5 out of 5 Stars!! Easy to read and understand! Read the entire book in 3 days! The fact is that I don’t like to read! But the author is having a nice conversation with you! 5 out of 5 STARS! I’m going to get the audiobook! Great and easy read!!

Dr. Russ Harris has created a monumental work in the self-help and personal development field. If you only use one tenth of the tools and techniques in this book, you will have received many, many times more in value than you paid for this truly remarkable book. There is SO MUCH great content and practical advice here to enrich the lives of readers. The research and readability are exceptional. If this book was recommended to you, then I encourage you to pick it up today and begin reading. I am certain you will not be disappointed. Thank you, Dr. Harris, for this wonderful and enduring gift.

There is a lot of useful information here that is well worth knowing and putting to use. But the author presents the content as if the reader is a firm skeptic who needs endless convincing that ACT is worthwhile. Others might enjoy the very chatty nature of this book but I don't. Reading it, I feel like telling the author, "Ok already, stop trying to convince me with over simplified anecdotes and get to the point." I'd love a shorter version that explains ACT and how to best to use it.

I think the psychotherapists/psychiatrists world hit a milestone with ACT. Clearly, ACT is different from what was proposed until now, and has in my opinion the best approach to all kind of mood disorders. Basically, you defuse unhelpful thoughts, accept negatives emotions and feelings, and live your life according to your defined values in a mindful way in order to attain your goals. This is a whole package for living a better life, and as you notice it won't dig in your past to try to solve your present problems: it just wants to optimize how you leave your life NOW. About the book: This book is a condensed, easy to read, and the perfect choice for someone starting to learn about ACT. Contrarily to many books on the subjects, this book is not for therapists, so a perfect choice for the non professional. Some reproach I can make to this book: - I would have appreciated defusion strategies to disengage from obsessive neutral thoughts: example when we are caught in a pure neutral cognitive process such as a choice to make between A and B that is draining our energy and we can't stop thinking about. -Author decided to rename some of the 6 core principles of ACT. First I think the replacements choices are not pertinent, second it creates confusion when you read other ACT resources. -This is not a remark that concerns only this book but maybe all the ACT approach: ACT never engages in process of creating positive emotions and such, or trying to change your mood and feelings, it rather defuses and accepts. This is a very fine approach, but some recent research on the brain neuroplasticity shows that you can literally rewire the brain to experience positive emotion almost at will which has a very positive effect on mind and body. This aspect is completely left behind by ACT, yet it might be worth considering.

Some of the negative reviews state that the book is meant as an intro, or talks down to you. On the contrary, I've done years of therapy, and the book takes a lot of concepts you may or may not know, and teaches you how to apply them to your situation. Read it, do the activities, and practice practice practice. Like anything that is worth anything, it takes time and practice. No book is going to trasnform your life if you just read it, say hmm, and put it in the shelf. This has been the first self help book I didn't put down and say, "yea great now what". It isn't some BS think positive and your dreams will come true junk. It is reasonable, well thought out, and literally changed my life after years of struggle. But of course you need to apply it and practice, the work is worth it.

As a person who is always overthinking, who has accused my own brain of constantly being “mean to me”, I asked my therapist to recommend a book. I don’t know why, because I’ve never gotten through any book like this before, and I’ve tried many, but I can say this is the most life-changing book I’ve ever read. I have never felt so completely understood. This book is extremely practical and easy to understand. Actually doing the suggested exercises helped a lot. I feel like this is a book that shouldn’t be rushed. It is good, in my opinion, to let each of the ideas “marinate” for awhile! The author encourages it, too. The author periodically reminds the reader not to expect change overnight. Although completely reframing the way you think does take time, I have felt immediate relief from this book. It has helped me also to keep notes in the margins for quick review from time to time. Stop overthinking whether or not to buy this book, or “what if there’s a better book out there?” You won’t regret it!