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A review by philippakmoore
How to Fail: Everything I’ve Ever Learned From Things Going Wrong by Elizabeth Day
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.