How to Do the Work Book Summary - How to Do the Work Book explained in key points
Listen to the Intro
00:00

How to Do the Work summary

Nicole LePera

Recognize Your Patterns, Heal from Your Past, and Create Your Self

4.5 (576 ratings)
27 mins

Brief summary

"How to Do the Work" by Nicole LePera is a self-help book that offers a practical guide to becoming more self-aware and creating change. It helps readers to identify patterns of behavior, explore their emotions, and develop coping mechanisms to overcome obstacles and improve their mental health.

Table of Contents

    How to Do the Work
    Summary of 8 key ideas

    Audio & text in the Blinkist app
    Key idea 1 of 8

    Dr LePera hit rock bottom, and realized that something in her life had to change.

    We often hear of spiritual awakenings happening on mountaintops. Or in ashrams, temples, mosques, and churches.

    But for Dr Nicole LePera, awakening came in a seemingly mundane way. She started crying over a bowl of oatmeal, and just couldn’t stop. She’d gone on holiday with her girlfriend, and instead of relishing the peace and quiet, it just made her realize how burnt out she’d become.

    LePera had a very successful life. Or it looked successful from the outside, at least. She had her own psychology practice, a loving partner, and a great home in Philadelphia. But on the inside, she felt awful. She woke up exhausted, and felt detached from herself and the people she loved. She was frustrated and irritable at work. And her physical health was suffering – she experienced persistent brain fog and problems with her gut. She realized that something in her life just wasn’t working.

    The key message here is: Dr LePera hit rock bottom, and realized that something in her life had to change. 

    What was it? LePera had spent years trying to heal herself and others as a clinical psychologist. But she’d long been missing something in her practice of mainstream psychology. It felt too limiting. She realized that to truly be able to heal herself, she needed to take a more holistic approach – to embrace a practice that allowed her to heal her body, mind, and soul simultaneously. Because, in fact, these things are all connected. 

    The author started to tackle her physical well-being, working out every day and eating well. She also embraced regular sessions of breath work and meditation. At first, keeping up the routine was a hard slog. But after a few months, her body began to crave it. LePera also started dealing with her childhood trauma, learning to process negative emotions from her past and starting to heal her inner child. 

    The results of all her hard work were that she felt better than she had for years – emotionally and physically strong. Via Instagram, she started to document her journey as a “holistic psychologist.” As thousands of people started following her account, it became clear that she was tapping into a much greater need. Today, over three million people follow her work, and identify as SelfHealers

    Want to see all full key ideas from How to Do the Work?

    Key ideas in How to Do the Work

    More knowledge in less time
    Read or listen
    Read or listen
    Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.
    Find your next read
    Find your next read
    Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.
    Shortcasts
    Shortcasts New
    We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.

    What is How to Do the Work about?

    How to Do the Work (2021) is a hands-on guide to healing our bodies and minds. The physical, psychological, and spiritual aspects of our health are all interconnected. By changing how we eat and exercise, engaging in mindfulness and tackling past trauma, we can heal ourselves and transform our relationships.

    How to Do the Work Review

    How to Do the Work (2021) offers practical guidance on healing and creating personal transformation. Here's why this book is worth reading:

    • With simple yet powerful techniques, it empowers readers to address past traumas and create lasting change in their lives.
    • By blending psychological concepts with spirituality, the book provides a holistic approach to healing and personal growth.
    • Through engaging case studies and relatable stories, it brings the content to life, making it relatable and compelling to readers.

    Best quote from How to Do the Work

    Trauma creates the fundamental belief that we must betray who we are in order to survive.

    —Nicole LePera
    example alt text

    Who should read How to Do the Work?

    • Spiritual seekers looking for new ways to connect with the world
    • Children of emotionally unavailable parents looking to heal past trauma
    • Anyone who’s tired of feeling sluggish and burnt out

    About the Author

    Dr. Nicole LePera is a clinical psychologist who studied at Cornell University and earned her PhD from the New School for Social Research. Her hugely popular Instagram account, @the.holistic.psychologist, has a following of over three million people from around the world.

    Categories with How to Do the Work

    Book summaries like How to Do the Work

    People ❤️ Blinkist 
    Sven O.

    It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.

    Thi Viet Quynh N.

    Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.

    Jonathan A.

    Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.

    Renee D.

    Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.

    People also liked these summaries

    4.7 Stars
    Average ratings on iOS and Google Play
    30 Million
    Downloads on all platforms
    10+ years
    Experience igniting personal growth
    Powerful ideas from top nonfiction

    Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 7,000+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.

    Start your free trial

    How to Do the Work FAQs 

    What is the main message of How to Do the Work?

    Discover the power of healing through self-awareness and take control of your emotional well-being.

    How long does it take to read How to Do the Work?

    Reading time for How to Do the Work varies. The Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.

    Is How to Do the Work a good book? Is it worth reading?

    How to Do the Work offers valuable insights and practical tools for self-improvement. It's definitely worth a read.

    Who is the author of How to Do the Work?

    Nicole LePera is the author of How to Do the Work.

    What to read after How to Do the Work?

    If you're wondering what to read next after How to Do the Work, here are some recommendations we suggest:
    • Forgiving What You Can't Forget by Lysa TerKeurst
    • How to Meet Your Self by Nicole LePera
    • Radical Acceptance by Tara Brach
    • Widen the Window by Elizabeth A. Stanley
    • How to Be the Love You Seek by Nicole LePera
    • The 80/20 Principle by Richard Koch
    • Cleaning Up Your Mental Mess by Caroline Leaf
    • Boundaries by Henry Cloud and John Townsend
    • How We Heal by Alexandra Elle
    • The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk