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crosenfrisk's review
5.0
Great pieces of advice. Simple stories and statements- easy enough to acknowledge and remember/launch one forward if they feel impossibly stuck or uninspired.
Thirteen Maxims: Say Yes; Don't Prepare; Just Show Up; Start Anywhere; Be Average; Pay Attention; Face the Facts; Stay on Course; Wake up to the Gifts; Make Mistakes, please; Act Now; Take Care of Each Other; Enjoy the Ride.
Kind words, worth reading and sharing.
Thirteen Maxims: Say Yes; Don't Prepare; Just Show Up; Start Anywhere; Be Average; Pay Attention; Face the Facts; Stay on Course; Wake up to the Gifts; Make Mistakes, please; Act Now; Take Care of Each Other; Enjoy the Ride.
Kind words, worth reading and sharing.
apasc's review
4.0
I really liked how she used acting to teach how to be present in life. I also like the little challenged throughout. I have already started doing some.
aminowrimo's review
4.0
Essentially the same advice as in most self-help books, but this book is great in that:
1) No crazy extended examples that act as filler. If there are examples, they are short.
2) A quick summary at the end of each chapter
3) Try this exercises throughout the book. For example, "Do the essential job first," with some explanation afterward of how to put that into practice.
4) IT IS SHORT. 150 pages, and small ones at that. Because when someone is trying to figure out how to better their life, they shouldn't be bogged down by example after example of "Donna who has been struggling with X, and found after a time that if she did Y... ad nauseam."
Disclaimer: Examples are totally important. But it's my firm belief that unless they're Really Important, they should not take up more than a page.
So yeah. Shortness is good. So this was a quick read.
But it would probably be better if read in multiple sittings throughout a period of time, while making a concerted effort to put into place the things you want to put into place.
1) No crazy extended examples that act as filler. If there are examples, they are short.
2) A quick summary at the end of each chapter
3) Try this exercises throughout the book. For example, "Do the essential job first," with some explanation afterward of how to put that into practice.
4) IT IS SHORT. 150 pages, and small ones at that. Because when someone is trying to figure out how to better their life, they shouldn't be bogged down by example after example of "Donna who has been struggling with X, and found after a time that if she did Y... ad nauseam."
Disclaimer: Examples are totally important. But it's my firm belief that unless they're Really Important, they should not take up more than a page.
So yeah. Shortness is good. So this was a quick read.
But it would probably be better if read in multiple sittings throughout a period of time, while making a concerted effort to put into place the things you want to put into place.
shortthoughts's review
3.0
This book has many helpful nuggets in it. It is a blend of psychologies, philosophies, and eastern enlightenment. Of course, all those thoughts can intersect, or coalesce, around the human condition. I think many could find some usefulness here, but it wouldn't be a strong recommendation.
pdonnellan's review
5.0
Different than what I imagined, but beautiful. It has already made my life more vibrant.
morna's review
5.0
Who doesn't enjoy wisdom? I certainly do. So far, my favorite book on life has been The Wisdom of Insecurity by Alan Watts. It's witty and it's philosophical. Another favorite is Byron Katie's Loving What Is - a rather radical philosophy with a very practical step-by-step approach. I've recommended both books over and over, but Watts lacks application advice and Katie isn't always easy to embrace.
Improv Wisdom is different. It's easy, it's fun, it's full of storytelling, it's packed with exercises. It's applicable, it's rooted in philosophy. It's a great little guide to living a happy life.
Being an improviser myself (both in life and on stage) I enjoyed Patricia's observations and the connections she made between acting and life. The book helped me identify the next steps for being present, every day.
How I review non-fiction:
5 stars - Great. Well-written, thought-provoking, and possibly life-changing. Not just a book worth reading, a book worth having on your shelf.
4 stars - Good. Interesting, generally well-researched, relevant.
3 stars - Mediocre. Possibly a good idea, but so-so execution. Poor structure or somewhat flawed argumentation. Unoriginal.
2 stars - Poor. One or several of the following: poor writing, farfetched, repetitive, obvious. Possibly didn't finish.
1 star - Rubbish. Total waste of time. This book has no redeeming qualities - lacks logic, all over the place, badly researched, potentially harmful. Most likely didn't finish.
Improv Wisdom is different. It's easy, it's fun, it's full of storytelling, it's packed with exercises. It's applicable, it's rooted in philosophy. It's a great little guide to living a happy life.
Being an improviser myself (both in life and on stage) I enjoyed Patricia's observations and the connections she made between acting and life. The book helped me identify the next steps for being present, every day.
How I review non-fiction:
5 stars - Great. Well-written, thought-provoking, and possibly life-changing. Not just a book worth reading, a book worth having on your shelf.
4 stars - Good. Interesting, generally well-researched, relevant.
3 stars - Mediocre. Possibly a good idea, but so-so execution. Poor structure or somewhat flawed argumentation. Unoriginal.
2 stars - Poor. One or several of the following: poor writing, farfetched, repetitive, obvious. Possibly didn't finish.
1 star - Rubbish. Total waste of time. This book has no redeeming qualities - lacks logic, all over the place, badly researched, potentially harmful. Most likely didn't finish.
knownheretic's review
5.0
I loved this book. It was a goodbye gift from my therapist and exactly what I needed. Quick, easy, conversational read that furthered my interest in improv.
halski's review
3.0
Contains lots of good advice on how the improvisational theatre and life intersect, with a healthy dose of Zen buddhism included. Right up my alley in a lot of respects.
However, and this is fully subjective, the author's style slightly rubbed me the wrong way. There's nothing inherently wrong with it, it's just that her voice and choice of words didn't speak to me the way some books do. I did write down all of her maxims, though: they are mostly golden.
However, and this is fully subjective, the author's style slightly rubbed me the wrong way. There's nothing inherently wrong with it, it's just that her voice and choice of words didn't speak to me the way some books do. I did write down all of her maxims, though: they are mostly golden.