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Getting to Center: Pathways to Finding Yourself Within the Great Unknown Paperback – October 27, 2020
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"Marlee's work shifts and stretches. This new collection is a necessary resource for those of us looking to re-center, lean in, and get curious about ourselves, about our heart's work. Getting to Center is a blessing in book form." —Alexandra Elle, author of After the Rain
From the beloved creator, workshop facilitator, and author of How to Not Always Be Working comes an approachable and practical guide to leaning into the unknown even when it feels as though everything around—and inside—us is in flux.
Picking up where How to Not Always Be Working left off, Getting to Center is an empathetic offering to those who are looking for a roadmap for finding their way back to equilibrium. This book meditates on endings, grief and joy, ease, hope, addiction, and beginnings, pairing Marlee's own experiences and wisdom with practical exercises and tools for creating balance and understanding within the natural changes of life.
In her own constant shifting, improviser and entrepreneur Marlee Grace has found ways to pivot within her career, while still maintaining constant threads throughout. She has developed practices that have supported her through opening and closing multiple businesses, a divorce, several cross-country moves, choosing sobriety, and more.
Essential for anyone who feels overwhelmed and anxious about these unpredictable times, this gorgeous, thoughtful book is a hand to hold to feel less alone, and a guide to cultivating resources we can replenish and depend on in ourselves.
- Print length240 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherWilliam Morrow Paperbacks
- Publication dateOctober 27, 2020
- Dimensions5.31 x 0.54 x 8 inches
- ISBN-100062969773
- ISBN-13978-0062969774
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Editorial Reviews
Review
"Marlee's work shifts and stretches. This new collection is a necessary resource for those of us looking to re-center, lean in, and get curious about ourselves, about our heart's work. Getting to Center is a blessing in book form." — Alexandra Elle, author of After the Rain
"My copy of this book is dog-eared, tea stained, and annotated beyond recognition. Getting to Center is like a long late night conversation with your best friend that reminds you of your own radiant messy perfection. This book will open you to knowing and loving yourself in ways that previously felt impossible. I’m jealous you get to take this ride with Marlee Grace for the first time.” — Taylor Schilling
"Marlee Grace has a profound gift for helping us understand that so many of the things in life that we take pains to avoid are actually the richest parts of the journey; and that getting to center is a matter of gentle practice —of making space for mistakes, change, guilt, discomfort, not knowing, grief, and even joy—and then allowing them to feed, teach and transform us.” — Lisa Congdon, Artist and Author
"Marlee Grace’s book has become a bible, sitting by my bed so I can pick it up and read what I’ve highlighted before I sleep and when I wake. It’s that book—the one you want to end your day with and begin the next one with. It’s required reading for everyone in my life. An accessible, tender, and honest journey toward self via Marlee Grace, one of our great teachers of grace, as it were." — Jen Pastiloff, author of the National Bestseller On Being Human
"Marlee Grace embodies permission. Getting To Center is the physical manifestation of that embodiment. It’s a gentle guide to saying yes to yourself, going inward, hugging the dark bits and coming out the other side. It’s a book I didn’t know I needed but now that it’s here, I couldn't imagine life without it." — Erica Chidi, Co-founder and CEO of LOOM
"Marlee is a person who lives deeply, pressed right up to the window of her truth. She offers her findings to us in this book, a space of radical generosity and sparkling love. Getting to Center is a balm, a permission slip, a friend, an affirmation, a guide, a prayer, and a practical place to help one connect to their rhythms of a creative, authentic life spiral." — Sarah Faith Gottesdiener, author of The Moon Book: Lunar Magic to Change Your Life
"...[Grace's] gift is a willingness to expose her insecurities and question her beliefs, and the core advice buried beneath her calls to drink water, get rest, be grateful, forgive yourself, and have faith is surprisingly universal. This will especially resonate with readers in their late teens through their thirties." — Booklist
About the Author
Marlee Grace is a dancer and writer whose work focuses on the self, devotion, ritual, creativity, and art making. Her practice is rooted in improvisation as a compositional form that takes shape in movement videos, books, quilting, online courses, and hosting artists. Marlee's Instagram dance project Personal Practice has been featured in the New York Times, Dance Magazine, Vanity Fair, The Huffington Post, and more. You can find her zines, things she makes, artists she hosts, and more at marleegrace.space/home.
