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Your Head is a Houseboat: A Chaotic Guide to Mental Clarity
Your Head is a Houseboat is a uniquely hilarious guide to what goes on in your brain, from illustration sensation Campbell Walker aka Struthless. The only truth we really know is that we're going to spend the rest of our lives in our own houseboat (our head) so it makes sense to make that houseboat as good as possible. The houseboat needs cleaning and maintenance, and it shouldn't be weighed down by junk (our own thoughts and other people's opinions). There's a bunch of bosses with different ideas about where you should be heading in the ocean of life, and a zoo of animalistic desires below the deck who are really steering. But it's your houseboat, so it's probably time for you to cast away and set sail (is that even how houseboats work?) on a journey to understanding it.
In Your Head is a Houseboat, Cam demystifies brain functions, mental health, emotions, mindfulness and psychology – but with less complex terminology and more bizarre metaphors. It's a book filled with illustrations, journal exercises and words that will probably hit too close to home. At its core, this is a funny, accessible approach to understanding your head and making it a nicer place to live.'The most important and accessible mental health book in a generation. Truly life-changing.' – Osher Günsberg
In Your Head is a Houseboat, Cam demystifies brain functions, mental health, emotions, mindfulness and psychology – but with less complex terminology and more bizarre metaphors. It's a book filled with illustrations, journal exercises and words that will probably hit too close to home. At its core, this is a funny, accessible approach to understanding your head and making it a nicer place to live.'The most important and accessible mental health book in a generation. Truly life-changing.' – Osher Günsberg
160 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 2, 2021
670 people are currently reading
3886 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 393 reviews
October 8, 2021
I don’t quite have the words to describe how this made me feel - other than it took all my thoughts and feelings I’ve had over years of processing and introspection, and turned it into bite sized artistic metaphors. It felt like someone giving my brain a big ol’ hug, and gave me a moment of quiet to pick up the cup phone and talk to kid me for a while.
February 14, 2022
5 stars (because what I don't like about it is down to taste, see end.)
I'm going to have to join the already 99% unanimous chorus of praise for this illustrated guide to brain functions and mental clarity by Australian artist and personal-improvement YouTuber, Struthless (aka Campbell Walker).
If you've seen any of Struthless' vids, the colourful, wacky drawings and the humorous tone in the texts will not be a surprise. What is a surprise, is that even for those who are old hats at therapy structures, Struthless is able to provide highly tangible, highly memorable names/images for some very abstract concepts, creating more accessible ways to approach them.
For example: referring to the various harsh voices of inner criticism as "sock puppets" is a fantastic way to make them seem so goofy, you don't mind indulging their antics -- and then telling them to get back in the sock drawer where they belong, you've got a PB& J sandwich to make (or anything as equally productive). That robs them of their scary critic status and makes them what they should be -- easy to see through and non-frightening, so you can dismantle their banter and get on with your life.
Just for my taste, while I found the texts to be very funny in parts -- who hasn't wanted a loving jet ski and a turbo family? -- I felt Struthless made too much use of current media phenomenons that will, most likely, not be understood in 20 year's time. Snapchat filters? Characters on Scrubs? A few steps too far into hip land, there, that will ultimate lessen the impact of the work for future readers.
Which this work definitely deserves.
I'm going to have to join the already 99% unanimous chorus of praise for this illustrated guide to brain functions and mental clarity by Australian artist and personal-improvement YouTuber, Struthless (aka Campbell Walker).
If you've seen any of Struthless' vids, the colourful, wacky drawings and the humorous tone in the texts will not be a surprise. What is a surprise, is that even for those who are old hats at therapy structures, Struthless is able to provide highly tangible, highly memorable names/images for some very abstract concepts, creating more accessible ways to approach them.
For example: referring to the various harsh voices of inner criticism as "sock puppets" is a fantastic way to make them seem so goofy, you don't mind indulging their antics -- and then telling them to get back in the sock drawer where they belong, you've got a PB& J sandwich to make (or anything as equally productive). That robs them of their scary critic status and makes them what they should be -- easy to see through and non-frightening, so you can dismantle their banter and get on with your life.
Just for my taste, while I found the texts to be very funny in parts -- who hasn't wanted a loving jet ski and a turbo family? -- I felt Struthless made too much use of current media phenomenons that will, most likely, not be understood in 20 year's time. Snapchat filters? Characters on Scrubs? A few steps too far into hip land, there, that will ultimate lessen the impact of the work for future readers.
