Unlearn: 101 Simple Truths for a Better Life

by Humble the Poet

Life is hard, and the older we get, it only seems to get more complex. We can easily get overwhelmed trying to deal with everything all at once. We look everywhere for solutions to make the journey a bit more bearable; everywhere but within. Sometimes we gain more from letting go. Whether it's old habits, stale mindsets, regrets of the past, or simply the way we view our lives; in order to grow we have to shed the things that are holding us back. UnLearn is collection of writings to remind you of the wisdom you've already acquired, but may have lost under the weight and pressures of daily life. Humble The Poet, aka Kanwer Singh is an elementary school teacher, writer, musician, and creative who's writings are designed to be simple yet stimulating. UnLearn is his literary debut, which aims to motivate and inspire you to explore your own hidden potentials. The Book is a compilation of easy to digest pieces of honesty inspired by his wildly popular blog, which has a loyal readership of over 100 000. UnLearn touches upon a myriad of topics that we all go through in life, from love, relationships, to success, and chasing our dreams. This book is the perfect primer to clean the slate, and allow you a life of fulfillment through life long learning. Simple, honest, and effective, UnLearn is a "collection of nuggets that remind you of the things that keep this wild ride steady"

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Personal Development, Philosophy, Audiobook, Poetry, Spirituality

288 pages, Paperback

First published March 6, 2014

About the author

Humble the Poet (Kanwer Singh) is a Canadian-born rapper, spoken-word artist, poet, internationally bestselling author, and former elementary school teacher with a wildly popular blog with over 100,000 monthly readers. He has more than 930,000 social media followers, and his first edition of Unlearn is a Globe and Mail bestseller. He has performed at concerts and festivals including Lollapalooza and has been featured in major media including BuzzFeed and Huffington Post.

Reviews

[Matthew · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF. So poorly written, so lacking in editing, so grammatically flawed and full of punctuation errors, it actually hurt my conscience to read. I thought if I started copy editing it myself, pen in hand, it might be a more fun experience, but all it did was make me feel like I'd wasted my money.

I was really excited to hear that Indigo now has their own publication company. I was heartbroken to find out that said company, apparently, does not have an editing staff.

[CM · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I have to admit that the editing needs a lot of work and it could get very repetitive, but the subject matter was great. There was a lot of useful information and thoughts to ponder and it is one of those books that you need to buy a copy of so that you can randomly read over and over again with a highlighter.

I just really like how I felt after reading this book. I felt so happy, optimistic and inspired. It was very motivational.

[Navpreet · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this book up a couple of days ago and I'm probably not gonna put it down any time soon. I'm going to use it as something I can turn to whenever necessary (or just when I feel like it) to just get a little knowledge from Humble. Awesome book.

[Sahiba · Rating 4 out of 5]

consider me humbled

[Oviya Balan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book that was simple, crisp and on to the point. Couldn't have asked for a better life lesson in words. Please give it a read.

[T · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a good book. So much wisdom in this. Great book if you've lost you're path in life. Definitely answers the questions I've always been wondering about life.

[Ashley Gowens · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a quick read. A lot of the points are common, but it's nice to hear another version of the message. Great book!

[Ana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audio is the way to go with this book and I recommend reading one chapter a day and taking the time to fully grasp its possible application and implication.

[Dylan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great, motivational and inspiring book to improve how you live your life. Unlearn is an easy read, whether you have an entire afternoon or just a few minutes here and there. Either reading the book cover to cover or picking a chapter at random, you will get well thought insightful read.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's hard to articulate exactly how I feel about this book. I didn't read this book for my own enjoyment; I read it as part of my mission to find short texts that will interest high school students. I think the book succeeds in that regard: the style is informal, easy-to-read, and generally uplifting without being unrealistically optimistic (note: some profanity, but not enough to be a dealbreaker).

However, it's not a very impressive book if you sit down and read it cover to cover. Humble The Poet does a great job at following the mindfulness craze, but by the halfway point his words were already becoming repetitive. The book has a ton of padding. There are 101 chapters that are 1-2 pages each. And there's always an extra page dedicated to a quote from that chapter. Dude quotes himself constantly (many of them aren't even profound!) So basically 1/3 of the pages in the book are blatantly pointless and repetitive, and another 1/2 of the book is just repetitive. There were also some glaringly obvious grammatical mistakes.

