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mary00's review
4.0
This is a quiet, introspective, peaceful book, and many parts resonated with me. I have really been enjoying personal essays/ memoirs this year, and this was another good one. However, it did not move me as much as others I have read and did not feel as cohesive as some. I did appreciate the author's warm tone and ruminations on life. It was a pleasant reading experience that gave me some ideas to ponder.
itscatcheng's review
4.0
I enjoyed this book! Not quite a self-help book, but more just a collection of stories and lessons learned by Niequist in the past few years, especially from her move to New York. I was curious (because I'm nosy) about how she's been dealing with the fallout from her dad's, um.. shortcomings. And I think she has done a great job of being real and fair and vulnerable and gracious. I appreciate her for writing this book.
To be brutally honest, I probably prefer "Present Over Perfect" over this book because by the last third of the book, it gets a little rambly, and I like a good balance between action steps and stories. This isn't really too much of a criticism—I tend to write in a similar fashion in that I include a lot of run-on lists of things I find beautiful or things I need to work on when I journal or share an Instagram post. But I think perhaps people should temper their expectations if they're anticipating practical tips or life hacks, when it's really more like a series of anecdotes and what Niequist has gained from these anecdotes. In other words, you shouldn't expect it to be another "Atomic Habits" or "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" even though some might categorize this as a self-help book.
To be brutally honest, I probably prefer "Present Over Perfect" over this book because by the last third of the book, it gets a little rambly, and I like a good balance between action steps and stories. This isn't really too much of a criticism—I tend to write in a similar fashion in that I include a lot of run-on lists of things I find beautiful or things I need to work on when I journal or share an Instagram post. But I think perhaps people should temper their expectations if they're anticipating practical tips or life hacks, when it's really more like a series of anecdotes and what Niequist has gained from these anecdotes. In other words, you shouldn't expect it to be another "Atomic Habits" or "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" even though some might categorize this as a self-help book.
bethjordahl's review
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
I love Shauna Niequist’s writing with all my heart. Her words give me space for thinking, feeling, reflecting and finding out a better way to live. When I grow up, I want to be like her.
christie_esau's review
3.0
3.5 - parts of this book, I loved; i.e. it made me want to move to New York. Other parts felt as though they didn't quite all line up. This could be the fault of my being an exhausted new mother listening to an audiobook, but I bet I'd appreciate this book more if I knew Niequist's work better.
stasiana's review
Too much Christianity, skipped over father’s sexual abuse of women in his church.
kellylellyreads's review
inspiring
3.5
It was a nice read and had some very inspiring moments, but overall it felt a bit surface level and repetitive.
mothman64's review
3.0
my bad for not catching the religious aspect of this prior to reading, but ah well
linseyleibrandt's review
I loved this read! So many wonderful nuggets of life lessons.