13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do: Take Back Your Power, Embrace Change, Face Your Fears and Train Your Brain for Happiness and Success

I’ve read a lot of self-help, but Morin’s approach actually stuck with me because it focuses on what *not* to do. It’s easy to list good habits, but identifying the mental drains—like resenting other people's success or dwelling on the past—is where the real work happens. Personally, the chapter on not expecting immediate results was a huge 'aha' moment for me. I tend to give up when I don't see progress in a week, and this book gave me the perspective shift I desperately needed. It’s written in a very accessible way, not too academic, which I appreciated. If you’re feeling stuck or just need a mental 'spring cleaning,' I honestly think this is a great place to start. It doesn't solve every problem, but it definitely gives you the tools to stop sabotaging your own growth. Definitely worth the read if you want something practical.

Honestly, I wasn't expecting much, but this book really changed the way I see my daily problems. I’ve always been a bit of a people-pleaser, and the chapter on not worrying about pleasing everyone was exactly what I needed to hear. It’s not just 'don't do it,' she actually explains why we do it and how it drains our energy. The writing style is very straightforward and easy to understand, which I appreciated. I didn't feel like I was being lectured to by an academic; it felt more like a conversation with a wise friend who isn't afraid to tell you the truth. It’s definitely a book I’ll be revisiting whenever I feel my mental strength starting to wane. It’s rare to find a self-help book that is this direct and actionable.

Short, sweet, and to the point. I’ve read a lot of self-help books that are 400 pages of fluff, but this one gets right to the meat of the matter. Each chapter addresses a specific behavior and gives you a clear path to change it. I loved the 'Aha' moments throughout, especially regarding how we often give away our power without even realizing it. It’s really helped me stop dwelling on things that happened years ago and focus on what I can do today. Highly recommend for anyone who wants to take control of their life and stop making the same mistakes over and over! It’s one of the few books that I’ve actually finished and immediately recommended to my sister.

This was the first non-fiction self-help book I’ve actually finished in years. I’m a naturally negative person (admittedly!), and I realized while reading this that I was throwing myself 'self-pity parties' way too often. Morin’s point about bad habits being the thing that holds us back—even if we have good habits too—really hit home. It’s like trying to drive with the emergency brake on. I’ve started applying the 'calculated risks' principle to my job search, and it’s already making a difference in my confidence levels. It's not a magic cure for everything, but it’s a solid manual for building a tougher, more resilient mindset. Five stars from me for actually providing steps that I could use the next day.

This was a solid read with some very practical takeaways. I specifically liked the structure of each chapter; Morin ends them with a 'What's Helpful' and 'What's Not Helpful' section that makes it easy to review the main points. Some of the advice felt like common sense—don't make the same mistakes over and over, don't worry about pleasing everyone—but seeing them laid out like this makes you realize how often you actually fall into these traps. I felt like the writing was a bit dry in places, and some of the stories about successful people like Oprah felt a bit recycled, but the core message is strong. It’s a good book to keep on your shelf for those days when you feel like you’re spiraling into self-pity and need a quick reality check. It's not groundbreaking, but it is useful.

As someone in a leadership position, I found this book surprisingly relevant to my professional life. It’s less about 'fixing' yourself and more about refining your mindset to handle stress and change more effectively. The chapter on not shying away from change was particularly relevant to my current situation at work. While I think some of the 'mental strength' terminology can be a bit harsh, the underlying principles are sound. I did feel that some chapters were stronger than others—the section on calculated risks was great, while the one on 'not feeling the world owes you anything' felt a little preachy to me personally. Overall, it’s a quick, well-paced read that offers actionable advice without getting bogged down in too much psychological jargon. It helped me reframe how I approach team failures.

Amy Morin’s personal story is heartbreaking, and her ability to turn that grief into a framework for resilience is genuinely impressive. You can tell she’s speaking from experience, not just from a textbook. I think this book is most useful for people who are generally doing okay but feel like they’ve hit a plateau or have a few 'bad habits' they can't quite shake. I personally struggled with the chapter on alone time, and her insights there were quite eye-opening. However, I’ll admit it’s not for everyone. If you’re in the middle of a deep clinical depression or processing heavy childhood trauma, this might feel a bit too 'tough love.' But for a general audience looking to toughen up their mental game, it’s a very worthwhile read. It’s concise and hits the points it needs to hit.

Good book, though I would recommend the physical copy over the audiobook. The author narrates it herself, and while she's clearly knowledgeable, the delivery was a bit flat for my taste and lacked that professional polish. Content-wise, it’s a great summary of behavioral therapy principles. It doesn't necessarily break new ground, but it compiles everything into a very digestible format. I found myself highlighting a lot in the 'Don't Waste Energy on Things You Can't Control' section. It's a great reminder that while we can't control the weather or other people's reactions, we can control our own responses. It’s a very practical guide that focuses on small, incremental changes rather than an overnight transformation. Solid four stars for the content alone.

I really wanted to like this, especially after hearing about the author’s personal tragedies, but it felt incredibly dismissive. Morin uses this 'buck up' tone that might work for someone looking for a little productivity boost, but for anyone dealing with genuine trauma or complex mental health issues, it borders on victim-blaming. The analogy she used about the guy going to the gym but eating donuts on the way home was particularly frustrating—it’s such a reductionist view of how mental health works. It felt like a collection of 1950s clichés repackaged for a corporate audience. I didn't find the advice on 'not giving away your power' helpful when the 'how-to' part was basically just telling you to stop being upset. If you want something with more empathy and clinical depth, I’d suggest looking elsewhere. This felt very surface-level.

This book felt like it was written for a corporate seminar rather than for real people with real life struggles. The '13 things' are basically just a list of ways to be a more efficient worker bee. I found the tone to be quite cold, and the emphasis on 'mental strength' felt like it was stigmatizing anyone who shows vulnerability or takes time to process their emotions. She tells us not to be self-pitying, but her definition of self-pity seems to include just about any form of sadness or frustration. It lacks the warmth and empathy you find in authors like Brene Brown. If you want a checklist of how to act like a robot and 'pull yourself up by your bootstraps,' this is for you. Otherwise, skip it. I honestly felt worse after reading it.