I was grateful to receive this book by Mark Nepo as I had heard about him from other Coaches in my sphere of networking. I enjoyed it a lot and also struggled a little to stay with it.

I appreciated the "Questions to Walk With" and the opportunity for deep reflection. I also resonate with the premise - that we aren't really living until we enter into a practice of fully stepping into our selves.

I've done a lot of reading in this realm already too so it may be that some of it was work I have already done. But overall, I enjoyed it a lot.

I had a hard time connecting with this book. I’m sure some people will find value in this book; I am just not one of those people.

I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I have heard Mark Nepo quoted for years. Finally, when given an opportunity by Netgalley to receive an ARC, I decided to check him out. There were pieces of the book I enjoyed, but his style doesn’t resonate with me. He writes in a very descriptive, flowery language which just isn’t my cup of tea. He is known for his poetry so I shouldn’t have been surprised by this. So if this is the kind of writing you like then you will probably enjoy this book.

I have never read this author before but found the book quite interesting despite having not yet completed it. It is not a book you can sit down and read, it has to be taken in and digested. It is thought provoking in finding your own heart, what matters to you and why and realizing your full potential without bending to the crowd or going through the motions for accolades. He has added short self help journal assignments to each chapter so you can write your thoughts on paper and really think about the way you manage your life. It is very psychological very deep, and requires your full attention to 'immerse' as he says, to get 110% value and satisfaction from the content. It makes perfect sense when you are fully engaged in the subject matter. Another way of thinking is.. it's all about reaching Maslow's hierarchy of self actualization but within day to day activities the inner and outer self meshing. You just have to read the book to understand.
I was provided an Advanced reader copy of the book and was under no obligation to provide a review.The opinions expressed are my own.Thanks to the author,publisher,and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

I was incredibly underwhelmed by this book. The chapters are very short and are basically short vignettes of New Agey, pseudo-psychological strings of words that sound insightful but are really meaningless. Maybe these phrases do mean something to him, but he never explains to the reader what he means so we are left utterly confused, like we're supposed to have gained some insight into our soul work but can't quite grasp it. Like what does "the fragrant cliff" even mean? He uses that phrase several times in one of the last chapters but doesn't explain it at all.

This book would also have been greatly improved if he had used more examples and stories to explain what he was trying to say. He uses so few stories/examples to illustrate what he's trying to say, and half the time those examples don't really match the chapter or the point he's trying to make or just confuse the point further.

One of the examples he used really left me questioning his credibility - in one chapter he talked extensively about Marina Abramović, a performance artist whose work often seems insightful but is really deeply narcissistic and masochistic. She also treats the young artists who apprentice with her like crap, and pays them nothing or next-to-nothing with the excuse that the experience is payment enough. (Excuse me, but that's bullshit. PAY ARTISTS.)

I gave this two stars instead of one because for the few nuggets of wisdom sprinkled throughout, and a few insightful stories, though there was never anything terribly ground-breaking. The journaling and discussion exercises were also sometimes interesting and potentially helpful in the beginning, but as the book went on they became increasingly vague and meaningless, mirroring the confusing phrasing in the rest of the book and leaving us confused what he even wanted us to reflect on in the first place.

I am a reader of the author's previous work and was please to receive this for review. This is a in depth thought provoking book that you need to take your time reading and apply to your life. Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity. My review opinion is my own.

I took almost two months to slowly absorb this book and read through every aspect of this wonderful self help book. I recommend even speed readers like myself go slowly through this book . You may want to keep a journal nearby to write down thoughts that you have while you are reading this. There is so much material here that apply's to our lives and especially through provoking during the current pandemic.

The book is divided into four sections : enduring our Walk in the World, Our True Inheritance, which allows us to live in the open by Widening Our Circle, as we Help Each Other Stay Awake. Each section is a marvelous help to discovering the depths of your soul and will help you reevaluate your life. The 52 short chapters give you a more meaningful life and tools to help you break away from materialism and live a authentic life. I highly recommend this book for your self help library and to vastly improve your life. Very well done to the author. This is a book to buy a copy of to keep by your bed and refer to again and again.

