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Mentors: How to Help and Be Helped
Could happiness lie in helping others and being open to accepting help yourself?
Mentors – the follow up to Sunday Times number one bestseller, Recovery – describes the benefits of seeking and offering help.
‘I have mentors in every area of my life, as a comic, a dad, a recovering drug addict, a spiritual being and as a man who believes that we, as individuals and the great globe itself, are works in progress and that through a chain of mentorship we can improve individually and globally, together . . . One of the unexpected advantages my drug addiction granted is that the process of recovery that I practise includes a mentorship tradition.
I will encourage you to find mentors of your own and explain how you may better use the ones you already have. Furthermore, I will tell you about my experiences mentoring others and how invaluable that has been on my ongoing journey to self-acceptance and how it has helped me to transform from a bewildered and volatile vagabond to a (mostly) present and (usually) focussed husband and father.’
Mentors: How to Help and Be Helped describes the impact that a series of significant people have had on the author – from the wayward youths he tried to emulate growing up in Essex, through the first ex-junkie sage, to the people he turns to today to help him be a better father. It explores how we all – consciously and unconsciously – choose guides, mentors and heroes throughout our lives and examines the new perspectives they can bring.
177 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 24, 2019
About the author
Russell Brand
32 books1,638 followersRussell Edward Brand is an English comedian, actor, radio host, author, and activist. Brand dresses in a flamboyant bohemian fashion describing himself as looking like an "S&M Willy Wonka." Brand's current style consists of black eyeliner, drainpipe jeans, Beatle boots, and long, shaggy, backcombed hair.
In October 2010, Brand married pop singer Katy Perry. The two separated in December 2011.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 253 reviews
August 19, 2024
A good book. Don't judge this book by its size, this book. This book contains some condensed in some cases summarised versions of his book Recovery, but it is not the same book.
This is part of Russell's thank you to people who have mentored him and mainly the importance of mentoring and finding the correct mentor. He goes through the characteristics needed, as well as what he learned and then passed on to people he has mentored.
Their is a great chapter on his experience of parenthood, as well as dealing with every parents worst nightmare.
If you are looking for a quick, easy read, this is not the correct book. It is deep in some places, light-hearted in others. Unlike in Revolution where Brand spoke of a revolution to come, but himself was not sure where he was not sure which side he would be classed on when it did come, he know exactly where he stands on the topic of mentoring. How important it is, what people should look for, and it works. He uses himself as an example to illustrate what mentoring has done for him and allowed him to do for others. Like a good teacher, a good mentor not only guides but never stops learning from those he is helping.
This is part of Russell's thank you to people who have mentored him and mainly the importance of mentoring and finding the correct mentor. He goes through the characteristics needed, as well as what he learned and then passed on to people he has mentored.
Their is a great chapter on his experience of parenthood, as well as dealing with every parents worst nightmare.
If you are looking for a quick, easy read, this is not the correct book. It is deep in some places, light-hearted in others. Unlike in Revolution where Brand spoke of a revolution to come, but himself was not sure where he was not sure which side he would be classed on when it did come, he know exactly where he stands on the topic of mentoring. How important it is, what people should look for, and it works. He uses himself as an example to illustrate what mentoring has done for him and allowed him to do for others. Like a good teacher, a good mentor not only guides but never stops learning from those he is helping.
January 31, 2019
Look, lets get this out of the way first - Russell Brand is wordy. He strings out a sentence that could be condensed down into three words, but he does it in such a way that you know his brain has been slow cooking the thoughts for such a time that the meat of the sentence is falling off the bones and can only be held together with poetic expanse and entropic tangential lines of thought.
Oh, it seems I am a bit wordy too.
I really liked this one, I did not read Recovery, despite my addiction to writing longer sentences than necessary and my obsession with needing to know everything, I didnt think it was applicable to me. I may have to go back and read it, because if asked, I would have thought Mentors didnt apply to me either, but I got a lot out of it. I read the book in the same month that I started listening to Under the Skin, and so there was a bit of crossover. But the relationships he mentions that were either mentor or mentee at various stages of his recovery or his life, were beautiful to experience. Whether spiritual, physical, psychological or just based in friendship, Brand explores the people that have inspired him to become the bearded bastion of philosophy that is today.
