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Wilson shares ideas from a place of genuine care, making intentional living feel both achievable and human.
Feature image credit: Murdoch Books
A Brain That Breathes is filled with essential habits that support happiness and health in a world that prioritises productivity. It is a book that will meet you where you are at and continue to reinforce any good habits you already have by further rationalising your choices and routines. In addition, it introduces other ideas to explore, should you feel the need to do so. As a compassionate author, Jodi Wilson gives you permission to do this at your own pace.
Although on reading the first few chapters I initially thought this might be another generic toxic positivity guidebook, it soon became surprisingly practical. The best part of Wilson’s approach is how much she emphasises what we can easily get done in just a short period of time, which, over time, adds up to quite a lot. Having regularly embraced this approach across multiple tasks over the years myself, I have seen the benefits firsthand, so the constant thread of this advice (doing things piecemeal) feels like wisdom shared in a genuine way. It also makes her advice particularly palatable for Gen Z, having grown up in an era of immediacy and instant gratification. As such, her book is relatable and accessible for all ages.
More importantly, her ideas are backed up by science; alternatively, she provides cultural approaches for comparison, with several examples. Rather than simply making claims, Wilson strongly and convincingly validates her points with data, which makes the book feel credible rather than preachy or woo-woo. As an avid reader, I really liked the part where she mentioned reading is both healing and restorative, as I had always just considered it a leisure activity. Predictably, she goes in-depth about the damaging effects of mindless scrolling and social media addiction, providing tips on how to limit the use of distracting technologies.
The structure of the book is worth mentioning: It’s really easy to read, with chapters succinct enough to avoid feeling overwhelming, allowing you to read it over several sittings and in the future, easily return to relevant topics. Each chapter ends with a “five ways to,” which works better than a traditional chapter summary because these are precise, actionable steps you can definitively take. Effectively, the structure practices what she preaches.
Wilson is a yoga teacher, postpartum doula, and respected health journalist. A Brain That Breathes is her fourth book. Having also appeared in The Guardian and ABC, a large part of her self-care model is grounded in sound evidence drawn from neuroscience and evolutionary biology. It is a great read for yourself, or a gift for that stressed out and over productive person you know!
Reviewed by Rebecca Wu
The views expressed in this review belong to the author and not Glam Adelaide, its affiliates, or employees.
Distributed by: Murdoch BooksReleased: January 2026RRP: $34.99
