The S@#t I’ve Heard at Yoga

Brand strategist and longtime yoga practitioner Norton draws inspiration from his years on the mat for his wry debut collection of life advice. Each chapter is anchored by an aphoristic piece of wisdom the author has overheard in yoga class. Some of the advice is familiar; “If you feel overwhelmed, just do the next right thing,” he writes, is a reminder that there’s rarely a “correct” next decision. (The best choice is to pick an option that’s feasible and enjoyable, because “at the very least, it’s better than no move at all.”) Elsewhere, he uses the instruction “Close your eyes so you’re not comparing yourself to others in the room” to emphasize how growth and fulfillment come from within. Norton entertains with his self-aware humor and fun pop culture references (ranging from Amélie to Jessica Lange), though he can go off-track, as with a rambling meditation on Hillary Clinton’s failed 2016 presidential bid (“The reason we can’t stop talking about Hillary is because her loss shattered our individual and collective worlds”). The result is an approachable and low-pressure, if uneven, guide to self-reflection and personal change. (Jan.)