The Mountain Is You
"Stability and wholeness, health and vitality are your birthright."
— Brianna Wiest, The mountain is you (2020)
Introduction
| The Mountain Is You | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Full title | The Mountain Is You: Transforming Self-Sabotage Into Self-Mastery |
| Author | Brianna Wiest |
| Language | English |
| Subject | Self-sabotage; Emotional intelligence; Personal development |
| Genre | Nonfiction; Self-help |
| Publisher | Thought Catalog Books |
Publication date | 1 June 2020 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | Print (paperback); e-book; audiobook |
| Pages | 241 |
| ISBN | 978-1-949759-22-8 |
| Goodreads rating | 4.1/5 (as of 21 October 2025) |
| Website | shopcatalog.com |
📘 The Mountain Is You is a self-help book by Brianna Wiest that explains why people self-sabotage and how to convert those patterns into self-mastery by building emotional intelligence and acting with intention, using the mountain as its central metaphor.[1] First published by Thought Catalog Books in 2020.[2] The book is structured as seven chapters that move from identifying triggers and developing emotional skills to releasing the past and designing a new future.[3] Since publication, the audiobook has repeatedly appeared on the Associated Press’s Apple Books Nonfiction Audiobooks Top 10, including a No. 1 placement on 4 June 2024.[4] A German translation was published by Piper on 1 December 2022.[5]
Chapter summary
This outline follows the Thought Catalog Books paperback first edition (2020; ISBN 978-1-949759-22-8; 241 pages).[2][1]
🗻 1 – The Mountain Is You.
🚫 2 – There's No Such Thing as Self-Sabotage.
🎯 3 – Your Triggers Are the Guides to Your Freedom.
🧠 4 – Building Emotional Intelligence.
🕊️ 5 – Releasing the Past.
🌱 6 – Building a New Future.
🧗 7 – From Self-Sabotage to Self-Mastery.
Background & reception
🖋️ Author & writing. Brianna Wiest is a personal-growth author and columnist whose books include 101 Essays That Will Change The Way You Think and When You’re Ready, This Is How You Heal.[6] She has published widely with Thought Catalog, which also publishes her books through its imprint Thought Catalog Books.[7] In September 2022, Thought Catalog reported that Wiest had sold 1 million copies across her books.[8] The Mountain Is You appeared in 2020 under Thought Catalog Books (paperback, 241 pages; ISBN 978-1-949759-22-8).[2] An unabridged audiobook narrated by Stacey Glemboski was released the same year.[9] The book’s method foregrounds emotional intelligence and reframing self-sabotage, using the mountain as a through-line metaphor for doing internal work.[1] Its chapters move from interpreting triggers to skill-building, releasing the past, and planning a new future.[10]
📈 Commercial reception. The audiobook has charted repeatedly on the Associated Press’s weekly Apple Books Nonfiction Audiobooks lists—No. 1 on 4 June 2024,[11] and additional placements such as No. 8 on 12 November 2024 and No. 4 on 16 January 2024.[12][13] The publisher also lists broad translation availability—about 40 languages—on its catalog page (e.g., German, French, Portuguese, Russian, Thai, and Vietnamese).[1] A German edition was issued by Piper on 1 December 2022.[14]
👍 Praise. Inc. highlighted the book as one of five picks to improve leadership mindset, calling Wiest’s approach “realistic” and recommending it as “an exercise in harm reduction rather than a recipe for perfection.”[15] Entrepreneur featured it among 12 bestselling confidence books, noting that it argues compellingly that “people’s biggest obstacle is often themselves.”[16] Oprah Daily described Wiest as a “celebrated author” whose books—including The Mountain Is You—“have inspired millions.”[17]
👎 Criticism. A clinical review by a licensed therapist at Release Counseling praised some insights but argued that much of the messaging felt “uni-directional/causational,” noted “referencing of clinical information without any citations,” and found parts of the trauma discussion “potentially dangerous.”[18] A long-form reader review observed that early chapters are “chock full of motivational notes” and felt “the presentation is lacking.”[19] Another reviewer wrote that it “reads more like an essay than a digestible guide.”[20]
🌍 Impact & adoption. The title appears on London Business School’s “Wellbeing Guide” list of e-books and audiobooks for wellbeing.[21] Boston University’s School of Public Health includes it on the Activist Lab Reading List.[22] James Madison University’s HR “Balanced Dukes” wellness resources also recommend the book.[23]
Related content & more
YouTube videos
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References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "The Mountain Is You: Transforming Self-Sabotage Into Self Mastery". Shop Catalog. Thought Catalog Books. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "The mountain is you: transforming self-sabotage into self-mastery". Steamboat Springs Community Libraries. Marmot Library Network. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
- ↑ Wiest, Brianna (1 June 2020). The Mountain Is You: Transforming Self-Sabotage Into Self-Mastery. Thought Catalog Books. ISBN 978-1-949759-22-8.
- ↑ "US-Audiobooks-Top-10". AP News. The Associated Press. 4 June 2024. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
- ↑ "The Mountain Is You. Wie du Selbstsabotage erkennen und überwinden kannst". Piper Verlag. Piper Verlag. 1 December 2022. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
- ↑ "Brianna Wiest". Brianna Wiest. Brianna Wiest. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
- ↑ "Brianna Wiest". Thought Catalog. The Thought & Expression Company. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
- ↑ "International Best-Selling Author Brianna Wiest On What It Takes To Sell 1 Million Copies". Thought Catalog. The Thought & Expression Company. 4 September 2022. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
- ↑ "The Mountain Is You (OverDrive audiobook record)". Lafayette Public Library (Marmot Library Network). Marmot Library Network. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
- ↑ Wiest, Brianna (1 June 2020). The Mountain Is You: Transforming Self-Sabotage Into Self-Mastery. Thought Catalog Books. ISBN 978-1-949759-22-8.
- ↑ "US-Audiobooks-Top-10". AP News. The Associated Press. 4 June 2024. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
- ↑ "US-Apple-Books-Top-10". AP News. The Associated Press. 12 November 2024. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
- ↑ "US-Audiobooks-Top-10". AP News. The Associated Press. 16 January 2024. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
- ↑ "The Mountain Is You. Wie du Selbstsabotage erkennen und überwinden kannst". Piper Verlag. Piper Verlag. 1 December 2022. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
- ↑ "5 Professional Development Books to Help Improve Your Leadership Mindset". Inc. Mansueto Ventures. 11 November 2022. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
- ↑ "Need More Confidence? These 12 Bestselling Books Will Help Improve Your Self-Esteem". Entrepreneur. Entrepreneur Media, Inc. 17 July 2025. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
- ↑ "Read This to Get Unstuck". Oprah Daily. Hearst Magazines. 27 February 2025. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
- ↑ "The Mountain Is You: Transforming Self-Sabotage into Self-Mastery (Clinical Book Review)". Release Counseling, PLLC. Release Counseling, PLLC. 28 February 2025. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
- ↑ "Transforming Self-Sabotage Into Self-Mastery, By Brianna Wiest (Review)". Written by Marlene. Marlene Beaulieu. 25 January 2022. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
- ↑ "Book Review; The Mountain Is You by Brianna Wiest". Notes by Thalia. Notes by Thalia. 11 December 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
- ↑ "Audio & e-books – Wellbeing Guide". Information Services and Technology. London Business School. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
- ↑ "Activist Lab Reading List". Boston University School of Public Health. Boston University. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
- ↑ "Reflections on Wellness". James Madison University. James Madison University. Retrieved 21 October 2025.