This self-help book is full of so many good parables. I think my personal favorite one was the one about the fisherman and the entrepreneur. Overall, there were lots of good messages in this, but there were some things that weren't my favorite. For one, this felt a bit repetitive and drawn out. Two, there were some practical applications of concepts but I really appreciate self-help books that include lists of practical steps or just include more practical steps. The author did try to address mental health and the hopeless-seeming situations some people feel stuck in, but I always worry about these types of books giving the impression that everyone, no matter their situation, can just up and decide to have a better life. That's not the intention, for sure, but I feel like the struggle of it should be emphasized a bit more. Additionally, I think acknowledging how strong people have to be to overcome those things is soooo important, instead of just saying that people can overcome those situations and failing to truly get a grasp on the difficulty of that uphill climb. That being said, there was still lots of good food for thought in this book and I took many notes!

This book was a DNF for me. I love a good personal development book but this one I felt was extremely redundant. It kept making the same points over and over again just using different stories for examples. Some points were informative and made sense but after getting halfway through and reading the same thing I was unable to finish.

Harness the Power of the Invincible Mind: Spatial Strategy to Success and Happiness by Alex Neumann is a well-written self-help book that will help you pull up your bootstraps and get on with life. The book begins with framing adversity in a new way, looking at examples of adversity throughout history that actually challenged mankind and allowed for progress. A good example is how crops were grown, yet when there was a drought, humans figured out how to work around that, when there are bugs or vermin in crops during storage, storage solutions were improved. These examples provide powerful examples of the human ability to overcome regardless of how pleasant we want our lives to be. The author fully shares his insights and perspectives teaching you the reader to re-frame your brain and your experience. The book encourages you to step out of your comfort zone, challenges your preconceived notions, and look at your life in a new way. Great book that introduces solid and concrete advice that is both usable and actionable. Highly recommend.

This is a treasure of a book as it condenses helpful tips along with wonderful anecdotes on achieving a healthy mindset, building confidence and living a purposeful life. I enjoyed the format as I can pick it up for a few minutes or for hours. The author's perspective with regard to adversity is enlightening and straight forward with stories to further his point. Thank you to Pearson Press, NetGalley and Alex Newmann for the opportunity to read this book for my review.

I liked this book for its simple writing. It didn't have any complex concepts and no complex explanations. It was written in such simple manna er that anyone could understand. So, I'd say this is a fine book for self-help book beginners.

The book has many wonderful quotes and shares many real-life experiences. It is a fun read.

4/5 stars!

“You are not what happens to you. You are far greater than the sum of all events and circumstances that happen in your life. Don't identify with them. Rise above them!”

This is one of those books you will always want to keep near you. In fact, I swear this book came to me in the best time possible. I like to think of myself as a positive person, but the truth is that sometimes we go through phases in life that bring us down and make us question some things. Fortunately for me, there were some great things in this book that reminded me to put things in perspective and to reset my mindset.
I feel like the title doesn’t convey the true meaning of the book because when I first read it I was expecting a technical, rigid book... but instead I got a nice, wholesome conversation. It was easy for me to comprehend a lot of things the author said because I already try to follow this kind of mindset in my life, but I think this book would open a lot of people's eyes to their attitudes and thoughts.
The book is composed of ten chapters and a small conclusion, focusing on different essential aspects that contribute to our happiness. I personally identified better with topics like how you shouldn’t care about other people’s opinions and to not let fear stop you from your goals, because that was what I needed to hear - or in this case, read. One thing I also liked about this book is how it’s filled with stories and examples. The author reinforces his lessons through both fictitious and real inspirational stories. Every story presented went really well with what the author was trying to say, and I appreciate how he incorporated people from different backgrounds (from fashion to technology)!
There is just one thing I wish was different. I had the opportunity to read a finished, published copy, so I was surprised to find some errors throughout the book. Not only that, but I found sentences that didn’t make a lot of sense and were written in a confusing way. It was nothing too bad and I was able to understand everything, but unfortunately this makes the book look a bit unprofessional. I wish the book was revised a few more times before actually being released to the market, but in all honesty it was not a huge deal to me because I was more focused on the content and these things can easily be fixed in the next edition.
I’m not sure if an audiobook version is available, but I think it would be a great option to consider when picking up this book. Like I said, the book feels like a conversation, so I think that would work well in that specific format. Despite the errors, I honestly think the book is really good and it’s completely worth reading. It’s motivating and very easy to read and to go through. It’s one of those books you can (and should) revisit from time to time, just so you can refocus on what’s really important. I recommend it for everyone who wants to live their best, happiest life!

