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rubypaustian's review against another edition
4.0
Really cute, motivational book that made me feel extremely inspired. I should probably look through this during New Years to help make myself some good resolutions!
sowalsky's review against another edition
1.0
I'm naturally skeptical of self-help books: for every such book which is truly helpful there are two which fail miserably, and this work falls squarely into the latter category. "Five" claims to help the reader imagine the next five years of their life and, in doing so, maximize their human potential. Perhaps I should have been more suspicious going in, since this book was given to me by a former boss who turned out to be a shameless hypocrite. And I should have known what I was in for after reading the very first substantive statement contained in this volume: "In five years Columbus opened up a whole new world by discovering the Bahamas, Cuba, Hispaliola, and North America." Leading with praise for one of history's great monsters does not exactly inspire confidence.
As with many of the worst self-help books, the bulk of "Five" consists of a jumble of quotations -- really out-of-context platitudes -- which, on account of their mostly well-known sources, are supposed to carry the weight of authority and profundity. Yet this book is really just a round of rah-rah-rah cheerleading for the privileged class. Advice such as, "Visit the home of your ancestors," is problematic for anyone who doesn't enjoy both financial and cultural advantages. But, then again, the author clearly understood his audience, since anyone who would pony up $14.95 for a hardcover book in which two whole pages are devoted to the sentence, "See the world," is likely to consider the advice found here to be timely, relevant, and deeply moving. To the rest of the world -- or to those of us who are too smart for that bullshit -- it is more likely to act as an emetic. Yech!!
As with many of the worst self-help books, the bulk of "Five" consists of a jumble of quotations -- really out-of-context platitudes -- which, on account of their mostly well-known sources, are supposed to carry the weight of authority and profundity. Yet this book is really just a round of rah-rah-rah cheerleading for the privileged class. Advice such as, "Visit the home of your ancestors," is problematic for anyone who doesn't enjoy both financial and cultural advantages. But, then again, the author clearly understood his audience, since anyone who would pony up $14.95 for a hardcover book in which two whole pages are devoted to the sentence, "See the world," is likely to consider the advice found here to be timely, relevant, and deeply moving. To the rest of the world -- or to those of us who are too smart for that bullshit -- it is more likely to act as an emetic. Yech!!
richard_f's review against another edition
4.0
Excellent short primer on dreaming and visioning. (Short on planning and implementing.) I enjoyed it and recommend it. P.S. Don't bother if you will not spend a few hours with the exercises.
bookfairy99's review against another edition
1.0
When this book arrived in the mail, I was disappointed to see how incredibly thin it is -- a mere 80 pages. Flipping through it, I was disappointed again to discover that most of the pages have only a sentence or two written on them. It's as though the gimmicky typography took centre stage over the subject matter.
When I actually sat down to read it and do the exercises, I wasn't at all surprised to see that the handling of the material was... thin, at best. I was hoping for more insights, more meaty discussions on what makes a meaningful life, on goal-setting and time management, on priorities and boundaries, on all the things that so many of us struggle with that keeps us from achieving our peak potential.
Instead, I got a whole lot of fluff, a mish-mash of quotes I've read a hundred times before, and questions that are so common-sense as to be pretty useless in terms of actually setting down a solid 5-year plan. Overall, this book was incredibly disappointing, and I wish I'd flipped through it in a store before purchasing it from Amazon, because I never would have spent my hard-earned money on it.
When I actually sat down to read it and do the exercises, I wasn't at all surprised to see that the handling of the material was... thin, at best. I was hoping for more insights, more meaty discussions on what makes a meaningful life, on goal-setting and time management, on priorities and boundaries, on all the things that so many of us struggle with that keeps us from achieving our peak potential.
Instead, I got a whole lot of fluff, a mish-mash of quotes I've read a hundred times before, and questions that are so common-sense as to be pretty useless in terms of actually setting down a solid 5-year plan. Overall, this book was incredibly disappointing, and I wish I'd flipped through it in a store before purchasing it from Amazon, because I never would have spent my hard-earned money on it.
pollyannamum's review against another edition
4.0
I am a chart-the-course junkie, so this book is right up my alley. It is very similar in nature to other coaching-by-book volumes (see: Martha Beck and Stephen Covey) in that it asks you to identify those things that are important to you and points you in the direction of achieving them.
The one thing going for this version of that well-known exercise is that it is presented workbook style in about 60 colorful, big-print pages. If you are not one to slog though theory and background, and just like to get to the point and get moving, this might be the format for you.
The downside of many self-coaching books is the lack of accountability to another person. No matter how gorgeous the exercises, many people do better with someone to hold them to their promises. Zadra attempts to overcome this inertia by creating a volume that is visually pleasing as well as chock-full of encouragement in small bites.
