I thought the writing was done very well and I enjoyed reading this very powerful piece.
Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read this book.

On Thriving focuses on a healing journey, and focuses a lot of that journey on motherhood, which might not be for everybody, but it’s based on Brandi’s work as a doula and has the ability to resonate with a lot of people, in a healthy way. It was a take on self-care that, as someone who has not experienced motherhood, was interesting to read.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

On Thriving: Harnessing Joy Through Life’s Great Labors by Brandi Sellerz-Jackson is a compelling exploration of the human spirit’s resilience and capacity for joy, even in the face of life’s most challenging labors. Sellerz-Jackson, a renowned doula, draws upon her rich experiences to guide readers through what she identifies as the four great labors of our lives: relationships, mental health, grief and loss, and the feeling of being othered.

The book is structured around these labors, with Sellerz-Jackson sharing intimate stories from her life and the lives of those she has supported. Her narrative is a balm and a beacon, offering a path to thriving that is grounded in self-awareness and radical joy. The author’s voice is a unique blend of wisdom and vulnerability, making the book feel like a conversation with a trusted friend who has navigated the murky waters of life and come out on the other side with insights to share.

What sets this book apart is its approach to thriving as an active, ongoing process rather than a static state to be achieved. Sellerz-Jackson encourages readers to remain present within their struggles, asking, “What do I need to thrive in the space I’m currently in?” This question serves as a powerful tool for reflection and growth, prompting readers to examine the survival tools they’ve accumulated and consider exchanging them for what Sellerz-Jackson calls “thriving tools and ‘rich-uals’.”

The metaphor of plant life runs through the book, simplifying the often complicated journey of personal growth. Just as plants strive to grow in inhospitable environments, so too must we find ways to flourish. Sellerz-Jackson’s writing is insightful and soul-stirring, inviting readers to a deep investigation of their past and present to gather all that they need to thrive right where they are.

Thank you to Net Galley and Ballantine Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. I have been reading a lot on wellness, well-being, trauma, happiness, etc., and was hesitant to read this book as I thought there probably wasn't much more that could be covered on these topics. Yet, I was pleasantly surprised by the author's idea of thriving and loved the information shared. Being a doula and seeing life through the eyes of that role, the author shares many of her own intimate stories, research and statistics, and lays out step by step ways to thrive in life. It also doesn't happen without a bit of work. There are exercises and tools so that we can inquire within with a bit of soul searching as to what we really want to do, be and have in our lives. Her storytelling is lovely filled with care, comfort and a warm hug of understanding and compassion. I will definitely go back to this book from time to time to refresh my perspective.

Loved the connection here to her experience as a birth doula. I had a doula at my birth and was in awe of her reverence for women and babies alike. The stories throughout were vulnerable and a tad heavy, but very impactful.

I received an advance review copy for free via Netgalley (THANK YOU) and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

“On Thriving: Harnessing Joy Through Life’s Great Labors” by Brandi Sellerz-Jackson is a must-read if you’ve been searching for insights to better understand the trials of life – particularly if you are a mother.

I’ve been following Brandi on social media for several years. She showed me the beauty of Black doulas and inspired my own journey to become a labor doula. Brandi has always been transparent about her life and hardships and in “On Thriving” she draws revelations and connections between the maternal labor process and the big labors of life. These parallels highlight learnings for how we can cope and move through life with more ease.

Biggest gem: Brandi unveils that garlic and roses are companion plants – meaning they do well next to each other in the garden. Garlic is akin to the anger, sorrow and sadness we feel due to life’s great labors. We can not enjoy the roses – the sweetness of life – without acknowledging and embracing our anger. Too often we want to find behind our anger and pretend it doesn’t exist. But our anger – our garlic – protects us.

Thank you @netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Man I struggled to get through this one. I’ve picked it up and set it down a dozen times and finally slogged through it to beat the publish date. I’m sure it’s exactly what some people out there need to hear but it just failed to ring home to me. The intense focus on childbirth, motherhood, and birthing just immediately turned me off, even if the lessons could be more widely applicable. The narrative itself felt disjointed bouncing between odd moments of parable, metaphor, personal storytelling, and strangely inserted bits of poetry that all just felt jarring and disconnected.

