Understanding Human Nature brings together twenty-five years of Richard Brook s experiences in yoga and meditation, acupuncture and Chinese medicine, dance and movement, Native American mysticism, tantra and community living. This culminates in a holistic guide to life in which readers learn how to connect with their soul, understand the nature of life purpose and the importance of doing what they love. Understanding Human Nature is the essential guide towards your life in which you can: understand natural energetic laws, such as Yin and Yang that are acting on your body-mind-spirit and how to be in tune with them essential if you are going to a healthy life; understand the nature of the soul and mechanics of how you interconnect with the world around you; understand how your mind works and its connection with your body and emotions; explore relationship dynamics for what they truly are and dump the fantasies in favour of what is true and genuine; and learn to understand how healing practices such as yoga, meditation and Chinese medicine work and how they nourish your soul.
I don't read self-help books as a rule, I believe in helping others, treating people well and living a good life and this will in turn allow you a happy existence. However I quite enjoy yoga and I am interested in acupuncture so I wanted to give this a go and learn a little more. I have no doubt that the practices in this book will help some people, they aren't for me, but the author has clearly helped a lot of people and will continue to. I took some really interesting points from the chapter on relationships and chakras which I could definitely relate to. The chapter on the soul was interesting, it's a topic I'm sure could garner great discussion. Very well written, the author clearly is well educated and respected in his field.
📚 Book Tour Review 📚 2022#3 📢 Tour: @lovebookstours Thanks again for arranging my free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
🌟 Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ (5/5) 🔲 Book Title: Understanding Human Nature: A User's Guide To Life 🖋️ Author: @richard.brook 🖨️ Publisher: @troubador_publishing 📢 Tour: @lovebookstours 🎭 Genre: Self Help 📖 Format: 💻 📄 Pages: 264
📚Review📚 🎨 Artwork I was immediately draw to the calming colours of the cover and the Yin Yang logo on the front of the book. I was working from a e-book for my review but the hard copies my fellow reviewers had look wonderful 🤩
✒️ Style I enjoyed Richard writing in the first person, taking the reader through his own life experiences, as an explorative guide. Richard explains complicated theory in an easy to follow way, with time for self reflection and tutorials throughout.
👪 Characters Richard has worked with many people in his career and offers us his experience through his learning journey.
📈 Plot Richard book highlighted the importance of getting to know myself; mind, body and soul. As some people would say, 'warts and all', noting that there are some parts of ourselves we keep to ourselves or dislike about ourselves. There are many esoteric concepts introduced through the book, done which I had heard about or knew a little about; chakras, yin & yang and the soul, as well as others which were new to me, subtle energy, vibration theory and the five elements.
🤓 Read more I would relish the opportunity to read any future works by Richard.
📢 Favourite quote "Passion is a barometer for his much your soul is engaged in what you are doing!"
❓Question for the author What's next? Will you be writing a continuation?
This really is a user's guide to life. Unlike other self help books I've tried to read, this has lots of new ideas for me, things I've never really thought about before. Like embodiment of the soul, balancing the energies, the connection to nature and I could go on. I have so much to learn from this holistic approach, which is why I need to go back and work through the exercises and look at the practical aspects at my own pace. I'm on a journey, however slow it maybe, knowing I want to be a better version of myself and to learn to cope with life's challenges in a better way. This is why I really wanted to read this book, I knew it could offer some insight into this journey of self discovery and growth. The author, Richard has shared his knowledge, research and life experiences throughout the book.
At the end of the prologue Richard questions that why aren't we better equipped at a younger age to have this knowledge of 'how to live and be a human successfully.' I couldn't agree more. There were so many relatable aspects and one that stuck with me from near the beginning of the book was when Richard talks about him being considered shy. It took him about 30 years to work out that actually he's not shy at all. Shy was something I was labelled with from a young age because I was quiet and timid. That label has followed me for about 30 years too. I'm 35 now and it's not until recently I started to come to the realisation that actually I'm not shy any more and haven't been for a long time, I just need to learn to be confident and comfortable in who I am.
If other self help books haven't worked for you then you need to try this one. It will help you understand how your mind, body and spirit are connected to the world around you and how to keep them in balance to feel well and fulfilled.
Thank you so much for letting me apart of the read along for this inspiring book and for gifting me a copy @lovebookstours @richard.brook @troubador_publishing
I’m a huge fan of different perspectives on self help books and this has probably been the most interesting and suited one to me yet. I loved exploring all the different ways Yin and Yang play. I found it so interesting learning about Chakras and even Yoga. There is so much information given to you to understand and explore your own unique body. How your mind does and doesn’t switch off, what role technologies play before we sleep. I could go on and on.
Each chapter builds into something different but the author is this truly grasp it all and wraps it up perfectly at the end. Who thinks about diet in a way that it could be suited to a blood type? I loved the break up of all the blogs and videos throughout. This might have made me spiral off to do some further independent research in between but once you have full commitment you don’t mind exploring further. This book got me thinking about my past relationships my now relationships. It’s left a long lasting impression on how I think about the soul.
For me I found the exercises at the end of the chapters so interesting and committed to trying these out. There’s not a lot of terminology to confuse you and when there are things you might not understand the author explains these well. I found I emotionally invested more the further I got because I could see the authors humour come out along the way to. The five elements will definitely have a lasting impression on my life as I live it now. One thing for sure is I like the fact that if I forget anything I can pick it back up and remind myself. The layout was perfect for me. Loved this Readalong so much.
