The Manual by Ruby Wax

Reviewed by Charlotte Goldthorpe

Comedian and author Ruby Wax’s latest book is described as the ‘only manual you’ll need to help you upgrade your mind’. I was compelled to order the book after seeing a tweet from Ruby and am so glad I did.

In the book, Ruby is joined by a neuroscientist and Buddhist monk to answer every question you’ve ever had about: evolution, thoughts, emotions, the body, addictions, relationships, kids and the future.

Neuroscientist Ashish Ranpura explains what makes us ‘us’ in the brain, and Buddhist monk Gelong Thubten explains how the mind works. Mixed with Ruby’s ability to make you laugh out loud, it’s a fascinating and joyful read which really made me think about aspects of my life and how I deal with negative thoughts and feelings.

I found the book easy to read, with each chapter focusing on a different topic such as compassion and forgiveness. It’s also easy to dip in and out of the chapters that relate to you most at a specific time in your life. 

All the topics lead to the practice of mindfulness, so at the back of the book you’ll find some exercises to try out for yourself. Commenting about mindfulness, Ruby says: “Practising it is the only way I know to be able to find some peace in a world that’s not peaceful.”

I would highly recommend this book to everyone. It’s a practical and humorous manual to help guide you through life.

Marks out of 5? 5