Which this work definitely deserves.
September 29, 2021
I'm the kinda guy that only reads one book a year, this one is worth it.
Good for anyone who wants to get along with their neurotic brain but doesn't want to feel condescension from a book.
Good for anyone who wants to get along with their neurotic brain but doesn't want to feel condescension from a book.
December 9, 2022
I love Campbell Walker's YouTube channel Struthless. He has a humorous way of giving good advice on more serious topics. Check out his channel if you haven't already.
I heard about this book from his YouTube channel, so I bought it to show some support. It's filled with metaphors to explain the mess that goes on in our heads along with journaling exercises and his goofy illustrations. There were many times when he explained something that I know I do (or think), and it was comforting to know that I'm not the only one. It's also nice when you become aware of exactly why your thinking is dysfunctional and how to fix it. I haven't done the journaling exercises yet, but I'm about it!
Highly recommended.
I heard about this book from his YouTube channel, so I bought it to show some support. It's filled with metaphors to explain the mess that goes on in our heads along with journaling exercises and his goofy illustrations. There were many times when he explained something that I know I do (or think), and it was comforting to know that I'm not the only one. It's also nice when you become aware of exactly why your thinking is dysfunctional and how to fix it. I haven't done the journaling exercises yet, but I'm about it!
Highly recommended.
February 20, 2022
I had very HIGH expectations for this book because I LOVE every video that struthless' produces.
THEY WERE ALL MET. It's more than what I expected it to be.
I love the concept so much! It felt like a children's storybook with all the characters and illustrations but it covers mental health topics especially mental clarity. It translated something so deep into a light manner that can be understood by everyone.
here are some of my favorite lines:
"Thoughts run on autopilot until they're questioned."
"We can't command the ocean, but we can command our houseboat..."
There were so much parts that made me want to cry because It made me realize a lot of stuff. It made me UNDERSTOOD them.
Don't read this on e-book... the illustrations are vital. They have a big role on the thoughts and stories expressed plus they make the whole reading experience 100% better.
A fast read that you'd love to reread from time to time.
I highly recommend.
------------------------------
i will not know peace until i get a copy of this book in my hands
UPDATE: IM GETTING A COPY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!
THEY WERE ALL MET. It's more than what I expected it to be.
I love the concept so much! It felt like a children's storybook with all the characters and illustrations but it covers mental health topics especially mental clarity. It translated something so deep into a light manner that can be understood by everyone.
here are some of my favorite lines:
"Thoughts run on autopilot until they're questioned."
"We can't command the ocean, but we can command our houseboat..."
There were so much parts that made me want to cry because It made me realize a lot of stuff. It made me UNDERSTOOD them.
Don't read this on e-book... the illustrations are vital. They have a big role on the thoughts and stories expressed plus they make the whole reading experience 100% better.
A fast read that you'd love to reread from time to time.
I highly recommend.
------------------------------
i will not know peace until i get a copy of this book in my hands
UPDATE: IM GETTING A COPY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!
July 8, 2025
I’ll start by saying I am not the target market for this book. I ran across a video by the author online discussing journaling, and found him absolutely charming and disarming. I’m not big on self-help books, and by this point in life, I’ve already been dragged kicking and screaming to discover most of the truths unveiled here. But what a great graduation gift this would make!
Campbell Walker uses the metaphor of a houseboat to illustrate and describe all the stuff going on in our heads that impairs our ability to think clearly and live our dreams.
His drawings are silly, fun, unique and memorable. You’ll find sections on clearing the clutter in your mind; recognizing the “Freeloaders” that are camping out in there; an octopus with sock puppets on each tentacle standing for each of your inner critics, and more. His idea of the “Wacky Windshield,” and the wrong way we process info through it was brilliant: the Negativity setting that allows us only to see the bad stuff, the opposite Optimism setting, the Status Quo setting, etc.
“Instead of experiencing stillness, we risk living in a washing machine of other people’s dirty laundry.”
My favorite part, and what I’ve never seen before in quite the same way, was his kind of inner sanctum of the boat that reveals a valuable insight. I won’t spoil it, but it includes “part of us can still see ourselves within each other.”
The whole book was playful and compassionate, with memorable illustrations and helpful journal exercises at the end of each section. Recommended, especially for those just beginning to steer their boat along life’s journey.
