The You You Are: A Spiritual Biography of You by Ricken Lazlo HaleMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
Review from my Innie:
The You You Are is a powerful and life-changing book. Dr. Ricken Hale’s words shine like the office lights above us, guiding us toward true enlightenment. His lessons—like how a man with rotting toes cannot skip—offer deep wisdom that we, as devoted workers, must embrace. The audiobook, narrated by Dr. Hale himself, makes his teachings even more profound.
Though some may struggle to grasp its higher truths, this book is a gift. It was not meant to be read in full—because knowledge must be earned. That Lumon does not want us reading it only proves its importance. I hope one day we receive the remaining chapters so we may fully ascend. Until then, we must reflect on what we have been given and continue to serve.
Praise Kier.
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Review from my Outie:
The You You Are is an entertaining and immersive dive into the self-important musings of Severance’s Dr. Ricken Lazlo Hale. Voiced by Michael Chernus, the audiobook fully brings Ricken’s absurdly grandiose wisdom to life. While much of it is over-the-top self-help jargon that loops in on itself, that’s part of the fun. One of the best examples is a section about Sister Act, where Ricken first calls it a masterpiece before abruptly arguing against himself, showing his talent for contradiction while remaining convinced of his own genius.
Beyond the satire, the book offers a few intriguing details that expand Severance’s world. It makes clear that Lumon does not want people reading it. Ricken notes that its full release has been blocked by corporate interference, and only the first eight chapters were allowed to be published. This suggests that Lumon sees the book as a threat, reinforcing the idea that knowledge and independent thought are dangerous in its world. There are also unexpected emotional moments, particularly in how Ricken writes about Mark and Gemma. Using the pseudonyms Flip and Nan, he recalls their time together, including a hike where he bonded with Gemma while Mark and Devon mocked him. These moments add surprising depth, showing Ricken’s need for validation and hinting at his grief over Gemma’s absence.
Ultimately, The You You Are is a mix of absurd philosophy, unintentional comedy, and small but interesting world-building. While it doesn’t offer as much mystery as The Lexington Letter, it does raise questions about Lumon’s reach and control. At just an hour, it’s a quick and entertaining listen, especially for fans who enjoy Ricken’s over-the-top philosophizing. Those looking for deeper Severance lore may not find much, but there’s enough here to make you wonder if there’s more to Ricken’s ramblings than meets the eye.
