Think Like a Monk
SynopsisPlot
In this inspiring, empowering book, Shetty draws on his time as a monk to show us how we can clear the roadblocks to our potential and power. Combining ancient wisdom and his own rich experiences in the ashram, Think Like a Monk reveals how to overcome negative thoughts and habits, and access the calm and purpose that lie within all of us. He transforms abstract lessons into advice and exercises we can all apply to reduce stress, improve relationships, and give the gifts we find in ourselves to the world. Shetty proves that everyone can—and should—think like a monk.
Story
About this book
Jay Shetty grew up in north London in a family that expected him to become a doctor or a lawyer. Instead of attending his college graduation, he traveled to India to live as a monk, spending three years in an ashram where he meditated for four to eight hours each day. One of his teachers eventually suggested he could reach more people by leaving monastic life and sharing what he had learned. He returned to London with heavy debt and no conventional career history, but old school friends working in large corporations began asking him for guidance on stress, purpose, and well-being.
Think Like a Monk organizes the practices and ideas Shetty absorbed during those years into structured advice for daily life. The book addresses overthinking, negativity, comparison, fear, and the search for purpose. Shetty presents exercises alongside the underlying principles, drawing on both his personal experience and older contemplative traditions. Topics range from managing difficult thoughts to understanding why seeking happiness directly can be counterproductive.
Shetty built a large following through online video before publishing this book. He was named to the Forbes 30-under-30 list in 2017 in the media category, and his podcast On Purpose became one of the most widely followed programs in the health and wellness space.
