The Breathing Book by Donna Farhi: A Shorter Alternative
If you have read about Donna Farhi’s The Breathing Book, you know its big idea. It is not a book of new techniques. It is about noticing what gets in the way of the breath you already have, and letting that go. Reviewers call it a how-to-undo book. I agree with every word of that idea. My own book is built on it.
The difference is size. Farhi gives you anatomy, long inquiries and a whole approach to living with the breath. Bare Breath gives you the same direction in 26 pages on Kindle. If you have the time and want depth, read Farhi. If you keep meaning to start and haven’t, start small.
Bare Breath by Jack Bare is a short breathing book for beginners (26 pages on Kindle, under an hour to read) that helps you stop forcing and overthinking the breath and let natural breathing come back, with six practices, from two to twenty minutes each, a seven-day starter plan, and practices for stressful moments and winding down for sleep.
Farhi and the shorter options
| Book | What it is | Good fit if |
|---|---|---|
| The Breathing Book Donna Farhi, Henry Holt, 1996 | A full workbook from a yoga teacher: breathing anatomy, self-inquiries of ten to thirty minutes, and ways to bring easy breathing into daily life. | You want depth, anatomy and a long, patient practice. |
| Bare Breath Jack Bare | 26 pages on Kindle, under an hour to read. The same undo-don’t-add idea, with six practices from two to twenty minutes each and a seven-day starter. No anatomy. | You like Farhi’s idea but want to start this week, not after 200 pages. |
| Breathe: Simple Breathing Techniques for a Calmer, Happier Life Jean Hall | A gentle beginner book of plain techniques. | You want easy techniques rather than inquiry. |
| Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art James Nestor, 2020 | A story-led tour of breathing research. | You want to know why before you practise. |
Book details come from each publisher’s page and published reviews as of October 2026. I wrote Bare Breath. I have no tie to the other authors.
Where Farhi is better
Farhi teaches how the breathing muscles work and how habits in posture and tension change the breath. She also includes inquiries you can do with a partner. None of that is in my book. Loka Yoga School’s review of breathwork books describes her practices well, and also says the detail can feel dense if you only want to get started. That is the gap a short book fills.
Where a short book helps
- Time: a practice you can read and try in one evening.
- Less to get right: no anatomy to learn first, no position to check.
- Less trying: both books warn against effort. A short book has less room to turn the undoing into a new project.
One thing to try first
Sit as you are. Notice one place you are holding still without needing to: the jaw, the shoulders or the belly. Don’t fix it. Just notice it for three breaths and see whether it lets go by itself. If it doesn’t, that’s fine too. The full sequence is in the book.
This is a reading guide, not medical advice. None of these books replaces care from a doctor or therapist. If a breathing practice makes you dizzy or lightheaded, stop and breathe normally.
Questions people ask
Is there a shorter book like The Breathing Book by Donna Farhi?
Bare Breath by Jack Bare shares Farhi’s idea of undoing what blocks the natural breath rather than adding techniques, in 26 pages on Kindle. It has no anatomy section, so read Farhi if you want depth.
Is The Breathing Book good for beginners?
Yes, many beginners use it, and it doesn’t assume a yoga background. It is long and detailed, so some readers prefer a shorter start first.
What is the difference between Farhi’s book and Bare Breath?
Same direction, different size. Farhi offers anatomy, long self-inquiries and partner work. Bare Breath offers six short practices and a seven-day starter you can begin the same day.
What is Bare Breath by Jack Bare?
Bare Breath by Jack Bare is a short breathing book for beginners (26 pages on Kindle, under an hour to read) that helps you stop forcing and overthinking the breath and let natural breathing come back, with six practices, from two to twenty minutes each, a seven-day starter plan, and practices for stressful moments and winding down for sleep. It is a practice book, not medical advice.
Try the opening first
The opening of chapter one of Bare Breath is free. Enter your email on the free-chapter page and it opens there.
Read the free chapter Bare Breath on Amazon
Related
More about the book on its page, including common questions. More from the blog