In Take the Wheel, Bryan Bernard and Tommy Stoffel have written a book about quieting our minds and handing our negative thoughts. They begin the book by stating who we are all facing the chatter of noise now and it is never ending. There is a constant stream of thoughts flowing through our heads. These can include our worries and fears and they are automatically hardwired into our brains. They started a special group entitled, Offroad Monks and they take adventures together on trails and go on soul outings. They try and live like monks.

In the book, Tommy opened up about how he woke up in 2005 next to a man who was trying to kill himself. He wound him their next to him because he also let his emotions build up. It started when he was 11 when his dog was killed by a school bus and his dog was his best friend. He slowly started burying down his own pain deep within his soul. He turned to drinking to try and ease the pain. One day he snapped and called 911 and told them his brain isn’t working right. He ended up in a psychiatric ward. He admitted he went after everything society and the world would make him happy but it always fell short. He saw a chart that described the yellow and red zone of chatter and he made a choice not to ever get back into the hospital again.


Bryan’s story discussed how in 2019 he held a gun to his temple and was about to pull the trigger. He also felt he had everything but deep down he was miserable and felt lost. His second son had just moved out and went off to college. His identity was shaken. He wasn’t happy in his marriage any longer so he left it. He hated his job so he sold his business. He struggled with worrying and went into a deep depression. At this time, he decided to check his phone one last time to see if anyone cared. He had a voicemail from Tommy. They had met a year prior and he talked him down from the edge. He told him he needed him and that there was still some jeeping to do. Tommy helped him to learn that his thoughts was the issues and they both tried all sorts of healing and most of what they learned is including in this book.


One of my favorite lessons included the topic of worry and how our minds will always find the next thing to worry about. We can actually choose what we worry about. They instructed readers to instead find the positive and focus on what could go right. We can choose to feel the accomplishment and let it guide our thoughts. They explained how 99% of what we worry about won’t ever happen. We can rely on the fact that more than likely that worry won’t happen and we can feel more confident in dealing our worries. If it does happen learn the lesson from the worry. Choosing to have positive thoughts can provide us with the confidence that we need and that positive energy can help us. They broke down the worries into three categories: chance, control, and cost. They enclosed different exercises to help readers deal with their darkest corners of their minds.


I would recommend this excellent book on controlling your thoughts and dealing with the chatter going around your head. I really connected with both of their personal stories and how they both were depressed and even suicidal and was able to bounce back and change their lives around. The lessons used in this book to simplify your life and mind were outstanding. I also liked how the discussed the chatter chart and even questions to help you figure out where you currently are. The principles in this book will assist readers on finding healing and helping them move forward.

There’s really not a new thing here, except for the approach. Two guys taking an off-road journey into the mind with all the metaphors from that world with them. It’s bound to open some doors to the content for readers who would think that new age or popular self help books are beyond them.

A good book for someone new to the inner world and meditation.

Thanks to NetGalley and Wonderwell Press for an ARC of this book.

Take the Wheel offers practical advice for embarking on a journey of self-awareness, with reminders that encourage reflection. Though it’s full of exercises—which isn’t my usual style—the book’s insights were worth the read.

The authors start with a focus on quieting outside chaos and taking control of our thoughts. They suggest that finding peace begins with tuning out the noise within, almost like giving your mind a chance to recharge.

One of the best parts for me was the concept of the “Inner Sage”—trusting our intuition and letting it guide us while the mind handles the background details. It’s like learning to be in the moment, soaking up where you are without getting caught up in past regrets or future worries.

I also liked their advice on “Emotional Boulders.” Instead of dragging around old baggage, they encourage looking at painful memories, then letting them go.

Overall, Take the Wheel is filled with solid insights. It’s especially good if you’re into reflective exercises, but even without them, the reminders here are valuable.

This was a great book. I enjoyed reading it. Not only was it clearly written, but it allowed me to see some of my issues in a new and clearer light. Under stress? YOu deserve to read this one.

Okay, I may not be the "target audience" for Take The Wheel but look, the title and the description really grabbed me and the book definitely did not disappoint. The authors, Tommy and Bryan, come across as 'real' guys with absolutely no agenda aside from wanting others to be happy and healthy, inside and out. They're not trying to sell you anything....aside from the book obviously... and that was perhaps the biggest surprise of the book.
While this is a self-help book written for men, everything in it applies to all humans. Every chapter begins with a quote and quite a few end with an exercise to try - nothing scary, I promise. The authors communicate in a clear and concise manner and come across as friends, not gurus or shrinks or know-it-alls.
I love that the authors address the problem of getting caught up in fear-based news programs in a very rational way. It's definitely a problem that I see in my community on a daily basis and I feel that the advice to just stop watching it is a great idea.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. I hope it gets the attention and recognition that it deserves.

WOW! This book was phenomenal. I was so taken aback by how beautifully done this was. So many wonderful insights and suggestions. I loved it! Well done.