I think fatherhood has had an enormous impact on Brand's view of the world, and it comes through in his recollections of past relationships and present experiences. The knowledge that the ultimate role of mentorship has been thrust upon him forever has given him insight into what it takes to allow yourself to be helped or guided by the wisdom of others, and what it means to pay that forward.
This is a book for everyone, and serves as a reminder to stop and think about the people that have - deliberately or not - become mentors to you on your own journey. Russell Brand is becoming one of my favourite voices in this mixed self-help/philosophy/motivation genre.
Oh, it seems I am a bit wordy too.
I really liked this one, I did not read Recovery, despite my addiction to writing longer sentences than necessary and my obsession with needing to know everything, I didnt think it was applicable to me. I may have to go back and read it, because if asked, I would have thought Mentors didnt apply to me either, but I got a lot out of it. I read the book in the same month that I started listening to Under the Skin, and so there was a bit of crossover. But the relationships he mentions that were either mentor or mentee at various stages of his recovery or his life, were beautiful to experience. Whether spiritual, physical, psychological or just based in friendship, Brand explores the people that have inspired him to become the bearded bastion of philosophy that is today.
I think fatherhood has had an enormous impact on Brand's view of the world, and it comes through in his recollections of past relationships and present experiences. The knowledge that the ultimate role of mentorship has been thrust upon him forever has given him insight into what it takes to allow yourself to be helped or guided by the wisdom of others, and what it means to pay that forward.
This is a book for everyone, and serves as a reminder to stop and think about the people that have - deliberately or not - become mentors to you on your own journey. Russell Brand is becoming one of my favourite voices in this mixed self-help/philosophy/motivation genre.
February 21, 2019
I didn't read it, rather I listened to it - which is my preferred method when it comes to Russell Brand. He is wordy, which is to be expected. But he is also insightful, self-aware, endearingly flawed and full of fresh perspective. I enjoyed it and will probably give it another listen.
April 11, 2019
Brand discusses the importance of mentors both in our lives and being one to others. He begins by suggesting that this book will suggest how to help and be help and understand the process of being a mentor and how to improve it. This is where my expectations laid a path to ruin. If you’ve ever listened to Russell Brand he often talks in a convoluted way which sounds fancy but contains very little substance. I doubt he does this intentionally but essentially he’s just a waffler. This book is essentially a self-indulgent tour through Brand’s life and the few minor experiences he’s had with his own mentors and being a mentor himself. I went back over the chapters and essentially each one contains about one sentence of use and thus the book’s wisdom could be condensed to a pamphlet. If Brand had advertised this book as a memoir I’d be more forgiving in this review; don’t claim to delve into mentorship if you just want to talk about yourself. The nuggets of wisdom he did posit are as follows: trust a mentor and be open minded to being vulnerable and talking about your feelings; they often have something you want and thus know more than you do. A mentor can be someone who fulfils a role for you such as a nurturing presence or someone who asks questions that allow you to self-sufficiently reveal your truth and whose comments give you insight that you wouldn’t come to on your own. We all need mentors in our life to override our own neuroses as they provide us with different views to help override our default programming, such as the possibility of asking someone ‘should I do this? What do you think I should do?’. We need mentors in our intimate relationships to understand what we feel our role is and what we need the role of our partner to be, and how to communicate this vulnerability in a positive way. Essentially mentors show us how to behave, guide us with their words and give freely what was given to them and thus so should you to those who seek your mentorship.
September 4, 2019
Agree with him or not, you can't help but respect this man's effort to reach the truth. Russell, you're one of my mentors, thank you so much for this book.
April 1, 2024
Heads-Up: Much contrary to the title, this book is not a self-help book about Mentors.
The issue that I find myself having with Russell Brand is that ultimately every piece of work that he produces or releases into the ether is essentially about one person and one person only: Himself. At first, stumbling on this book with such a title shelved under Self-help Books, I thought that I was about to try my very first non-biography from him. I couldn't have been more wrong. This book moonlights as a memoir, but with Russell's astute observations about his own mentors. For this reason, I have both loved it and had my aversions about it ... but, more precisely, I did not hate it.