Product details
- Publisher : William Morrow Paperbacks (October 27, 2020)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 240 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0062969773
- ISBN-13 : 978-0062969774
- Item Weight : 2.31 pounds
- Dimensions : 5.31 x 0.54 x 8 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #910,251 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #3,008 in Creativity (Books)
- #6,010 in Meditation (Books)
- #15,032 in Motivational Self-Help (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

Cody Cook-Parrott (formerly Marlee Grace) is the author of How to Not Always be Working and Getting to Center. They write the weekly newsletter Monday Monday and host the writing group Landscapes. Cody has a BFA in Dance from the University of Michigan and lives on the Leelanau Peninsula in Northern Michigan
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Getting to Center was by far the best book i’ve read in 2020.
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on March 8, 2021Edit to add: I'm on my fourth read or so at this point. I just keep returning to the sweetness of this book, as a pep-talk or reality check in moments or days of ruts, slumps, or chaos. The kindness and generosity of Marlee as a teacher comes through in this book, and for me it's even more palpable with each read. Thank you Marlee! Xoxoxoooooo 💗
"I love this book so much, I could eat it" ---literally what I said to my friend last night as I'm mid-second read of Getting to Center. It feels very kind & soft as it walks through many hard truths---endings suck and they are inevitable, surrendering to the unknown is scary, learning how to love yourself is challenging BUT it is a much better option than not loving yourself for the rest of your life. This is an affirming-- yes, recentering-- thing to read. Which is why I'm on my second read. I love. So much.-- The most life-changing (if you'll let it be) piece from this is in the concept of Daily Practices (Things to Return To.) Once starting these, it is clear how desperately I've been needing them. Morning reading or writing, morning walks, exercise, etc. Going without them for a few days leaves me craving them again. Just naming them in the first place (making a list) made them something I could return to at all--- they're not goals, they're not even for self-improvement. They're the crucial daily tending of my own mind/soul/body. We do so many mundane, obligatory, or even stupid/uneccesary things with our time every day. Doing these rituals is NOT trite or small or inconsequential. Really, nothing could be more consequential than the reformation of our daily habits.--- thank you Marlee! You really brought this home for me in a way I hadn't understood before. Love u 💞
- Reviewed in the United States on October 9, 2024It’s like the author’s Yes Yes podcast in book form. We want and need more books like this!!
- Reviewed in the United States on October 27, 2020This is a very sweet, loving, quirky little book with a lot of gems inside. As Marlee Grace says at one point in the book, every ugly rock is beautiful inside. But then again, no rocks are ugly, because they are from nature. But the point remains that everything has its own inner sparkle.
I really liked the affectionate, stream of consciousness writing here. I first have to point out that this book contains a lot of stuff that might be considered "woo." I for one am not the person who would go about creating an altar with a tarot card and essential oil, or spend time thinking about Mercury retrograde. BUT, that is okay....because these practices are parts of larger themes of the book that are valuable for everyone. Also, Grace is not asking you to do these things or accept her same beliefs, but simply sharing a wealth of fun things that have helped her find her center. Amidst each chapter there are some really lovely revelations. I think the book is at its best and most moving when talking about Grace's coming out, which is presented in a way that relates to the theme of the book, and is very genuine and real. I also love all the creative themes and practices in the book. Among the chapters are gems such as "I don't have writers' block; I have 'sitting down to write' block" (me too) and "Belief clings, but faith lets go."
