the pivot year book review

Poets Book Club

📖 Book Review - The Pivot Year

By brianna wiest.

The Pivot Year— Published in April of this year is Brianna Wiest’s latest addition to her body of work.

A collection of 365 passages, this book is written in a way that encourages you to revisit it every day—reading one passage at a time, and meditating on the sentiment, or idea presented to you.

Thanks for reading Poets Book Club! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

In tandem with a daily journalling and mindfulness practice, this book is perfect for anyone looking to make changes in their lives.

If you want to find a clearer path to becoming the best version of yourself in 2024, this book should be added to your TBR list!

Here are some of my favourite pages from the book

This book truly feels like it was written for all of us on a healing journey.

The Pivot Year by Brianna Wiest is available here!

What poetry book should we review next?

Leave a comment

Thank you for supporting the poets book club— this review was written in collaboration with Seyda Noir 🌱

Ready for more?

Introducing Brianna Wiest’s Newest Book ‘The Pivot Year’

Over the past 10+ years, international best-selling author and writer Brianna Wiest has inspired millions of people around the world to change their thoughts and, in turn, change their lives. In March 2023, Wiest is back with The Pivot Year , 365 daily meditations for anyone in the midst of their pivot period, the space between where they currently stand and where they want to be. 

In her own words, here is Brianna Wiest on everything you need to know about her latest release, The Pivot Year .

First, tell us a little about The Pivot Year . What can readers expect from this upcoming release? 

I know that so many people have such busy schedules and hectic lives, carving out time for self-reflection is hard to do. I wanted to create something that would give readers a daily message that could either be something to meditate on or use as a thought exercise, to stretch their perceptions and hopefully begin to plant seeds for deeper and greater revelations to come.  

What inspired you to write The Pivot Year ? Was it your own pivot period? Was it the insights you’ve gained throughout your years as a writer? A combination of the two? Give me the tea.

I would have to say that it’s more about a culmination of the self-work I have been doing for the past ten years. I tried to distill all of the ideas that I found to be helpful or expansive into something that is poetic, inspiring and easy to access each day.  

Over the years, your work has been primarily focused on personal transformation and change. For example, 101 Essays is about changing the way we think, and The Mountain Is You is about changing our self-sabotaging behaviors. The Pivot Year , however, is a little different as the premise is based on the idea that who we are meant to be is already inside of us; it’s just a matter of inviting our true selves to come out of hiding. With all of that said, why do you think so many people, myself included, struggle with being their most authentic selves? 

I hope that a common thread through all of my work is the idea that our potential is always dormant within us. It’s a matter of if, and how, we activate it. I believe this is a layered process — changing the way we think, and then behave, consistently.

There are many reasons why it can feel hard to be your authentic self. First, our authentic selves are our most vulnerable selves. It’s not as painful to have someone reject a version of you that isn’t who you really are. Second, we adopt a lot of our identity through osmosis. Human beings are so incredibly suggestible and adaptable, and this is especially true if we see external consistencies — we begin to believe that is the only way people can be. This is why it’s so crucial to expand your perimeter, your circle, your environment. It normalizes differences in a way that makes authenticity feel safer. 

Last, we sometimes have a hard time finding ourselves because our authentic selves are not a product of our stream of consciousness. They are not who we are when we follow every want, interest or desire on a whim. They are the people we become when we learn to live in accordance with our truest values and ideals. They are the people we become when we begin to hold ourselves to our own standards, and to have more integrity. 

What are the biggest takeaways you hope your readers will glean from The Pivot Year ? 

I genuinely hope that there will be days where readers have the words of the day echoing through their minds as a kind of landing place that they can keep returning to. In down-time, or on their commute, or before bed, I would love for them to be able to think about what they read that day and I hope it evokes more self-realization and epiphanies about how to bridge the gap between where they are and where they want to be.

What is your favorite quote from The Pivot Year ? 

“Life  will  bring  you  to  your  knees.  Sometimes  with  pain, sometimes with beauty, sometimes with both at once. It will weather down your defenses and it will give you opportunities to love. It will disguise miracles in the most ordinary moments. It will bruise your heart until it breaks open. It will teach you, slowly, that it’s not out there, it’s inside. It’s all  inside.  It  will  go  more  slowly  than  you  can  bear  and  more quickly than you can imagine. It will lead you down unexpected turns that twist into destiny, and you will learn to  trust.  You  will  learn  to  believe  in  the  releasing  of  the  layers of illusion that stand between you and the realization of your soul’s deepest desires.”

Finally, when and where will The Pivot Year be released? 

March 2023, on Shop Catalog, Amazon, Indigo, Apple Books , and local booksellers in the US + Canada. 

