2DO Before I Die : The Do-It-Yourself Guide to the Rest of Your Life (Hardcover)

by Michael Ogden (Author), Chris Day (Author) "In your own scrapbook of events, people, and places, what stories come to mind?..." (more)
Key Phrases: New York City, San Francisco, Lenny Bruce (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
The authors of this punchy, graphic-filled guide understand that "in the rush to consume life, rather than live it ... we sometimes lose sight of what's important to us," so they have created this inspiring guide to get readers thinking about what they would like to do with the time they've got left. In often stirring, one- or two-page essays, 30-something writers primarily from London and major U.S. cities share their own experiences fulfilling such dreams as "Help save an endangered animal," "Ask out a total stranger," and "Build something that lasts." All 100 suggestions fall under the chapter titles Roots, Explore, Experiment, Challenge, Give, Learn, Express, Love, Work and Legacy, which keeps the tone from becoming too vacation-focused or self-indulgent. Some of the pieces suffer from amateur composition, but many more are inspiring in their simplicity and forthrightness. Thelma, a Californian, writes of a life-long pen pal in Yorkshire, England: "We are now both 71 years old and have kept this precious friendship together for nearly 60 years." Also helpful are questions that prompt the reader to ponder what their life's dreams really are ("Who in your life has surprised you with the chances they've taken?"; "Which period in history are you curious to know about?"). Though the concept behind the book is simple, it is well-executed and empowering. Duotone Photos.
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Product Description
One part All About Me, one part What Should I Do with My Life?-a revolutionary interactive guide to jump starting life changes and experiencing this world to the fullest.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown and Company (May 4, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 031610972X
• ISBN-13: 978-0316109727
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #413,108 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book - well worth buying to inspire yourself!, October 15, 2005

By	Alice (Washington DC) - See all my reviews

I read this book whilst having a lazy morning. And it was a perfect time to read it - actually making time to reflect on my life and what I really want to make of it!

This book is very provocative - it's essentially a collection of individual stories, hopes and thoughts, organized into 10 sections, combined with some helpful practical hints and tips. The aim is to enable each reader to begin, or to continue, planning what he/she really wants to achieve - whether that's making a major life change such as having a child, or daring to be spontaneous. I really liked the fact the wide variety of contributions from different age groups - it added to the book's legitimacy and its interest. It's also got some brilliant design which definitely added to the overall appeal of the book.

I strongly recommend reading this and it's also a prefect gift for someone - especially if that person is at a critical juncture in his/her life, either positively or negatively. Enjoy!

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Deep and Simple, October 3, 2005

By	Sophie (London, UK) - See all my reviews

Without a hint of the 'do as I say, not as I do' this is a very brave idea, project and now book. From conception to delivery it is a liberation - I would lend you my copy but know I wouldn't get it back. It dares to 'think small' and celebrates the pleasure - personal or wide reaching - that freeing yourself from your own expectations can so often bring. But there are absolutely no excuses made for excuses and as the book says it is less 'how to' than 'why not'.

People have been moved to tell their stories - lots of them. And these are sometimes funny or inspiring and not always perfect. This is a very generous book, in all ways.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Life begins right now!, May 18, 2005

By	Bill Sonsin (Prescott, AZ USA) - See all my reviews

While browsing in a book store on a recent trip, this little tome with its bright red cover and the cute drawings on the cover caught my eye. Having just turned the big 6-0 a few weeks earlier, I was starting to grapple with the reality that I was somewhere near third base on the trip around the bases called life. If there were things I wanted to do, I needed to start doing them. But what should they be? I wouldn't want to miss any that could be important. Inspiration was needed.

This little book proved to be just that. It's not a boring goal setting book with a kazillion exercises (most of which you'll never complete) designed to help you find your way. It's full of short essays submitted by people like you and me who have actually done the things they are writing about. And if those aren't enough, each section has some of those thought provoking questions about what is important to the reader as well as lots of other ideas of things to do in one's lifetime that didn't make the final cut to full essay status. It's an easy read but one that will keep you coming back to soak up the full richness of what the writers offer. And if the book isn't enough, the authors have a web site with more essays by people who have done the things you're dreaming about as well as the capability for you to submit your own.