#Review: Being With Busyness by Brother Phap Huu and Jo Confino

Being With Busyness
Author: Brother Phap Huu and Jo Confino
Publisher: Aleph Book Company
Rating: 4/5

This book feels like someone gently placing a hand on your shoulder and saying, “You don’t have to live like this.”

Being With Busyness doesn’t shame you for feeling overwhelmed. It acknowledges that burnout is real, especially in a culture that glorifies productivity. What makes it refreshing is its tone — calm, practical, and compassionate. The authors don’t offer dramatic life hacks or overnight transformations. Instead, they invite small, steady shifts: pausing when the bell rings, noticing tension in the body, setting boundaries without guilt.

One of the strongest aspects of the book is its honesty. It recognises that even spiritual practitioners experience stress and exhaustion. The idea that “the Buddha also suffered” immediately dismantles the myth that calm equals perfection. The chapters are short, digestible, and rooted in lived experience, making it easy to reflect without feeling preached to.

The sections on healthy boundaries are particularly relevant. In a world where saying “yes” is often equated with being helpful or successful, the reminder that “no” can be compassionate feels quietly revolutionary.

This is not a book you speed-read. It’s one you return to on difficult days. Practical, thoughtful, and steady in its guidance, it offers not escape from busyness but a wiser way to live within it.

Find your book here.