When it comes to self-improvement books and manuals, I have witnessed a general consensus among readers to be embarrassed for delving into them. Rarely do readers or intellectuals admit to liking self-help because we all love to label ourselves as educated and self-aware while letting our fragile egos portray an air of all-knowingness... When we hear any kind of mawkish, self-congratulatory snake-oil rhetoric, we tend to see right through it and tag it as figuratively radioactive. The Jay Shettys, Robin Sharmas, Deepak Chopras of the world release books as their main source of promotion (or self-promotion) and these books contain more unsubstantiated theories than they do useful information.
Paradoxically, avid readers love to hate books of such kind, for, their very nature entails as a medium for these self-appointed mentors. What Russell has so skilfully, yet unwittingly, done here with this project is to interweave one of these so-called manuals with his own insights and experiences ... but without presenting himself as a Mentor to the reader.
Allow me to re-iterate: this book is not a self-help book about Mentors. As Russell so clearly points it out, it describes his steps towards nourishing the damaged inner child he still carries with the help of some key personalities he met, trudging along through life... Anyone who relates to that (i.e. everyone) could draw parallels to his/her own life and have similar epiphanies in finding his/her very own mentors. The human condition is basically a series of impulses on a spectrum of time and we are all nursing a damaged inner child in some form or the other.
This book serves as a mere mental lubricant in the quest for the sovereignty of the self. Basically, I mean: we’re all fucked and this book is about how Russell Brand is unfucking himself with the help of mentors. Why am I using all the big words and high flown language for a simple review? That is exactly the contagious style that Russell writes in. His use of language is so precise that he is like a watchmaker presenting you his work. Each sentence is built with unparalleled lexical accuracy. He is not only disarmingly comfortable with the power of language that he wields but also very comfortable in letting his personality flow through his words.
If you're all about self-help and want to inform yourself about actual Mentors that would help you out, this book will only help you achieve that to about 10% of your expectations. If you want yet another memoir about Russell Brand, this is a pretty okayish memoir (he does lead an incredible life, but it’s like his thousandth autobiography). BUT, all of that being said, what is good about this book is what eventually draws me back to content created by Russell Brand. It is witty, funny, extremely well-written, full of beautiful concepts and amazing prose. If that is what floats your boat, then by all means, grab this book and enjoy yourself a few hours of Russell-Brandish-reality.
The issue that I find myself having with Russell Brand is that ultimately every piece of work that he produces or releases into the ether is essentially about one person and one person only: Himself. At first, stumbling on this book with such a title shelved under Self-help Books, I thought that I was about to try my very first non-biography from him. I couldn't have been more wrong. This book moonlights as a memoir, but with Russell's astute observations about his own mentors. For this reason, I have both loved it and had my aversions about it ... but, more precisely, I did not hate it.
When it comes to self-improvement books and manuals, I have witnessed a general consensus among readers to be embarrassed for delving into them. Rarely do readers or intellectuals admit to liking self-help because we all love to label ourselves as educated and self-aware while letting our fragile egos portray an air of all-knowingness... When we hear any kind of mawkish, self-congratulatory snake-oil rhetoric, we tend to see right through it and tag it as figuratively radioactive. The Jay Shettys, Robin Sharmas, Deepak Chopras of the world release books as their main source of promotion (or self-promotion) and these books contain more unsubstantiated theories than they do useful information.
Paradoxically, avid readers love to hate books of such kind, for, their very nature entails as a medium for these self-appointed mentors. What Russell has so skilfully, yet unwittingly, done here with this project is to interweave one of these so-called manuals with his own insights and experiences ... but without presenting himself as a Mentor to the reader.
Allow me to re-iterate: this book is not a self-help book about Mentors. As Russell so clearly points it out, it describes his steps towards nourishing the damaged inner child he still carries with the help of some key personalities he met, trudging along through life... Anyone who relates to that (i.e. everyone) could draw parallels to his/her own life and have similar epiphanies in finding his/her very own mentors. The human condition is basically a series of impulses on a spectrum of time and we are all nursing a damaged inner child in some form or the other.