Thanks to the author and Love Books Tours for the copy of Understanding Human Nature to review.
Richard’s book provides information on being human. He shares his own struggles with mental and physical health as well as providing practical and interesting information.
This nonfiction book is organised well with each section pertaining to a different topic,such as understanding Energetic Anatomy, understanding nature and forces (my favourite), understanding your mind (I need much time in this section), and another favourite time to heal.
What I particularly like about this book is that it is a casual read. It is not too ‘textbook’ but more like a friend telling you their story and explaining the ways they discovered to heal themselves and are merely sharing their knowledge, understanding and experience.
I have not finished with this book. I am positive that I will visit Richard’s words once again. I’ve already digressed from this text to read and learn from the blog and other reading suggestions throughout the book. I think that’s why it took me so long to read. However, I was in no rush.
I recommend this book if you are wanting information about how we are connected to the world, how it heals and holds us and how to be yourself and be content with what you have, where you are and even how to get where you want to be.
I have loved this book. I chose to join the readalong as I have been recently investing a lot more time and energy into my own wellness and wellbeing. This book really resonated with my current journey and gave me so many useful insights and tips into how I could use the natural world around me to increase my own wellness.
Richard writes the book from his own personal experiences, he shares his own journey and the steps he has taken to improve his own mental health and spirituality. It has anecdotes from his life, his own humour and voice giving the information which makes it more personable.
There are chapters discussing yoga meditation, dance, spirituality, chakras, exercise and diet and how all these things are linked and can lead you towards a more enlightened path. How we can use the seasons and the natural elements to aid our own progress and enrichment of our soul.
With hints and tips, as well as exercises to complete, this book is a manual to life and ways in which we can rebuild our energy and spirituality. I will be going back to fully try out all the exercises in the future.
In a nutshell the author explains how the mind, body and soul work in unison to enable you to feel more alive and at one with yourself. There are some very interesting sections throughout the book, all of which are well written and relatively easy to understand.
The mind is a very strange thing and it’s amazing how certain actions and thoughts can indirectly affect your own well-being. The book talks at length about getting to know yourself better and also how to be a better, more open, loving and forgiving person.
You are guaranteed to learn something here, you don’t have to be spiritual or a believer as such, you just need to have an open and curious mind. If you are a wonder of the world, roaming around in the dark looking for yourself, like most of us are, then you might just find yourself in this book.
Give it a go!
An easy 5 stars.
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
I’d like to thank Lovebookstours for allowing me to be part of this tour! I received a free copy of this book for review purposes. Views and opinions are my own and have not been influenced by anyone.
I've really enjoyed taking part in this Readalong during April.
I found the majority of the book really fascinating and although I've already done a fair bit of research and learning into some of the points, there was an awful lot of information that helped to take my level of knowledge in these sections a step or two further.
I found that reading it cover to cover was really fulfilling, but slightly challenging. I do feel that I'd be able to dip back into certain sections and maybe find I take more from it by reading it again, but in smaller sections when needed too.
The book deals mainly with holistic practises and methods but I loved the way that Richard also incorporated a very scientific explanation for many of the areas. It really did solidify the ideas and principles to suit all thinkers. I really enjoyed the sections dealing with nature and natural forces, Yin and Yang energies and chakra plexuses.
An absolutely fascinating read - a real user's guide to life - and one that I know that I'll keep dipping into forever.
Richard Brooks has created the ultimate guide to ourselves in this non-fiction read. Combining 25 years of experience in yoga, meditation, Chinese medicine, dance and movement Brooks helps the reader to feel more in tune with their mind, body and soul.
I certainly gained a greater knowledge around yin and yang, the five elements and how to live in tune with them, how my mind works and the connection that has to my body. It’s so easy to get caught up in day to day life without really noticing how it is affecting us both physically and mentally. I’ve certainly seen the benefit of becoming more present and grounded after reading this book.
I don’t often read non-fiction, but as a yoga teacher, I could not pass this up! This book takes a deep dive into your soul, Yin and Yang, meditation, and so much more. If you don’t have at least one ah-ha moment, go back and read it again! I definitely recommend reading this slowly, so that you can take it all in. There are useful exercises in each chapter, be sure and give them all some thought. I really enjoyed the parallels between this book and a course I’m taking on Mindfulness, but you don’t need to be a yoga teacher to even a yoga student to truly appreciate this book. Thank you to the author and Love Books Tours for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed the book a lot as it covered so many different aspects to help with your wellbeing. There was some information I was aware of but so much I wasn't. Richard writes very passionately and informatively and he provides links for further reading. At the end of the chapters there are exercises which I found some of them useful.
I especially enjoyed the chapters on yin and yang and the 5 elements. These have given me an opportunity to reflect on what affects me.
I did, however, feel that there was so much information I could not take it all in but I can pick up the book again and dip in and out of it at my leisure.
I am so glad I had the opportunity to read this amazing book. I found so many things. I started my spiritual journey a year ago but I took just baby steps because of my busy schedule. This book helped me with more informations. I never new that we are connected to the seasons and that help us to find more about us, to understand us better. Also I knew about the five elements but I never thought those are connected with our organs. I have to check on the wood element more because I had problems with my gallbladder and now with my liver. I should try yoga more to relax my body and mind especially in these days when I feel so tired physical and mental.