just didn’t dive deep enough for me

[Bella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant. Exactly what I needed to help me get back to a healthy state of mind.

[Mags Delaney · Rating 5 out of 5]

This will be my companion for 2022. Straight forward - no nonsense - and so user friendly.

[Willow Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mindfulness is not easy. it needs constant practise. I'm just a beginner. But sooooo worth it. You are worth it. X

[Amanda Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reasonable read a brief insight into the practice of mindfulness with Ruby’s narrative in Ruby’s way.

[Millie · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF

[Jools · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like sitting on the beach at sunset with a larger-than-life but very intelligent friend, spelling out how to navigate this increasingly frenzied world we live in.