Like her Instagram, the book has the feeling of an old soul much wiser than her years. I like some of her somewhat radical ideas, like the fact that it is not bad for socially conscious people to make a "shit ton of money" (she points out that you can redistribute this in ways that help causes and people that are important to you, and bring ease to yourself) and the idea that marginalized folks can create their own ease and access in the world. Even the ideas I did not identify with (see the aforementioned tarot card altar, and protection spells) were fun to read about.
Another thing I thought was really cool was her emphasis on practice -- including thinking about practicing after your practice, and thinking about practicing before your practice. This is useful to think of in her context as a ballerina but can really apply to anything in your life. Coincidentally I am also reading a book on neuroplasticity - there have been studies where people just THINK about doing an action (such as running, jumping, or completing a task) and monitoring doctors have observed that the parts of their brain light up as if they are actually doing that task. So Grace is really onto something here and science supports her theory that thinking about and envisioning your practice is also a form of practice.
If you can keep an open mind, this is a unique and interesting escape into a creative and interesting mind. A fast and rejuvenating read which I read in one sitting. I have not read "How to Not Always Be Working," but I want to now.
Many thanks to Harper Collins, Marlee Grace and NetGalley for the advance copy of this quirky and sweet read.
- Reviewed in the United States on November 26, 2020I think it says quite a bit that, while still not quite finished with this book, I’ve already purchased three additional copies for gifts this holiday season and will probably ship one more directly to an internet friend.
This is the book I needed now. In the tumultuous eye-opening year we’ve all had, where personally I’ve felt like questioning my whole past, present, and future, Marlee has written a book that not only soothes the reader but challenges them in an uplifting and truly caring way.
If you are a thirty something year old person who questions your relationship with the internet (love/hate/burnt out/inspired), is sober from anaything, creates things or wants to create things, and has Virgo in your charts, you’ll adore this book as much as I did. If you are any one else, it’s highly likely you will take many wonderful things from it as well.
My copy is highlighted and underlined with purple and grey pens. There are pink page flags everywhere. It’s a possession that brings me great joy & will probably be re-read and loved until it starts to fall apart. I’m so grateful for Marlee and the time that this release occurred. I look forward to her next creation.
- Reviewed in the United States on March 18, 2022I really loved this book. It was funny and honest and it reminded me of two of my other favorite books on creativity (the Artist’s Way and Big Magic) because it focuses on the value of the creative practice, not the outcome of the practice! Sometimes self-help books are written in a way that guarantees a result, like if you do this, you will manifest that! Maybe that is helpful for some people, but I think the fundamental truth of life is that we have no control over what happens or how people receive our work. But if we focus on doing our practices, we will be rewarded. Maybe not by capitalism or by other people’s praise, but by the practices themselves! I also like how honest she is about her instagram addiction which I totally relate to.
Top reviews from other countries
- Lavender FingersReviewed in the United Kingdom on February 8, 2021
5.0 out of 5 stars Love, appreciation and thank you! :)
Love love love Marlee’s creations always resonate deeply. Thank you for sharing your gift :) x
- JRReviewed in Canada on July 17, 2021
5.0 out of 5 stars Self Devotion is a Collective Gift
My copy of this book is marked with so many annotations! I really enjoyed Marlee’s colloquial tone and especially how she weaves our commitments to self with devotion to creativity. If there is anything we can do to pave a peaceful and bright future, it is to get good with ourselves: to get to our centers ⭐️
- LCPReviewed in Mexico on July 6, 2022
5.0 out of 5 stars Love this book!!
Love it, you won't regret it!
- joséReviewed in Canada on September 8, 2021
1.0 out of 5 stars self help
i do not feel helped
- Amazon CustomerReviewed in Canada on April 15, 2021
2.0 out of 5 stars Ummm hmmmm
I'm not really sure what to say. I wanted to really like this book, but I can't say I remember a thing I read. I like Marlee's work - I think it's great, but this felt like a verbal diahhrea brain dump where I was left saying "Ummm hmmmm".