REVIEW: Thinking Lies by David Hulman

Firstly I have to apologise to my readers for not posting anything for so long. Secondly I have to apologise to readers of the bookshelf on the Marketing floor at work. I have deprived you of great books, for months, and had them instead sitting on my bookshelf, riddled with markers as I promised myself one day to write a review.

That day has finally come. A little less than a year ago, I went on a self-help book binge. I didn't have a TV or a live-in boyfriend to occupy my time so I turned to books to learn more about myself and the world.

The first book I'll tell you about today is one which I read after briefly having met the author. And I use those word loosely: he worked in my organisation and gave a speech to the graduates at an offsite development day. While it's too long ago to remember the exact content, he was engaging although occasionally for what felt like  deliberately provocative aggression (at one point when his planned music came on fairly quietly through the speakers in the huge room, he said something along the lines of "This is shit", a cheap joke at the expense of the organisers). Putting that aside, the idea was fascinating and inspiring. Here he was, perhaps only a year older than me and he had already published his own book, not only overcoming his own personal struggles but trying to help others with theirs!

Thinking Lies: Learning How to Believe in Yourself by David Hulman

​This book is a snappy, digestible introduction to the most famous techniques of self-belief and self-actualisation, but narrated with David's personal experience and perspective. Some of my favourite gems, without giving it all away:

• The "King of the World Moment" which is about visualising your desired state so much that you find yourself changing and taking action towards its manifestation.
• "We are our own worst enemy, limiting ourselves or being afraid of things that don't really carry any threat", the answer? Loving yourself, even if it sounds cringe-worthy and very un-British.
• "If we are going to fail, we should fail at something we love" because in this uncertain world, even playing it safe and not putting yourself out there has risks

And so many more practical exercises that you can do to build your self-belief - and even if you already think your self-belief is pretty strong, it's okay to build upwards anyway. David's exercises are really compelling. there was one that resonated so strongly with me I thought it deserved more than a scribble in my notebook, it could one day become a painting I do that means something to me.

When I finished devouring the book, I reread the back cover which says it is "aimed specifically at those aged 16-25" but then in the same paragraph says "everybody wants to believe in themselves". Maybe his publisher made him specify an audience for this book, or maybe he decided this for himself. I couldn't help but wonder if this was another of his "thinking lies" - that no-one older than him would find his advice credible. But that's not true, it truly is valid for everyone, so embrace it David.


Just to be cheeky, I'm going to post my next book review in a separate article. One message per element and all that ;)

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