On Thriving was a much heavier read than I was expecting. Brandi Sellerz-Jackson tells us of her past traumas pretty much right out of the gate and explains how we can thrive through traumas, much like plants. I rated this book 3.5 stars because at times it was quite repetitive and was much longer than it needed to be. It took me a very long time to get through this book.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the invitation to read On Thriving.

On Thriving by Brandi Sellerz-Jackson is a very inspiring book.
I thought the writing was done very well and I enjoyed reading this very powerful piece.

Thank You NetGalley and Random House & Ballantine Books for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Beautiful straightforward writing, easy to get into the subject matter of the book. Fascinating detailed descriptions of her experiences with various therapies. I also really liked the analogies to plant life and the questions at the end of the chapters. Despite the great writing, I felt the book was a bit long. Thank you NetGalley for providing the ARC.

The information provided in this book was good, but it was a bit heavier of a read than I had anticipated. I think that there are a lot of good lessons, but could have been done without all of the heavy stories.

I received an ARC of On Thriving courtesy of Netgalley and Ballantine Books in exchange for an honest review.

The only negative about this book: it was 4x longer than it needed to be. The author’s passion came across as she emphasized points multiple times.

So many positives: I liked the conversational style. I appreciated the visualization exercises. Not all of them worked for me but I understood the intent.

Most of all, I appreciated the inclusion of ALL parts of life - grief, joy, childbirth, realizing lifelong dreams, so many stages of life!

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. This book takes us on a journey through life's ups and downs. It draws us in and we learn many life lessons. A good book.

This was such a sensitive, healing read—I appreciate the nuance and care with which advice is given, and the practical questions at the end of each chapter allowing for deeper self-exploration.

On Thriving is a breath of fresh air that is much needed in these current stressful times. Brandi Sellerz-Jackson draws on her experiences as a birth and postpartum doula and her knowledge of plant life to show us how we can thrive in our relationships and in life in general. She shares details of her own past traumas and the techniques that helped her cope and ultimately thrive. This is an important book and one that I would recommend to anyone who is ready to face their past traumas and learn to thrive. Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the ARC.

What does it take to get to the other side of survival mode? This author helps us with that. You will learn about the four great labors of our lives and how she has overcome them and helped others to do so in her role as a doula.

This struck home with me right now. That is exactly what I have been doing. Just the basics, trying to survive. Whether it’s health, finances, or relationships, we all want more.

You’ll commit to no longer making a home out of chaos and rediscovering sanctuary within yourself. This. Just this. The only thing coming out of chaos, is more chaos. Getting stuck in these labors is dangerous and gives us tools to check ourselves and remain present.

I never thought of asking, ” How can I thrive in this trial?”, but I needed to do just that.

There will always be trials. Some big, some trivial. But now I have a few more tools under my belt that will help me not just survive, but thrive.

Thanks.

Netgalley/ RHPG/BALLENTINE January 02, 2024

Brandi's four labors was an interesting concept. I liked learning about each of them. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. It's always enjoyable when I can read about ways to journey on through life with new coping skills and mental wellness tips. Well done! Five stars.

"On Thriving: Harnessing Joy Through Life's Great Labors" by Brandi Sellerz-Jackson is a profoundly moving and intimate guide that reminds readers of the transformative power of self-awareness and radical joy despite the hardships we face in life. In this book, Sellerz-Jackson draws from her extensive experience as a doula and her own personal journey to help readers navigate the four great labors of life: relationships, mental health, grief and loss, and the feeling of being othered.

Sellerz-Jackson beautifully compares our journey to thrive with that of plant life, simplifying the often overwhelming process of personal growth in challenging environments. Through her vulnerable storytelling, she prompts readers to investigate our past and present, gathering the wisdom needed to thrive right where we are.

Ultimately, "On Thriving" reminds us that thriving is about creating divine moments in the ordinary, and it inspires us to reimagine, reconfirm, and reclaim our right to a good life. This book is a powerful guide for anyone seeking a path to deeper self-awareness, radical joy, and a life filled with purpose and fulfillment.

I was drawn to this book by the title and the cover. The description of the book did not seem to be the description of what I was reading. I did not get far before realizing this book was not for me. The author does offer some insight as to getting through some of life's challenges, some of which I agreed with, some I did not. I found the book somewhat depressing. I thank NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the advance read.