This book serves as a mere mental lubricant in the quest for the sovereignty of the self. Basically, I mean: we’re all fucked and this book is about how Russell Brand is unfucking himself with the help of mentors. Why am I using all the big words and high flown language for a simple review? That is exactly the contagious style that Russell writes in. His use of language is so precise that he is like a watchmaker presenting you his work. Each sentence is built with unparalleled lexical accuracy. He is not only disarmingly comfortable with the power of language that he wields but also very comfortable in letting his personality flow through his words.
If you're all about self-help and want to inform yourself about actual Mentors that would help you out, this book will only help you achieve that to about 10% of your expectations. If you want yet another memoir about Russell Brand, this is a pretty okayish memoir (he does lead an incredible life, but it’s like his thousandth autobiography). BUT, all of that being said, what is good about this book is what eventually draws me back to content created by Russell Brand. It is witty, funny, extremely well-written, full of beautiful concepts and amazing prose. If that is what floats your boat, then by all means, grab this book and enjoy yourself a few hours of Russell-Brandish-reality.
August 27, 2019
Russell brand is actually really insightful. He seems like a greaseball but he’s more insightful than one might think. This book was concise and really really down to earth. There something that I love about his honesty and his self awareness. He highlights the importance of looking inward and analyzing the reasons why you might find yourself downward spiralling with this openness that acknowledges and tries to make peace with the ugliness within. He simultaneously guides you towards the reasons why you should look outside yourself when you feel lost and seek assistance from people who are capable and in the right space/frame of mind to help provide it to you.
This book made me think about the great things about some of the different mentors I’ve had in my life. Mentors also made me realize that the times where mentorship was not successful with me, and that has happened, it was because I wasn’t ready and that’s OK. When I was ready, I really did benefit from a non-judgmental approach and the knowledge of somebody who had experience of what I was going through. This book is special.
Highlights also include: his approach surrounding cutting people the fuck off and eliminating the toxicity from your life. Especially when you’re the one who put them folks and that toxicity there. It’s a great read.
This book made me think about the great things about some of the different mentors I’ve had in my life. Mentors also made me realize that the times where mentorship was not successful with me, and that has happened, it was because I wasn’t ready and that’s OK. When I was ready, I really did benefit from a non-judgmental approach and the knowledge of somebody who had experience of what I was going through. This book is special.
Highlights also include: his approach surrounding cutting people the fuck off and eliminating the toxicity from your life. Especially when you’re the one who put them folks and that toxicity there. It’s a great read.
February 13, 2019
I loved Recovery by Russel Brand and what a brilliant book to follow it. It is very wordy and he rights exactly as if he is speaking directly to you which I liked. I think we tend to think of people having mentors for specific skills or moments in their life but this book shows that at any point we all need and can be mentors. I also particularly enjoyed his statement that mentors do not need to be perfect, that they can have just one quality that you are learning from them.
July 23, 2021
3.5
I'm glad this was short. It started great on a city walk but got long-winded and repetitive. I like Russell Brand. I'm happy to continue seeing him publish, explore and share. Simplicity might find him as he ages. Otherwise he'll continue as he is, doing honest and humble work. I feel he's a good cis male to respect and for the things he says to consider in my lifetime.
I'm glad this was short. It started great on a city walk but got long-winded and repetitive. I like Russell Brand. I'm happy to continue seeing him publish, explore and share. Simplicity might find him as he ages. Otherwise he'll continue as he is, doing honest and humble work. I feel he's a good cis male to respect and for the things he says to consider in my lifetime.
March 4, 2019
As a disciple of Russell's "Trews" on YouTube and Under The Skin podcast, it's likely I'm being biased, but it seems every book Russell writes gets better and better; and this is no exception. Absolutely loved it.
March 15, 2019
I love Russell Brand and his unique way of communicating his truths , very insightful, interesting and honest. Enjoyed very much
April 13, 2019
3.5 rounding up because I just like the guy! Since drug addiction he is constantly working on himself and very introspective, I admire that in him.
December 16, 2019
For a book about mentors, the word "I" is in there a bit too much.
May 13, 2019
---- Disclosure: I received this book for free from Goodreads. ----
Firstly, the reworking of the 12 steps he throws in at the end is f'ing fab. That's what they need to officially be changed to, as Brand's version is much more realistic & helpful than the standard/traditional form. So say I, anyway.
