This book did not disappoint. Michael Schur, who created the beloved TV show The Good Place, explains how that show came to be and how his experiencesThis book did not disappoint. Michael Schur, who created the beloved TV show The Good Place, explains how that show came to be and how his experiences and interest in moral philosophy was ignited by a very interesting situation. It is a fast read and funny. It will make you think and the author does not take himself too seriously. No one is perfect, obviously. ...more
I got this book from a friend and started reading it while passing the time putting my kids to bed. It was ok. The author tries really really hard to I got this book from a friend and started reading it while passing the time putting my kids to bed. It was ok. The author tries really really hard to be funny but misses a lot of the time. The actual self-help stuff is pretty generic advice presented in an easy to digest manner and that is about it. Basically, break down your big goals into small manageable tasks and then just do it. It was a fast read and it very well could help people who need things to be broken down into very easy to understand language and diagrams....more
This should be a required reading for EVERYONE. It covers 87 emotions and gives fantastic examples of those emotions and how we may not be using the cThis should be a required reading for EVERYONE. It covers 87 emotions and gives fantastic examples of those emotions and how we may not be using the correct vocabulary when we feel certain things. The more vocabulary we have the easier it will be to tend to our own emotional needs as well as others. This is such a fantastic book. ...more
This is a fantastic read filled with all sorts of good information about what joyful wholehearted people do and the values they hold and the actions tThis is a fantastic read filled with all sorts of good information about what joyful wholehearted people do and the values they hold and the actions they take to live the lives they do. Everyone is looking to live their best life but most have no idea how to get there. Nobody is perfect and those who embrace that find a lot of fulfillment. I appreciate this book a lot and the Unlocking Us Podcast read along/discussion that Brene and her sisters did this summer was what got me to read the book. ...more
If you truly want to delve into some self reflection on how white supremacy has influenced your life, this is the book for you. It is set up with jourIf you truly want to delve into some self reflection on how white supremacy has influenced your life, this is the book for you. It is set up with journaling questions at the end of each chapter. It is an easy read stylistically but it is not an easy read if you truly do the work Layla is asking each reader to do. There is no American who has not been affected by white supremacy and globally its influence is strong. If making social change, anti-racism, social justice and being an all around good human being is important to you, I reccommend reading this book....more
This book is so great to keep by your bedside because you can pick it up and read a two page entry at any point. It is also divided up by season and iThis book is so great to keep by your bedside because you can pick it up and read a two page entry at any point. It is also divided up by season and it doesn't matter what page you open to. You will find something encouraging and heartfelt written by Rachel Macy Stafford. I found her before she wrote any of her books and was just on the Hands Free journey with her blog. She has blown up and rightfully so. Her writing is so warm and sincere.
While this book might appeal more to moms, it is not just for mothers or parents for that matter. It is about embracing love today and in the moment even though we are far from perfect and often veer way off throughout the day. I absolutely loved reading an entry or two before going to bed. That is also why it took me so long to finally finish it.
If you are someone who doesn't like warm fuzzies and getting sentimental I don't recommend this book to you, but for everyone else you should pick up a copy for sure. It is a great one to have in print and not digitally too so you can mark it up and dog ear all you want!...more
This book was a wonderful follow up to Eckhart Tolle's first book The Power of Now. He delves into the how of overcoming the ego and really living a fThis book was a wonderful follow up to Eckhart Tolle's first book The Power of Now. He delves into the how of overcoming the ego and really living a fulfilling and less stressful life. There is nothing worse than feeling helpless and stuck in our emotions but once we are able to become conscious of how our emotions take a hold and how the ego is always looking for power we can take power over the ego and break free of the mental bondage we unconsciously put ourselves in.
There are a few basic steps that Tolle explains that will help us break free. One of those things is just becoming aware of our emotions and realizing that it is not our emotions that really makes us who we are. We are light and we are all connected at an energetic level.
Accept situations. The more we fight against them the more pain we conjure and while he doesn't advocate being passive and just letting things happen, he does say that it does no good to stay stuck in your emotions without taking steps to change the situation. There will never be any change if we continue to play victim to our emotions and situations. Once we accept, a weight is lifted and we can move forward whether it means staying in a situation or getting out of it.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who has read The Power of Now but it is not a prerequisite to read this book. Tolle does not spout self-righteousness nor does he say that if we do not follow this we are doomed. He just makes the case for a life more fully lived and better enjoyed. Nobody enjoys pain but we continue to choose to feed our pain-body throughout our life because we have yet to wake up.
So the choice is up to you. Wake up or live a life unconscious and stuck. I know what I want and I have already put into practice what he teaches. It is absolutely liberating. This is a life changing book....more
I found Melanie Dale after reading an article about her in my alma mater's alumni magazine and read her first book "Women are Scary" while nursing my I found Melanie Dale after reading an article about her in my alma mater's alumni magazine and read her first book "Women are Scary" while nursing my daughter. There was no doubt that I would read her second book because the first one was hilarious and spot on with what it is like to make mom friends.