I'm glad I bought this book on sale because it definitely isn't worth $23.99.

[Chris Roberts · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am not the only person in the world. I am the only person with the world inside of me.

Poetry is utter trash.

The mind is constantly at work,
in harmony with cognitive core
and what is entrenched in secondary subliminal,
too, deciphering radiation matrix,
but one's studies must be allowed a respite,
a temporary state of grace.

#poem

Chris Roberts, God Yesterday

[Andra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Somewhat repetitive, but the author notes at the beginning that all chapters can be taken on their own. I think this is a book you can come back to, pick up, and read again from any point to review and inspire the soul. The writing is strong and promotes non-preachy, to-each-his-own advice.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple and easy to read, straight to the point and filled with countless bite sized life lessons along the way. Great book to pick up day to day. 4/5.

[Ishmeen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Needed a read like this one so bad at this point in my life. Great work Humble!

[Daniela Bosque · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sound advice on how to be in the moment and unlearn learned behavior.

[olga · Rating 3 out of 5]

:Being a good person should be done for its own sake, not because life will hand you a get-out-of-jail-free card in return.

[Angie Dokos · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has good quotes and is encouraging. I found it to be a little boring, but since it’s short I stuck with it. It doesn’t really teach us anything we don’t already know, but it does remind us of some important words to live by.

[Brenna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I won’t deny, I struggled to read this. Not that the messages were hard to grasp, quite the opposite, really. The writing is simply, too simplistic. So simplistic that the meaning lacked any gravitas. Then again, perhaps that’s the point? That these lessons should be peddled to the spoon fed masses, but are those people the ones who really read books?

Perhaps I set myself up at a disadvantage with checking this out at the library. This may serve better as a chapter a day type of lesson learning instead of reading it all at once.

And so, with each book I read, by the end I ask myself, “What did you learn?” And it is also in a chapter of this books about making mistakes. This book, in my opinion, needs to be edited. Even though it is not perfect, Humble still published his art. A lesson for you, fellow artists, perfection isn’t real and someone will resonate with your work. Just get out of your comfort zone, those of a like mind shall inevitably find you.

This is what stuck with me most:
“Every moment is a brushstroke on that masterpiece of your lie won't be complete until your life is complete. Fortunately and unfon. nately, you won't be here to see the final product.

That final product was never for you. You are simply a part of ths creation adding to the creation. We don't live in this universe; we are the universe.

"If you want to find the secrets of the universe, think in terms of en ergy, frequency and vibration." - Nikola Tesla

There's nothing to solve, ponder, or search for. Energy, frequencies and vibrations are felt; they cannot be created or destroyed, they can only be changed. This is one of those brief moments when so ence and spirituality can hold hands. Listen to your feelings, trust your struggles-it's how everything in this universe tends to work.

Our realities exist within us. Our beliefs are simply belies, andered day impossible seems to be a temporary word. Youre going to med a myriad of folks who want to tell you your purpose.”

[Queen Rosalind · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would read this again and use it as a daily motivational. It is filled with so much about life and how we react to it and the people in it.

[Kaven · Rating 1 out of 5]

this book was difficult to get through. Humble would say it was because i expected more from the book than i got, so that’s in me. unfortunately, everything in this book is recycled from something else. all the big bold statements that have their own special page are cliche. trite. i wanted more. i wanted something to seep into my core, because i love books like this. this fell wildly short.

[Shall · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has nothing that you don't already know, BUT it is the much-needed reminder of all those important things that we tend to overlook when we are not very happy with our life! The chapters are small so you can read a few chapters daily.

[Tish · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little too repetitive but the overall message is inspiring.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

If everyone in this world would read this book what a different world this would be.