This book is one that needed to be written, I think. Brand has created a work that is accessible to many types of people, but particularly to those who have had to go through some sort of long-term, intentional work toward personal growth. Such experiences are always unique to the person, but certain necessary characteristics are normally required for such work to be successful. That being the case, it is therefore possible to talk about generalities of certain types one would find in that process, i.e. the mentor(s) & the mentee(s). More or less, that's what he does in this book. It is not a self-help book, a how-to guide, or any other such thing. It is also decidedly different from his past books, those being full of anecdotes regarding drug use, sex as a drug, rides on the roller-coaster of fame, etcetera. This is more a discussion about the roles of different people involved on both sides of any intentional learning process, which in Brand's case, is also a recovery & maintenance process. All kinds of people come in to play in such an experience, & the parts played by those people, deliberate or not, is what this book is about. Expecting otherwise from this book will only lead to dissatisfaction.
I won the cd’s & they were fine, but I have the advantage of having consumed a load of programs from the UK. As such, a lot of the terms he throws around were not completely foreign to me, but I can see how differently-exposed people might have some (slight) trouble w/ it. That being the case, for more, shall we say, insular persons, I recommend a print version that will allow one to easily re-read bits, & to read at one’s own pace. Brand occasionally gets into a quick rhythm that can really throw a listener off if they are unfamiliar w/ the terms & references to the UK-local names he whips about. To be clear though, the content is such that even if a term or name is not known to the reader/listener, it doesn’t really affect one’s ability to gather the point of what Brand is saying. It’s easy to let such things slip by & still carry on forward w/ the book. I’d sum it up as cultural flavor that could be confusing only if one allowed oneself to get hung up on not quite fully grasping the reference, rather than just letting it go by & staying focused on the overall idea or theme of what he’s getting at. Really, it’s no big deal. I just thought I’d mention it, being that a wide variety of people from all walks are going to come across this & make format choices.
July 27, 2019
One of Brand's lessons for readers is to acknowledge when they have a problem, believe that things can improve, and ask for help. For some readers, this book will go deep for that framework alone. While I usually enjoy stories about guides, teachers, and mentors, these ones mostly dragged for me. Thankfully, the book is short. For Brand, mentorship is not necessarily about learning or being taught so much as a relationship that allows the mentee to realize themselves on a deeper level. Brand is candid about his experience as an addict, but he also discusses mentors that helped him to navigate relationships or athletics. It's obvious that Brand is grateful to his mentors and that he is trying to pay it forward by helping younger men with their addiction. I mostly know him from his role in Forgetting Sarah Marshall, and it occurs to me now that he may have been type cast.
February 10, 2019
As an additional adjacency to his brilliant self-help tome, Recovery, Russell introduces us to the many different characters in his life that has aided and abetted him (so to speak) throughout his spiritual improvement over the last decade or so. From sages to ex-addicts such as himself to business and medical professionals who guide and impart their wisdom, Mentors is full of great advice along with Brand's trademark wit. It's inspiring and thoughtful, tragic and sad in parts, but most of all, clever and impactful.
July 14, 2019
Very few people, especially ones that I don’t know personally, have affected my life as deeply as Russell Brand. First with his YouTube videos, then with his podcast, his live shows, his books, Russell’s output and his progression of character (or better his regression to Self) have accompanied and fuelled hours of introspection. Be it politics, religion, quantum physics, the meaning of existing in a corrupt, neo-liberal, capitalist system, he’s provided me with nuggets of critical thinking, philosophical aphorisms and brotherly advice. I am so grateful for his service and his beautiful soul.
March 25, 2019
A very interesting and genuine sounding book but I use genuine with caution now that Brand is moving his podcast to a subscription site and no longer using free options. Sort of takes the shine off what he's got here, which is a great book able to help many people.
May 2, 2019
First half was interesting enough, just going through the idea of mentors, and some of the mentors Russel has in his life... some of whom were pretty cool. But for me the book really warmed up in the back half with few more ideas I found useful and inspiring.
January 31, 2019
Really enjoyed Russell's new book. His honesty and wisdom make the book very pleasant to read. Really enjoyed it.
September 20, 2023
Changed to one star as I cannot support this man.