Campbell Walker uses the metaphor of a houseboat to illustrate and describe all the stuff going on in our heads that impairs our ability to think clearly and live our dreams.
His drawings are silly, fun, unique and memorable. You’ll find sections on clearing the clutter in your mind; recognizing the “Freeloaders” that are camping out in there; an octopus with sock puppets on each tentacle standing for each of your inner critics, and more. His idea of the “Wacky Windshield,” and the wrong way we process info through it was brilliant: the Negativity setting that allows us only to see the bad stuff, the opposite Optimism setting, the Status Quo setting, etc.
“Instead of experiencing stillness, we risk living in a washing machine of other people’s dirty laundry.”
My favorite part, and what I’ve never seen before in quite the same way, was his kind of inner sanctum of the boat that reveals a valuable insight. I won’t spoil it, but it includes “part of us can still see ourselves within each other.”
The whole book was playful and compassionate, with memorable illustrations and helpful journal exercises at the end of each section. Recommended, especially for those just beginning to steer their boat along life’s journey.
March 11, 2022
‚Your head is a houseboat‘ is a book full of metaphors and pictures helping you to understand the complexity of your head.
It’s a quick and easy read that’s very enjoyable and gives you important tools to achieve more mental clarity. Or in other words: It helps you to understand that a lot of your irrational worries are completely normal and it teaches you healthy coping mechanisms.
It’s a quick and easy read that’s very enjoyable and gives you important tools to achieve more mental clarity. Or in other words: It helps you to understand that a lot of your irrational worries are completely normal and it teaches you healthy coping mechanisms.
December 30, 2024
Always a great book to re-visit when anxiety or other mental ailments are running on high. It can be read in a single, quick session. Thanks to my friend Nora for sending this to me a couple of years ago.
April 10, 2023
I bought this book because I am a big fan of Cam’s YouTube content and find a lot of value within his videos. The idea of the book along with the art work was something I thought I’d enjoy. However, rather than being excited and intrigued to carry on reading, I found myself more excited to finish the book and move on. The context of the book is extremely basic and a low entry level insight to mental clarity. The humour and metaphors throughout the book were too long winded and I found myself wishing he’d get back to the point instead of rambling. Overall, as a 29 year old, I felt way too old to be reading this book.
The book has a lot of high ratings, so I understand this is only my opinion. It might work for you but I won’t be recommending it to anyone that I know.
The book has a lot of high ratings, so I understand this is only my opinion. It might work for you but I won’t be recommending it to anyone that I know.
January 9, 2026
Sehr hübsches und liebes Buch. Auch wenn mich einige der Journaling-Prompts jetzt gerade nicht ansprechen, möchte ich in Zukunft suf jeden Fall darauf zurückgreifen.
August 18, 2022
4.5 (not a 5 mainly because of length and that I don’t see myself rereading this)
We can't command the ocean, but we can command our houseboat. By focusing not just on the outside world, but on our reaction to it, we can build a solid framework for mental clarity.
I found this book to be an extremely accessible take on an extremely important topic. While it might opt for using a nice, clean metaphor over the more in depth scientific context, I find that these examples work more often than not and overall add to the uniqueness of the book.
I really enjoyed the approach the author takes to highlight how crucial, non judgmental observation, introspection and self-love are to mental clarity.
As someone who’s personally gone through numerous avenues to find out more about myself on a psychological and philosophical level, over time I’ve come to the same main conclusion:
which is that, being kinder to yourself more often, can lead to understanding yourself better and ultimately allowing you to navigate this world with the same compassion towards others that you have for yourself.
If you’ve been wanting to go to therapy but can’t afford it at this time
If you’ve been curious about and have been wanting to take up journaling but haven’t started
Or
If you just need a simple, easy to read jump start on how your brain works
Do yourself (and by extension those around you) a favor and pick up this book.
We can't command the ocean, but we can command our houseboat. By focusing not just on the outside world, but on our reaction to it, we can build a solid framework for mental clarity.
I found this book to be an extremely accessible take on an extremely important topic. While it might opt for using a nice, clean metaphor over the more in depth scientific context, I find that these examples work more often than not and overall add to the uniqueness of the book.
I really enjoyed the approach the author takes to highlight how crucial, non judgmental observation, introspection and self-love are to mental clarity.