Neumann shares wisdom from his life journey. When he was a young man, he wanted to change the world. Now, as “a bedridden sick older man,” he realizes if he had focused on changing himself, it would have had far reaching effects. (118/318)

He shares stories. Lots and lots of stories. For readers of personal improvement books, these stories will be well known. He explores the meaning of success. He investigates perceptions and thoughts and beliefs. I like his emphasis on the importance of the everyday decisions we make. They may seem small but they have an impact on the world.

The book contains lots of encouragement. For example: “Kick the obstacles; if they won't move, climb on them, if this is not possible, go around them, if that is not possible, rise above them.” (200/318) How you accomplish any of those tasks is left to you to figure out.

This is a good book for readers new to ones about personal improvement. It is good encouragement to be a lasting inspirations to others even if it is light on the practical means to do so.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

4 Stars // 80%
Harness the Power of the Invincible Mind is the sort of self-help book I'd recommend to everyone, regardless of age or reading tastes. It's short but packs a lot of punch into its 200 pages, and the charming yet easily digestible prose provides insights that can help anyone build a strong, invincible mind. Though I breezed through it relatively quickly, it's really best read one chapter at a time right before you sleep or right after you wake up.

The best parts of this book are the anecdotes. Rather than muddying the text with incomprehensible scientific studies, Neumann takes time-tested stories and proverbs and sprinkles them throughout the pages, emphasizing important themes with inspirational heroics from all backgrounds and religions. It felt like I was talking to some wise old sage. I would not normally suggest cutting out the middleman that is peer-reviewed articles and statistics, but by doing just that in this book, Neumann connected with the reader on a more personal level.

My only complaint is that some sections did feel redundant. The author repeats the notion of overcoming your adversity by "[shaking] it off and [stepping] up" many times (though it could be intentional). This phrase slipped into chapters that were not about adversity at all, making Harness the Power feel less like a list of ideas and more a theme and a group of variations. I can appreciate that, but I did want more strategies rather than a central mantra or motif.

Overall, this is a well-written book with many great nuggets of wisdom. I already know that I'm going to come back to certain passages when I need advice—the passages about open-mindedness, living without bias, and learning from criticism resonated with me in particular. If you are tired of generic, statistics-heavy self-help books that lack passion and the human element, Harness the Power of the Invincible Mind will satisfy you with its humanity and honesty. Many thanks to the author for providing me with a review copy!

I've read a ton of self-help, and this has lots of helpful reminders (that is really what self-help is these days). It has lots of short stories to make a point, and I like that the author does not come off as pretentious. Readers are bound to find something helpful here, and most of the stories are entertaining.

Thanks very much for the review copy!!

I have to admit that I was expecting something completely different from what I found reading Neumann’s book. This tempers my review and in my mind, perhaps the title oversells the content.

For some reason, the notion of “Harness the Power” led me to think that the author would have a narrative deeply rooted in psychology and behavioral science. This, in turn, might lead to exercises that the reader could use to make behavioral changes or changes in his/her worldview. All the time, the material is reinforcing the message that each of us is mentally strong and has the power for great success.

What I found instead, was a series of chapters, each with a subsection with anecdotes that Neumann uses to try to support his argument, for example, “Shake it off and step up” in the Chapter “Ride Your Adversity.” This seems rather obvious to me, but on the other hand, there may be people that need to hear the message in a very down-to-earth way with simple anecdotes.

If you view the book this way, it is a good attempt at a practical self-help book. The messages are not bad, but I found the stories/anecdotes to be shallow and could have used some more depth. A good example of an accessible self-help book that was - and perhaps still is - very popular is “The Road Less Traveled” by M. Scott Peck, still in the top 20 of two Amazon categories

I think it is the subtitle that confuses me - While I understand “Success and Happiness,” I did not see where “Spatial Strategy” figured in the book. It was the idea of “Strategy” that made me think there were to be exercises or techniques the reader could use to achieve his/her goals.

I applaud Neumann for contributing “Harness the Power” to the self-help literature. It is quite accessible, although I think the anecdotes are not deep enough to make the arguments. While I still like “The Road Less Traveled” better, any truly accessible book is good.

I would like to thank Pearson and NetGalley for the copy. I have volunteered to write this review.

*This book was kindly sent to me by Alex Neumann in exchange for an honest review.

I recently go contacted by Alex Neumann, the author of Harness the Power of the Invincible Mind who kindly sent me a paperback version of his book. I was a little afraid in the beginning as to me, self-help books are all one or the other. This one was actually very interesting (4 stars, you guessed it!) and I would like to share with you a little more about it.

