How Not to Be a Hot Mess

This book looks at various ways that Buddhist philosophy can be brought into our everyday life. Especially when life gets messy or hard to handle, these simple guiding practices are so important.

One section that stood out the most to me was in being truthful, and watching that what we say is both honest, kind and helpful. I especially love the story the authors shared about a Buddhist monk who, very calmly, told a practitioner to stop interrupting others, and that this trait was having a negative effect on his relationships with his family. How the authors questioned if this information was helpful was really important; there are moments where we may not want to hear things, but as long as it is delivered with kindness, the truth can be so necessary in growing as people.

I would recommend this book for anyone who is looking for a fresh perspective, for simple ways they can be more mindful in their lives. It was easy to read and the authors share many of their personal experiences to highlight the philosophy presented.

How Not to Be a Hot Mess presents six guiding principles to help us navigate daily life. Using humor and stories, the authors urge us to use meditation, kindness, generosity, truthfulness, and to operate with peace and clarity when faced with issues the Buddha could never have imagined —the information age, climate change, rampant consumerism, and more.

Much of this book is common sense —of course, we should all be kinder— but what sets it apart is the use of examples geared at younger readers, just starting to wonder about relationships, their place in the world, and how to deal with the crazy that can sometimes surround us. This book is approachable, easy to read, and written in a relatable style.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher of the ARC.

This book is definitely geared towards younger readers, but I enjoyed reading this and found the examples and the exercises helpful and grounding. This book would be ideal for a college student or someone who is still kind of figuring things out, but it can definitely be read by anyone looking for a new perspective or who is looking to re-ground themselves in how to be in a society.