As someone who’s personally gone through numerous avenues to find out more about myself on a psychological and philosophical level, over time I’ve come to the same main conclusion:
which is that, being kinder to yourself more often, can lead to understanding yourself better and ultimately allowing you to navigate this world with the same compassion towards others that you have for yourself.
If you’ve been wanting to go to therapy but can’t afford it at this time
If you’ve been curious about and have been wanting to take up journaling but haven’t started
Or
If you just need a simple, easy to read jump start on how your brain works
Do yourself (and by extension those around you) a favor and pick up this book.
October 15, 2021
Pure and simple. I dont read. This book had me glued straight away. Whether it was the many pictures throughout that illustrated the message that the author was conveying or the laid back approach to the topic at hand. I highly recommend this book to any who is having trouble with understanding how they feel about life and struggling to find direction
February 22, 2022
Wacky, insightful read. Guess I have some work to do now.
July 25, 2023
i love struthless so much, his analogies are some of the best ways at rationalising feelings and emotions. this book did not present groundbreaking knowledge to me but that isn’t to say i didn’t find it helpful. my biggest obstacle towards my own personal mindfulness it overcoming my cynicism and negativity, which because i think this book is very silly, it makes it a lot more palatable and a lot less hippy dippy (which i don’t respond well to). i think i will always be someone who bullies myself, but even saying that is probably to opposite of a breakthrough. but i guess what this book has given me are some strategies to make the bullying less constant and explain why i do it, which in turn may get rid of the negative self talk. aside from having some really good little nuggets of information, it has a bunch of journaling techniques that i will take away and do. hopefully it gives me a bit of mental clarity towards what the fuck we’re all doing here. coz fuck i’d love if nellie the nihilist could fuck off out of my brain.
“i’d like to start this off with the two truths: 1. you are going to die. super dead in the ground. 2. you will spend your entire life in your own company.”
the first chapter literally splays out my two biggest fears in my existence. this is when i knew it was going to be a great book.
“while deep down we know that this is inefficient and we should really change it, we accept this as normal because it’s less energy to adapt than it is to change”
“experience is what you get just after you need it.”
“connection on an unadulterated level is a true respite from the chaos of thinking”
“the answer to winning this uphill battle and creating compassion lies in the way we speak to ourselves. it lies in the cup-and-string phone”
i think i need to hang a picture of little me on the wall, because bullying a child is fucked up, and that child is me, and always will be me, and im sorry i bullied her for so long.
“i’d like to start this off with the two truths: 1. you are going to die. super dead in the ground. 2. you will spend your entire life in your own company.”
the first chapter literally splays out my two biggest fears in my existence. this is when i knew it was going to be a great book.
“while deep down we know that this is inefficient and we should really change it, we accept this as normal because it’s less energy to adapt than it is to change”
“experience is what you get just after you need it.”
“connection on an unadulterated level is a true respite from the chaos of thinking”
“the answer to winning this uphill battle and creating compassion lies in the way we speak to ourselves. it lies in the cup-and-string phone”
i think i need to hang a picture of little me on the wall, because bullying a child is fucked up, and that child is me, and always will be me, and im sorry i bullied her for so long.
July 2, 2025
A wildly inventive metaphor, but totally apt. This (self-help?) book puts names and images to feelings, emotions, and biases that are often very hard for people to recognize, let alone identify. It’s overall message of “listen, then act” is a strong one, no matter if the voices in your head are loud, quiet, or silenced after years of oppression. And of course, I vibe with the author’s suggestion of journaling; I can’t recommend journaling enough. Turning abstract feelings or emotions into words on a page (or in a phone, or written in beach sand with a stick), gives you something tangible to sit with and familiarize yourself with, rather than trying to grasp at a fleeting thought or emotion. Getting comfortable with everything happening in your brain - positive or negative - is, I think, important for everyone. Learning about yourself is the only way you can identify where you can grow and how you can live your best life. With how overstimulating and downright infuriating the world (and their (the American) governments) can be, mental clarity is more important than ever to keep yourself sailing towards a meaningful and happy existence. This book gives you a fun and memorable place to start. This book helped me.
December 1, 2025
(2.75 rounded up) I’m all for finding ways to analyze my own brain, but this came off as a jumbled mess of niche metaphors that didn’t quite align with my way of thinking. An overall intriguing and quirky approach to mental health, but ultimately not for me.
