Book Review: Stop Doing That Sh*t: End Self-Sabotage and Demand Your Life Back by Gary John Bishop

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“Stop Doing That Sh*t” is a self-help book written in the no-nonsense modern way of blogger-style writing to help guide readers to overcome their self-sabotaging tendencies.

Buy “Stop Doing That Sh*t”

As I mentioned, “Stop Doing That Sh*t” is a non-fiction, personal development book designed to guide readers to make “No More Excuses” and “Demand Your Life Back!”

I will start with what I liked about “Stop Doing That Sh*t”, which is that it does not sugarcoat your problems. This book does not excuse your bad, self-sabotaging behaviours and actions. Yes, this is one of those “you’re responsible for your life, no one else is” type book. And let’s face it – sometimes it’s refreshing and much needed. That was the case for me when I read it back in 2021 (I’m writing this book review in 2024.) Although now, our self-development-obsessed culture might suffer from too many of these types of books (but that’s a topic for another day.)

Bishop explores how we get attached to the labels and limitations we set for ourselves, most of them being subconscious and absorbed like a “magical sponge” (p. 93) in our childhood.

Oftentimes, I suffer from overthinking and these types of books – although forgettable – are a great way for me to gain some motivation; to get out of my head and start taking charge of my life instead of intellectualizing everything and remaining stagnant:

“Thinking is an interruption. Real breakthroughs become available in your life when you interrupt yourself and your automatic responses to whatever life presents you with.” p. 12

In sum, this book was the first of a very long journey of self-books I’ve read to understand my self-sabotaging tendencies and my “glass ceiling” (p. 76) aka my limited beliefs (especially surrounding my dreams and money), and for that, I am grateful for this short but at times insightful book.

I’ve also just realized I filmed a reading vlog specifically for the reading of this book, you can watch it here.

“Why did I become a writer? Because I wanted to live that life. All of it. I didn’t have an aim of becoming a writer. It wasn’t a goal or something I was out to get better at or improve until I could wear the badge with honor. I started with being a writer and built a life that could make that work. I filled my life with the problems that a writer would have. I became invigorated and enlivened by the challenge of what that demanded of me and how to solve the issues that presented themselves when I took on the notion that who I am is a writer. FUCK!! SUDDENLY I WAS A WRITER!” p. 212

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