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The Art of Badassery: Unleash Your Mojo with Wisdom of the Dojo
For any woman who's ever felt burned out, beaten down, or needs a reminder of how powerful she is, third-degree black belt and motivational coach of ABC's "My Diet Is Better Than Yours" teaches a unique brand of badassery--how to get back up no matter what life throws at you; how to level up your mind, body and spirit; and how to turn your setbacks into secret weapons.
Jennifer Cassetta is a nationally recognized keynote speaker, health and empowerment coach, and a 3rd-degree black belt in Hapkido. After a brush with death on September 11th, 2001, three blocks south of the World Trade Center and then fending off an attacker late one night months later, Jenn took a deep dive into martial arts training where she learned how to harness the power of mind, body, and spirit.
Now she teaches women from colleges to corporations how to unleash their inner badass by using dojo wisdom as a metaphor for life.
Whether the opponent is a financial hardship, a difficult boss, or being in a manipulative relationship, Cassetta teaches readers how to flex their mental muscle, how to rise above fears, and how to turn setbacks into superpowers.
Through thought-provoking exercises and no-holds-barred humor, she shows women how to close the door on blame and shame; how to grow from their Greatest (S)Hits List of life disappointments; and how to disarm and defend against the blocks that hold them back.
In life--just like in martial arts--we get pushed and pulled and kicked down. We get banged up and bruised and stretched to our limits. Cassetta champions women that while they may bend, they will not break, and that they have the power within them to rise up and stand tall.
Chapter 1: WHITE Embrace the Suck
Chapter 2: YELLOW Bounce Back
Chapter 3: ORANGE Block the Bullshit
Chapter 4: GREEN Find Your Roar
Chapter 5: BLUE Elevate Your Energy
Chapter 6: RED Connect with Your Warrior Within
Chapter 7: BLACK Take the Lead
Jennifer Cassetta is a nationally recognized keynote speaker, health and empowerment coach, and a 3rd-degree black belt in Hapkido. After a brush with death on September 11th, 2001, three blocks south of the World Trade Center and then fending off an attacker late one night months later, Jenn took a deep dive into martial arts training where she learned how to harness the power of mind, body, and spirit.
Now she teaches women from colleges to corporations how to unleash their inner badass by using dojo wisdom as a metaphor for life.
Whether the opponent is a financial hardship, a difficult boss, or being in a manipulative relationship, Cassetta teaches readers how to flex their mental muscle, how to rise above fears, and how to turn setbacks into superpowers.
Through thought-provoking exercises and no-holds-barred humor, she shows women how to close the door on blame and shame; how to grow from their Greatest (S)Hits List of life disappointments; and how to disarm and defend against the blocks that hold them back.
In life--just like in martial arts--we get pushed and pulled and kicked down. We get banged up and bruised and stretched to our limits. Cassetta champions women that while they may bend, they will not break, and that they have the power within them to rise up and stand tall.
Chapter 1: WHITE Embrace the Suck
Chapter 2: YELLOW Bounce Back
Chapter 3: ORANGE Block the Bullshit
Chapter 4: GREEN Find Your Roar
Chapter 5: BLUE Elevate Your Energy
Chapter 6: RED Connect with Your Warrior Within
Chapter 7: BLACK Take the Lead
- GenresNonfiction
208 pages, Paperback
Published August 23, 2022
4 people are currently reading
1714 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
April 13, 2022
This book is just like a cuppa of caffeine when you need one badly!
Thank you, HCI Books, for the advance reading copy.
If you are someone like me who wants to improve everytime everyday but also want to live life in a very chill manner and also gets quite anxious regarding every small thing to every big thing that would happen (or not) in the near future, I would say this book is the perfect get-together act when you need a moment to gather it all in your head before starting a new day.
The content is clear cut and concise. The writing is fun and entertaining (yes, it is!) to read. It seems like my best friend is listening to me while I am listening to her talk about my everyday struggles.
