REVIEW: “You Are a Badass”
“With a perfect mix of tough love, absolute realness and a heap of humor, cutting through the average self-help fluff, this book is refreshing, relatable and impactful” (Makayla Wrigley).
January 13, 2025
Makayla Wrigley, Editor
“New year, new self-help books” has quickly become my mantra within these first couple of weeks of 2025. The perfect way to kick off my goal of 50 books by the end of the year was starting with Jen Sincero’s “You are a Badass.”
Sincero’s writing style is completely unapologetic and refreshing. To anyone who is familiar with the world of self-help books, sometimes the best thing you can do to help yourself is put the book down. With this one, though, this is not the case. Sincero does a great job of saying without saying “I’m not like other writers.” With a perfect mix of tough love, absolute realness and a heap of humor, cutting through the average self-help fluff, this book is refreshing, relatable and impactful.
At its core, “You are a Badass” encourages readers to change their mindset and break barriers to change their entire trajectory of life. Drawing from experiences of herself and people who read her book, Sincero proves to readers that her methods are far from phony. The conversational language as well as absolute realness make the book deeply human and very approachable. This book does a great job of truly making the reader feel as though they can do anything they put their mind to (even though we’re told that as kids, it’s nice to be reminded in adulthood).
However, the book isn’t without its limitations. Critics may argue that it leans heavily on anecdotes and motivational pep talks without delving into deeper psychological or scientific explanations behind the advice. For readers looking for rigorous research or groundbreaking ideas, this may not be the best fit. That said, “You Are a Badass” doesn’t pretend to be a deep dive into psychology—it’s designed to be an accessible, energizing read for those looking to shake off stagnation and take control of their lives. As a psychology major, I think the distance from psych facts was a good break for me, and I would recommend it to anyone in college because we tend to lose our love for reading when we’re constantly being asked to read.
In conclusion, Jen Sincero’s “You are a Badass”is extremely empowering, motivating and a fabulous starting point for anyone looking to change their mindset and explore their capabilities and opportunities. Though its charm lies within humor, relatability and straightforwardness, this book is equally as inspiring as it is funny. Take it from an avid reader, this book will turn you into the badass that you are capable of being.