July 11, 2019
Russell Brand has grown and changed over the years. He has calmed down a great deal and endeavoured to change his image from reckless wild boy to inspirational speaker. He has used his celebrity to interview and talk to other celebrities and influential speakers from the stand point of his own addiction and recovery, and deeper issues that cover political, philosophical and religious.
My attention was brought to him when he interviewed one of my favourite speakers, Tony Robbins, and after listening to that talk I went on to listen to many more interviews and discussions either on YouTube or his own website where he has podcasts - the new popular format for these interviews - and enjoy the in depth chats and intellectual debate. Russell has a great deal of knowledge on a great many topics, and uses a broad vocabulary and fast delivery, along humour to connect and dissect all them.
Listen to these drew me to his book, Mentors, and as I expected, having a dictionary to hand is useful when reading it (in fact if you read it on a kindle you have the easy option of just pressing on the word, but unfortunately I read the hard back copy). He writes as he speaks, in a fluid meander around topics, making jokes and side comments, which at times had me in stitches.
I enjoyed this book. However, it was more an overview of Russell's life and experiences with people that have supported him than explaining how to be a mentor, as the subtitle might suggest, although he does talk about some of the people he mentors and talk about the steps he used in recovery from his addiction. It is also a dissection of himself and the growth he has gone through as a person.
At times there were events and people he talks about with an assumption the reader will know the background or history on them, or know who the person is, without providing details, which was a little frustrating. Some might see this book as a sort of display of all his connections, showing off his success and how well he has remained connected through all his ups and downs, but he tries to temper that with jokes about his own 'messiah complex' and own failings, and how touched he is by others stories, never assuming to advise people on subjects that are out of his depth.
If you want to know more about Russell Brand and his journey this makes for an interesting read.
My attention was brought to him when he interviewed one of my favourite speakers, Tony Robbins, and after listening to that talk I went on to listen to many more interviews and discussions either on YouTube or his own website where he has podcasts - the new popular format for these interviews - and enjoy the in depth chats and intellectual debate. Russell has a great deal of knowledge on a great many topics, and uses a broad vocabulary and fast delivery, along humour to connect and dissect all them.
Listen to these drew me to his book, Mentors, and as I expected, having a dictionary to hand is useful when reading it (in fact if you read it on a kindle you have the easy option of just pressing on the word, but unfortunately I read the hard back copy). He writes as he speaks, in a fluid meander around topics, making jokes and side comments, which at times had me in stitches.
I enjoyed this book. However, it was more an overview of Russell's life and experiences with people that have supported him than explaining how to be a mentor, as the subtitle might suggest, although he does talk about some of the people he mentors and talk about the steps he used in recovery from his addiction. It is also a dissection of himself and the growth he has gone through as a person.
At times there were events and people he talks about with an assumption the reader will know the background or history on them, or know who the person is, without providing details, which was a little frustrating. Some might see this book as a sort of display of all his connections, showing off his success and how well he has remained connected through all his ups and downs, but he tries to temper that with jokes about his own 'messiah complex' and own failings, and how touched he is by others stories, never assuming to advise people on subjects that are out of his depth.
If you want to know more about Russell Brand and his journey this makes for an interesting read.
April 15, 2019
Russell Brand has a way of writing things in a way that sounds like it is something you'd expect at a Poetry Slam. It is insightful and visual, poignant and eloquent, humorous and heartfelt. Not like Chewbacca in a taxi. You get the idea?
However, most of this book is the journey through Russell's life and the key people who have and still do influence and help him on the path to being a better person. It's another book in my canon of 'success' stories and what it takes to be better at being human. Russell takes us through his addiction, his showbiz life, and parenthood, plus all the cracks and bridges in between. He explains how his mentors helped him, but also discusses the traits of mentors so you get an idea of how to be when your calling comes - even a friend might end up citing you as an inspiration (or mentor in some form) even after you support them during the briefest of periods.
Russell ends the book with the 12-step process used in his recovery (which is also the basis for many structured programs of all types) and proposes this as a model for mentoring in general. Very useful. He also guides the reader to seek out mentors and help identify the qualities you expect from them and what they expect from you for it to work. Although short, this is a good introduction to the framework of mentoring and a lovely way to say thanks to all the people who have (and still do) positively impact his life.
However, most of this book is the journey through Russell's life and the key people who have and still do influence and help him on the path to being a better person. It's another book in my canon of 'success' stories and what it takes to be better at being human. Russell takes us through his addiction, his showbiz life, and parenthood, plus all the cracks and bridges in between. He explains how his mentors helped him, but also discusses the traits of mentors so you get an idea of how to be when your calling comes - even a friend might end up citing you as an inspiration (or mentor in some form) even after you support them during the briefest of periods.
Russell ends the book with the 12-step process used in his recovery (which is also the basis for many structured programs of all types) and proposes this as a model for mentoring in general. Very useful. He also guides the reader to seek out mentors and help identify the qualities you expect from them and what they expect from you for it to work. Although short, this is a good introduction to the framework of mentoring and a lovely way to say thanks to all the people who have (and still do) positively impact his life.
June 3, 2022
“By being open to suggestion, by letting go of my will in favour of the will of others, I begin to change. You can't think your way into acting differently, but you can act your way into thinking differently.”
“This spiritual life, in the end it is not a choice, it’s what’s left when you run out of choices.”
“Intention and attention, they say. Where your attention goes, so shall you become. As you intend to be, so shall you be.”
I listened to this book with fear and fascination. As a veteran of several 12-Step programs, I was sometimes entertained by Brand's interpretation of the Steps, and his spin on the sponsorship process. But I was also concerned that he broke one of the 12 Traditions, #11: "Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio, and films." The fact that Brand was NAMING his sponsors and discussing his sobriety in this way felt like a betrayal of sorts. I've been a fan of his comedy work for years...so now I am looking at his writing and noticing other factors which create a more complicated feeling about him.
I'm sure he has good intentions - or perhaps he's just capitalizing on his Recovery Process? He openly talks about his Messianic Complex, and how he would like to save the world. Plus he talks about his jealousy of Saints!
As a clinician, I don't dare diagnose him from afar, but honestly, this book is some kind of cockalocka coocoo puff concoction. (I get the sense that Brand would love to start his own 12 Step program and do it HIS WAY.)
All that said, I enjoyed this wild romp - at times - and feel that his positive message of BEING VULNERABLE to accept help is a good one.
Three Stars given because he broke the 11th Tradition and lifted a ton of material from the 12 Step programs.
“This spiritual life, in the end it is not a choice, it’s what’s left when you run out of choices.”
“Intention and attention, they say. Where your attention goes, so shall you become. As you intend to be, so shall you be.”
I listened to this book with fear and fascination. As a veteran of several 12-Step programs, I was sometimes entertained by Brand's interpretation of the Steps, and his spin on the sponsorship process. But I was also concerned that he broke one of the 12 Traditions, #11: "Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio, and films." The fact that Brand was NAMING his sponsors and discussing his sobriety in this way felt like a betrayal of sorts. I've been a fan of his comedy work for years...so now I am looking at his writing and noticing other factors which create a more complicated feeling about him.
I'm sure he has good intentions - or perhaps he's just capitalizing on his Recovery Process? He openly talks about his Messianic Complex, and how he would like to save the world. Plus he talks about his jealousy of Saints!
As a clinician, I don't dare diagnose him from afar, but honestly, this book is some kind of cockalocka coocoo puff concoction. (I get the sense that Brand would love to start his own 12 Step program and do it HIS WAY.)
All that said, I enjoyed this wild romp - at times - and feel that his positive message of BEING VULNERABLE to accept help is a good one.
Three Stars given because he broke the 11th Tradition and lifted a ton of material from the 12 Step programs.
May 5, 2019
I picked Mentors by Russell Brand up on a whim at the library. I thought it might give some nuggets of wisdom for my ministry and my training to as a life coach. However, this book was not what I expected.
Each chapter described a different one of Brand’s mentors. With a subtitle of "How to Help and be Helped," I assumed it would be self-help, but it's really more memoir than self-help. The writing was anything but linear. But something about the style of writing kept me reading.
I don’t know that I would necessarily recommend the book. It doesn’t do what the title suggests. I’m also not disappointed I read it. I enjoyed the words on the page. Brand has a beautiful, lyrical writing style and it was a quick read. Some parts really made me think. Brand's description of ritual and religion and emotions stopped me dead in my tracks and made me pause and think about these things in my own ministry contexts. Perhaps in some strange way Mentors actually did succeed in self-help, just not as it promises to.
