The Revolution Will Be Internalised
On the unlikely politics of inner prepping
Anouchka Grose, a leading psychotherapist specialising in climate anxiety, was in general happy with her London life which included a glamorous partner, a teenager, even a spare room.
But, shaken by the apparent futility of Western activism in the face of inertia and corruption, she began to question her choices, both material and emotional. Instead of seeking outward answers she went inwards, creating an alternative Eat, Pray, Love for the polycrisis.
Inner prepping, or altering your private, interior world as a form of civil resistance, is an oblique way of coming at the classic feminist idea that the personal is political. Grose takes us on an exhilarating, funny, erudite and ultimately uplifting tour of the practices she tried out, including ego-dismantling retreats, animal communication, and tantra, offering myriad ways to revolutionise ourselves and others.
‘These revolutionary pages blew me away with extraordinary pleasure.’ – Devorah Baum, author of On Marriage
‘Interesting and intriguing, inspiring and amusing.’ – Adam Phillips, author of On Giving Up
‘Luminous, accessible and fascinating.’ – Josh Cohen, author of All the Rage
‘Funny, clever and wise, self aware.’ – Monique Roffey, author of The Mermaid of Black Conch
‘Many a reader will be transformed by this handbook-memoir-manifesto.’ – Chloe Aridjis, author of Book of Clouds
‘I found this book to be such a delight. Grose takes us through a fantastic array of ideas and practices that we’re in dire need of if we want to get through these terrifying times. Moreover, she does so with both erudition and wit, and with a conversational verve and charm that are irresistible. The book is a completely winning combination of profundity and liveliness – and it will leave you feeling galvanised, hopeful, and excited. If Grose has got anything to do with it, I think we’ll get through!' – Katherine Angel, author of Unmastered: A Book on Desire, Most Difficult to Tell
‘Inspiring, smart and very funny, this book offers a hopeful – and, more importantly, fun – path forward. In a world where so much feels grim, it’s a gem. Anouchka weaves together big ideas in a way that feels effortless to take in. I now want to move to the Portugal commune, write letters to rats, and have sex with sexy world-changers.’ – Marianne Power, author of Love Me! One Woman’s Search for a Different Happy Ever After
Anouchka Grose is a London-based psychoanalyst, writer, lecturer and climate campaigner. Her nine published books include A Guide to Eco-Anxiety: how to protect the planet and your mental health, Uneasy Listening: notes on Hearing and Being Heard and Fashion: a Manifesto.
She has contributed to The Guardian, Granta, Harpers Bazaar, and Radio 4, as well as appearing in Josh Appignanesi’s documentary My Extinction.