Not a Life Coach: Are You Ready to Change Your Life? From the Sunday Times No.1 Bestselling Author

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Some of the aspects in the book were interesting and actually made me look at situations in my life differently. Only you can take the reins of your own life and choose to make a change, but with invaluable experience, a hunger for genuine happiness, and a drive to be the kind of coach he needed when his life was broken, James can give you the tools to do it. Let me start by saying I've followed JS for years, love his fitness content, loved his first book and love his general approach to health and fitness advice.

this book is more like a condescending, smug, patronising life guide from a middle class boy who has made money from an early age. This book would have been better titled “Not a Life Coach - Ramblings of a Privileged Middleclass White Man” I am astonished this book got as far as being published. Meditation and mental health were great chapters but the ones that hit home was mindset and motivation.All I saw were people saying that he was talking about social media and just packing a bag and travelling. This book was recommended by a sober group I am a member of, probably because the author is into health and fitness, and understands the psychology of behaviour and behaviour change. James Smith is back to challenge everything you thought you knew about the path to fulfilment and happiness. It may be more difficult if you have other responsibilities but those are a direct result from choices you made. I am not disappointed in this book as I didn’t really have much expectations prior to the purchase, rather I am just educated now as to the actual level of self-deluded grandeur’s Smith has of himself.

From his Facebook Lives with Brian the bird in Bondi to a brief stint as a JSA member during the first Bali competition where I learned all I need to know to maintain and improve my fitness level. Giving it a very generous 2/5 stars here when really it only deserves a one, subjectively speaking of course, objectively I would say this book is good for those who aren't self-aware enough to understand themselves and their own values. This book is useful as an accessible version of the material it references for those who can’t be bothered to read the underlying sources.

Most of the positive psychology anecdotes have been written time and time again and by better authors. Found a few interesting ideas such as James' philosophy on social media use but the majority of this book can be summarized as poor regurgitation of original personal development bestsellers such as "4-hour workweek", "Atomic Habits", "The Subtle Art Of Not Giving A F*ck" etc. The truth is James Smith has no real grasp on what he actually believes or at least he is uncomfortable trying to sell you his actual beliefs, this leads to a scattered and incoherent listen. Not a Diet Book mercilessly takes down every fad diet, workout and health drink you have been sold and instead explains [James’] mission to make understanding weight-loss as two words – calorie deficit.