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241 reviews for:
The Resilience Project: Finding Happiness through Gratitude, Empathy and Mindfulness
Hugh van Cuylenburg
4.13 AVERAGE
241 reviews for:
The Resilience Project: Finding Happiness through Gratitude, Empathy and Mindfulness
Hugh van Cuylenburg
4.13 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
Overall, this has been an engaging audiobook. It’s quite refreshing listening to an Australian accent, and Hugh van Cuylenberg was certainly an interesting storyteller.
However, let’s call a spade, a spade. This is no self-help book, but a memoir. Hugh narrates the story of how he used to resent his sister’s Anorexia, until he went to India and discovered the secret to mental health. Through GEM—Gratitude, Empathy, and Mindfulness. Since then, he has made it his life’s mission to talk about GEM, his Resilience project.
Except we don’t hear much about the specifics of GEM. There is a mention of a GEM based curriculum and a journal writing about three things to be grateful for at the end of the day. Apart from those, not much else. I struggled to comprehend how he would travel all over Australia and other parts of the world to explain a topic that essentially takes 10 minutes. But I don’t know, because the resilience project was very vaguely explained.
We did learn Hugh’s life story, which was interesting and insightful. It’s not a bad book by any means, but the title suggests a deeper exploration of resilience than what is actually delivered.
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
I was already familiar with the Resilience Project - I've done some of their journals (actually I really should get back on that) and I've listened to a fair bit of The Imperfects podcast too, which features Hugh van Cuylenburg. But reading this book really gave me a lot more context for the journey that van Cuylenburg has been through, along with his family, and how he developed the Resilience Project and the message of GEM (gratitude, empathy, mindfulness) that he shares. An enjoyable read overall and one that I am going to be thinking about for a while as I reflect on my own life and how well I am practising GEM.
A very engaging and fun collection of stories designed to drive home the point of engaging with Gratitude, Empathy, and Mindfulness. It drove home some points that I've engaged with in the past in a different way which was helpful but it was a bit of a rehashing of other information I've read before. If you've never read about the importance of these qualities, I highly recommend the book!
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
*Audiobook
On picking this up, I was not at all anticipating to have it be so close to home. van Cuylenburg is a cricket-loving, Carey/Deakin graduated Melbournian teacher - true blue Aussie, which immediately had me connecting to his story and authorship, it felt more like listening to a friend than a book (especially given the accent). Beyond our shared Eastern Melbourne heritage, van Cuylenburg is down to earth, considerate, motivated and has a purpose, drive and commitment to helping the community that I haven't seen from many private school boys.
van Cuylenburg tells the story of his journey developing the principles of GEM (gratitude, empathy, mindfulness) a model for empowering others to be happier and the conception of his Resilience Project.
He tackles the very sensitive issues of young people's, specifically women's, mental health with honesty, respect and grace, I know if he had been my teacher he would have had a much-needed positive impact on my highschool experience.
Throughout my read there have been many times I felt my eyes prick at the onset of tears, van Cuylenburg brings the people that have been his inspiration to life with affection and respect. Their stories are impactful both in message and in feeling a genuine sympathy for these people I don't personally know.
A moving, inspiring and overall very enjoyable listen filled with purpose.
- The final few chapters sounded like they had more of a personal boone to pick rather than serve the purpose of the resilience project
- Have heard mixed comments about van Cuylenburg commodifying his sister's personal struggles as a way to make money
*3.5 rounded down
On picking this up, I was not at all anticipating to have it be so close to home. van Cuylenburg is a cricket-loving, Carey/Deakin graduated Melbournian teacher - true blue Aussie, which immediately had me connecting to his story and authorship, it felt more like listening to a friend than a book (especially given the accent). Beyond our shared Eastern Melbourne heritage, van Cuylenburg is down to earth, considerate, motivated and has a purpose, drive and commitment to helping the community that I haven't seen from many private school boys.
van Cuylenburg tells the story of his journey developing the principles of GEM (gratitude, empathy, mindfulness) a model for empowering others to be happier and the conception of his Resilience Project.
He tackles the very sensitive issues of young people's, specifically women's, mental health with honesty, respect and grace, I know if he had been my teacher he would have had a much-needed positive impact on my highschool experience.
Throughout my read there have been many times I felt my eyes prick at the onset of tears, van Cuylenburg brings the people that have been his inspiration to life with affection and respect. Their stories are impactful both in message and in feeling a genuine sympathy for these people I don't personally know.
A moving, inspiring and overall very enjoyable listen filled with purpose.
- The final few chapters sounded like they had more of a personal boone to pick rather than serve the purpose of the resilience project
- Have heard mixed comments about van Cuylenburg commodifying his sister's personal struggles as a way to make money
*3.5 rounded down
emotional
informative
medium-paced
I cried quite a lot reading this. Sometimes it's a good reminder that even though sometimes things are sucky, others have it worse, or you can come through it even stronger.
Some of the facts were shocking but not surprising. I also really enjoyed how the outreach line numbers were read out loud.
It was a bit repetitive in the latter half, and the whole "this isn't a business" thing when it clearly is was a bit off putting. More info on what is in the journals or what is taught in schools would have been great.
Some of the facts were shocking but not surprising. I also really enjoyed how the outreach line numbers were read out loud.
It was a bit repetitive in the latter half, and the whole "this isn't a business" thing when it clearly is was a bit off putting. More info on what is in the journals or what is taught in schools would have been great.
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective