stellahadz's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

3.75

This book is equal parts memoir and self-help; if you go in expecting exclusively one or the other you'll likely be disappointed. In some aspects, How To Fail isn't particularly groundbreaking - it expresses ideas that have been expressed before in other media, including Day's own podcast, but that is not to say that it is badly written or not worth the read. Some parts resonated deeply with me - for instance, the chapter in which she talked about failing her driving test and feeling like a fish out of water after finishing school because "[i]n adulthood, no one gives you marks for getting the answer right." Other parts made me roll my eyes a bit - not all of us have the means to go on a yoga retreat in Morocco to cope with a bad breakup - but then again, it's not the author's job to be relatable to every single reader, it's her job to share what she's learned from her own experiences. Day isn't afraid to discuss her experiences with infertility, sexual harassment, and divorce, and I commend her for her willingness to address these topics from her own perspective. 

Not all of it was for me, but I can see this book being helpful to people dealing with similar issues as Day, and more generally to younger adults wanting to start engaging with self-help literature.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

magicsarah's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

4.0


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

weewaw2020's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

I picked this book specifically due to a period which felt like one thing after another was going wrong and I needed some encouragement and a pick me up and oh my gosh, what a book! It was exactly what I needed especially in the audiobook format, which the author narrates, as it felt like Elizabeth and I were having a chat over a coffee each time I pressed play.

Although I couldn’t relate to every chapter (I’ve never been married or had children etc) there were so many amazing quotes and sections that really spoke to me in areas such as sport, work, relationships, friends, family and study, that it almost felt like Elizabeth has written this book for me personally. Would highly recommend to anyone who has ever failed (ie everyone!)

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

twilightfairyx's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective relaxing slow-paced

3.75

Whilst the book has a fabulous and hopeful opening identifying that we have all failed at some point in our life. Some of the chapters went a little too detailed into areas which were not as particularly relevant to me, but others may identify with.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

ceratopsians's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.0


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

hayleighlouise's review against another edition

Go to review page

reflective slow-paced

2.0


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

katielouu's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

A beautiful exploration of how failing actually makes us stronger and that it's okay to not be good at everything.

I love the podcast so much and I'm glad that you get to see more of Elizabeth's thoughts on failing and how she herself has used failing to her advantage.

There are so many passages that I know I will re-read again and again when I need reminding that its okay to not have it all figured out yet.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 I definitely recommend checking out both the book and the Podcast! 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

scarletellajones's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

5.0


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

amythomas's review against another edition

Go to review page

hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
More...