December 10, 2022
There’s so much to relate to in this book. I loved it so much that I would have to stop and start and reread passages so that I could recite some to my partner. And we’d laugh at the fact that is was so clearly written about us. Of course! Great writing exercises too. I will certainly be picking up this book again to redo the exercises when I need them. Loved it.
August 18, 2024
A charming, illustrative (pun), and creative look at the brain from a pretty solid duder.
July 21, 2022
Down to earth and approachable. This gives a great insight into what’s going on inside our heads every minute of every day, and how we can best make sense of it all. Highly recommended!
March 1, 2022
I could never fathom that this obscure little book would become such an important read.
Campbell Walker's Your House is a Headboat sparked my interest after hearing about it in one of his Youtube videos. He's Struthless there, for those of you who don't know him. I randomly stumbled upon his techniques for journalling videos and was hooked. One of his subsequent videos introduced me to this book. As soon as I opened it to the first page, I knew this was one of those unexpected, rare books that wouldn't just be different from anything else I'd read but also help me bring major changes in my life.
Campbell's journey from being an addict to a full-time content creator is inspiring, and he draws from his experiences to talk about techniques to declutter our messy brains in his book. He visualizes our brains as cluttered houseboats that we need to constantly clean and steer in the right direction for a mentally healthy life. I love how he put together his learnings with his animation to develop unique concepts of Freeloaders, the Five Bosses, and Grumpy sock puppets to explain useless thoughts, cognitive needs, and nasty inner critiques that plague our brains, respectively.
His illustrations help you see beyond the scary fog of mental obscurity and make sense of why we think the way we do. The journaling exercises at the end of every chapter are one of the most life-changing things I've ever read in a book. Unlike the hoard of self-help books floating around, these are concrete steps anyone can include in their lives merely by embracing the mentioned journaling techniques.
My friends know the extent to which I keep pushing Campbell to them because he talks shit that makes sense. I'm going to add this book to my persuasions as it gave me not just one or two but three major takeaways for life.
1. Journalling can help ease the mind if you properly target the root cause.
2. Everyone has an inner child within them with a paper cup phone in their hands, waiting to listen if you'd talk to it gently and with clarity.
3. You can combine two things you're average at to create a third thing that's unique to you, much like Campbell did with Your House is a Headboat.
I'm going to recommend this book hard to everyone I care for.
Campbell Walker's Your House is a Headboat sparked my interest after hearing about it in one of his Youtube videos. He's Struthless there, for those of you who don't know him. I randomly stumbled upon his techniques for journalling videos and was hooked. One of his subsequent videos introduced me to this book. As soon as I opened it to the first page, I knew this was one of those unexpected, rare books that wouldn't just be different from anything else I'd read but also help me bring major changes in my life.
Campbell's journey from being an addict to a full-time content creator is inspiring, and he draws from his experiences to talk about techniques to declutter our messy brains in his book. He visualizes our brains as cluttered houseboats that we need to constantly clean and steer in the right direction for a mentally healthy life. I love how he put together his learnings with his animation to develop unique concepts of Freeloaders, the Five Bosses, and Grumpy sock puppets to explain useless thoughts, cognitive needs, and nasty inner critiques that plague our brains, respectively.
His illustrations help you see beyond the scary fog of mental obscurity and make sense of why we think the way we do. The journaling exercises at the end of every chapter are one of the most life-changing things I've ever read in a book. Unlike the hoard of self-help books floating around, these are concrete steps anyone can include in their lives merely by embracing the mentioned journaling techniques.
My friends know the extent to which I keep pushing Campbell to them because he talks shit that makes sense. I'm going to add this book to my persuasions as it gave me not just one or two but three major takeaways for life.
1. Journalling can help ease the mind if you properly target the root cause.
2. Everyone has an inner child within them with a paper cup phone in their hands, waiting to listen if you'd talk to it gently and with clarity.
3. You can combine two things you're average at to create a third thing that's unique to you, much like Campbell did with Your House is a Headboat.
I'm going to recommend this book hard to everyone I care for.
October 11, 2021
Oh Lordy, where to begin?
As a fan of Struthless' art for literal years and a lover of Cam's advice for about the same amount of time I was so excited for this book.
I love rewatching the advice videos and doing the journaling exercises regularly and so I'm so beyond happy to have a physical copy of this to return to when I don't want to be on my phone.