[Amory · Rating 1 out of 5]

Far better to unlearn this pointless nonsense was ever committed to paper. A real bumwipe of a book

[lexi ✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3-3.5

first half is 3 stars second half is 3.5 stars

well i do have to say this book is written in simple terms as the title suggests, but it feels off at times. i don’t know if i truly resonate with this. i am drawn to certain sentences & stuff & i’ve underlined some things as reminders, but overall the tone of the work seems very off it’s not consistent. it’s written simply, but also jumps between having a heavy/somber undertone to a lighter one at times. i don’t know how to explain it, but i’ll try with an example below.

“we can find peace in the fact that there won’t ever be peace as well” now in terms of world peace this makes sense & unfortunately is a hard truth, but this chapter was about paving your own road & i believe that it kind of contradicts the point of everything being black & white a point that was made earlier within the work. i believe that you can create your own peace inside yourself & learn to nurture it in order to sustain paving your own way, but i don’t see why this point was necessary in this chapter. it does change the tone of the message i find. it’s also missing some sort of uplifting, if this book’s goal is to inform of 101 truths for a better life the tone should feel more consistent. even though it’s written simply it feels heavy at times. the chapter after “don’t sabotage yourself feels a lot lighter it’s more inspiring. the change of tones within this has left me quite conflicted. don’t get me wrong i do like a lot of what i’m reading, but i feel like i’m on a rollercoaster, with the varying intensities of the messages. one thing i do like is the repetition & how it’s used to connect different truths together.

also the chapter let’s talk about your beliefs focuses on a very specific type of person. one where beliefs & identities merge so that when anyone counters that belief it becomes problematic, & also encourages everyone to reflect on where these beliefs came from. this chapter isn’t for everyone as the author noted, but i’m wondering why this also doesn’t address being strong in your beliefs as well not to the point of merging it with your own identity, but standing true to your life experiences so you’re able to share your knowledge to others or even to help yourself like “i’m capable of learning new things” & “hard work leads to success” are basic beliefs that can be really helpful. this is a more controversial take, not because i don’t agree with it because i do, but because it’s explained in a way that’s kind of focusing on beliefs through a harsher lens. looking at beliefs as negative.

while the tone for the first 55% was inconsistent i find the work became much better after. it was more uplifting, more inspiring. i found a lot more chapters either resonated or were things i could implement in my life.

"the approval of others is never more important than your approval of yourself"

"no one determines your value but you"

"you're going to realize very quickly the biggest battles you fight are with yourself"

"change is scary, so what? do you want to avoid scary things so you can arrive at death safely?"

these are just a few lines that stood out to me in the second half there were definitely more, but just some i found in my notes.

[M.J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best books I have every read and that’s saying a lot! This book simply helps you take a look at your current thought process in new way. For me, it helped me understand that most of the road blocks in my life began in my mind and I manifested them in my life. If one can make road blocks a reality then one can make dreams a reality. Let me be clear, this book does not sell you a pipe dream of everything will be roses, it give you hard truths and new way to look at life.I would recommend this book to everyone. It is a phenomenal read!

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is kind of like a self help book. It’s a collection of advice for life. I thought the author made a lot of valid points, and it’s a book I might be interested in owning. It’s the type of book where you could go back and re-read various sections; however, I found some parts a bit repetitive.

[Jeremy Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Humble offers nuggets of wisdom throughout this entire book. He never explicitly states this, but he does offer a lot of Stoic philosophy and insight gained as an artist and teacher. I will definitely re-read in the future.

[Jennifer Parker · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wouldn't buy this book, but I am happy Iit found at the library. No major revelations for me, but it might be just the book for the next person who picks it up. My favorite piece of wisdom, probably because I agree with it strongly is about expectations. "Expectations are a bigger enemy to our happiness than our circumstances; the fewer expectations you have, the better off you are." Now, not everyone may agree with that, but if you think about the holidays and how even adults find they have high expectations of holiday events and gifts, but these expectations can rarely be fulfilled. I see children negatively affected by their expectations and I find it to be sad.

[Solene · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t vouch for people determining truths for others to live by.
That being said, these are HIS truths. A lot of his learnt lessons made sense to me and I value the fact that he’s taking positions.
So I vouch for this book and I invite the reader to make up their own mind on each chapter.