Daring to Be Yourself (Paperback)

~ (Author) "oday we have such an overload of infor that we feel confused and frus by the wide range of choices available..." (more)
Key Phrases: beauty bag, travel list, travel folder, New York, New England, Billy Baldwin (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Alexandra Stoddard, internationally celebrated interior designer and bestselling author of the groundbreaking Living a Beautiful Life, has guided people from all walks of life in their quest for creating a home of beauty and grace. Now, in Daring to Be Yourself, this world famous decorator helps you reach new plateaus of immagination, creativity, and personal style. Once you have opened the doors to self-expression, you will enter a boundless new world of beauty, harmony, and indivuality in your home and in the way you dress, entertain, and travel that will become uniquely your own.

About the Author

Author of more than twenty books, Alexandra Stoddard is a sought-after speaker on the art of living. Through her lectures, articles, and books such as Living a Beautiful Life, Grace Notes, Open Your Eyes, and Feeling at Home, she has inspired millions to pursue more fulfilling lives. She lives with her husband in New York City and Stonington Village, Connecticut.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Harper Paperbacks; 1st edition (May 1, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0380715783
• ISBN-13: 978-0380715787
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #413,161 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars How to find your own style., May 26, 2000

By	Jane Austen "cheerycherry" - See all my reviews

Of the thirteen books I've read by Ms. Stoddard, this is my favorite (although I've loved them all). When you read this book get a notebook and answer the questions she asks and when you are finished you will understand YOUR personal style. This book encourages readers to find out what they love as opposed to what is popular or trendy at the time. Have you ever gone into a friends home that perfectly expresses the lifestyle, hobbies, interests and loves of that person? This book is about having what you want with the help of the best decorator ever and the fee is very reasonable! I used to think that the title was kind of cheesy until I talked with several friends who decorate in beige because it's safe-even though they really love purple, lime or raspberry. If you are a purple loving, beige sofa-ed chicken, you really need this book!

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Irritating, pretentious, and too precious for words, April 8, 1998

By A Customer

Stoddard's work is a mess of contradictions. In advocating "paring down" to get to what is really important to us, she encourages more buying! Her suggestions and examples are drawn from her life and the lives of her friends - extremely wealthy and very similar to her. If you're looking to find yourself in a way that's inexpensive, non-elitest, and grounded in reality, this isn't the way.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best of the Best, March 1, 2002

By	Jane Austen "cheerycherry" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Daring to Be Yourself (Hardcover)

Alexandra Stoddard is one of my favorite authors and over the last four years since I dicovered her I have been able to collect and enjoy 20 of her books. This one continues to be a favorite. It talks about having the courage to be yourself in aspects from decorating to travel to gift giving. Every chapter is beautifully written and includes Alexandra's tradmark -favorite quotes by some of her favorite authors. (this one made me smile, "Beware of all enterprises that require new clothes." -Henry David Thoreau) This is a book that is so helpful and wonderful to have that I can't believe it is out of print and difficult to get. Luckily, Amazon offers Zshops and auctions. If you love, flowers, travel, decorating, gift giving, hosting parties, or clothes and would like to hear valuable insight on all of these topics - this is a book your library shouldn't be without.