This chaotic guide to mental clarity is exactly qhat it says it is and it's told in Campbell's signature way of obscure metaphor and artistic expression with some hilarity thrown in and paraphrasing of some well known quotes thay added to the experience.
This book came at the perfect time for me. My head has been feeling a bit busy and heavy lately and so the exercises were really helpful. A special shout out to page 143 - I don't know if that page number was planned specifically for the self love exercise on thay page but it's a nice touch - that exercise made me cry.
However, for as much as I loved this I don't know that the narrative/metaphor/journaling aspects will be for everyone. And I think that's ok. A win for some means a loss for others. And in the words of Cam himself "take what works and leave the rest".
Not everything in here might apply but it was a great read, definitely one to revisit.
As a fan of Struthless' art for literal years and a lover of Cam's advice for about the same amount of time I was so excited for this book.
I love rewatching the advice videos and doing the journaling exercises regularly and so I'm so beyond happy to have a physical copy of this to return to when I don't want to be on my phone.
This chaotic guide to mental clarity is exactly qhat it says it is and it's told in Campbell's signature way of obscure metaphor and artistic expression with some hilarity thrown in and paraphrasing of some well known quotes thay added to the experience.
This book came at the perfect time for me. My head has been feeling a bit busy and heavy lately and so the exercises were really helpful. A special shout out to page 143 - I don't know if that page number was planned specifically for the self love exercise on thay page but it's a nice touch - that exercise made me cry.
However, for as much as I loved this I don't know that the narrative/metaphor/journaling aspects will be for everyone. And I think that's ok. A win for some means a loss for others. And in the words of Cam himself "take what works and leave the rest".
Not everything in here might apply but it was a great read, definitely one to revisit.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 3, 2023
The most bakwas book ever. Each sentence was a pain to get through. The whole book is fluff and there's no sensible knowledge that I could've gained from it. Sad, since I had high expectations from this book and mistakenly believed this book had to do with therapy and psychology. It was more like reading a 4 year olds Journal entries. There's nothing scientific about this book and the author probably never took a psych 101 class.
Tldr: I got this book for my birthday and was excited to read it. Most useless and cringe read ever. I dont understand what the hype is about at all.
Tldr: I got this book for my birthday and was excited to read it. Most useless and cringe read ever. I dont understand what the hype is about at all.
November 5, 2021
I've got journaling to do and a few new tricks to deal with my brain. Big fan of Cam, and this book is funny and insightful. I highly recommend this for anyone who, like me, finds too much running through their head constantly.
October 4, 2023
One of the best read that I ever had 👏🏼 who would have thought this comic book would help me this much!! 😄
February 24, 2022
I love this book and everything it stands for.
Your Head is a Houseboat is a very practical and accessible guide to mental wellbeing. It's not trying to psychoanalyse you into thinking you have some mental illness that Struthless isn't qualified to diagnose. Instead it's a conversation to help put some laymen terms to the things going on in your head and it provides some excellent analogies/personification to make those things a bit more tangible. He uses humour and illustration to make it easy to read and understand, while also providing very practical journaling techniques that you can try for unravelling what's going on in your own head. It was honestly enjoyable to read.
I have a degree in psychology, and I've read quite a lot of popular psychology and self-help books over the years, and this is definitely one of the better ones. I think this book is for anyone who is interested in developing personal insight and understanding themselves. It would also suit teenagers who are maybe going through a rough time and trying to make sense of things - it might also provide some shared language between child & parent about mental health if you're having difficulty connecting feelings to words.
This book isn't a cure. It's a practice you can take into your life to help you sustain mental clarity. Struthless knows his strategies won't suit everyone and is upfront about it, but in my opinion I think it is still something worth sincerely trying and/or modifying to suit you at least once.
Ironically, despite already being well acquainted with my own perfectionist sock puppet, Percy got in the way of me completing the journaling activities while I read through the book. Instead I decided just to read it, and then come back through with a bit less pressure and really give the activities a fair-go. So if for whatever reason there is something more to add about the journaling activities I'll come back and edit this - if not, assume they were generally helpful.
Your Head is a Houseboat is a very practical and accessible guide to mental wellbeing. It's not trying to psychoanalyse you into thinking you have some mental illness that Struthless isn't qualified to diagnose. Instead it's a conversation to help put some laymen terms to the things going on in your head and it provides some excellent analogies/personification to make those things a bit more tangible. He uses humour and illustration to make it easy to read and understand, while also providing very practical journaling techniques that you can try for unravelling what's going on in your own head. It was honestly enjoyable to read.
