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jakelipman's review against another edition
5.0
This book inspired me to write my own damn book. The highlighter certainly got a workout!
livrawds's review against another edition
5.0
This is just a breath of fresh air as always needed and so truthful
beccisays's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
3.5
I’ve seen so many people quoting this but I wasn’t sure, it didn’t really seem like my “thing”.. whatever that is.
I’m pleased to have been proven wrong on this occasion. I get it now, it is indeed a collection of very quotable quotes.
A couple of things missed the mark for me, eg: random recipes like peanut butter toast or hummus (why?!). Also the odd musing on how life and toast are alike etc. I get that it’s going for finding meaning amongst the mundane and universal relatability. It just gave me flashbacks to all those stoned moments my teenage self spent in my kitchen reflecting while I’m waiting for munchies to cook. Y’know when your baked brain is like “Whoah, that’s so insightful and important, write that down” and then you look back and it’s just a post-it note with a vaguely coherent thought on it. Some of my own personal favourites from my own youth were “Minstrels are just Smarties for adults.” and “Nothing is literally no thing.”
Anyway, here are some quotes from the actual book that I did like:
I’m pleased to have been proven wrong on this occasion. I get it now, it is indeed a collection of very quotable quotes.
A couple of things missed the mark for me, eg: random recipes like peanut butter toast or hummus (why?!). Also the odd musing on how life and toast are alike etc. I get that it’s going for finding meaning amongst the mundane and universal relatability. It just gave me flashbacks to all those stoned moments my teenage self spent in my kitchen reflecting while I’m waiting for munchies to cook. Y’know when your baked brain is like “Whoah, that’s so insightful and important, write that down” and then you look back and it’s just a post-it note with a vaguely coherent thought on it. Some of my own personal favourites from my own youth were “Minstrels are just Smarties for adults.” and “Nothing is literally no thing.”
Anyway, here are some quotes from the actual book that I did like:
“The hardest question I have ever been asked is: How do I stay alive for other people, if I have no one? The answer is that you stay alive for other versions of you. For the people you will meet, yes sure, but also for the people you will be.”
“There is no point becoming someone else in order to find friends. In order to find the people who like you, it is first necessary to be you.”
“Check your emotional armour is actually protecting you, and not so heavy you can't move.”
“Don’t envy things you wouldn’t actually want. Don’t absorb criticism from people you wouldn’t go to for advice.”
“Rest is an essential part of survival.”
“There is nothing lonelier than being with people who aren’t on your wavelength. The cure for loneliness isn’t more people.”
“Your self-worth is not found inside the minds of other people.”
“Our mind might make prisons, but it also gives us keys.”
katykelly's review
5.0
Random but significant - it's the thoughts you know you should be thinking.
I feel Matt Haig is a little like me. A list maker, with random words of wisdom popping into his head now and then but not making the most cohesive whole. Well, I'll be doing him a disservice (as his fiction is superb), but I do like the hodgepodge feel of this book.
You can browse and find something comforting or inspiring. You can read it cover to cover and enjoy it that way. There's no real theme other than the above - words to bring comfort and inspiration when you might be needing them.
The author reads this in the Audible edition. No offence to you Matt, but I might have liked another voice actor to read this out to me, you're not by any means a poor narrator, but I'd have liked the soothing tones of a Brian Blessed, or a Morgan Freeman (out of budget maybe?!) to soothe these thoughts into my psyche.
A wonderful collection of snippets, and a perfect audio choice for the car or for a run. It's as though a friend is giving you advice.
Short but pertinent.
With thanks to Nudge Books for providing a sample Audible copy.
I feel Matt Haig is a little like me. A list maker, with random words of wisdom popping into his head now and then but not making the most cohesive whole. Well, I'll be doing him a disservice (as his fiction is superb), but I do like the hodgepodge feel of this book.
You can browse and find something comforting or inspiring. You can read it cover to cover and enjoy it that way. There's no real theme other than the above - words to bring comfort and inspiration when you might be needing them.
The author reads this in the Audible edition. No offence to you Matt, but I might have liked another voice actor to read this out to me, you're not by any means a poor narrator, but I'd have liked the soothing tones of a Brian Blessed, or a Morgan Freeman (out of budget maybe?!) to soothe these thoughts into my psyche.
A wonderful collection of snippets, and a perfect audio choice for the car or for a run. It's as though a friend is giving you advice.
Short but pertinent.
With thanks to Nudge Books for providing a sample Audible copy.
te_books's review against another edition
5.0
More an experience than a book, like poetry about life and the world. Everyone will relate to it differently but that’s part of its beauty. I thought it was reassuring and wonderful.
melliemakesdragons's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
4.75
lyssey's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
natalieyanka's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
relaxing
medium-paced
4.5
janagaton's review against another edition
4.0
all im gonna say is this was a hell of a lot better than The Midnight Library. Got so much out of this one & many pages are definitely going to stick with me for a while.