Mindfulness Schmindfulness

by Alex Harper

FBT review:

Mindfulness Schmindfulness is the anti-guru self-help ebook for people who’ve “failed” at meditation and are tired of being told to sit still and breathe. Blending humor, neuroscience, and real-world hacks, Alex Harper shows you how to find calm without cushions, apps, or retreats. If you love smart, voice-driven indie nonfiction and browse bestseller lists for honest, relatable reads, this book belongs on your Kindle. Discover stress relief you can actually use—while commuting, doing dishes, doomscrolling, or juggling a thousand tabs in your brain. No woo, no guilt, no perfection required. Just practical, flexible attention-training for skeptics, overthinkers, and busy humans who want more peace—on their own terms.

Publisher Description:

Tired of trying to meditate like a serene statue while your mind throws a rave?

You've downloaded the apps, bought the overpriced cushions, maybe even attempted a silent retreat (and snuck out early). You’ve sat cross-legged until your feet tingled, dutifully followed guided meditations (while mentally drafting grocery lists), and berated yourself for failing to “just be present.” Sound familiar? You might be a Mindfulness Dropout.

Welcome to the club! Alex Harper, a fellow meditation failure, knows your pain. After countless failed attempts and the crushing guilt that followed, Harper asked a revolutionary question: What if the problem isn't me? What if the problem is the one-size-fits-all, commodified, Instagram-perfect version of traditional mindfulness we've all been sold?

Introducing Mindfulness Schmindfulness – your official permission slip to find peace without sitting cross-legged. This anti-guru guide is a meditation rebellion for the fidgeters, the skeptics, the chronically busy, and everyone who’s ever felt like they’re just too broken for inner peace. Forget impossible standards and spiritual jargon. It’s time to reclaim mindfulness for beginners and discover what actually works for your real life.

Inside, you'll discover:

Freedom from Mindfulness Shame: Understand why traditional methods fail so many (hint: it’s not your fault!) and ditch the guilt.
Practical Stress Relief: Find peace during your commute, while washing dishes, or between Zoom calls with easy ways to find peace that fit your schedule (some take just five seconds!).
Movement as Meditation: Explore powerful ways to find presence through walking, stretching, and even fidgeting—because sitting still sucks for a lot of us (no meditation mindfulness!).
Mindful Multitasking: Learn how to bring awareness to your busy life without trying to achieve impossible mono-tasking.
A Skeptic's Toolkit: Get straightforward, science-based attention training without the woo-woo.
Digital Mindfulness: Learn to use your devices consciously instead of letting them rule your attention.
Mindfulness Schmindfulness isn't about rejecting awareness—it's about reclaiming it. It’s your guide to finding authentic presence, reducing anxiety, and increasing clarity on your terms. Whether you’re a burned-out high achiever, a stressed parent, or just plain skeptical, it’s time to join the rebellion and discover everyday mindfulness.

Whether you can't sit still, don't have time, or find traditional approaches alienating, Mindfulness Schmindfulness provides practical solutions for real people with real lives. No spiritual bypassing, no toxic positivity, no impossible standards—just straightforward techniques to reduce stress, increase focus, and find genuine calm in a chaotic world.

The mindfulness industrial complex won't approve. Your nervous system will thank you.