Each chapter described a different one of Brand’s mentors. With a subtitle of "How to Help and be Helped," I assumed it would be self-help, but it's really more memoir than self-help. The writing was anything but linear. But something about the style of writing kept me reading.
I don’t know that I would necessarily recommend the book. It doesn’t do what the title suggests. I’m also not disappointed I read it. I enjoyed the words on the page. Brand has a beautiful, lyrical writing style and it was a quick read. Some parts really made me think. Brand's description of ritual and religion and emotions stopped me dead in my tracks and made me pause and think about these things in my own ministry contexts. Perhaps in some strange way Mentors actually did succeed in self-help, just not as it promises to.
November 16, 2019
A lovely, inspirational, intense book by the flamboyant actor who is in year 16 of his fight-hard-every-day recovery from addiction to drugs, alcohol and sex. It's really a love letter to about a dozen people in his life whom he credits with teaching him and modeling for him vital life lessons. In the course of telling us readers about these intense mentor relationships, he inspires us to be open to the mentors in our own lives, and to openly seek more and higher learning. To find out in the end note that Mr Brand is studying for his master's degree in religion in global politics comes as no surprise; he is a consummate and curious student and an eloquent. --and gonzo-- teller of the tale of what he has learned. I have always loved great self help books, and I stick this up there with the best.
March 1, 2022
Quite wordy and short yet sentimental and brilliant, this book is somewhat of a “thank you” from Russell Brand to his mentors throughout his life especially those he came in contact with after his recovery from addiction. Some parts were funny and lighthearted while others were fairly deep and emotional, this book has it all and ultimately explains the difference between a mentorship compared to a parent/teacher; guiding through demonstration and good faith altogether instructing while still learning from others.
Really enjoyed this audiobook and took much away from it. Brand has a captivating voice narrating that I liked (as most know already from his podcast, stand-up, films, etc.).
Really enjoyed this audiobook and took much away from it. Brand has a captivating voice narrating that I liked (as most know already from his podcast, stand-up, films, etc.).
May 9, 2023
- Mentors is a beautiful book about human connection and finding those amongst us who can guide us to that next stage of life.
- It intimately details the many ways Russel found the mentors that changed his life for the better, imploring the reader to do the same.
- His life is extremely interesting and each phase he goes through causes massive change, requiring new role models.
- It ends with a lovely message about becoming a mentor yourself and what it means to be a parent and leader. He emphasizes the importance of vulnerability, openness, and the willingness to learn from others.
- It's pushed me to think of the mentors that got me to where I am today and urged me to look for more.
- It intimately details the many ways Russel found the mentors that changed his life for the better, imploring the reader to do the same.
- His life is extremely interesting and each phase he goes through causes massive change, requiring new role models.
- It ends with a lovely message about becoming a mentor yourself and what it means to be a parent and leader. He emphasizes the importance of vulnerability, openness, and the willingness to learn from others.
- It's pushed me to think of the mentors that got me to where I am today and urged me to look for more.
November 28, 2020
In this book Russell Brand waxes lyrical on mentorship and the role it plays in his life. Brand writes well, although at times the prose descends into a needlessly verbose flamboyance that firmly parks the point he's trying to make behind the wordplay itself. He discusses the different mentors he has encountered and how to obtain/interact with one. These figures range from twelve-step fellowship sponsors to sports team instructors and coaches. The book is short and largely anecdotal. Not much else to say on this.
May 9, 2019
I enjoyed this book, like I enjoy pretty much everything Russell Brand writes. He’s quite wise and insightful and has clearly gone through a lot of personal growth. So why non-glowing rating? First, if half stars were allowed, I’d give it a solid 3.5 rather than a 3. With that aside, I felt a bit misled by the book’s subtitle, how to help and be helped. There wasn’t much of that in the book at all, but rather a look back at Russell Brand’s own mentors and their impact on his life. It was still a good read with some nuggets of wisdom, but it wasn’t what I thought it would be, which is a little more instructional, or directed at least somewhat at the reader’s life rather than being mostly a look at the author’s.
TL;DR: expectation mismatch but well written!
TL;DR: expectation mismatch but well written!
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