A rather short book everyone can read.

The book runs on a little bit less than 200 pages, which is quite « normal » for a self-help book. I like it because I tend to get bored when self-help books are 300+ pages: I do not really know why, but it just happens. Thus, I think the size of this one is perfect: long enough to convey its message (we will go back to the message later in the review) but short enough not to get boring.

I can’t, however, not tell you that the « format » of the book surprised me. This is actually the only « negative » point I will give to it, even though it is only my thoughts and can totally be different for you. The chapters are indeed subdivided in subchapters, which is fine (you know how much I love organization!) but my problem is that paragraphs are… really short. I mean, paragraphs take around three lines and then, there is a little blank space and the next paragraph starts. Personally, I would have organized the paragraphs differently, maybe using less paragraphs and packing similar ideas together. It Is obviously not a « big » problem as it did not prevent me from enjoying the book but my academic brain is just too focused on the form of books not to mention it in the review.


An interesting way to convey a message: from the particular to the general.

Let’s go back to what I like because I love writing about it far more than about what I like less. I really enjoyed how the author demonstrated his point by using particular experiences. He talks about one to three celebrities (Steve Jobs, Michael Jordan etc.) and then takes a universal tip out of their experience. I found that really interesting as, first, he uses people who succeeded in different realms (so that everyone can relate to at least one example) and then, it helps make the whole book less theoretical, something I have a problem with in most self-help books.

Using folklore and stories to convey the message

His other way to convey his messages is using little proverbs and stories coming from different countries, which I really enjoyed. It is a way to change a little bit from people’s experience and make it all a little bit « lighter » and more digest. We really feel by reading all of these stories that this book is a summary of the author’s life experiences, which I found really interesting in itself. You have understood it: one of the goals of the book is to share one point of view created through one lifetime.

Debunking market success

Last but not least, I would like to talk about the « message »  of the book. There are many « submessages » that I will not cover with you today but one of the things I loved is that the main message is really connected to my own beliefs.
The book redefines « success » by showing that « market success » is a fallacy. I can’t tell you it is an ode to minimalism, it would be false and just an interpretation, but at least it debunks the myth of « earning more to be happier ». It is my kind of self-help book, a book that does not get into the « Hustle society ». Reading this book is a good way to be reminded of what is important (and what Is not).

I would say that what I love even more than this « non-hustle » related vision of success is the honesty of the author. Usually, when a book goes against the « hustle society », we are told that living naked in the forest is the solution. Even though you can totally choose to live naked in a forest somewhere, I do not think it is relatable for most people. What I love here is that the author says clearly that money is important, but explains why it should not be at the core of our definition of « success ».

The recurring idea of the author is « shake it off and step up! », a sentence you will understand form the very beginning of the book. Basically, you need to learn to use adversity and hardships in order to build your success. You can’t just be « born successful » and you need to change your mindset: failure and adversity aren’t a problem, they are a way (to get better).

Harness the Power of the Invincible Mind: Spatial Strategy to Success and Happiness by Alex Neumann is a motivational book about throwing away old misconceptions and using a new strategy in order to move forward. This book successfully uses many examples and interesting anecdotal stories to make its point. I

There are ten chapters in this book. I identified more with some of them than others. One of the main lessons that impacted me in this book is Ride Your Adversity. I would interpret it as Do Not Fear or Wallow in Adversity. Extreme fear of failure can result in stagnation, cowering in fear, or refusing to move forward. Basically, fear of failure can lead to failure. Wallowing in adversity can lead to an unhappy, stagnant life. Learning from your adversity can give you success in the future.

Another strong message I got from this book is, basically, Don’t Be Afraid To Try. Among the anecdotal examples are the following: Michael Jordan missed 9000 shots while having one of the most, if not the most, successful basketball careers in history. Einstein and Beethoven were deemed failures before they achieved greatness. JK Rowling came from poverty and was living on public assistance. This book gives many other interesting and compelling anecdotes to make its points in a very successful way.

There are also lessons that I enjoyed on learning to say No and what happens when you try to control everything.

Harness the Power of the Invincible Mind contains some Buddhist principles, and I am a Christian, but there are still some helpful strategies that anyone of any faith can use to overcome setbacks and move on to a happy and successful life right now.

I found this book, and its anecdotal stories, to be interesting and helpful. I would recommend it to everyone, but especially those who are feeling hurt and discouraged.

I received a free copy of this book from Alex Neumann via Netgalley. My review is voluntary.

A brilliant and very inspiring book. It's written for all generations. It's a good read that made me think from a new angle on everything.