Stella

This is one of those books you really want to be true.

The premise is comforting and expansive: souls travelling together through multiple lifetimes, changing roles, learning lessons, releasing fear, moving slowly toward love. Through hypnosis, Weiss's patient begins recalling what appear to be past lives, and as these memories surface, her long-held phobias dissolve.

That expereince suggests that life is about learning how to love better and that fear is the root of most suffering. Death, according to the “Masters” who speak through the patient, isn't an ending but a transition. Time isn't linear. There's no punishment, no hell, no judgement, just reflection, learning, and return.

It's a beautiful idea. But...

the evidence is anecdotal and unverifiable, and the conclusions depend largely on whether you trust the source of the revelations (like all reliegions I suppose)

However, whether or not one accepts reincarnation or the literal existence of soul groups, the ethical message something we can all identify with. Live with less fear. Be kinder. Let go of the illusion that control, success, or certainty will save you.

If there is a God in this book, it isn't a figure to obey, fear, or appease, but a field of love to align with. It's certainly not an Abrahamic God, which is good news for everyone.

However, Weiss, who is Jewish, doesn't take this idea very far. Both he and his patients end up folding these experiences back into their existing religious beliefs, which is, frankly, the weakest part of the book.st link in this book.

The “body bully” idea felt very familiar. It made me stop and notice how automatic and normal those thoughts have become.

There are lots of exercises. I haven't done them properly yet, but I can see how they'd be helpful if you're ready to sit with some uncomfortable stuff. The tone is kind and practical, not preachy or unrealistic about suddenly loving your body.

Overall, a thoughtful read that gave me a lot to think about, and one I'll probably come back to when I'm ready to do the exercises.

I've read Matt Haig before and loved his writing (so readable, pulls you right in), though I sometimes couldn't unsee how WEIRD his perspective was — in the sociological sense: Western, Educated, Industrialised, Rich and Democratic. It's a worldview that often ends up speaking for everyone, even though it really reflects a small slice of the world.

This book felt different. It didn't try to represent the whole human experience — it just told its story — and I liked it more for that.

It's deeply relatable for anyone who feels the weight of their regrets. It's gentle and unexpectedly comforting though not very subtle. I don't care. I really enjoyed it.

I highlighted so much to come back to later. It's almost like a self-help book in disguise.

If I don't write things down, they haven't been carried through to completion; they have only been lived.”

This sentence alone makes this a worthy read for me - so relatable.

This was a fun, easy read with some real gems in it. I checked it out from my library and ended up enjoying it more than I expected, so I'll definitely be looking for the author's other two books.

There's a fair bit of pep and encouragement throughout. It's the kind of book you can relax with, underline a few lines, and walk away feeling a little lighter and more inspired.
Not life-changing, but genuinely enjoyable and full of small, useful reminders. And some nice pictures.