I would say it's a kind of memoir as well as the author explains each chapter from her real life experiences. It's actually very interesting to read a self-help/guidebook which is written in this particular manner as it urges the reader to listen better and reflect on their own lives far better.
This is what I experienced while reading the book.
Go for this. And never listen to anyone who tells you that such books do not help. But we are looking for good practical advice/tips from real life people here. I say go for it when you need a good, comforting, helpful guidebook to make progress in whatever you do and make your future days better and peaceful.
Love it.
Thank you, HCI Books, for the advance reading copy.
If you are someone like me who wants to improve everytime everyday but also want to live life in a very chill manner and also gets quite anxious regarding every small thing to every big thing that would happen (or not) in the near future, I would say this book is the perfect get-together act when you need a moment to gather it all in your head before starting a new day.
The content is clear cut and concise. The writing is fun and entertaining (yes, it is!) to read. It seems like my best friend is listening to me while I am listening to her talk about my everyday struggles.
I would say it's a kind of memoir as well as the author explains each chapter from her real life experiences. It's actually very interesting to read a self-help/guidebook which is written in this particular manner as it urges the reader to listen better and reflect on their own lives far better.
This is what I experienced while reading the book.
Go for this. And never listen to anyone who tells you that such books do not help. But we are looking for good practical advice/tips from real life people here. I say go for it when you need a good, comforting, helpful guidebook to make progress in whatever you do and make your future days better and peaceful.
Love it.
Want to read
August 30, 2022I love a good self-help book and especially one written for women by a woman!! As women, we are all spread too thin always trying to please others. Sometimes, I know we all think to ourselves....how can I keep moving forward when life keeps throwing difficult challenges my way? If you want to feel/be a badass and turn your challenges into weapons, make sure you read this book!!
Jennifer Cassetta writes in a way that makes you feel like you are having a conversation with your best friend.
If you need a reminder (or kick in the ass) that you are already stronger than you think and/or need the tools to unleash your inner badass, this book will show you how!
The focus of the book is on improving both inner and mental strength.
If you need help unleashing your inner confidence, this is a great place to start!
The use of martial art belts is such a clever way of explaining the pillars of badassery and makes them easy to understand/follow.
You can implement the tips provided immediately so that you start seeing/feeling/believing that YOU ARE truly a badass!
Cassetta provides her own experiences throughout the book as a learning tool that allows us to reflect on our own lives and experiences from our past/present.
I’ve read many self-help books and know many people don’t believe in them, but I’m a 100% believer!! I take tidbits of information from each book I read and implement them into my life and I know that because I do this, my life has changed for the better over time (as long as you keep an open mind and realize that not every book is going to hit you 100% of the time)!
If you want to learn to embrace the suck, bounce back, block the BS, elevate your energy, connect with your warrior within, and take the lead in your life! Sign me up!!
Check out Jennifer’s website for her blog and a free five-day confidence course. Who doesn’t need that, right?
Thank you @netgalley, @jenncassetta and @hci.books for my Advance Reader Copy of The Badassery in exchange for my honest review.
Jennifer Cassetta writes in a way that makes you feel like you are having a conversation with your best friend.
If you need a reminder (or kick in the ass) that you are already stronger than you think and/or need the tools to unleash your inner badass, this book will show you how!
The focus of the book is on improving both inner and mental strength.
If you need help unleashing your inner confidence, this is a great place to start!
The use of martial art belts is such a clever way of explaining the pillars of badassery and makes them easy to understand/follow.
You can implement the tips provided immediately so that you start seeing/feeling/believing that YOU ARE truly a badass!
Cassetta provides her own experiences throughout the book as a learning tool that allows us to reflect on our own lives and experiences from our past/present.
I’ve read many self-help books and know many people don’t believe in them, but I’m a 100% believer!! I take tidbits of information from each book I read and implement them into my life and I know that because I do this, my life has changed for the better over time (as long as you keep an open mind and realize that not every book is going to hit you 100% of the time)!
If you want to learn to embrace the suck, bounce back, block the BS, elevate your energy, connect with your warrior within, and take the lead in your life! Sign me up!!