The Pivot Year is available now on Shop Catalog .

Molly Burford

Writer. Editor. Hufflepuff. Dog person.

Keep up with Molly on Instagram and Twitter

Before a moment becomes a memory, hold it close.

Moments To Hold Close  is Molly Burford’s first poetry collection. Burford’s words encapsulate and express all facets of the human condition, including how to love and live a full life embracing the moments that matter.

Published by Thought Catalog Books .

More From Thought Catalog

‘Se7en’ Fans Have Found A Crazy Mandela Effect–Is Your Memory Wrong About This Iconic Scene?

The 20 Best Psychological Thriller Movies of All Time — And Where to Watch Them

The Best Doctor Who Villains Of All Time

‘Survivor 46’: 10 Memorable (And Brutal) Moments From The Season Finale

The Truth About Attachment Styles (And How to Overcome Yours)

10 Lessons Of Life And Love From ’13 Going On 30′ That Still Hold Up

• Health, Family & Lifestyle
• Practical & Motivational

Your Amazon Prime 30-day FREE trial includes:

Unlimited Premium Delivery is available to Amazon Prime members. To join, select "Yes, I want a free trial with FREE Premium Delivery on this order." above the Add to Basket button and confirm your Amazon Prime free trial sign-up.

Important:  Your credit card will NOT be charged when you start your free trial or if you cancel during the trial period. If you're happy with Amazon Prime, do nothing. At the end of the free trial, you will be charged £95/year for Prime (annual) membership or £8.99/month for Prime (monthly) membership.

Return this item for free

Free returns are available for the shipping address you chose. For a full refund with no deduction for return shipping, you can return the item for any reason in new and unused condition.

• Go to your orders and start the return
• Select the return method

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet or computer – no Kindle device required .

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

Image Unavailable

• To view this video download Flash Player

Follow the author

The Pivot Year Perfect Paperback – 24 April 2023

Purchase options and add-ons

International Edition

This listing is for the international edition of The Pivot Year , which is printed internationally and fulfilled by Amazon in select countries. The limited, original print edition remains available to order and ships worldwide from ShopCatalog.com.

This is the year you change your life.

If you’re in a pivot period—if you’re still bridging the space between where you are and where you want to be—remember that the person you’re becoming is already within you. The journey is convincing your mind to act consistently on what your heart already knows it wants to do.

The Pivot Year is a book of 365 daily meditations on finding the courage to become who you’ve always wanted to be, from the internationally bestselling author of 101 Essays That Will Change The Way You Think , The Mountain Is You, and more.

• Print length 374 pages
• Language English
• Publication date 24 April 2023
• Dimensions 12.7 x 2.39 x 20.32 cm
• ISBN-10 1949759628
• ISBN-13 978-1949759624
• See all details

Frequently bought together

Customers who viewed this item also viewed

Product details

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Thought Catalog Books (24 April 2023)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Perfect Paperback ‏ : ‎ 374 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1949759628
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1949759624
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 12.7 x 2.39 x 20.32 cm
• 262 in Practical & Motivational Self Help

About the author

Brianna wiest.

Brianna Wiest is the international bestselling author of 101 Essays That Will Change The Way You Think, The Mountain Is You, This Is How You Heal, two poetry collections and more. Her books have sold 1M+ copies, regularly appear on global bestseller lists, and are currently being translated into 20+ languages worldwide.

Customer reviews

Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings, help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.

To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyses reviews to verify trustworthiness.

Reviews with images

• Sort reviews by Top reviews Most recent Top reviews

Top reviews from United Kingdom

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. please try again later..

Top reviews from other countries

• UK Modern Slavery Statement
• Sustainability
• Amazon Science
• Sell on Amazon
• Sell on Amazon Business
• Sell on Amazon Handmade
• Sell on Amazon Launchpad
• Supply to Amazon
• Protect and build your brand
• Associates Programme
• Fulfilment by Amazon
• Seller Fulfilled Prime
• Advertise Your Products
• Independently Publish with Us
• Host an Amazon Hub
• › See More Make Money with Us
• Instalments by Barclays
• Amazon Platinum Mastercard
• Amazon Classic Mastercard
• Amazon Currency Converter
• Payment Methods Help
• Shop with Points
• Top Up Your Account
• Top Up Your Account in Store
• COVID-19 and Amazon
• Track Packages or View Orders
• Delivery Rates & Policies
• Amazon Prime
• Returns & Replacements
• Manage Your Content and Devices
• Recalls and Product Safety Alerts
• Amazon Mobile App
• Customer Service
• Accessibility
• Conditions of Use & Sale
• Privacy Notice
• Cookies Notice
• Interest-Based Ads Notice

The Pivot Year

• 4.2 • 59 Ratings

Publisher Description

This is the year you change your life. If you’re in a pivot period—if you’re still bridging the space between where you are and where you want to be—remember that the person you’re becoming is already within you. The journey is convincing your mind to act consistently on what your heart already knows it wants to do. The Pivot Year  is a book of 365 daily meditations on finding the courage to become who you’ve always wanted to be, from the internationally bestselling author of  101 Essays That Will Change The Way You Think , The Mountain Is You, and more.

