Customer Reviews

The Book of Myself: A Do-It-Yourself Autobiography in 201 Questions

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I bought this book for my grandmother after carefully reviewing several other autobiographical writing aides. I have to admit I was disappointed when I received the book. The questions are good, but the book itself is very small. If I'd noticed the dimensions of the book that are listed near its photo, I might not have purchased it. Each of the 201 questions gets one side of one page for answering, and the pages are roughly 5x8". It is almost impossible to imagine that the kind of rich, detail-laden anecdotes we hope for (and that we want to pass on for generations) when we give this as a gift could fit in the space provided. Though not ideal, I ended up buying a small notebook for my grandmother, along with the book, that she can continue her answers in.

I gave this book to my grandmother with a note that said "I bought this book for you because I want the generations of our bloodline to come to know that you were a wonderful, generous woman, who knew how to live life to it's fullest." She loved both the book and the note so much she cried! She also went out and bought a few more to give to aother family members as gifts. She wrote in it and gave it to me, and I drank up every word she wrote. I learned about her trials and tribulations, I learned about family members I never had the pleasure of knowing...but got to know well throughout this book. It gave me an idea about where I came from, and I even noticed some similarities in personality and interests with my grandmother. This is a wonderful book for any occasion. Definitly 2 thumbs up!

Advantages: This autobiographic journal is affordable and omits uncouth, private questions that have dissuaded me from purchasing other journals. For example, one's sex life is not addressed in this book, but is included in another life journal, "All About Me." "The Book of Myself" makes a great gift for grandparents, parents, & older relatives or friends.

Disadvantages: Tailored more for older folks. For instance, the book solicits responses to "my memories of World War II, "inquires how Pearl Harbor shaped a person's life, your whereabouts during JFK's assassination & the 1st moon landing.

I gave this book to my mother and grandmother, and that has proven to be one of the best things I ever could have done. This book has questions in it like, "One of my most memorable toys was . . ." and "These people were my best friends in my middle years. . ." The book has specific questions for three different periods in life, and all of the questions are revealing. Not only have I learned a lot about my mother and grandmother, but they have learned about themselves. This book makes a thoughtful gift, and I plan to buy several more for Christmas presents. My only complaint about the book is its writing spaces. The lines are too wide, leaving little room to write in detail. Still, I've not found another book of equal quality or depth. A gem!

I recently received this book as a sweet 16 birthday present. At first I thought it would just be a fun thing to do when I had some spare time. But now I realize, as I've started writing in the "Early Years" section, that this book will serve as the tale of my life -- something I can look back on when I'm older and my children can read with interest. It is not necessary to answer all the questions and you can work as quickly or slowly as you like. I only wish that my parents had written in one of these. Someday when I am in my eighties or so, I hope that I am still writing in it, and still remembering what it was like to be 16 again.

For my mother's 60th birthday, she told me she'd like to reflect on her life thus far. I'd seen books of this nature, in which the reader can fill out question to create an easy autobiography. After using reading lots of different reviews on these types of books, The Book of Myself stood out with the best ratings. I bought the book from another bookstore, and from just skimming through the book I loved its questions. Finally, I presented it to my mother at her birthday dinner. She beamed with excitement when I explained the nature of the book, and she repeatedly said it's just what she wanted. After the dinner, she immediately called her sisters and told them about the book. They said they would like one for a christmas present, and eventually have all their siblings fill out the book. In light of other deaths in the family, my elders were seeking ways to preserve their memories. They're looking forward to discussing the questions as a group, and recalling all the chapters of their lives. Also, my mom told her co-worker about the book, who in turn wanted one for herself! "You see," my mother said, "this book you gave me is really taking off."

I love seeing my mother's enthusiasm for the book, and she informs me of her progress in filling it out. She decided to type her answers to the questions, and she's saving her answers on a keepsake CD. My father and aunts will be doing the same, and we anticipate having a memory box full of these books and autobiography CDs! Overall, I'm so blessed to have stumbled upon this book, it seems like it's becoming an integral part of preserving family memories.

This book asks excellent questions relating to several different periods of a person's life. Most of them are generic enough that they can be commented on, providing insight to whomever ends up reading the final version. This is not a book which can be completed quickly - many of the questions relate to "middle age" with grandkids, etc. (things I have yet to experience). However I believe once it is done (even in partial form) it will be something nice I can leave behind for my children and maybe grandchildren to read and gain insight into my life.

I started out with just one copy, and now I give them as gifts. I have had a great time answering the questions and sharing the book with my son. What a great way to pass on family stories and traditions. I wish I had found this wonderful book in time for my grandmother, but now I'll be giving a copy to grandpa. If you find journal writing intimidating, this book is a great introduction. Buy one for yourself and then buy 5 or 6 to give as gifts.

When my grandother was dying, I realized how little I knew about her life. I didn't want her stories to die with her, so I bought this book and used it to interview her. She told stories and I took notes. Now I have her life recorded. It means so much to my and my children's sense of family history and identity.

I wish I knew about this book before my grandparents and parents passed away. Yes, I knew them very well, but it would have been wonderful to have known MORE; especially since I'm only the second generation born in the US, I can only search back to my grandparents. I am completing my "autobiography" now so my sons and their children will have it to enjoy, laugh at, cry with, and learn from. What a treasure!