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kristenlees's review
4.0
I went into this with high expectations because of how much people were raving about it. I don't know too much about the author, though I've seen her posts on instagram. I did like it overall, though there were a few things I didn't have strong feelings about or didn't like. The cover is absolutely gorgeous. I love how raw and honest the author is. I really related to a lot of the stories, and not so much to others. It's kind of scattered and not a whole lot of rhyme or reason to the order, but I thought it did work well. There's definitely a lot about a subject I don't particularly like and it rubbed me the wrong way sometimes, but I just tried to ignore those parts. Agree to disagree and all that. Anyway, apart from that stuff, I liked it. I liked her message and can understand why people find her so inspirational. It was thought provoking and I feel like it's the kind of book that inspires you to examine your own thoughts/opinions on the things she talked about.
If my memory serves me correctly, there's a bit about someone writing a memoir and someone asks 'how do you remember all that?' and the person says 'I don't remember it, I write it' and I think this book is definitely like that. It stuck with me because I always wondered if my memory is defective because I don't remember the details of a random kindergarten class that shaped my entire life, or a conversation with someone I never saw again, or exactly what went through my head at XYZ moment... I mean yeah, my memory probably is defective lol but I liked that line because it made me think about memoirs a bit differently (I'm 97% sure it was in this book? seriously, my memory sucks). I've seen a few reviews mentioning that she's very clearly editing/polishing her memories to make for a better book, so if that would annoy you, maybe skip it. It didn't bother me.
If my memory serves me correctly, there's a bit about someone writing a memoir and someone asks 'how do you remember all that?' and the person says 'I don't remember it, I write it' and I think this book is definitely like that. It stuck with me because I always wondered if my memory is defective because I don't remember the details of a random kindergarten class that shaped my entire life, or a conversation with someone I never saw again, or exactly what went through my head at XYZ moment... I mean yeah, my memory probably is defective lol but I liked that line because it made me think about memoirs a bit differently (I'm 97% sure it was in this book? seriously, my memory sucks). I've seen a few reviews mentioning that she's very clearly editing/polishing her memories to make for a better book, so if that would annoy you, maybe skip it. It didn't bother me.
cedi's review
4.5
I really love this book!!! It fills my soul, and makes me feel like a powerful woman. She tells stories that shine light on different life lessons, and you really feel like her friend by the end. UGH I love it!!
srartese's review
4.0
This book started real strong and had a ton a really good points that I think people generally need to be more mindful of. We have so much purpose and sometimes we are the only ones holding ourselves back.
racham1123's review
inspiring
reflective
4.0
Drawn to its colorful cover, I remember seeing lots of marketing for this when it came out, but never knowing exactly what it was I refrained from buying. Fast forward 4 years and a co-worker was astonished I had never read it and passed it into my hands. Ironically, until I was actually holding the book I didn't even realize the colorful forgotten book from before and the co-worker book were one and the same.š
And, now here we are. Nonfiction & memoirs can be super tricky for me. Especially when the author is known for something outside of their writing. However, in this case I hadn't even heard of Glennon Doyle until this book. Her being a motivational speaker wasn't something I went into the book with, but something I learned along the way.
Several bad reviewers comment on it being an elite womens memoir. But, for me, I found far less chapters where I questioned the "how bad something actually was" and found more chapters that were insightful. I didn't agree with everything Glennon wrote but I was able to follow along through the parts that I was less sure of all the same. There were several chapters/sections that resonated with me (and had this not been a borrowed copy, I would have underlined and marked the book). The book is a collection of thoughts/short essays on deconstructing the system in society that makes women smaller. Instead of making ourselves small to fit into a space, it's about collect ourselves and being bigger than the cage they're trying to put us in.
It's not fully preachy. And, it's not yelling self help at you either. The book intertwines stories of her family, her ex husband, and her now wife. It's about a woman who discovered her true self late in life and how she's used her past experiences and her now to shape the life she happily lives now. It's a reminder that all woman, are goddamn cheetahs.
And, now here we are. Nonfiction & memoirs can be super tricky for me. Especially when the author is known for something outside of their writing. However, in this case I hadn't even heard of Glennon Doyle until this book. Her being a motivational speaker wasn't something I went into the book with, but something I learned along the way.
Several bad reviewers comment on it being an elite womens memoir. But, for me, I found far less chapters where I questioned the "how bad something actually was" and found more chapters that were insightful. I didn't agree with everything Glennon wrote but I was able to follow along through the parts that I was less sure of all the same. There were several chapters/sections that resonated with me (and had this not been a borrowed copy, I would have underlined and marked the book). The book is a collection of thoughts/short essays on deconstructing the system in society that makes women smaller. Instead of making ourselves small to fit into a space, it's about collect ourselves and being bigger than the cage they're trying to put us in.
It's not fully preachy. And, it's not yelling self help at you either. The book intertwines stories of her family, her ex husband, and her now wife. It's about a woman who discovered her true self late in life and how she's used her past experiences and her now to shape the life she happily lives now. It's a reminder that all woman, are goddamn cheetahs.
aseneth's review
5.0
Looking through the reviews it seems people either really loved or hated the book. I'll throw my hat in the Love ring and try to explain why. This book was exactly what I needed at this moment in my life. The author isn't expressing new concepts, but they are presented well in easily digestible pieces. I found that I related to her thought patterns and mental struggles. I noticed some others thought the content cheesy, but I enjoyed the upbeat tone even when the subject matter was difficult.
I recommend this book if you are looking for an optimism boost, not if you are looking for heavy, clinical material.
I recommend this book if you are looking for an optimism boost, not if you are looking for heavy, clinical material.
calebmatthews's review
5.0
I devoured this book. I may not agree with everything in it, but it still gets five stars for how much it made me think.
Here are some of my favorite parts and parts where I paused to think:
-When we learn how to please we lose how to decide
-Whatās the one thing you would protect
-The Secret life (poem)
-Itās not about feeling happy, its about feeling it all
-Our next life will always cost us the life we are in
-Become a model not a martyr
-Dealing with a dropped shoe is a lot less paralyzing than waiting for the shoe to drop
-Ache is the clubhouse of the brave
-Since I have become sober I have felt pain everyday
-Mona Lisa story
-Now that I donāt have to be perfect, I can be free (offshoot of a John Steinbeck quote)
-On ābeing brokenā
-I am not broken because I am made how I am intended to be made
-On ābeing braveā donāt ask others do what you believe
-Surface desire vs deep desire
-Anger and disappointment āpackagesā
-I will not let the fact that I canāt do everything prevent me from doing anything
Here are some of my favorite parts and parts where I paused to think:
-When we learn how to please we lose how to decide
-Whatās the one thing you would protect
-The Secret life (poem)
-Itās not about feeling happy, its about feeling it all
-Our next life will always cost us the life we are in
-Become a model not a martyr
-Dealing with a dropped shoe is a lot less paralyzing than waiting for the shoe to drop
-Ache is the clubhouse of the brave
-Since I have become sober I have felt pain everyday
-Mona Lisa story
-Now that I donāt have to be perfect, I can be free (offshoot of a John Steinbeck quote)
-On ābeing brokenā
-I am not broken because I am made how I am intended to be made
-On ābeing braveā donāt ask others do what you believe
-Surface desire vs deep desire
-Anger and disappointment āpackagesā
-I will not let the fact that I canāt do everything prevent me from doing anything