Is this book for you?
The Mountain Is You
Read it if…
- You keep getting close to what you want, then somehow pull back.
- You know what you should change but can't make yourself do it.
- You put things off and can't work out why.
- You like books with journal prompts and exercises to work through.
- You're new to self-help and want something short and readable.
Watch the summary
What the book is about
The Mountain Is You is a book about self-sabotage: why we do it, when we do it and how to stop. Brianna Wiest’s central point is that the thing standing between you and the life you want is usually you, not your circumstances or other people.
She uses the mountain as a picture for that inner block. Climbing it means looking honestly at your habits, understanding the fears behind them and learning to act as the person you want to become. The book’s closing idea is that you don’t really master the mountain. You master yourself.
What’s inside
Two needs at war Self-sabotage happens when you hold two needs at once that pull in opposite directions, so part of you resists the change you say you want.
Habits that protect you Wiest argues that self-sabotaging behaviour is your mind trying to shield you from a fear, not proof that something is wrong with you.
Name what isn’t working A simple first step: write down everything in your life you’re unhappy with, so you can see where you actually are.
Rock bottom as a turning point Hitting a low point isn’t failure. It can be the moment you stop, reflect and decide to change.
Intuition or fear Learning to tell your gut sense of what to do apart from your fears is how you start making better choices.
Letting go of stored feelings Emotions you never process stay with you and colour how you think, speak and relate to people, so the book shows you how to release them.
Small steps that last Real change comes from small actions you can keep up over time, not big dramatic resets.
Your future self The aim is to make decisions as the person you’re becoming, so the mountain eventually ends up behind you.
Who wrote it
Brianna Wiest is a bestselling writer and poet who writes about emotional intelligence, mindfulness, spirituality and self-improvement. She has a degree in professional writing. Her other books include 101 Essays That Will Change The Way You Think, When You’re Ready, This Is How You Heal and The Pivot Year, and her writing is widely shared on social media.
What readers are saying
What they love: Readers say it’s short, clear and easy to follow, which makes it a good first self-help book. Many say her real-life examples helped them spot exactly where they were holding themselves back. They value the journal prompts, breathing and visualisation exercises, and the calm, comforting tone. Plenty say they’ve gone back to it more than once, and some listened to the audiobook twice in a row.
Quick facts
- Author
- Brianna Wiest
- Publisher
- Thought Catalog Books
- Length
- 248 pages, seven chapters
- Published
- 29 May 2020 (paperback)
- Formats
- Paperback, ebook and audiobook, read by Stacey Glemboski
- Recognition
- International bestseller
- Reading time
- Around 4 to 5 hours (the audiobook runs about 5 hours 45 minutes)
- Difficulty
- Easy to read, but asks you to reflect honestly
Our verdict
If you keep getting in your own way and can't work out why, this book will change how you see those habits. Brianna Wiest shows that self-sabotage is really two needs pulling against each other, and that the habit is trying to protect you. It suits anyone who likes to read slowly with a notebook, working through her prompts as they go. The audiobook, read by Stacey Glemboski, runs under six hours.
WillYouRead.com is independent and not affiliated with the author or publisher. This page is not medical advice. If you're struggling with your mental health, please speak to your GP.
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