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3.84 AVERAGE
3.84 AVERAGE
I suppose I should admit that I went through my own self-help book period in my twenties, probably inspired by watching too much Oprah Winfrey. Lots of mantras and positive self-talk and feeling like my better self was just around the corner. As I sit here at my computer, I can see books on my shelf with titles like "Life Makeovers" (Cheryl Richardson) and "Outer Clutter | Inner Calm" (Gretchen Rubin)... so perhaps my self-help phase didn't actually end in my 20s.
Anyway, this was a surprisingly heartfelt memoir. I thought it would be a bit fluffier than it actually was -- one of those "12 month challenge" things, kind of like "Year of Yes" (Shonda Rhimes) or "The Year of Less" (Cait Flanders). And at the beginning, it seemed quite Bridget Jones Diary, with the author as a bit of a hot mess, hungover and looking around at her life feeling like she doesn't quite have her act together.
As she tried to fully embrace the self-help advice (The Secret, or Get the Guy, or Tony Robbins rah-rah, or Eckhart Tolle intensity), she found herself in some very amusing situations (Fuck It was one of my favorite chapters) -- but in the process she alienated her friends and family and felt more and more depressed about her life. I admired her openness about the pro's and con's of this experiment.
Anyway, this was a surprisingly heartfelt memoir. I thought it would be a bit fluffier than it actually was -- one of those "12 month challenge" things, kind of like "Year of Yes" (Shonda Rhimes) or "The Year of Less" (Cait Flanders). And at the beginning, it seemed quite Bridget Jones Diary, with the author as a bit of a hot mess, hungover and looking around at her life feeling like she doesn't quite have her act together.
As she tried to fully embrace the self-help advice (The Secret, or Get the Guy, or Tony Robbins rah-rah, or Eckhart Tolle intensity), she found herself in some very amusing situations (Fuck It was one of my favorite chapters) -- but in the process she alienated her friends and family and felt more and more depressed about her life. I admired her openness about the pro's and con's of this experiment.
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
I really liked this book. I didn’t want to put it down. The author was funny but so honest and vulnerable. Truly enjoyed the story and recommend it to anyone whether you read self help or not.
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
emotional
“this was where happiness lay - not in affirmations or green juices but in conversations with friends about floral frocks.”
“I suppose I'd like it if people said, She did no harm.”
“I suppose I'd like it if people said, She did no harm.”
Not as good as ‘Love me!’ But I still really enjoyed tone, voice and made me think about self help a lot. Thanks Marianne!
I feel very conflicted about Power’s story about her time spent reading self-help books and attempting to better herself because of them. The concept was interesting and the book is well-written and funny, but halfway it became quite repetitive. Nevertheless, I worked through it and particularly enjoyed the insights she made at the end of the book.
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
Paraneeko elämä, jos lukee yhden self-help-oppaan kuukaudessa? 🤔 Itse en siihen usko, mutta onneks Marianne Power selvitti sen mun puolesta!
Odotin kepeää teosta self-help-kirjoista, mutta tästä löytyikin yllättävän raskaita aiheita. Mariannen elämä ei ole ruusuilla tanssimista missään vaiheessa, eikä kaikki kirjat ole ihan nappi valintoja. Löysin paljon samaistumispintaa masennuksen kuvauksessa ja varsinkin siitä, ettei sitä itse tajua kokevansa. Kyllähän kaikilla on välillä, tai päivittäin, alakuloisuutta ja sellasta oloa että olis maailma romahtaa. 🫠
Tämä kirja tuli tosi hyvään aikaan, kun itse mietin paljon omaa elämää, mielenterveyttä ja työhön palaamista. Sopivan hauska ja samaistuttava.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Alcohol
Moderate: Body shaming
Minor: Death of parent
Cute. Alternately fluffy navel gazing and then fearless spelunking in the caves of her inner self. While we have very few traits in common and I don’t think we’d be besties, I empathized a great deal with her a some points in her journey.
I just finished the book. For me, self-help depends on your current state of being whether it helps or not. Marianne’s state of being at the moment was self obsession that led her to a higher bar of self expectations, which is depressing. But as she opened her heart and mind that all she ever wanted was already there with her the whole time, she stopped seeing self-help books as “healer,” but rather they became an inspiration - there’s no need of healing, there’s only an inspiration to do better and accept things as they are. (I love this book! Turned out very hilarious and heart-warming)
I am someone who also struggles with perfectionism, spirals of negative self talk, as well as feeling the constant need to improve, I really identified with Marianne’s struggles in this book.
Her experiment of reading one self-help book a month and the consequences she faced in her own struggles of perfectionism and the perception of ‘being enough’ resonated with me.
Her honesty, humility and humour make this a book that I could not put down and missed deeply the day after I finished reading it. For anyone who needs to hear that they are not alone in their journey toward mental wellbeing, this is a book for you.
Her experiment of reading one self-help book a month and the consequences she faced in her own struggles of perfectionism and the perception of ‘being enough’ resonated with me.
Her honesty, humility and humour make this a book that I could not put down and missed deeply the day after I finished reading it. For anyone who needs to hear that they are not alone in their journey toward mental wellbeing, this is a book for you.