I have a degree in psychology, and I've read quite a lot of popular psychology and self-help books over the years, and this is definitely one of the better ones. I think this book is for anyone who is interested in developing personal insight and understanding themselves. It would also suit teenagers who are maybe going through a rough time and trying to make sense of things - it might also provide some shared language between child & parent about mental health if you're having difficulty connecting feelings to words.
This book isn't a cure. It's a practice you can take into your life to help you sustain mental clarity. Struthless knows his strategies won't suit everyone and is upfront about it, but in my opinion I think it is still something worth sincerely trying and/or modifying to suit you at least once.
Ironically, despite already being well acquainted with my own perfectionist sock puppet, Percy got in the way of me completing the journaling activities while I read through the book. Instead I decided just to read it, and then come back through with a bit less pressure and really give the activities a fair-go. So if for whatever reason there is something more to add about the journaling activities I'll come back and edit this - if not, assume they were generally helpful.
January 6, 2022
your head is a houseboat: a chaotic guide to mental clarity.
okay, this book is a must-read, if you're struggling with mental health or not. i don't care you need to read it noW. this book is such a good guide and eye-opener when it comes to mental clarity in the human person. give you all the tips and tricks which may be useful! even if you don't get all the aussie references that are made throughout the book (( as i know a lot of you who read my reviews are from over seas )). i never used to love self-help books, but this one is so so so well done and well written, it makes it so easy to be able to understand, as well as comprehend what some of the best courses of action are there to be taken. even though cam (aka struthless,, my fave aussie artist who i used to avidly watch on youtube back in the day) used himself more as an example prominently throughout the book, it still allowed me to be able to also put myself into the situation as well.
this book, with the many illustrations which are found throughout and the silly snd whacky of things being explained (to give an example, the five bosses, or even the grumpy sock puppets) gives a small indication as well as a grip on what may be going on when it comes to your thoughts and actions. for one i know that my silly spicy brain was able to use this book so well, in order to gain the best courses of action which can then lead to mental clarity for me as a person. there are so many guides and prompts that are found throughout,, i would HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend this self-help book to anyone.
5/5 stars from me ♡
okay, this book is a must-read, if you're struggling with mental health or not. i don't care you need to read it noW. this book is such a good guide and eye-opener when it comes to mental clarity in the human person. give you all the tips and tricks which may be useful! even if you don't get all the aussie references that are made throughout the book (( as i know a lot of you who read my reviews are from over seas )). i never used to love self-help books, but this one is so so so well done and well written, it makes it so easy to be able to understand, as well as comprehend what some of the best courses of action are there to be taken. even though cam (aka struthless,, my fave aussie artist who i used to avidly watch on youtube back in the day) used himself more as an example prominently throughout the book, it still allowed me to be able to also put myself into the situation as well.
this book, with the many illustrations which are found throughout and the silly snd whacky of things being explained (to give an example, the five bosses, or even the grumpy sock puppets) gives a small indication as well as a grip on what may be going on when it comes to your thoughts and actions. for one i know that my silly spicy brain was able to use this book so well, in order to gain the best courses of action which can then lead to mental clarity for me as a person. there are so many guides and prompts that are found throughout,, i would HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend this self-help book to anyone.
5/5 stars from me ♡
February 1, 2023
I’ve never read a “self help” kind of book before, so I wasn’t sure what to expect—but I bought this on impulse after watching Cam’s (aka Struthless) videos on YouTube and finding them both profound and relatable.
Boy, I’m glad I did.
This little book isn’t huge—you could read it in a sitting—but it’s rich with gentle advice, wacky artistic metaphors, and practical and accessible insights into the human condition and how to navigate it. I’ve never read/listened to/otherwise consumed any media about the brain and thoughts and self talk that made as much sense as this did. Cam has a gift for reframing hard to understand concepts in ways that just… make sense. Coupled with the exercises he outlines to better understand these concepts in relations to ourselves, this whole book is a very powerful mental wellness tool. I’m sure I’ll be returning to it again and again, revisiting the journaling exercises and working towards understanding what it takes to captain my own houseboat.
Plus, that last chapter at the end? About Kid You? I think that was the most poignant moment of the book, and left me teary eyed and sniffling and wanting to give kid me a big ol hug. Not even sure why I cried, but I did.
Thank you, Struthless, for taking my hand and starting me on this journey towards mental clarity. It’s not easy, but it’s worth it.
Boy, I’m glad I did.
This little book isn’t huge—you could read it in a sitting—but it’s rich with gentle advice, wacky artistic metaphors, and practical and accessible insights into the human condition and how to navigate it. I’ve never read/listened to/otherwise consumed any media about the brain and thoughts and self talk that made as much sense as this did. Cam has a gift for reframing hard to understand concepts in ways that just… make sense. Coupled with the exercises he outlines to better understand these concepts in relations to ourselves, this whole book is a very powerful mental wellness tool. I’m sure I’ll be returning to it again and again, revisiting the journaling exercises and working towards understanding what it takes to captain my own houseboat.
Plus, that last chapter at the end? About Kid You? I think that was the most poignant moment of the book, and left me teary eyed and sniffling and wanting to give kid me a big ol hug. Not even sure why I cried, but I did.
Thank you, Struthless, for taking my hand and starting me on this journey towards mental clarity. It’s not easy, but it’s worth it.
February 4, 2022
✨ "Not choosing a life path is choosing a life path — but it's not a great one."
Do you still cringe at that embarrassing incident from months ago? Are you still unable to let go of a decade-old incident? Do you find yourself often revisiting what you think might be the worst moment of your life? This book is for you!
I've never thought of my mind as a houseboat with all sorts of creatures, animals and characters before but this was painfully accurate and relatable.
I love the tidbits of information accompanied by vibrant illustrations, which made this a very engaging self-help book. But as the title suggests, this was a bit of a chaotic read as I felt like everything (and my mind!) was all over the place. It's definitely a book that you will want to come back to occasionally and stew in again.
Funny, relatable and a useful guide that we can all do with!
Do you still cringe at that embarrassing incident from months ago? Are you still unable to let go of a decade-old incident? Do you find yourself often revisiting what you think might be the worst moment of your life? This book is for you!
I've never thought of my mind as a houseboat with all sorts of creatures, animals and characters before but this was painfully accurate and relatable.
I love the tidbits of information accompanied by vibrant illustrations, which made this a very engaging self-help book. But as the title suggests, this was a bit of a chaotic read as I felt like everything (and my mind!) was all over the place. It's definitely a book that you will want to come back to occasionally and stew in again.
Funny, relatable and a useful guide that we can all do with!
January 1, 2026
cute. I wish i wrote this book. I think it is borderline genius to explain complex cognitive functions through silly characters and quirky metaphors. Like most books it leans heavy into comedic tangents, but unlike most books it genuinely made me laugh and smile at times. It is a very easy read, it didnt drag at all. Beautifully illustrated despite the style not necessarily being to my liking. I thought it would be a great way to introduce mental health and introspection to teens and kids… If it wernt for the swearing, which only made it more relatable for me. The concept and execution was great, I loved it, not sure what else to say. Fantastic.
I enjoyed the journaling prompts, but they were sometimes a bit chaotic and difficult to follow, a little presumptive? I wish it had more stats but I feel like reading this book was a little rest for my brain.
I enjoyed the journaling prompts, but they were sometimes a bit chaotic and difficult to follow, a little presumptive? I wish it had more stats but I feel like reading this book was a little rest for my brain.
April 16, 2022
Un peu lourd en références et métaphores (Quoique à quelque part, c'est le principe du livre), mais tout de même une très bonne vulgarisation de plusieurs concepts de la psychologie et un bon point d'ancrage pour débuter un processus d'introspection sous la forme d'écriture. Surtout aujourd'hui, on a tellement besoin de ces moments de contemplation en silence. Apprendre à connaître son esprit, c'est le travail d'une vie.
Ce livre est super accessible et a plusieurs exercices d'écriture à réaliser. J'aime beaucoup Campbell Walker comme personne et je suis bien contente pour lui de l'accueil positif que reçoit son livre, il est bien mérité!
Point bonus pour les illustrations funky et colorées.
Ce livre est super accessible et a plusieurs exercices d'écriture à réaliser. J'aime beaucoup Campbell Walker comme personne et je suis bien contente pour lui de l'accueil positif que reçoit son livre, il est bien mérité!
Point bonus pour les illustrations funky et colorées.
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