Think Like A Monk

Jay Shetty grew up in a family where the options were clear: doctor, lawyer, or failure. To his relatives, he seemed to have chosen the third. Instead of attending his graduation, Shetty traveled to India to live as a monk meditating for hours each day and dedicating his life to service. After three years, one of his teachers encouraged him to leave the monastery, explaining that his greatest impact would come from sharing his insights with the world. Burdened with debt and no obvious career prospects, Shetty returned to his parents’ home in North London.

Reconnecting with former classmates working in high powered corporate jobs, Shetty saw their lives riddled with stress and unhappiness. They turned to him for guidance on mindfulness, purpose, and well-being. That was the spark. From those beginnings, Shetty rose to become one of the world’s most influential voices. By 2017, he was named to Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list for transforming media. In 2018, one of his videos became Facebook’s #1 most-viewed, garnering over 360 million views. Today, with a following of more than 38 million across platforms, over 400 viral videos reaching 8 billion views, and his chart-topping podcast On Purpose, Shetty has become a global leader in personal growth.

In Think Like a Monk, Shetty distills the timeless lessons of his years in the ashram into practical wisdom for modern life. He shows how to quiet negativity, break harmful habits, and unlock the calm, focus, and purpose within us all. With actionable advice and transformative exercises, Shetty proves that everyone not just monks can live with greater clarity, peace, and meaning.