This time around she wrote about learning to love the life you didn't choose. It´s Not Fair is an account of life´s low blows for the author and how she dealt with them through hilarious bible interpretation and humor including poop jokes, unicorns and some pretty dark humor regarding infertility. Melanie Dale wrote this book as if she was writing to a friend who really needed some comforting even though there is nothing anyone can do or say that will really make the situation any less poopy. She states very clearly that she is in no way here to make all your problems go away but she will be happy to sit alongside you and share that dark space while trying to make it a bit lighter and happier with some humor. There also happens to be a list of 100 things you can do to help you manage your awful life situation in chapter 9.
I am not going to lie, I skipped over the chapter that was just excerpts from the Bible but I thoroughly enjoyed all of her Bible interpretations, particularly the chapter about infertility as told by the Bible. I found out that my child´s namesake from the Bible was a really fertile woman but lacked love from her husband. I wouldn´t call that very fair nor would I call it fair for someone to be loved and infertile (aka Rachel). It is all relative to the person and his or her own situation, wants, needs, and desires and whether or not they are being met. A lot of the time they are not and that is when we want to yell ¨It´s not fair!!!¨
The only reason I gave this book a 4 our of a 5 is that I am not a Christian and didn't particularly care for the chapter with all the Bible verses. However, I appreciate that they are in there because Melanie is writing her experience and what helped her. She is also writing for an audience that no doubt will mostly be Christian women. I don't think the chapter should be taken out. It just wasn't my cup of tea.
I do, however, think this is a great book for Christians who may feel like they aren't allowed to question what life has dumped on them. Everyone is allowed to question and ponder and scream out that it isn't fair and Melanie is there alongside you pumping out those poop emojis along the way.
Melanie has a great sense of humor and whether or not you are currently in a not so great life situation right now, I highly recommend reading this book. I really felt like I was getting comforted by a friend who wasn't trying to tell me everything I should be doing to make my situation better. She was honest and heartfelt and ready to make a stupid joke and laugh at the ridiculousness that life (or God if that is how you want to look at it) throws at you. It is a quick read with short chapters and has many laugh out loud moments. I can see this book being a wonderful companion for a lot of people who are going through tough times and need to know that they are not alone even if their situations are not exactly the same.
Full disclosure, I received a copy of this book in exchange for a review and being a part of the launch team. ...more
This book is incredibly comprehensive and while I did not read it from end to end, I liked how I could look through the index and can still look throuThis book is incredibly comprehensive and while I did not read it from end to end, I liked how I could look through the index and can still look through the index should I need a question about parenting little ones answered.
I have mostly referred to it for sleep advice. However, at the end of the day we do what works best for our family and it has not followed every step that Tracy Hogg laid out. At the same time, I appreciate the steps she offers and anecdotes. I also really like the EASY method of taking care of newborns. That made life much easier when my daughter was a newborn and I plan on using it with my second child.
I am sure that every single subject she touches on can be found on baby center.com now but if you are looking for one expert's advice on parenting babies, this book is a great encyclopedia and a great addition to any parent's library....more
I thought this book was going to be a self-help book but I did not expect it to be religious. I didn't know anything about Ernest Holmes before pickinI thought this book was going to be a self-help book but I did not expect it to be religious. I didn't know anything about Ernest Holmes before picking up this book but I later found out that he was quite the preacher of "The Science of the Mind" and I find it fascinating.
Basically, in this book Holmes talks about how everything is under a divine order and that it is up to us to understand that order and work within it to make change and make things happen. Unlike many preachers and religious folk, Holmes does not say that God is going to look over and do everything for us. Yes, he will look over us but it is up to us to do something with our lives and make the best of it. We are all put here to be happy and living in fear is not what will get us anywhere productive in life.
I like this quote about prayer. I had never thought about it this way before. "When we speak of energy back of though, or the power of faith and prayer, we are not thinking of will power, but of original Power. The thought, or the prayer, merely uses an energy which already it. The scientists does not put energy into electricity; he takes it out." Prayers are not "answered" he explains because people aren't doing it right. The mind is a super powerful thing though so we must train it.
I did not feel like I was being preached to. Holmes took lots of time to think his thoughts through and it's an interesting way to thing about religion and while I am sure there are many out there that believe there is not God etc., this book could be incredibly helpful for those who are living in fear and need an outlet to become more productive citizens. I don't see any wrong in religion helping people fulfill their goals and doing excellent things with their lives. The problem comes when people use religion as tool for awful things like war and killing in the name of God. That is not what this man preaches and if anything it is eternal love and happiness that guides us and what we should be reaching for. ...more