Customer Reviews

Phenomenal cover to cover, I may have read more than one a day because how enticing they are. I really appreciated the perspectives each day provided.

A magical invitation back to the self. I’m loving the bite sized daily reminders to go inward 💗

Image Unavailable

• To view this video, download Flash Player

Follow the author

The Pivot Year Perfect Paperback – April 25 2023

Purchase options and add-ons.

• Print length 250 pages
• Language English
• Publication date April 25 2023
• Dimensions 12.7 x 2.39 x 20.32 cm
• ISBN-10 1949759628
• ISBN-13 978-1949759624
• See all details

Frequently bought together

What other items do customers buy after viewing this item?

Product description

About the author, product details.

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Thought Catalog Books (April 25 2023)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Perfect Paperback ‏ : ‎ 250 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1949759628
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1949759624
• Item weight ‏ : ‎ 454 g
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 12.7 x 2.39 x 20.32 cm
• #15 in Personal Transformation in Self-Help

About the author

Brianna wiest.

Brianna Wiest is the international bestselling author of 101 Essays That Will Change The Way You Think, The Mountain Is You, This Is How You Heal, two poetry collections and more. Her books have sold 1M+ copies, regularly appear on global bestseller lists, and are currently being translated into 20+ languages worldwide.

Customer reviews

Reviews with images.

• Sort reviews by Top reviews Most recent Top reviews

Top reviews from Canada

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. please try again later..

Top reviews from other countries

• Amazon and Our Planet
• Investor Relations
• Press Releases
• Amazon Science
• Sell on Amazon
• Supply to Amazon
• Become an Affiliate
• Protect & Build Your Brand
• Sell on Amazon Handmade
• Advertise Your Products
• Independently Publish with Us
• Host an Amazon Hub
• Amazon.ca Rewards Mastercard
• Shop with Points
• Reload Your Balance
• Amazon Currency Converter
• Amazon Cash
• Shipping Rates & Policies
• Amazon Prime
• Returns Are Easy
• Manage your Content and Devices
• Recalls and Product Safety Alerts
• Customer Service
• Conditions of Use
• Privacy Notice
• Interest-Based Ads
• Amazon.com.ca ULC | 40 King Street W 47th Floor, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5H 3Y2 |1-877-586-3230

• Health, Family & Personal Development

Promotions apply when you purchase

These promotions will be applied to this item:

Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.

Buy for others

Buying and sending kindle ebooks to others.

• Select quantity
• Buy and send Kindle eBooks
• Recipients can read on any device

These ebooks can only be redeemed by recipients in the India. Redemption links and eBooks cannot be resold.

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet or computer – no Kindle device required .

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera, scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

Image Unavailable

• To view this video download Flash Player

Follow the author

The Pivot Year Kindle Edition

This is the year you change your life.

If you’re in a pivot period—if you’re still bridging the space between where you are and where you want to be—remember that the person you’re becoming is already within you. The journey is convincing your mind to act consistently on what your heart already knows it wants to do.

The Pivot Year is a book of 365 daily meditations on finding the courage to become who you’ve always wanted to be, from the internationally bestselling author of 101 Essays That Will Change The Way You Think , The Mountain Is You, and more.

• Print length 372 pages
• Language English
• Publication date 23 April 2023
• File size 2143 KB
• Page Flip Enabled
• Word Wise Enabled
• Enhanced typesetting Enabled
• See all details

Customers who read this book also read

Product description

About the author, product details.

• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0C3DJ7G72
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Thought Catalog Books (23 April 2023)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• File size ‏ : ‎ 2143 KB
• Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
• Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
• Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
• Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
• X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
• Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 372 pages
• #2,300 in Motivational Self-Help
• #3,776 in Self-Help eBooks
• #11,305 in Personal Transformation

About the author

Brianna wiest.

Brianna Wiest is the international bestselling author of 101 Essays That Will Change The Way You Think, The Mountain Is You, This Is How You Heal, two poetry collections and more. Her books have sold 1M+ copies, regularly appear on global bestseller lists, and are currently being translated into 20+ languages worldwide.

