ACT Made Simple: An Easy-To-Read Primer on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (New Harbinger Made Simple)

I bought this book wanted to understand more about ACT and how it works. It definitely achieved that aim. The style is clear and well-presented; the explanation is straightforward but not simplistic, and the examples given all seem helpful and constructive. The book reviews and details all the major elements of ACT, usefully explaining the links and relations between them as parts of the "hexaflex" comprising the main processes. I would very much recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in starting to understand ACT and how it might usefully be applied within the therapeutic relationship, and although I wouldn't recommend starting to *practice* from it (there are other, better, materials for that I'm sure) at the very least all readers will be much better informed to judge if they want to take their interest further or not. The style and tone are suitable for most readers, though naturally a familiarity with some form of therapy or other will be advantageous because it's a book about doing ACT as opposed to a book about doing therapy in general. As a result it rather 'takes for granted' that readers will understand the overall context of the relationship between the parties involved in ACT. That said, of course, if you are interested in neither ACT nor therapy in general I would imagine this book isn't likely to appeal to you in the first place, so the fact that some of the relevant context is assumed isn't really a criticism.

Effective book giving guidance on how to change thoughts and behaviours to overcome a number of conditions such as depression and anxiety. Uses Acceptance and Commitment Theory, based on mindfulness. Also has a range of good exercises to try out. Easy to read and follow. I am pleased with my purchase and would buy again.

This is brilliant. I think I have read at least 50% of books in this genre and there are many that are very good, but this one uses language that is clear, no beating about the bush. Coming from a lot of Buddhist books and practices the idea of a contextual self that has always been there grated a bit on me, but Russ Harris says enough words to carry it through as 'well it helps, it's workable' but the rest is so helpful that is a minor quibble. This is a book full of wisdom.

An easy-to-read introduction to ACT. It makes the concepts understandable in a way that just makes sense. There are lots of examples to use in real life clinical practice or in your own life (I use it for both). I would say it's THE book if you want to learn ACT.

Good guide on act thankyou

Very simple but interesting breakdown of ACT. Great examples and an enjoyable read.

Recently got this as I was working with someone using ACT. This was really helpful in guiding me and identifying which skills, metaphors etc to use. Great for anyone who wants a straight forward understanding of using ACT

ACT made simple is an easy to read primer on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. It is by far the best book for anyone new to ACT to read to gain a basic understanding of this truly amazing research based approach to therapy. It is also great for those who have some prior knowledge to consolidate and clarify areas of confusion

less academic and theoretic, this book tells therapists how to get in there and use ACT, what are the questions, when, how, why, great metaphores etc.I am enjoying it and I can see my clients are getting benefits of how my knowledge has increased.

Russ delivers a brillant boo that covers the key areas of ACT an how it can help better manage your understanding of yourself and improve your life.

I was recently introduced to this topic and was looking for a textbook and this didn't disappoint. Written in an easy-to-understand way, without oversimpifying the topic while doing it justice. It clearly explains the various elements of the model, the tools, metaphors and how to overcome the challenges one would face applying it. The BEST part - actual dialogues that show you how the theory translates to language with another human... if that isn't a textbook, I dont know what is! Really no idea on how else could this improve; I'd come back to this again and again, and... again!

I’ve finished the first few chapters and so far this book has exceeded my expectations. I am not a therapist or a mental health professional—just someone with a strong interest in psychology. I have been in therapy for many years (mostly CBT-based), and reading this book felt both refreshing and grounding. What I really appreciate is how accessible the language is. Even without a psychology degree, the concepts are explained clearly and without unnecessary jargon. ACT is presented in a very practical, humane way that feels applicable to real life rather than abstract theory. The focus on acceptance, values, and psychological flexibility resonates deeply, especially if you’ve spent years trying to “fix” thoughts instead of learning how to relate to them differently. This book helped me understand my own therapy journey from a new angle. Highly recommended for anyone curious about ACT, especially non-therapists who want a solid, understandable introduction that still has depth.

The best one❤️