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clairemuzz's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
saragibson's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.25
maisielewis's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
3.75
susytore's review against another edition
3.0
È una gradevole lettura, nonché una raccolta di frasi e aneddoti pseudomotivazionali (cosa che può piacere o non piacere - a me mediamente non dispiacciono anche se qui forse sono un pó troppi e quindi inevitabilmente qualcuno finisce anche con l'essere un pó banale). Qualche spunto di riflessione lo offre, ma nulla di particolarmente nuovo e nulla di sconvolgente soprattutto se si viene già da un percorso di psicoterapia o si sono fatte altre letture sul tema della felicità e del fallimento (ad esempio ho rivisto moltissimi temi presenti in "la trappola della felicità" di Harris)
gj377's review against another edition
3.0
I picked up this book because I've enjoyed a few episodes of the podcast, and because people aren't often honest about failure.
I definitely identified with some areas of this book, but less so with others. Day's belief that she was failing "as a woman" by not having children was completely alien to me, even if her ultimate conclusion was that this isn't the case. It's a very reductive view of women and womanhood, and exclusive towards trans women, and any woman who either can't, or doesn't want, children.
I get that this book was Day's way of working through her own issues in this regard and perhaps how society had taught her to view womanhood, but considering this chapter was overly long, it coloured my whole view of the book. I can also understand that someone else struggling to conceive may instead find a lot of meaning in this chapter.
That said, there were parts that were refreshing, and comforting. And Day's ultimate message - that there is nothing wrong with failure, especially a failure you learn from (whether that's about yourself, or knowledge for future endeavours) - is meaningful. It's a message we could all do with internalising, and one that will hopefully make us kinder to ourselves.
I definitely identified with some areas of this book, but less so with others. Day's belief that she was failing "as a woman" by not having children was completely alien to me, even if her ultimate conclusion was that this isn't the case. It's a very reductive view of women and womanhood, and exclusive towards trans women, and any woman who either can't, or doesn't want, children.
I get that this book was Day's way of working through her own issues in this regard and perhaps how society had taught her to view womanhood, but considering this chapter was overly long, it coloured my whole view of the book. I can also understand that someone else struggling to conceive may instead find a lot of meaning in this chapter.
That said, there were parts that were refreshing, and comforting. And Day's ultimate message - that there is nothing wrong with failure, especially a failure you learn from (whether that's about yourself, or knowledge for future endeavours) - is meaningful. It's a message we could all do with internalising, and one that will hopefully make us kinder to ourselves.
philippakmoore's review against another edition
5.0
I am a huge fan of Elizabeth Day's podcast, How to Fail. The book follows the same premise as the podcast - that we learn far more from failure than we do from success, and that it's important, more so than ever in today's filtered highlight reel social media world, to be honest about the lows in life as well as the highs. If you've ever looked at a successful person and thought "wow, they've just got it all, I'm sure they've never screwed anything up" and then around at your own life, with all its messy moments and missed chances, and wonder where you keep going wrong.... the answer is, you aren't. Everyone feels that way at some point. Even the most outwardly successful people.
The podcast has moved me to tears on the odd occasion - but the episode I've listened to several times over is when Elizabeth Day is interviewed herself (by Dolly Alderton). So the book expands on many of the things she touched on in that episode - divorce, infertility, relationships, regrets - alongside anecdotes from her podcast guests. It's all enlightening, vulnerable, well-written, painfully honest but also resilient, positive and hopeful. I related to so many of her "failures".
The aspect of the book I most enjoyed is the great intimacy Day achieves with the reader. Imagine an older, wiser friend or sister. It's like you're sitting across from her in a bar, both of you with a stiff drink in hand and she looks you straight in the eyes and says "right. This is everything I've learned from things that have gone wrong."
How to Fail is one of those books I think has universal appeal - for everyone has 'failed' at some point in their lives. But, as Day and her guests attest, it's these dark times where you are tested that you find out what you're truly made of. They also make you appreciate the successes and good things in life all the more.
You'll feel every low in this book but ultimately finish reading it on a high.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.
The podcast has moved me to tears on the odd occasion - but the episode I've listened to several times over is when Elizabeth Day is interviewed herself (by Dolly Alderton). So the book expands on many of the things she touched on in that episode - divorce, infertility, relationships, regrets - alongside anecdotes from her podcast guests. It's all enlightening, vulnerable, well-written, painfully honest but also resilient, positive and hopeful. I related to so many of her "failures".
The aspect of the book I most enjoyed is the great intimacy Day achieves with the reader. Imagine an older, wiser friend or sister. It's like you're sitting across from her in a bar, both of you with a stiff drink in hand and she looks you straight in the eyes and says "right. This is everything I've learned from things that have gone wrong."
How to Fail is one of those books I think has universal appeal - for everyone has 'failed' at some point in their lives. But, as Day and her guests attest, it's these dark times where you are tested that you find out what you're truly made of. They also make you appreciate the successes and good things in life all the more.
You'll feel every low in this book but ultimately finish reading it on a high.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.
reneephan's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars - I thought it was very cliche at times, and this was more of a memoir. It was nicely organized and had very sound advice, but I felt the title didn't match the book contents. It wasn't a step by step guide on 'how to fail' but more about the author's life in relation to 'failing'. the guests and mentioning of interviewees were repeated many times as well, which generally just became the author's friends.
alannamair's review against another edition
4.0
Helped me with my anxiety. Not the most interesting but well written for a non-fiction and had some really interesting ways of thinking that echoed stuff I've heard previously in therapy.