THE THIRD PERSPECTIVE

A London-based life developmental coach and consultant shares her experiences in learning to live fearlessly and authentically.

After a “disastrous life” struggling with alcohol addiction and a crippling identity crisis, Brooke, a sober Black woman and social justice awareness advocate, writes about recognizing personal inconsistencies in her self-expressions and behavior. Throughout the process of correcting these contradictions, she learned important lessons about the damaging effects of close-mindedness and unaddressed internal intolerance. “I had unknowingly neglected my innate curiosity, empathy and understanding—especially when it meant understanding viewpoints that didn’t align with my agenda,” she writes. Her three-part narrative addresses how cultivating sincere beliefs, responsibility, and expression can encourage participation in difficult conversations, cultivate mutual respect and connection with others, and show us ways to “laugh at our own absurdity.” Brooke uses her real-world experiences as a former “blackout drinker” as an example of how powerful self-deception can be and how she overcame fear and denial. She discusses the importance of standing one’s ground and taking responsibility for actions, opinions, and behaviors amid phenomenon like cancel culture and online mob mentalities. The harmony achieved through speaking your mind and active listening is precarious, she writes, but it is achievable with mindfulness and practicing the situational exercises she presents throughout the guidebook. The author encourages readers to find their voices, and while noting that speaking one’s mind may not always result in a positive reaction, she shows how it frees the speaker from destructive cycles of self-censorship, self-sabotage, and social repression. To create a springboard for positive open-minded change in the world around us, Brooke advises readers to commit to looking inward and, most importantly, to do the work on ourselves first. Her bold book, though overstuffed with advice, effectively introduces the steps (and the risks) involved in achieving those goals.

Empowering self-improvement guidance geared toward active seekers.