A Sloth's Guide to Mindfulness

by Ton Mak

A beautifully illustrated book of mindfulness that will help readers discover the path to a peaceful phioslothical life.

Follow a serene and smiley sloth through a series of light meditations and daily reflections: An unexpected and snuggable guide, you'll learn that it's OK to slow down. Take a pause and focus on your breath. Let the other animals run around; you do you. Through the guidance of an unlikely-- but very wise--meditation expert, A Sloth's Guide to Mindfulness reminds you it's okay to go at your own pace.
From simple breathing exercises and guided visualizations to the benefits of chewing your leaves slowly and staying present while hanging from a tree, A Sloth's Guide to Meditation will provide you with practical ways to be more present and mindful.
Playful advice and charming black and white illustrations guide you through the pages and remind you that simplicity can be beautiful.
Author Ton Mak is an artist and meditation enthusiast based in Shanghai. She has created visual arts of all forms including installations in shopping malls, art toy sculptures, and solo exhibitions around the world. She has also successfully collaborated with Nike, Gucci, Swiss Air, Vans and more.
A no-sweat approach to enlightenment that's a sweet reminder to take it slow and smile.
A simple, quick read that can be enjoyed by all ages.
A 2019 YALSA Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Graphic Novels, Mental Health, Humor, Comics, Animals

120 pages, Hardcover

Published July 17, 2018

About the author

Ton Mak is a writer and visual artist who grew up between England, New Zealand, and Hong Kong. She received a degree in Anthropology from University College London. Her doodles and illustrations are known as FLABJACKS, a world of imaginary characters, each with a unique story of their own. Ton is the author of A Sloth's Guide to Mindfulness and has collaborated with brands like Nike, Apple, Swatch, and LEGO in recent years. Her artwork has been exhibited in museums and galleries around the world including Power Station of Art in Shanghai and Times Art Museum in Beijing. Currently, she is based between San Francisco and Shanghai. 

Her work can be found here: http://flabjacks.com/

Reviews

[Lefthandedbibliophile · Rating 4 out of 5]

...because SLOTHS

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Happy thoughts to remind you to be more present, to take things slow, to treat yourself and others with kindness . . . presented by the most adorable damn creature I've ever seen! So round and precious! And his little friends, like a bunny that it basically a loaf of bread with a face, are too! A sweet little book that is perfect for giving to a friend, or just for displaying so that you and others can pick it up and have a moment of smile.

[Andee Marley · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE THIS BOOK!!! IT IS PERFECT IN EVERY WAY.
(read in about 4 minutes and 23 seconds)

[scl.ashx · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best 5 minutes read I ever had.

Remember :- Slow is "OKAY".

[Gabriela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Naprosto skvělých 10 minut mého čtecího života.

Moc milé myšlenky, co vám připomenou důležitost užívání si přítomnosti a maličkostí. Malá připomínka toho jak moc je důležitá laskavost k sobě i k ostatním. A tím vším provádí naprosto nejrozkošnější tvor a to je lenochod 🩵🦥

Tohle byla prostě moc roztomilá jednohubka, která neztrácí nadhled a ještě je jako bonus vtipná a vážně hezky zpracovaná. Lenochod i jeho kamarádi jsou neskutečně roztomile ztvárněni.

Mít svoje tempo a být “pomalý” je v pohodě. Dát si pauzu je v pohodě. Cítit negativní emoce je v pohodě.

Ideální dárek pro blízké. Úsměv na tváři je zaručen!

[Anahita Solot · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked it but meh.

[blueisthenewpink · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read after a very stressful day, and it worked. It was really calming, knocking me out before being able to set an alarm for the next day (which made my sleep not exactly peaceful but hey). It helped me let go of all the stressful events of the day and all the bad feelings. Also reminded me to give myself a break. Short, quiet and peaceful, as you would expect from a mindfulness book.

[Suchona Hasnat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to read it a second time when I am calmer. A lot is going on in my life right now and i couldn't bring myself to keep focus for long. Still, it felt special. I hope i can fully emerse into the world in the second read. The writing is very beautiful in a simple, easy way.

[Jodi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I thought this was just another "humour" book, but it actually IS a book about Mindfulness and how to achieve it! And it does that very effectively using very few words and loads of cute drawings of sloths and their pals, doing things and becoming more mindful!

It's really quite remarkable! I'm a person who has struggled with depression and anxiety for most of my life. Now, I'm not saying this book cured me, by any means, but it DID make me feel a whole lot better and more hopeful about my life and my future!

This 102-page book of black & white drawings will teach you how to slow down, notice the beauty of your surroundings, and try to stay 'in the present'. You'll learn to relax and live in the moment. Smell the roses; happiness will come.

This was an easy, highly enjoyable, 10-minute read, yet it's possible I may have benefitted more (or at least equally) from those 10-minutes than I have from years of talk-therapy in my past.

SERIOUSLY. Ton Mak, you're a genius!🙏🧘‍♀️😊

[Shira · Rating 4 out of 5]

Relaxing, kind, and comforting - if this book had arms, I think it would hug me.
And I would hug it back.

I think this book is a wonderful gift to anyone who is having a little bit of a hard time, anyone who races through life, or feeling exhausted by life and wants to be reminded to take a break and enjoy the moment.

I feel like this book would listen to you, offer you some tea, and advise you not to be too hard on yourself.
It’s okay to slow down.

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this fast-paced city, slowing down is a necessity. Sadly, it's a rarity.

[Colleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a refreshing and relaxing little book, featuring a happy sloth who instructs in mindfulness activities. I found this book genuinely relaxing and soothing, like a nice virtual hug. It provides some good mindfulness activities....it just really left a warm, positive feeling.

[Violet ♡]

Mindfulness is in your present. 😌

[Aishwary Mehta (The_Fugitive_Biker) · Rating 5 out of 5]

16th book of 2021 (185 Books read overall)

Quote from the Book I Liked - 'If we live consciously, our happiness expands.' (Loc. 77)

Rating - 5 Stars

*Important take from the book* - 'If we focus too hard on results, it becomes harder to stay present.' (Loc. 49)

Plot Summary - It's OK to slow down. Take a pause and focus on your breath. Let the other animals run around, you do you.
Follow a serene and smiley sloth through a series of light meditations and daily reflections with this unexpected and snuggable guide. From simple breathing exercises and guided visualizations to the benefits of chewing your leaves slowly and staying present while hanging from a tree, this little illustrated book of mindfulness will help readers discover the path to a peaceful, philosophical life. With playful advice and delightfully charming illustrations, this no-sweat approach to enlightenment is a sweet reminder to take it slow and smile.

My Review - Yes, I've been called a Sloth. A lot many times, and still some calls me the same. Initially, it felt odd, like I do what you all do (at my pace) but later and now I enjoy being called Sloth. So does the book teaches you. 

It's a way too simple yet way too deeper book which teaches us that it's okay to take breaks, okay to leave some work unfinished. Your own health and me-time are essential for survival. There is no need to just be the fastest in the rest at the cost of self. Better to finish late than to finish broken. Thus, I nice read with meaningful and cute little illustrations on each page.

Conclusion - Soothing and relaxing.

Full Review on Blog.
Link to Blog - The Tales of Fugitive Biker

[Gracella · Rating 4 out of 5]

“If we focus too hard on results, it becomes harder to stay present.”

-------------

Okay, it's kind of official. I love sloth! One of the cutest animal on planet earth. And it's usually associated with mindfulness, which is so important for our buzzing life right now. This little book acts as a kind reminder for all of us to enjoy every single moment.

Also, the black and white illustrations is too cute!

[Rehan Abd Jamil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reminds me of Flash in Zootopia 😂😂

[Lunabookaddict · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little happy book about a little sloth who give us some advise to be more mindful and happy with everything around us ✨

[Shadow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute little book about mindfulness with adorable illustrations featuring a sloth! ❤️

[Isa (Pages Full of Stars) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5 stars rounded up to 4

This was a short book about mindfulness, full of adorable sloth illustrations. I knew some of the information already, but it was a nice outline of what mindfulness is about. And you gotta love the sloths! :D

[Sophia · Rating 5 out of 5]

it’s a real book don’t come for me

[Wardah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Slow down. Enjoy "now".

Ilustrasinya cantik banget, tulisannya mudah dipahami, dan pesannya jelas.

[Alvina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Be thankful.
It's OK to pause.

[Stephen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a mindfulness book about sloths or a sloth book about mindfulness. I read it slowly, mindfully, deliberately but lightly as befits the text. This is also how Ton Mak wrote it, I think. Her mother taught her to be mindful and meditative. She has been teaching others ever since. She chose sloths because they are kind, and gentle, and chubby, and seem to smile a lot, and tend not to get upset. These virtues parallel the goals of meditation. One could easily "read" this book of black-and-white drawings and short affirmations in less than an hour. That would be a waste of both the book and the time required. Better to approach this text the way a sloth might: slowly, meditatively, mindfully, appreciatively. The goals uplifted by Mak's writing are relaxation, reflection and snuggability. Thought the text is brief and the illustrations amusing, the book is not a mental dust bunny. Rather, as one reviewer put it, it is an invitation to a more "philoslothical" life.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great option for folks who might not *like* self-help or mindfulness guides? I picked it up because of the sloth... gotta love that angle! It was well done, the black & white illustrations very restful yet engaging, and the advice is sound.
Easy to just pick up/set down as needed for a word:
Slow down and enjoy life.
(I know a bunch of folks who could use this in their lives.)

[Medeia Sharif · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just reading this book put me in a better and lighter state of mind. This a short and cute read with great text and illustrations. I loved the message.

[* Anjuli * · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is amazing. I love this book so much! It will be a great addition to my office :)

[Richard Propes · Rating 3 out of 5]

"A Sloth's Guide to Mindfulness" is a slow, gentle breeze of a book. Even if you read it at the intended pace (think sloth), this is a breezy book that is easily finished in one sitting or evening or whatever block of time you have.

Essentially a series of reflections and meditations on mindfulness, somewhat related to the life of a sloth, this is a book with positive reminders about self-care and slowing down. While there's nothing here that's groundbreaking, the material is nicely presented and enjoyable to read. I will confess I expected more when I selected the book from Prime Reading, but it was still a solid way to spend an evening.

[carson · Rating 3 out of 5]

… because sometimes you just need to read a little book about sloths and mindfulness while in the midst of a slump.

this was super cute and actually provided a bit of perspective on my current mental state <3

[AURIANE · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been thinking about sloths since the Costa Rica trip and how we should strive to be more like them .... hanging out enjoying life, not rushing for anything

I also enjoyed the allusions to meditation and mindfulness, nothing too deep but it was relaxing to read after a long work day :-)

[Sarah Brousseau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 64/55: A sloth's guide to mindfulness by Ton Mak. Don't mind me, just reading about mindfulness and being thankful on this sunny Thanksgiving day. A quick little read about taking a break as needed. Take it slow, take it one thing at a time.