BOOK REVIEW

A wide-ranging plan for increasing mindfulness in daily life.

 

Certified holistic health counselor Sokolova declares at the outset of her nonfiction debut that it’s her hope to share with her readers the “radiant health, enjoyable nutrition, and a lovable lifestyle” that she’s pursued and studied her entire life. She invites readers to join her on a quest for a deeper sense of happiness, which she defines as “creativity, a healthy mind, abundance, and growth.” She touts a long list of benefits that can specifically result from embracing mindfulness on a day-to-day basis, such as improved sleep, reduced stress, better decision-making ability, greater productivity, and healthier eating habits. Using aspects of the “two extraordinary philosophies” that have influenced her the most—the Chinese practice of finding harmony in one’s environment known as feng shui, and the minimalist organizational methods of bestselling author and TV personality Marie Kondo—Sokolova explores the nature of her own mindful worldview, which she applies to such topics as managing personal finances and dealing with adverse health issues. Along the way, she touches on such topics as numerology and tarot card reading, which she calls “navigational tools that can help us choose a better life direction.” Each chapter opens with a few inspirational quotes and contains many bulleted points for easier retention, and there are even a few recipes to try. This all results in a high readable work in which Sokolova assumes a rhetorical position of a wise, enthusiastic guide and coach. Throughout, she effectively stresses joy and gratitude, encouraging her readers to focus on every detail of their lives, from work to diet and nutrition, in their journey toward healthier living. She takes an upbeat but realistic tone—mentioning, for instance, that happiness can only come about through “inner work”—and this is likely to appeal to experienced self-help readers.

 

A brisk and brightly inviting call to simplify and revivify one’s existence.