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jenniebooknerd's review against another edition
5.0
Has the pandemic got you down, depressed, unmotivated, feeling like you lack a reason to turn off the television? Read this book before you start the next episode of Shameless. Uplifting Stories is a compilation of tales brought together by Ione Butler, the founder of Uplifting Content. Ione believes that focusing on the good in life is what pulled her out of depression and she wants to share the magic with the world.
I tried to read this book before bed. This was not a good idea. At the end of each story I was motivated to go out and change the world, not the best state of mind to try to head to dreamland quickly. This would be a great book to read in the morning while savoring a nice cup of coffee or tea. These stories will leave you ready to make the most of your day. If you are in a place where you do not know what to do next, try the activities that are part of each section introduction. They will help you learn about yourself and what is important to you. One of these stories may resonate more than the others. Ione has a Take Action section for each one that will give you ideas for how you can take steps towards your world changing future.
I tried to read this book before bed. This was not a good idea. At the end of each story I was motivated to go out and change the world, not the best state of mind to try to head to dreamland quickly. This would be a great book to read in the morning while savoring a nice cup of coffee or tea. These stories will leave you ready to make the most of your day. If you are in a place where you do not know what to do next, try the activities that are part of each section introduction. They will help you learn about yourself and what is important to you. One of these stories may resonate more than the others. Ione has a Take Action section for each one that will give you ideas for how you can take steps towards your world changing future.
ifrinna's review against another edition
1.0
DNF - Spoilers and major trigger warning.
From the very first story, I knew this was going to end badly. Blatant racism is NOT something someone should be acknowledged for let alone a whole story written about. On top of that, saying rape is an adversity to overcome is.... I have no words for that. Downplaying it and only broadcasting how the victim overcame it, moved on from and said, "at least only one raped me", "at least I'm not dead" sounds like quotes from a woman who is trying to push down what happened, not someone who has dealt with her trauma. I definitely do not want to criticize her healing, and also, I have known MANY survivors and all of them wished they had died. Which again, is not to dismiss someone else's experience, however, this whole book came across ingenuine, thrown together, thoughtless and purely published to make money in a time when so much darkness has overcome us.
From the very first story, I knew this was going to end badly. Blatant racism is NOT something someone should be acknowledged for let alone a whole story written about. On top of that, saying rape is an adversity to overcome is.... I have no words for that. Downplaying it and only broadcasting how the victim overcame it, moved on from and said, "at least only one raped me", "at least I'm not dead" sounds like quotes from a woman who is trying to push down what happened, not someone who has dealt with her trauma. I definitely do not want to criticize her healing, and also, I have known MANY survivors and all of them wished they had died. Which again, is not to dismiss someone else's experience, however, this whole book came across ingenuine, thrown together, thoughtless and purely published to make money in a time when so much darkness has overcome us.
reliablepat's review against another edition
4.0
Lots of uplifting and inspiring real-life stories in here. I slowly savored them over the course of 2 months. This is a great book to own when you're feeling down or having a bad day. Pick it up and read one of the inspiring stories and you'll begin to feel better! Reading this is so much better than watching the news!
xxjenadanxx's review against another edition
2.0
I hate to be negative about a book that is literally about being positive but I had high expectations for this book and unfortunately I don't think it lived up to them. While there were a few stories of interest to me for the most part I felt pretty uninspired and even bored. It took me months to get through this short book that should have taken a couple hours max. I realized today as I pushed to finish it that my biggest issue with it was the writing style, it is very amateur and reads like an essay or paper a 7th grade student would turn in.
kazandra's review against another edition
2.0
Uplifting Stories by Ione Butler is a collection of essays written by individuals who are resilient against all odds and represent a source of hope and inspiration. The author runs a website by the same title and is to help provide some everyday positivity in the lives of over 1.5 million viewers. The stories are arranged by topics of Human Connection, Overcoming Adversity, Acts of Service, Game-Changers, Pursuing Your Passion and Purpose, and The Unimaginable. Although there were some good essays, the writing structure was awkward at times that made it seem a bit clunky at times. In addition, I struggled with the first essay as the majority of the first essay was centered mostly around Greg and not Kouhyar as much. It was also a bit weird how they through in an anecdote about a black woman in Better Angels when it was about Greg and Kouhyar which made it come across as trying to justify Greg as not a racist and pander on how he's a really good guy. I see the value in combatting polarization and I think there is great value in sharing similar stories to this, but the rhetoric used by Greg and how the story was portrayed was concerning.
Many thanks to the publisher Tiller Press and Netgalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.
Many thanks to the publisher Tiller Press and Netgalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.
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