Zadra's graphically-exciting book may also be a useful volume for coaches and therapists to share with clients as "homework" as they go through the process of looking at Values, Mission Statement, Life Balance, Goal Setting, and Stretching.
As someone who enjoys the theory behind the go-get-em, this wouldn't be my only goal-setting book on the shelf. But for folks who love to collect them or who would like a straight-forward workbook for inking their visions, this work is worth a look.
The one thing going for this version of that well-known exercise is that it is presented workbook style in about 60 colorful, big-print pages. If you are not one to slog though theory and background, and just like to get to the point and get moving, this might be the format for you.
The downside of many self-coaching books is the lack of accountability to another person. No matter how gorgeous the exercises, many people do better with someone to hold them to their promises. Zadra attempts to overcome this inertia by creating a volume that is visually pleasing as well as chock-full of encouragement in small bites.
Zadra's graphically-exciting book may also be a useful volume for coaches and therapists to share with clients as "homework" as they go through the process of looking at Values, Mission Statement, Life Balance, Goal Setting, and Stretching.
As someone who enjoys the theory behind the go-get-em, this wouldn't be my only goal-setting book on the shelf. But for folks who love to collect them or who would like a straight-forward workbook for inking their visions, this work is worth a look.
ecooper99's review against another edition
1.0
When this book arrived in the mail, I was disappointed to see how incredibly thin it is -- a mere 80 pages. Flipping through it, I was disappointed again to discover that most of the pages have only a sentence or two written on them. It's as though the gimmicky typography took centre stage over the subject matter.
When I actually sat down to read it and do the exercises, I wasn't at all surprised to see that the handling of the material was... thin, at best. I was hoping for more insights, more meaty discussions on what makes a meaningful life, on goal-setting and time management, on priorities and boundaries, on all the things that so many of us struggle with that keeps us from achieving our peak potential.
Instead, I got a whole lot of fluff, a mish-mash of quotes I've read a hundred times before, and questions that are so common-sense as to be pretty useless in terms of actually setting down a solid 5-year plan. Overall, this book was incredibly disappointing, and I wish I'd flipped through it in a store before purchasing it from Amazon, because I never would have spent my hard-earned money on it.
When I actually sat down to read it and do the exercises, I wasn't at all surprised to see that the handling of the material was... thin, at best. I was hoping for more insights, more meaty discussions on what makes a meaningful life, on goal-setting and time management, on priorities and boundaries, on all the things that so many of us struggle with that keeps us from achieving our peak potential.
Instead, I got a whole lot of fluff, a mish-mash of quotes I've read a hundred times before, and questions that are so common-sense as to be pretty useless in terms of actually setting down a solid 5-year plan. Overall, this book was incredibly disappointing, and I wish I'd flipped through it in a store before purchasing it from Amazon, because I never would have spent my hard-earned money on it.
ckthelibrarian's review against another edition
1.0
No heavy thinking needed. This is a book of quotes with fill-in-the-blanks spaces for you to chart out your next five years. Not impressed.
heyelzbi's review against another edition
5.0
I adore books like this, filled with inspiring quotes and stories. I received it for a college graduation gift and devoured it. I just hope I follow through.
ecooper99's review against another edition
1.0
When this book arrived in the mail, I was disappointed to see how incredibly thin it is -- a mere 80 pages. Flipping through it, I was disappointed again to discover that most of the pages have only a sentence or two written on them. It's as though the gimmicky typography took centre stage over the subject matter.
When I actually sat down to read it and do the exercises, I wasn't at all surprised to see that the handling of the material was... thin, at best. I was hoping for more insights, more meaty discussions on what makes a meaningful life, on goal-setting and time management, on priorities and boundaries, on all the things that so many of us struggle with that keeps us from achieving our peak potential.
Instead, I got a whole lot of fluff, a mish-mash of quotes I've read a hundred times before, and questions that are so common-sense as to be pretty useless in terms of actually setting down a solid 5-year plan. Overall, this book was incredibly disappointing, and I wish I'd flipped through it in a store before purchasing it from Amazon, because I never would have spent my hard-earned money on it.
When I actually sat down to read it and do the exercises, I wasn't at all surprised to see that the handling of the material was... thin, at best. I was hoping for more insights, more meaty discussions on what makes a meaningful life, on goal-setting and time management, on priorities and boundaries, on all the things that so many of us struggle with that keeps us from achieving our peak potential.
Instead, I got a whole lot of fluff, a mish-mash of quotes I've read a hundred times before, and questions that are so common-sense as to be pretty useless in terms of actually setting down a solid 5-year plan. Overall, this book was incredibly disappointing, and I wish I'd flipped through it in a store before purchasing it from Amazon, because I never would have spent my hard-earned money on it.
hnah's review against another edition
4.0
A good book for finding goals and inspiration in your personal life it doesnt cover my professional ideas though.