Check out Jennifer’s website for her blog and a free five-day confidence course. Who doesn’t need that, right?
Thank you @netgalley, @jenncassetta and @hci.books for my Advance Reader Copy of The Badassery in exchange for my honest review.
March 14, 2022
As the white belt students have to get used to being uncomfortable, with The Art of Badassery as a system, we can get back all of that precious power that may have been drained from us with every hit, loss, drama, trauma or disappointment.
The author finds all the wisdom from martial arts, where we all can learn how to use the power of mind, body, and spirit.
We all can bend without a break and with this book we learn how to flex our mind and live more mindful and powerful life full of inner strength and awareness and become a badass.
Very motivational reading.
The author finds all the wisdom from martial arts, where we all can learn how to use the power of mind, body, and spirit.
We all can bend without a break and with this book we learn how to flex our mind and live more mindful and powerful life full of inner strength and awareness and become a badass.
Very motivational reading.
June 12, 2022
Replace your negative self-talk with an empowering mantra. Does it work? Some say it does, but I’m not fully convinced yet. I did enjoy the directness of this book and the advice given throughout. If you’re looking for a self-help book that reads like it comes from a friend who cares—this is it.
November 25, 2022
I'm highly interested in martial arts (I study krav maga and modern swordfighting) and love to absorb self-help books, so I was really looking forward to reading this one as it uses the belt system as a metaphor for self-growth. However, this book really fell flat for me in a lot of ways.
I admire Jennifer Cassetta for rising from such difficult life circumstances that no one should have to suffer. I think I would have appreciated this book much more if it were a memoir. Reading Cassetta's experiences with PTSD, betrayal, and grief, made me really feel for her. However, I don't like her "one-size-fits-all-women" approach to getting over such difficult things like these. She seems to imply that trauma and unfairness in life can be overcome with a different mindset, one that avoids self-victimization in all ways. While this sort of positivity may work for some people, I know many for whom it wouldn't work. It may make some people feel bad for not being able to get over their traumas as quickly, so I find it to be a dangerous idea to pass around to women.
I do think that Cassetta's writing style is very empowering, I like what she wants to do for others, and I think she's a very strong person. I just think this book could be detrimental to some.
I admire Jennifer Cassetta for rising from such difficult life circumstances that no one should have to suffer. I think I would have appreciated this book much more if it were a memoir. Reading Cassetta's experiences with PTSD, betrayal, and grief, made me really feel for her. However, I don't like her "one-size-fits-all-women" approach to getting over such difficult things like these. She seems to imply that trauma and unfairness in life can be overcome with a different mindset, one that avoids self-victimization in all ways. While this sort of positivity may work for some people, I know many for whom it wouldn't work. It may make some people feel bad for not being able to get over their traumas as quickly, so I find it to be a dangerous idea to pass around to women.
I do think that Cassetta's writing style is very empowering, I like what she wants to do for others, and I think she's a very strong person. I just think this book could be detrimental to some.
October 10, 2022
This is a great self-help book for women who want learn how to get back up on our feet. The chapters are divided into belts, which is an interesting approach to mentally and physically train ourselves.
It's an inspirational book with life hacks that you can use in everyday life. Highly recommended.
It's an inspirational book with life hacks that you can use in everyday life. Highly recommended.
April 29, 2022
#TheArtofBadassery #NetGalley
I felt like this book gave me a good kick in the a$$! I have been really down lately and really enjoyed this book for self-motivation! Eye of the tiger!
I felt like this book gave me a good kick in the a$$! I have been really down lately and really enjoyed this book for self-motivation! Eye of the tiger!
July 30, 2025
This book is okay.
What I like about it:
-it’s very much from the stand point of taking your power back, taking up space, and being loud in a way that is tactful.
-I am a martial artist that has had similar mental growth like described through the book, and it was nice to hear some of my mental process echoed.
-I like how she breaks the book into the belt systems, like many martial arts practices use, so that skills build on each other rather than the expectation to do it all perfectly.
What I don’t like about it:
-I feel that many self-defense practices come with a side of victim blaming. Though I practiced self-defense in my teens, played many sports and have always been an opinionated, loud individual, I still got assaulted in my 20s. I struggled for many years questioning my culpability for that situation given my background, but I’ve had to level with my healing in that I did everything I could to survive. In the last year I’ve returned to taking martial arts (Muay Thai) and a lot of my growth has been about regaining trust in myself that I knew how to survive then and I will probably know how to survive again, even if the outcome doesn’t feel very “badass”. I think we as women can often use the thought of being a badass as a fantasy for what we would do if something happened to us or what we would have done in the past. I think this can be damaging, and this book can give some false hope or blame.
-On that note, I do wonder how much education around trauma the author has because this book does feel a little insensitive at times.
-The author has a public speaking and coaching practice, and this book feels like a sales strategy.
Some of the advice is redundant or surface level, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. There is a reason some advice continues to pop up. I think this book is great if you want a little umph and pick me up. Us women truly are badass and deserve to take up space, and martial arts is a great practice for that. Unfortunately, there are situations where yelling, a karate chop, and can-do attitude aren’t going to cut it. If you have experienced situations that have left you feeling less than human, I hope you don’t feel as though it was your fault because you didn’t take self-defense.
What I like about it:
-it’s very much from the stand point of taking your power back, taking up space, and being loud in a way that is tactful.
-I am a martial artist that has had similar mental growth like described through the book, and it was nice to hear some of my mental process echoed.
-I like how she breaks the book into the belt systems, like many martial arts practices use, so that skills build on each other rather than the expectation to do it all perfectly.
What I don’t like about it:
-I feel that many self-defense practices come with a side of victim blaming. Though I practiced self-defense in my teens, played many sports and have always been an opinionated, loud individual, I still got assaulted in my 20s. I struggled for many years questioning my culpability for that situation given my background, but I’ve had to level with my healing in that I did everything I could to survive. In the last year I’ve returned to taking martial arts (Muay Thai) and a lot of my growth has been about regaining trust in myself that I knew how to survive then and I will probably know how to survive again, even if the outcome doesn’t feel very “badass”. I think we as women can often use the thought of being a badass as a fantasy for what we would do if something happened to us or what we would have done in the past. I think this can be damaging, and this book can give some false hope or blame.
-On that note, I do wonder how much education around trauma the author has because this book does feel a little insensitive at times.
-The author has a public speaking and coaching practice, and this book feels like a sales strategy.
Some of the advice is redundant or surface level, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. There is a reason some advice continues to pop up. I think this book is great if you want a little umph and pick me up. Us women truly are badass and deserve to take up space, and martial arts is a great practice for that. Unfortunately, there are situations where yelling, a karate chop, and can-do attitude aren’t going to cut it. If you have experienced situations that have left you feeling less than human, I hope you don’t feel as though it was your fault because you didn’t take self-defense.
September 8, 2023
I cannot recommend this book enough! I read this book during a time of my life where there was a lot of transition and I was struggling to adapt to all the change. It really helped shift my focus towards one of empowerment rather than victimhood. The book teaches you hand-on techniques you can use in your daily life to build yourself up and strengthen your mind. I really love Jennifer Cassetta's outlook on life, which is uplifting and fierce! Thank you for writing this beautiful piece of art.
December 5, 2023
Well done, Jennifer Cassetta! A women's group I belong to brought Cassetta as a presenter to our event. I was intrigued by her talk and the martial arts belts idea made great sense to me.
Finally found the time to read through her book. I enjoyed the stories, data and actionable tips broken down for easy consumption and revisits. Well thought-out and I look forward to leaning on this work for my own growth + sharing with others.
Finally found the time to read through her book. I enjoyed the stories, data and actionable tips broken down for easy consumption and revisits. Well thought-out and I look forward to leaning on this work for my own growth + sharing with others.
June 13, 2024
It’s good for the most part. There are times that it made me raise my eyebrows. This book targets women and feminists.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews