Ora Nadrich’s “Live True: A Mindfulness Guide to Authenticity” is her second published work following 2016’s Says Who?: How One Simple Question Can Change the Way You Think Forever. The new work further solidifies her growing standing as one of the most promising authors of self-improvement/self-care texts working today. “Live True…” explores popular lifestyle approaches in our modern culture like mindfulness and authentic living from an individual perspective unlike anyone else writing about the subject. Much of this can be attributed to her shrewd construction of the volume; Nadrich brackets the book into four parts entitled Time, Understanding, Living, and Realization. The chapters contained within each Part explore the respective themes in multi-level fashion without ever overwhelming the reader. Nadrich’s book benefits a great deal from the focus she brings to discussing its topics; there are no extended tangents or outright lapses into self-indulgence. Her discipline as both a thinker and writer is apparent from the beginning and sustained throughout.
It is impressive how Nadrich takes on some of the biggest themes of an individual’s life in a sensible, self aware and always comprehensible fashion. There’s nothing heavy handed about her treatment. She does rely on hallmarks of mindfulness philosophy, like emphasizing the present moment above all else, but there’s none of the pseudo mystical pretentiousness afflicting her writing you will find with others working within the same area. The chapters are rarely lengthy; Nadrich composes in a direct style that engages ideas in an urgent way rather than wasting reader’s time with protracted exposition.
AUTHOR PAGE: https://www.oranadrich.com/live-true
Each chapter of the book ends with a Note to Self, a sort of mantra readers can practice as often as they like, and a step by step meditation connected to the chapter’s subject. The instructions for these meditations are focused and never weighed down with obscure directions or wordiness. The chapters begin with brief epigrams as well, quotes from a variety of sources, but they are never gratuitous and tie in tight with the section’s subject. These additions to “Live True…” are further indications of the thorough instincts for construction Nadrich brings to the book and strengthen its potential for readers.
She is a clear adherent of the Buddhist school of thought and “Live True…” contains a number of references to Eastern philosophy, but there’s never any sense of her proselytizing for a core set of spiritual values. These lessons can, however, further flesh out the ideas and concepts Nadrich promotes throughout the book without ever approaching dogma. Readers can take or leave these moments as they wish without affecting their experience reading and using this book in any adverse way.
AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/Live-True-Mind…
“Live True: A Mindfulness Guide to Authenticity” wants us to find our own path in life and enjoy it in a manner true to ourselves. There are few goals nobler for a written work or an individual. Ora Nadrich accomplishes this without preaching, talking down to readers, wallowing in sentimentality, or drowning in self-importance. She instead has produced a work brimming with intelligence and piercing insight into the human condition that has timeless relevance. It is a masterful and rewarding work.
Jason Hillenburg
