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Reviews
Notes from a Blue Bike: The Art of Living Intentionally in a Chaotic World by Tsh Oxenreider
sarahbook1's review against another edition
2.0
I bought this as a Kindle deal and finally pulled it up to read. I should have known when she described the “small town” as having a population of over 70,000 that I was not on the same page as her.
mandyjuly's review against another edition
5.0
It sadly took me longer than I wanted to finish this book. Not because it wasn't a great book but because of me not being intentional to read it. With that being said. This was an eye opener and truly motivating. I recommend everyone to take the time to read it.
lecymay's review against another edition
2.0
This book was a quick, breezy read, but it had nothing to do with biking. I also don't feel I learned much about reconciling busy, tech-centered American lifestyles with the desire to live more simply, which appeared to be the intention of the book. This family seemed to always be on the go and taking on additional responsibilities. That's fine, but being packaged as a slow down book felt like false advertising. I enjoyed the author's writing style though and it kept me going for the duration.
melothree's review against another edition
3.0
Maybe the author is living intentionally but her life is anything but simple. It wears me out just reading about it. Her obsession with her job and travel means she can never rest. My life is crazy simple in comparison so there were no real good tips on that front. I did like her idea of planning meals for 2 weeks and then repeating. I was frustrated with her attempt to homeschool and try only the classical style. Maybe her meeting with Susan Wise Bauer made her feel as if Classical education was the only way to go but it certainly is not. It might also be the reason her and her husband were butting heads with their daughter and felt burnt out. Classical education is most times forced and very unnatural. We have tried many methods in our home and this is not one we kept around for long. I liked other parts of the book. Since I can't travel much I like reading about other people traveling. I liked reading about how her family budgets. Although I could never work as much as she does I understand that is her "intention." She enjoys it and she enjoys having the money she makes to use for travel. I guess I was just looking for a more calm life lol. The title calls the world "chaotic" and her life seems a bit chaotic to me. Still enjoyed the book though.
bethpeninger's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
I'm always interested to hear from others who are attempting to live intentionally in a fast-paced, technology saturated world. It is no easy feat to slow down in this life so when I come across others who have ideas and have managed to find small ways to do it then I'm all ears.
Oxenreider and her husband had the privilege of living overseas in Turkey for a few years which set the foundation for living a slower paced and more intentional way of life. Entering back in to America was a shock to the system, a reverse culture shock of sorts and it set off a series of conversations and attempts to reclaim the ways they knew their life for their family needed to be. Life is all about trial and error and Oxenreider is refreshingly honest in sharing those. She makes no attempts to pretend she has "arrived" at the place of living intentionally, she admits it is difficult and easy to be sucked into the whirlpool of this western, developed world life. She shares some of their trial and errors, how they choose to make life intentional, and poses questions for the reader to think through in regards to their own living and how they might make it more intentional. She also doesn't prescribe a set formula for this slower, intentional life that "everyone" must follow - she acknowledges that it will look different for each family, that a slower paced, intentional life is unique to each family. That is refreshing when generally many who have good intentions to share what they have learned set it forth in a manner that is a prescribed method and everyone should follow it to a "t". The one thing I think she makes clear, as do others who have ideas about living more intentionally is that it is a family goal, that everyone in the home is on board and contributes to a more meaningful life. This is where I always get hung up, as I am the only one in my home who would love to pursue a more meaningful life. Still, there are some things I can do and implement and I will do what I can.
I'm always interested to hear from others who are attempting to live intentionally in a fast-paced, technology saturated world. It is no easy feat to slow down in this life so when I come across others who have ideas and have managed to find small ways to do it then I'm all ears.
Oxenreider and her husband had the privilege of living overseas in Turkey for a few years which set the foundation for living a slower paced and more intentional way of life. Entering back in to America was a shock to the system, a reverse culture shock of sorts and it set off a series of conversations and attempts to reclaim the ways they knew their life for their family needed to be. Life is all about trial and error and Oxenreider is refreshingly honest in sharing those. She makes no attempts to pretend she has "arrived" at the place of living intentionally, she admits it is difficult and easy to be sucked into the whirlpool of this western, developed world life. She shares some of their trial and errors, how they choose to make life intentional, and poses questions for the reader to think through in regards to their own living and how they might make it more intentional. She also doesn't prescribe a set formula for this slower, intentional life that "everyone" must follow - she acknowledges that it will look different for each family, that a slower paced, intentional life is unique to each family. That is refreshing when generally many who have good intentions to share what they have learned set it forth in a manner that is a prescribed method and everyone should follow it to a "t". The one thing I think she makes clear, as do others who have ideas about living more intentionally is that it is a family goal, that everyone in the home is on board and contributes to a more meaningful life. This is where I always get hung up, as I am the only one in my home who would love to pursue a more meaningful life. Still, there are some things I can do and implement and I will do what I can.
ccrosby1234's review against another edition
3.0
I LOVE Tsh's blog, but didn't find her book as interesting. Maybe because I had read much of the content previously on her blog, but none the less Tsh always brings a unique great perspective. One that makes me think outside of my box and for that I am grateful to her for her work!
injoytroye's review against another edition
5.0
If I were in the position to write a book right now, it would be a combination of this one and Bread and Wine by Shauna Niequist. I feel so burdened by the glorification of busy that I see going on around me- especially in suburbia- and these two books speak to those issues.
donielle06's review against another edition
5.0
great read
I loved this book - easy to read, like I was sitting at a cafe sipping coffee with Tsh. It definitely gave me ideas to live with intention, but in ways that work for me and my family.
I loved this book - easy to read, like I was sitting at a cafe sipping coffee with Tsh. It definitely gave me ideas to live with intention, but in ways that work for me and my family.
byz's review against another edition
3.0
I find this book works best as an encouragement for those of us choosing to be more intentional about how we spend our days than it does as a how-to guide. Since it’s not being peddled as a how-to, that’s not a complaint! Take what’s applicable, make small changes where you can, and remember that each family has its own culture to nourish.
katymvt's review against another edition
3.0
Pop Sugar 2018 Reading Challenge-a book with your favorite color in the title.
It was interesting, but I'm a terrible, horrible awful person.
It was interesting, but I'm a terrible, horrible awful person.