S. U. M. O vs It didn't start with you

Both "It didn't start with you" by Mark Wolynn, Ludivine Bouton-Kelly and "S. U. M. O" by Paul McGee are popular choices for readers interested in Self-actualization (Psychology) and Psychic trauma. This comparison helps you decide which to read first — or whether both belong on your list.

Shared Themes

Self-actualization (Psychology)SELF-HELPPersonal GrowthGeneral
Cover of S. U. M. O

S. U. M. O

Paul McGee

2008

‘SUMO is a brilliant book, packed with simple, inspirational and innovative ideas that can be applied to any aspect of your life. Paul’s knowledge, enthusiasm and ability to clearly explain these methods is unsurpassed. I heartily recommend this excellent read.’ Professor Damian Hughes, Author and Co-Host of The High Performance Podcast ‘Paul offers a fresh, practical and down to earth approach to change and getting the best from life. An uplifting read for anyone looking to find their spark.’ Owen O'Kane, Psychotherapist & Sunday Times Best Selling Author Want some straight-talking advice on how to really improve your life? In the 20th Anniversary Edition of SUMO (Shut Up, Move On): The Straight-Talking Guide to Succeeding in Life, bestselling author and personal development heavyweight Paul McGee delivers inspiring insights by revealing how hundreds of thousands of people around the world are fulfilling their potential, seizing opportunities, succeeding at home and at work, and increasing their resilience by adopting the SUMO approach to life. McGee combines hard-won personal insights, ancient wisdom, modern science, hilarious anecdotes, practical tips, and hands-on frameworks to offer a life-changing read. New to this edition is an exploration of how real people have profoundly improved their lives with the book's timeless principles and strategies, providing a testament to the enduring power of the SUMO principles. You'll find: Exciting and inspirational advice for taking control of your own life Ways to change your thinking, mindset, and approach to life's inevitable obstacles Ideas to improve your understanding and awareness of the way that other people see the world Perfect for people wanting a straight-talking approach to success, as well as those who are already fans of the SUMO way of thinking, this new 20th Anniversary Edition is a must-have resource for everyone who's ready to ditch the “whatever will be, will be” fatalism in favor of a practical guide t

Published 2008
Books like S. U. M. O
Cover of It didn't start with you

It didn't start with you

Mark Wolynn, Ludivine Bouton-Kelly

2016

INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER TRANSLATED INTO 39 LANGUAGES FULLY REVISED AND UPDATED IN 2025 “This groundbreaking book offers a compelling understanding of inherited trauma and fresh, powerful tools for relieving its suffering. Mark Wolynn is a wise and trustworthy guide on the journey toward healing.” —Tara Brach, PhD, author of Radical Acceptance and True Refuge It Didn’t Start With You and its companion, The Official It Didn't Start with You Workbook, provide a groundbreaking approach to transforming traumatic legacies passed down in families over generations, by an acclaimed expert in the field Depression. Anxiety. Chronic Pain. Phobias. Obsessive thoughts. The evidence is compelling: the roots of these difficulties may not reside in our immediate life experience or in chemical imbalances in our brains—but in the lives of our parents, grandparents, and even great-grandparents. The latest scientific research, now making headlines, supports what many have long intuited—that traumatic experience can be passed down through generations. It Didn’t Start with You builds on the work of leading experts in post-traumatic stress, including Mount Sinai School of Medicine neuroscientist Rachel Yehuda and psychiatrist Bessel van der Kolk, author of The Body Keeps the Score. Even if the person who suffered the original trauma has died, or the story has been forgotten or silenced, memory and feelings can live on. These emotional legacies are often hidden, encoded in everything from gene expression to everyday language, and they play a far greater role in our emotional and physical health than has ever before been understood. As a pioneer in the field of inherited family trauma, Mark Wolynn has worked with individuals and groups on a therapeutic level for over twenty years. It Didn’t Start with You offers a pragmatic and prescriptive guide to his method, the Core Language Approach. Diagnostic self-inventories provide a way to uncover the fears and anxieties conveyed through everyday

Published 2016
Books like It didn't start with you

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is easier to read: It didn't start with you or S. U. M. O?
Reading difficulty depends on your familiarity with the genre. Check each book's page count and subject matter above, and start with whichever aligns better with books you've enjoyed before.
Can I read It didn't start with you and S. U. M. O in any order?
Yes — these are standalone works. You don't need to read one before the other unless they're part of the same series.
Which book is better for beginners?
If you're new to this genre, look at the shorter book with broader appeal and start there. You can always come back for the other.

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