17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Our troubled times need more books like this, April 7, 2010
This review is from: God Never Blinks: 50 Lessons for Life's Little Detours (Hardcover)
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
Summary:
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This is collection of life stories and observations by Regina Brett -- cancer survivor, columnist, single mother (not ex-single mother). She provides 50 good pieces of advice backed by actual life events to help make the point for the reader. Current trends in US society could benefit from the lessons in this book. Regina takes a spiritual view of life and self to help the reader have a more centered life.
The spiritual elements come from Christianity and eastern religions -- "zen meets do the right thing to help someone else". The book is strongly geared toward women.
Format:
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The format is 50 chapters each about 4 to 5 pages long. The chapters are self-contained mini-fables/stories based on real life events.
Writing:
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The writing is eloquent yet very approachable. She has a nice conversational tone; as if you were talking to a close friend.
Content:
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You will find at least 75% of the chapters helpful to you at any given time. Each time you are having doubts about something in life; you should take a look at the chapter titles to see what you are missing in life. I really liked "Don't audit life. Show up and make the msot of now" and "Breathe. It calms the mind". Everyone has different challenges on any given day; try to realize this and do the best you can by enjoying life and sharing it with loved ones.
The content is not super deep or innovative but it is accurate. A friendly reminder to not take everything so seriously and just enjoy life is a good thing...especially in these trying times.
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17 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Inspiration for the Tough Times, Good Times, and everything in between, May 5, 2010
This review is from: God Never Blinks: 50 Lessons for Life's Little Detours (Hardcover)
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
Author, newspaper columnist, radio personality Regina Brett has lived an interesting life; one of eleven children, "lost soul who drank too much at 16," unwed mother at 21, single parent for 18 years, college graduate at 30, bride at 40, diagnosed with breast cancer at 41. She's lived several lifetimes in fifty years. As a columnist for the Cleveland, Ohio, newspaper, when she turned 45, she wrote a column on the 45 lessons life taught her. As she turned 50, she added five more. The result is this book, God Never Blinks: 50 Lessons for Life's Little Detours.
Contents: Introduction; The Fifty Lessons; Author's Note; Acknowledgements; About the Author
Written in a very conversational tone, one that makes you think of the manner in which two very good friends converse, Regina Brett shares the lessons that life has taught her. Some are tender, others funny, some are "common sense," some are due to her faith, and others are due to being a cancer survivor. There are lessons in this book that can be applied to nearly everyone in a lot of situations. Credit issues? Lesson 5. Career issues? Lesson 20. Afraid of public speaking? Lesson 22. Fiftieth birthday staring you in the face? Lesson 36. Having trouble getting motivated? Lesson 46.
Many of the lessons are affirmations of Brett's faith. It seems appropriate, looking back on her life. However, as I am not a reader of her columns, it wasn't what I was expecting. Those chapters were a little heavy handed for my taste. Nonetheless, I can see how some could find peace, solace, and acceptance through some of her methods.
God Never Blinks: 50 Lessons for Life's Little Detours is not a book that I would normally read, I have Amazon Vine to thank for allowing me to experience something outside of my normal reading material. While there were lessons to which I could relate, for the most part I was uncomfortable with Brett's approach to her faith. Understandable, knowing the life she has lived, but not something I enjoyed reading. That said, this would be an excellent book as a Mother's Day gift, for a new graduate, for someone that needs a new lease on life or a better outlook. Brett has taken the time to share her lessons and those individuals could enjoy them and learn from her.
Disclosure:
Obtained from: Amazon Vine Review Program
Payment: Free
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
powerful!, January 10, 2011
This review is from: God Never Blinks: 50 Lessons for Life's Little Detours (Hardcover)
God Never Blinks is a wonderful book! I loved it so much, I bought copies for all the women in my life.
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