Dawn K. Hammer’s THE GOOD HUMAN has a lofty goal: to help readers become the better, happier, and more harmonious people we all want and deserve to be. It’s certainly an ambitious target, and one shared by the enormous self-help industry as a whole. Standing out in such a competitive market place isn’t easy, but this enjoyable little book has plenty of positives that make it worthy of your time. But first, in the spirit of shedding any negativity before embracing the positive, THE GOOD HUMAN’s most obvious drawback is its brevity. At not an awful lot more than one hundred quick and breezy pages,  Hammer’s work can be consumed quite comfortably in one sitting. Of course, this in itself is not a criticism – in fact the direct, simple language was a breath of fresh air. For anyone looking for a really rigorous, all encompassing guide to self analysis though, this might not be the book for you.

Readers just dipping their toes into the shallow end of the self-help market are likely to find Hammer’s friendly and conversational writing style really accessible. THE GOOD HUMAN’s slightly unwieldy subtitle – 9 Radical Practices to Smash Your Ego, Unleash Your Authentic Self, and Foster Connection in a Divided World – clues the reader in to what to expect, hinting at the book’s three-part format that runs through the foundations, the work involved, and finally the arrival at becoming the good person advertised on the front cover. Hammer’s insights are far from revolutionary, but are articulated well and, crucially, brought to life by some refreshingly honest and relatable real-world examples of how, when and why to apply her methods. The importance and value of breathing, and the clarity and space afforded by deep breathing techniques, wonderfully described by Hammer as “a severing from your ingrained reactions, and time”, are key to much of what she prescribes. Her background as a massage therapist adds extra gravitas to her words on this subject; indeed these thoughts are among some of the most intriguing gathered here.

It’s those experiences from her own life used to illustrate her philosophy that also elevate her message. One particularly insightful anecdote about meeting an initially troublesome fellow writer at a conference, and how simple untethered curiosity resolved this, was truly eye-opening. Just as rewarding is a startlingly honest account of an argument with her teenage son and the path to healing that relationship that, for many readers with children of their own, will be wholly relatable in the first instance and deeply valuable in the second. At its heart, THE GOOD HUMAN is a guide to surviving, improving, and ultimately benefiting from a healthier relationship with our own egos. It’s a great starting point for anyone looking for an introduction to self improvement, and Hammer writes candidly about her own experiences which helps in absorbing the advice that’s on offer.

Dawn K. Hammer’s THE GOOD HUMAN is an enjoyable, relatable, and practical guide to self improvement that benefits from some honest examples of how to apply its most salient messages, though it may be too lightweight for the more dedicated self-help fan.

~Joseph Sharratt for Indie Reader