Mark Nepo is the only author with a spiritual bent that I consistently read. And his May 2020 book, The Book of Soul: 52 Paths to Living What Matters is no exception. It’s a peaceful, warm, and caring respite from a world on fire.

Nepo talks about topics such as how we show up in the world, how wide our circle is, and our true inheritance. Importantly, another section is focused on how we keep each other awake. As with some of his other books, the chapters are divided into short bursts. They’re suitable for a daily reading. But rest assured, they’re meaty. I found myself reading sentences multiple times, just to let the meaning sink in more deeply.

And Nepo also gives journal writing and conversation prompts with each chapter. This is a contemplative book that can be savored over time, because he offers so much to digest.

It’s hard to encapsulate and review a spiritual book. I think each reader takes away different content, even varying with each reading. But Nepo’s main focus is two-fold. First, finding comfort in yourself—who you are and how you feel. And second, finding out how you fit into the world and develop relationships. But of course, your mileage may vary.

My conclusions
The Book of Soul felt calming and enriching to read. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of ideas to ponder. In fact, I could probably start rereading one chapter a day right now, even though I just finished.

Nepo doesn’t write with a particular religious tradition in mind. His perspective enlightens the Universe around us, and the humanity within us. He writing is about valuing each other, and above all, valuing ourselves. This time, I connected to his words about where we focus and spend time listening. And how to listen with an open heart, in order to silence the roaring noises around us.

I recommend The Book of Soul if you’re looking for a soul-searching respite. It’s a timely and meaningful antidote to the news.

Acknowledgements
Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press / St. Martin’s Essentials, and the author for a digital ARC of this book in exchange for this honest review.

I received a copy of this book provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest opinion.

I am a big fan of Self Help books, especially those that are connected to spiritual growth and enlightenment. I thought this book was full of wisdom, thought provoking, well-written and deep. Mark knows how to get the reader to connect with the words on the page. Sometimes you read something and it's just that, but I actually felt the message. I believe this book is written to always come back to. Just a reminder of what life is truly about.

I will continue to read this book, and update my review.

I love how enlightening books by Mark Nepo almost always tend to be. I enjoy his writing style and how invested he seems in his subject and in getting his messages across to his readers. In the classic Nepo style, this book will no upset or leave you wanting more. I love how this book made me think about my life and what and how I was living.

A neighbor loves Mark Nepo’s books, so when I had the chance to try one via NetGalley and the publisher I decided to try it.
As I scrolled towards the first page I learned the author is also a poet, and that was so clear in his writing style. Each of the 52 chapters guide us towards shaping our lives with love, and finding common humanity. I liked the questions that help make you really think about what you read. I did read this in one sitting, but would like to return to it again, reading one of the 52 chapters weekly. I’ll also be reading more of his books.

The Book of Soul by Mark Nepo
Book Review by Dawn Thomas

275 Pages
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Release Date: May 5, 2020

Health, Mind & Body, Self-Help

The subtitle of the book, 52 Paths to Living What Matters, really spoke to me. I realize in these difficult times that some things I thought were important really aren’t. I love the analog that we are all in this together. The example he gives of the tree with the nest with the bird that drops the seed to cause a new tree to grow shows how the actions of one being affects another. It made me feel so good about life in general.

At the end of each chapter is a section called “Questions to Walk With.” These questions designed to help the reader reach deeper into each topic. There are also prompts to get the reader journaling to help self-reflect and have dialogue with loved ones. I believe the book is designed to be read weekly with time to digest each article, but I read it all at once. I highly recommend this book to anyone that needs enlightenment in their lives.

This is the first time I’ve read one of Mark Nepo’s books, but in reading The Book of Soul, it was clear to me that he must be a poet. His writing is beautiful, meditative, and metaphorical. It requires a patient, thoughtful approach.

The book is written in 52 short chapters, and would be nice to read one chapter per week so you have time to contemplate the content. Each chapter concludes with prompts for journaling or conversation to help you engage with the ideas.

I recommend this book for anyone who is interested in spiritual growth and enjoys contemplation.

Thanks to the publisher, St. Martin's Essentials, for providing me with an unproofed ARC through NetGalley, which I volunteered to review.