Customer reviews

• Sort reviews by Top reviews Most recent Top reviews

Top reviews from India

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. please try again later..

Top reviews from other countries

Report an issue

• Press Releases
• Amazon Science
• Sell on Amazon
• Sell under Amazon Accelerator
• Protect and Build Your Brand
• Amazon Global Selling
• Become an Affiliate
• Fulfilment by Amazon
• Advertise Your Products
• Amazon Pay on Merchants
• COVID-19 and Amazon
• Your Account
• Returns Centre
• 100% Purchase Protection
• Amazon App Download
• Conditions of Use & Sale
• Privacy Notice
• Interest-Based Ads

Book Summary: “The Pivot Year” by Brianna Wiest

• Updated 2 months ago, March 20 2024
• Finding Yourself , Book Summaries

Kelly Peacock

Table of Contents

I had a chance to read Brianna Wiest’s new book, The Pivot Year , this week before it was officially released on April, 25th, 2023. Like her other books , The Pivot Year is one of those books that leaves you stunned with wisdom and inspired to change, and realize your highest potential.

It’s a poetic and powerful book that synthesizes much of her previous work into actionable guidance on how to set goals, overcome obstacles, and cultivate positive habits in order to achieve lasting change.

Summary + Important Lessons

The Pivot Year is a book that defies summary in many ways because it is written as a personal journey. The Pivot Year is designed to be read as a daily guidebook for personal transformation. Each day of the year includes a short essay or exercise designed to push you forward.

To read the book, you can start on any day of the year and read one entry per day. Each entry is relatively short (usually no more than a page or two), so it’s easy to fit into your daily routine. You can also use the book as a reference guide by flipping to specific entries that address topics or challenges you’re currently facing.

The Pivot Year is meant to be an interactive and engaging tool for personal growth and transformation. By reading it consistently and applying its insights to your life, you can make meaningful progress toward becoming the person you truly want to be. Everyone will take something different from it.

That said, here are some really important lessons that stuck out to me on my first read of the book, given my station in life at the moment.

• Page 5: Personal transformation requires a shift in mindset, from external validation to internal fulfillment.
• Page: 85: Fear and discomfort are natural parts of the personal growth process; learning to embrace them can help you overcome obstacles and achieve your goals.
• Page 171: Consistency is key to achieving your goals; small, daily actions can add up to significant progress over time.
• Page 215: Personal transformation requires both self-awareness and self-compassion; learning to be kind to yourself can help you overcome setbacks and stay on track.

I could probably write a bullet point for each page, if not an essay, but those are some of the more broad insights that I found from the book. Ultimately though, The Pivot Year will help you live a more authentic, fulfilling life by aligning your actions with your values.

The Pivot Year Quotes

Within you lives a great vision for your life, quieted over time by the world. It is once again time to listen. It is once again time to live. Brianna Wiest, The Pivot Year

Success isn’t just about achieving external goals; it’s also about cultivating inner peace and contentment. Brianna Wiest, The Pivot Year

The only way to truly know what you’re capable of is to push yourself beyond your comfort zone and see what happens.

Brianna Wiest, The Pivot Year

Maybe you don’t need to find more energy, maybe you just need to find a dream that makes you actually want to get up in the morning. Maybe you need to find something that gives back more than it takes. Maybe you need to stop trying to be good at the hundred things that do not light up your soul, and finally choose the one that does—the one that asks you to risk, to lay your heart bare, to try again, even though you’re scared. You’re not failing because you’re not motivated. You’re not supposed to get far on a path that was never yours to walk. Brianna Wiest, The Pivot Year

Your life is a reflection of your thoughts, beliefs, and actions. Change any one of those things, and your life will change too. Brianna Wiest, The Pivot Year

To truly pivot in life is not to move from one external path to another but to stop navigating your course solely from the blueprint given to you over the years. It does not mean to turn in a new direction, but to first go inward, to learn how to hear your own moment-to-moment instructions. It is to learn how to trust yourself, how to listen. It is to lead your life with a deeper degree of integrity. It is not to reconstruct your identity with pieces of what the world may deem more acceptable but to deconstruct the notion that you must fit within a mold at all. Brianna Wiest, The Pivot Year

You must learn that you exist far and beyond the opinion you have of ourselves, and maybe, just maybe, if you stopped to look around, you’d realize that you are far more brave, far more powerful, far more beautiful, and far more loved than your smallest self would let you believe. Brianna Wiest, T he Pivot Year

You cannot change what you refuse to confront. Brianna Wiest, T he Pivot Year

PDF of The Pivot Year

Since I run social media for Thought Catalog Books, I know one of the questions we get all the time is “can I see a free PDF?” The answer is yes, and here is the link to the PDF preview . Please do support the author and creators behind the book by buying a real copy from an authorized seller like your local bookstore or Shop Catalog.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do I buy the physical version of the book? The best place to buy the physical book is through Shop Catalog . Shop Catalog is the primary and authorized reseller of all Thought Catalog Books. You can also buy at your local retailer.

