LAW OF ZERO

Hardy lays out strategies for self-improvement in this autobiographical self-help book.

The author’s approach centers around “Zero,” defined as a “place of sacred power and infinite possibilities – the place and the Source of all creation.” Hardy believes this balanced, serene, creative place is accessible to anyone via five access points. The first is “Find Awareness,” achievable through creating a trauma timeline, reflective journaling, and therapy. Next is “Secure Alignment,” establishing intentions for the future; spending time in nature, visualization, and mindfulness assist with this step. The third point of entry, “Take Ownership,” involves embracing one’s role in one’s circumstances and thereby spurring action. The fourth point encourages readers to “Release to Receive,” and the final entry point, “Engage Power,” requires ongoing efforts to return to Zero. Hardy expounds on his theories over 20 chapters, instructing readers to map out their traumas and rewrite their Human Story Code (an ingrained personal narrative that includes biology and genetic lineage). He differentiates between “Capital-T (T)ruth,” which is universal and irrefutable, and “Lowercase-t (t)ruths,” which are shaped by individual perspectives. Reframing adversity as a path to enlightenment, learning to love one’s imperfections, and managing negativity are just a few lessons Hardy imparts. Throughout the book, the author weaves in stories from his past, including experiences with abuse, bedwetting, and reconciling his identity as a gay man with his conservative Mormon upbringing. Hardy’s trauma-informed approach is a welcome and timely addition to the self-help genre. He bravely shares struggles from his own life, such as being excommunicated from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and uncovering suspected abuse by a family friend. However, the heavy emphasis on the author’s religious backstory limits the book’s utility for readers seeking broader, secular guidance, and Hardy occasionally comes off as tone-deaf; one of his Zero experiences happened during the pandemic while he was “on a pink inflatable raft in the middle of [his] swimming pool.”

A deeply personal, trauma-informed self-help guide that promotes individual responsibility.