Typically books of this type (The Daily Stoic, Daily Positive Quotations, The Alchemist) interest me, but I found myself not engaging with this book. The first few chapters were too out there for me, so I couldn't continue to read. I flipped around through the 52 chapters and I was able to find some inspirational passages I could pull from, but most of them did not resonate with me. One reason for this may be our current state of affairs, during COVID it is hard to look through the positive lense Mark Nepo does.

The book was good, excellent nuggets of wisdom offered in fresh new ways. The depth of writing was good and the subject matter was thought provoking.

If you are looking for a book about how to make you happier not just in this life but the next, then you found the right book. Mark Nepo lays out many ways for you to try to find a better life and therefore Soul. This is interesting and very well written.

With THE BOOK OF SOUL, Mark Nepo does the remarkable: acts as guide and friend in plumbing life and living well in this world. From the first words, Nepo explores, prompts, and shares his unique genius in a clear, straightforward direct line to the heart and mind. Early in the book, he states, "When facing what's ours to face, we're surprised to learn time and gain, that under what seems unbearable is the rest of life waiting to be lived." At the end of every wise chapter, there are questions to walk with either in a journal or in conversation, offering the reader the chance to embody and own their own insights. Yeah, the book is an exceptional one: profound and practical and kind like the very best of friends.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I want to provide that review but I have not been able to finish the book. It is very dense and thought-provoking. There are lots of different topics in this book about spirituality and the human experience, and I appreciate the author’s perspective on it. It definitely skews more intellectual, which I usually appreciate, but I’m struggling to connect with the book. It feels more conceptual/philosophical than personal, which is what I’m usually looking for in a spiritual book. It’s structured in 52 short chapters, so I’m not sure whether the author intends it to be a year-long study. If so, that would make sense to me as I didn’t find it to be a book that you could sit down and consume in a few sittings. It is a lot to process.

Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes.
—Carl Jung
🌱🌱🌱
The Book of Soul by Mark Nepo is a collection of 52 short chapters intended to help the reader live a life of meaning. Although most of the actual points the book makes are sound, I thought that it was often on the edge of being entirely too pretentious. That said I did finish this book, so clearly it was still an easy enough read in spite of itself, and there were several chapters that I enjoyed greatly. The version that I read was an advance e-book, so until I see a finished copy that proves me wrong I’m going to leave this review at 3 stars.

Let me preface this review by stating that I am a long-time admirer of Mark Nepo. His book "Inside the Miracle" is virtually a Bible for me, and has brought me incredible solace in the wake of my father's death from Alzheimer's Disease. That is why it really pains me to say that The Book of Soul was not one of his best works. Part of my negative response to the book comes from the times. For me, this is a period of deep grieving for all of us as individuals, and I cannot emotionally leap past that point quickly to find salvation in community action, particularly when that community is filled with individuals who refuse to take the simplest steps to care for others by wearing a face mask or stay safely away from others in the name of "personal freedom." The Book of Soul's was also written in a style that did not speak to me. The writing is far less immediate, and more dense and allegorical, than in some of Mark Nepo's previous works. Too much head over heart. I hope that this book is very meaningful for readers during this difficult time. However, it was just not the book for me at this point of the journey.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Book of Soul: 52 Paths to Living What Matters spoke to me when I first saw it on NetGalley because it is about leading an authentic life. I don’t believe I can ever learn enough about that so I was curious to find the 52 ideas that this book had to offer. It turned out to be an amazingly insightful journey. I highly recommend it and I look forward to reading it again, slower next time, one chapter a week. I often talked to my friend Lauren and she helped me broaden the meaning of what I was reading.

The Book of Soul is a journalistic style of book with each short chapter followed by 2-3 questions, some to discuss with a friend and others to self-reflect in your journal. These prompts were quite challenging at times, diving deep into my prejudices, beliefs, perceptions and world view. Whether it is in the context of your life as a whole or a passion that you love to pursue, this book will appeal to your teacher-soul and help understand your student-soul better, while at the same time touching on concepts of attention, kindness, empathy and much more.

See my complete thoughts about the book on my blog, Armed with A Book. Many thanks to the publisher for providing me a review copy via NetGalley for an honest review.