Who is Brianna Wiest? Brianna is the best-selling author of multiple books including 101 Essays That Will Change The Way You Think and The Mountain Is You . She started her career on Thought Catalog and gained international recognition due to her books that have now been translated into over 20 languages. Brianna went to Elizabethtown College and is now a partner at Thought Catalog. She lives in Big Sur, CA.

When will the audiobook of The Pivot Year be released? The audiobook of The Pivot Year is currently in production. It won’t be released until late 2023. In the meantime, you can find all of Brianna Wiest’s other books in audio form here . Brianna also has audio content hosted on the Thought Catalog YouTube channel .

What about international versions? The cheapest way for Canadians to buy the book is through Indigo . You can also buy the USA version from anywhere in the world on Shop Catalog . However, please note since the book ships from the United States, shipping prices can be quite expensive. Shop Catalog only charges what it costs to ship the book, and can’t control the pricing or timing of international shipments.

Is The Pivot Year being translated into different languages? Yes! The first translation of the book was released June 29. You can buy the German edition here . Other translations are in the works and if you’re a major publisher interested in foreign rights, please contact Thought Catalog Books directly.

What is the best way to get the eBook of The Pivot Year ? You can find a free PDF of The Pivot Year online. The official retailer for eBook version is Apple Books. You can find it here .

Besides The Pivot Year , what other books has Brianna Wiest published? Brianna Wiest has published several books. She has four recent books of non-fiction:

• 101 Essays That Will Change The Way You Think
• The Mountain Is You: Transforming Self-Sabotage Into Self-Mastery
• When You’re Ready, This Is How You Heal
• The Pivot Year: 365 Days to Become The Person You Truly Want To Be

Brianna has also published two poetry books:

How many books has Brianna Wiest sold? Brianna has sold now over 2 million books and her sale count is growing ever day. 2023 will mark the release of several new translations of her books, bringing in a brand new global audience.

Will Brianna Wiest be on a press tour for her the release of The Pivot Year ? Brianna Wiest is currently doing press for the release of her book and will start a USA-based tour May 1. You can see all dates and locations on her website here .

• Daily Horoscopes
• Manifesting
• Birth Chart Calculator
• Zodiac Personality Traits
• Thought Catalog
• Shop Catalog
• Creepy Catalog
• Quote Catalog
• Thought Catalog Books
• Thought Catalog Agency

• Spend $30, Get a Cooler Bag or Picnic Blanket for $29.99
• Get Gifts on Time for Dad | See Order Deadlines
• Enjoy Free Shipping Every Day on Eligible Orders Over $35
• français

Find a store

Set your store to easily check hours, get directions, and see what’s in stock.

We're sorry, we couldn't find results for your search.

Find out when it's back

We’ll send you an email as soon as this item is available to buy online.

The Pivot Year

• bvseo_sdk, dw_cartridge, 18.2.0, p_sdk_3.2.0
• CLOUD, getAggregateRating, 11ms
• reviews, product
• bvseo-msg: Unsuccessful GET. status = 'ERROR', msg = 'Not Found.';

Checking availability…

Buy now & pick up in store

Find it in store

Ratings & Reviews

• CLOUD, getReviews, 6ms
• bvseo-msg: Unsuccessful GET. status = 'ERROR', msg = 'Not Found.'; Unsuccessful GET. status = 'ERROR', msg = 'Not Found.';

Editorial reviews

Choose format, ebooks from indigo are available at kobo.com.

Simply sign in or create your free Kobo account to get started. Read eBooks on any Kobo eReader or with the free Kobo App.

With over 6 million of the world’s best eBooks to choose from, Kobo offers you a whole world of reading. Go shelf-less with your library and enjoy reward points with every purchase.

Up to 30% off Indigo Bestsellers

*Valid TUESDAY - MONDAY at Canadian stores and indigo.ca, while quantities last. Not valid on previous purchases or in conjunction with other offers.

*Valid May 13, 2024 - June 30, 2024 at Canadian stores and at indigo.ca, while quantities last, with $30.00 or more pre-tax purchase of eligible product(s), after discounts and plum points redemptions. Minimum purchase amount excludes gift cards, plum PLUS memberships, Love of Reading products/donations, and shipping costs. Selection may vary between stores and online.