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You Are Awesome’s Back-of-Book Description
From Neil Pasricha—New York Times, million-copy bestselling author of The Book of Awesome series and The Happiness Equation, thought leader for the next generation, and one of the most popular TED speakers in the world—comes a revelatory and inspiring book that will change the way we view failure and help us build resilience.
We are lucky. For most of us, famine, plague, economic depression, and other life-threatening catastrophes are the stuff of history books. We’re living in an era with the highest-ever rates of longevity, education, and wealth. Cars drive us home as our phones entertain us before we arrive to food delivered to the front door. We have it all!
But there’s just one side effect. We no longer have the tools to handle failure…or even perceived failure. When we fall, we lie on the sidewalk crying. When we spill, we splatter. When we crack, we shatter.
We are turning into an army of porcelain dolls.
A rude email from the boss means calling in sick. Only two likes on our post means we don’t have friends. Cell phones show us we’re never good enough. Yesterday’s butterflies are tomorrow’s panic attacks. Record numbers of students have clinical anxiety. And what about depression, loneliness, and suicide?
All rising!
What do we desperately need to learn?
RESILIENCE. And we need to learn it fast.
My Thoughts
I was given an advanced reader copy of You Are Awesome: How to Navigate Change, Wrestle with Failure, and Live an Intentional Life in exchange for my honest review.
I’ve got a lot going on these days, with work and online school – not to mention regular family ordeals. So when I was approached to read this book and post a review I almost considered declining. I just didn’t want to put myself in yet another stressful situation of feeling like I had to more things on my to-do list than I could manage. But something about this book appealed to me.
Perhaps it was because I was told this book ‘shares nine story-based, research-backed secrets to developing resilience in an era of exploding anxiety, depression, and loneliness.’ Secrets to developing resilience? Sign me up! Now, that was a bold and intriguing offer, but I’ve read a few self-improvement books lately that I felt really underdelivered.
this book shares nine story-based, research-backed secrets to developing resilience in an era of exploding anxiety, depression, and loneliness. Click To Tweet
Thankfully, I can happily report that this book did not underdeliver!
I’m really glad I took the time to give this one a shot! You Are Awesome grabbed me right from the beginning and I finished the whole thing in a weekend. The material is easy to digest and full of extremely relatable stories. I especially liked the ones from his time at his first job and all he learned from that ‘failure’. And on the topic of failure, he presents the idea that you have to lose more to win more… I love that. Not because I like losing, but because I know that it’s simple math – the more chances you take, the higher your odds of success. Yes, more chances means more loses. But it also means more wins.
That’s just one tiny example of the kind of stuff covered in this book. All nine ‘secrets’ were presented in a relatable, interesting way and included actionable insights on how to use them in your life.
The author, Niel Pasricha, writes in an open, vulernable way but without being whiney and attention-seeking. It feels like he genuinely believes in these methods and simply wants to help everyone else move forward and lead a positive, more resilient life. It’s honestly refreshing and very encouraging.
It feels like he genuinely believes in these methods and simply wants to help everyone else move forward and lead a positive, more resilient life. Click To Tweet
Buy it Now!
Favorite Quotes From You Are Awesome
“…every skyrocketing pleasure or stomach-churning defeat defines not who he is but simply where he is.”
“We have to remember that sometimes the “angry and underperforming” coworker just started out as underperforming . . . and nobody helped them.”
“He doesn’t need to know he’s doing it wrong. He needs to know how to do it right.”
“…you can’t picture yourself changing so you assume you won’t.”
“Do you love it so much you can take the pain and punishment, too?”
“And different is better than better.”
“We have to be aware of which pond we are swimming in and be kind as we swim.”
“…it’s not on them if somebody doesn’t get what I’m saying. It’s on me. That’s the root of real empathy.”
In Conclusion
You Are Awesome by Neil Pasricha gets 4 stars from me. It’s a light, enjoyable read with actionable insights on how to move through the world with a more positive outlook. He offers examples and ways to look at your past and use your experiences to navigate your future.
I think he says it best when he writes “…on our road to resilience, on our journey to awesome, on our path to getting stronger, we recognize there’s an opportunity to be kinder to ourselves and we’re able to use a few small tools to help us get there.”
The book was just released November 5th – I strongly encourage you to pick up one copy for yourself and more for some loved ones! (Christmas will be here before you know it, after all!)
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this review. Check out my other reviews here.
Be sure to share with your firnd and pin some of these awesome quotes to your favorite board.
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