004 - Simon Young
Lee Hopkins introduces Simon Young and his book, Reboot Yourself, which elegantly fuses the structure of the hero's journey with the principles of a 12-step program. It highlights how the book utilises the narrative framework of the hero's journey to guide personal transformation, mirroring the 12-step approach of acknowledging vulnerability and working towards self-improvement. Simion emphasises that "Reboot Yourself" offers a flexible "menu" of steps for individuals seeking personal growth, drawing on universal themes and even exploring connections to indigenous and Asian narratives to help readers overcome feelings of being 'broken' and achieve a sense of mastery. Ultimately, the text positions the book as an accessible alternative to self-help gurus, designed for those seeking structured yet adaptable guidance on their journey of self-discovery.  Reboot Yourself: Hero's Journey and 12-Step Program The book "Reboot Yourself" combines the hero's journey with a 12-step program. The author, Simon Young, curated well-known ideas and brought them together, using storytelling and the structure of the hero's journey. The 12-step program contributes a psychologically safe, leaderless structure where everyone takes ownership, requiring members to admit they have a problem.   Key connections among the hero's journey, 12-step programs, and "Reboot Yourself":  • Structure "Reboot Yourself" uses the hero's journey as a structural foundation, providing a beginning, middle, and end, or rather, a cycle. The book contains 12 chapters, each corresponding to a step.  • Universality The hero's journey is a recurring theme across cultures, not just Greek or Roman, but also in Indian and Chinese cultures.  • Personal transformation The hero undergoes trials and tribulations, ultimately returning to where they started as a changed person. Similarly, in "Reboot Yourself," the 12-step program guides individuals through a process of acknowledging helplessness, working through steps, and ultimately achieving a better relationship with themselves.  • Overcoming brokenness The author says they have 'always been a little bit broken' and is comfortable in the company of others who admit they have a problem. The 12-step program's origins lie in people wanting to improve, not just in addiction recovery. The book is designed for people who want a sense of mastery but find the hype of self-help gurus unappealing.  • Menu, not a recipe "Reboot Yourself" is presented as a menu of steps to help individuals get unstuck and move forward, with the understanding that some steps will be useful while others won't.  • Indigenous and Asian cultures "Reboot Yourself" relates to indigenous and Asian cultures, as the author prompted an AI to provide non-Western stories or legends corresponding to the 12 steps. The AI gave examples such as the Bhagavad Gita, Maori legends, and the Chinese story, 'Journey to the West'.