"This is the worst book that I will read in 2025. I can write this with confidence - in January - because it is one of the worst books I have read in my life, and I have just turned 56.

If you want to understand how Donald Trump became President... If you want to understand why there is a focus on influencers rather than intelligent people who know what they are doing... If you want to understand the decontexualization of poverty or homelessness... Then this is your book.

What is happening? Let's do this...

We have an under-performing, under-educated woman summoning under-refereed research to offer a commentary about life. Her own life has been punctuated by a series of failures. Yet she then uses these failures from her husband and children to create a 'theory.'

Please note: the word 'theory' is used in the title. This is not a 'theory'. What is offered is a vibe. An opinion. A data set of one. The idea that readers know so little that this vibe is accepted as a theory - shows why we are in the mess we are in...

Let's present some evidence about this book... Which is what this book does not do.

Here are the edited highlights of this book:

“How I changed my life�

“I knew I wanted to teach the 5 second rule full time and somehow make this my career, but I didn’t know how. l Looking back, I can see how paralysed I was with imposter syndrome. What right did I have to call myself an expert in anything?�

“When people would ask if I had a Ph.D or if I was a therapist, I would say, “No, I learned everything the hard way � by screwing up my own life and then having to fix it�

“I’ve been told over and over again that I have this amazing ability to distill complex ideas and scientific research into simple, actionable advice that anyone can use to improve their life�

“I have made it my mission to find and share many simple tools to help anyone create a better life�

“The truth is, other people hold no real power over you unless you give it to them�

“No matter what is happening � you still hold the power�

“People do what they feel like doing�

“Let Them struggle�

"Chris [her husband] had developed a major problem with alcohol. He was drinking away the stress and engaging in other self-destructive behaviors. He was depressed, anxious, and knew he could no longer live like this�

“I was speaking to my therapist, Anne, about this.�

“You have the power."

“You can have the life you’ve always wanted. You can be a millionaire.�

“No one else can stop you. It’s all on you.�

My new t-shirt slogan in life is - things could be worse. You could be Chris. You could be married to Mel Robbins and have your life, and your weaknesses and fears presented in a truly rubbish self help book.

On behalf of all the people who have lost their lives through homelessness, grief, tragedy and death, you know what, Mel? Sometimes, we don't have the power. Sometimes, we don't want to be a millionaire. Sometimes, we have been treated like rubbish by late capitalism and lost our lives, our love, our hopes, our future.

Let them in not a theory. It is nonsense. It is a vibe. She has thrown her own family under a bus to offer an opinion.

This book is a warning for academics. Actual scholars. Not #randoms doing Ted talks. If we do not disseminate our research widely and appropriately, a mediocre woman whose career highlight is a Ted talk and an Oprah interview will end up offering advice to the next generation.

Let's not - Let Them. Let's commit to research. Let's commit to theory. Let's commit to interpretation. Let's commit to ideas beyond an individual. Let's understand history and geography and meaning.

Let us be defiant scholars. Who believe in the world. Not rehashing the stories of one woman and her family.

Chris - we're with you."