The sections about how the brain works, ways of thinking; and how we set off certain patterns of behaviour were really interesting and sometimes challenging. I think the mindfulness variations are useful although one particularly aggravated my depression so approach with caution if you have known triggers. It gets points for that. I also liked that Wax’s personal story was spread through the book evenly and were very short. You get your insights without learning the name of every cat she’s ever owned.

Wax uses a lot of ablest (ironic) and lowkey racist throwaway comments that are possibly more noticeable in audiobook where she reads them with alacrity. She draws attention to difference for laughs and there were a number of times I was uncomfortable engaging with it. It seems to come from the same place as the sharpness she presents her own story from but it jars. I didn’t enjoy impressions of Chinese accents or background bitching about people’s bodies.