Customer Reviews

Coming Up for Air: How to Build a Balanced Life in a Workaholic World

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Coming Up for Air is gratifying to read (and reread) because clearly the author has lived and breathed this topic. Finally - someone really understands the struggle of trying to balance a well-loved (but stressful) career and a full life! The exercises and real-people stories are truly insightful. There are great suggestions to implement right away. I can feel the difference it has made in my outlook already. Almost everyone I know would benefit from reading this book.

Beth Sawi's book puts into words the conflicts every working person, especially moms and dads, face every day. And, the advice for how to balance one's life is practical and actually works! This b ook is a must read for every working person who wants to live long enough to enjoy life.

I found it a bit hard to relate to the author on this one--she's a high-paid executive who can afford to hire nannies, housekeepers, landscapers, etc. It's a bit easier to have balance when you have money. It would be great to see a book by a regular parent that had some tips in it.

This book succinctly and gracefully guides the reader toward real-world solutions to very difficult real world problems. It's unusual to find a book which is both a pleasure to read and is very grounded in practical solutions for finding a way to increased contentment.

I think the book succeeds so well because it focuses on core challenges in attaining happiness and balance (i.e. given that one can't do everything, what are your real priorities?) and that it provides guidance for attaining realistic, small-step changes that can have an enormous impact on quality of life.

It's wonderful to find such graceful writing, not from a professional "self help book writer", but from a woman who has walked the walk...a person who has succeeded in corporate America while raising children and pursuing other interests. There's nothing theoretical here...it's all grounded in the reality of what's possible in our frenzied lives.

In her first chapter, which is really an introduction, Sawi explains that her "book is divided into four parts, each designed to show you how to change your work patterns and find more balance in your life." Part One, she explains, helps you understand yourself better. Part 2 tells how to make changes to create a balanced life. Part Three "describes particular situations that are common but may not apply to everyone." The fourth part "talks about activities that will help you increase the balance in your life this year and in the years to come."

That's what this book does. It talks. At a very basic level. Opening a book written by a woman who is executive vice president and chief administrative officer at Charles Schwab, I expected more. What I found was a combination of low-level training material that would come from a beginning seminar leader and group therapy.

Each chapter starts with a parable. Anyone with a couple of years of experience as a trainer or speaker-or active participant in seminars or conventions-would have heard them several times. Nothing new, unless you just haven't had the exposure to this sort of presentation. The book is filled with quotes-I counted over 100-that appear on page after page. It seemed like the author's research consisted of heavy use of "Bartlett's Quotations." For people who like quotes to stick on the refrigerator door or on a bulletin board next to their desk, this book is a treasure.

To present the various issues she deals with, the author uses unattributed quotes from people who suffer from imbalance in their lives. Each is printed in italics to differentiate their contributions from the author's writing. Sometimes that's very helpful, or else it would be difficult to tell the difference. Reading through these pages, with all these "people" sharing their tales, I felt like I was in a group therapy session.

If you'd like to experience a therapeutic sort of conversation that explores a lot of the issues around achieving life balance, and you like quotes and fables, read this book. If you're looking for a more concrete treatment of this topic with clear steps to take, keep looking. (...)

Beth Sawi's book was an exceptionally useful tool as my husband and I evaluated our all-too-busy lives as we were flying back from a vacation. The book helped us set priorities, and talk together about what each of us needs to create a more balanced life. The book is readable and the case studies were particularly helpful. My highest praises for this book!

This book was truly life-changing for me. It got me thinking in a whole new way. For the first time, I realized how I could actually make my life less stressful. I have applied the principles and they work. They really do!

I'm not in Corporate America, but everything the author wrote about applies to the self employed. And she's a fabulous writer...this is a quick, easy read, but it sure packs a punch! I'm telling every woman I know to read this book.I loved it!

Beth Sawi is an investment company executive who rose the corporate ladder while trying to raise a family. The book chronicles her efforts to balance work and family. It has plenty of good ideas and suggestions pulled in from others.

My main beef is that it's mainly about affluent people so it's a bit out of touch

This wonderful book succinctly and gracefully guides the reader toward real-world solutions to very difficult real world problems. It's unusual to find a book which is both a pleasure to read and is very grounded in practical solutions for finding a way to increased contentment.

I think the book succeeds so well because it focuses on core challenges in attaining happiness and balance (i.e. given that one can't do everything, what are your real priorities?) and that it provides guidance for attaining realistic, small-step changes that can have an enormous impact on quality of life.

It's wonderful to find such graceful writing, not from a professional "self help book writer", but from a woman who has walked the walk...a person who has succeeded in corporate America while raising children and pursuing other interests. There's nothing theoretical here...it's all grounded in the reality of what's possible in our frenzied lives.

I've read a few books on work life balance and this is the best one I've come across so far. It gives you practical ways of dealing with overwork; how to put your personal life first and still be productive on the job. Everyone needs a certain amount of joy and fulfillment in their personal lives to recharge and energize and this book shows you many ways to take small amounts of time out for yourself to do just that; and feel alive again by cherishing and enjoying the simple pleasures of life. Besides the everyday practical tips on how to deal with work, setting correct expectations with your co-workers and many examples of how people have made their lives balanced; it also gives you a bigger framework in which to think about your life and your parameters for success and achievement in life. Absolutely loved this book and highly recommend it to anyone who is seeking work-life balance. The author knows what she's talking about. It's like talking to the wise life and career mentor you always wanted to have.