Customer Reviews

How to be Lovely: The Audrey Hepburn Way of Life

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A lot of people misuse the term "hero." Lots of people think it's an athlete, an actor, or a singer. I regard Audrey Hepburn as my hero and a great role model. She was a rare and unusually timeless beauty with her gamine looks and a gorgeous accent, often mistaken as British, that also belied part of her time in Nazi occupied Holland. With the grace of a dancer and a princess to add to her intoxicating manner of speech, she had consistently excellent taste in clothes, impeccable hairstyles, and an approach to living that more people in this world would do well to adhere to.

Hepburn isn't a hero because of her time on screen; that's just an admirable sort of glamorous display. She fought the resistance as a brave young girl with her mother during WWII, helping the allies escape to freedom. Later in her life, when her career as an actress had more or less played itself out, she took her fame and used it to help give aid to children of third world countries who were starving as she and her fellow Dutchmen had all those years earlier. She was generous, humble, uncomplicated, and beautiful beyond the physical sense. Sure, she chain smoked and was insecure, she had that one crooked tooth and insisted she had a square face, but her physical beauty came from the simple brightness inside of her that was often illuminated by those large, exotic brown eyes. Je ne sais quoi, indeed! Audrey was a woman who knew how to be the consummate woman by keeping her approach to life simple and uncomplicated, yet managing to make people place her on a pedestal of goddess-like status. That is a gift few people possess, but she was able to utilize it with seemingly little work. Melissa Hellstern's book takes several quotes by Hepburn and friends, lots of great b&w photos, and turns them into something of a positive handbook to help women, regardless of any age, learn to possess simple, optimistic, life-affirming class.

This is the perfect book to give for birthdays, hostess gifts, Christmas, Mother's day, graduation, or any special event in a woman's life. I sent it home with 15 ladies who attended a baby shower, and it has inspired several Audrey "film-festivals." Her thoughts on how to carry oneself with style, dignity and grace will translate to any generation. "How to be Lovely" should be on every woman's night stand.

When I received this book as a birthday gift, I was delighted because I love the old Audrey Hepburn movies like Breakfast at Tiffany's. But I was most impressed with was the quality of Hepburn's words. She was one smart, funny and kind person. Now, I am buying copies for all of the teenagers I know as holiday gifts so that they can also be inspired by her. Not only was Hepburn gorgeous on the outside (the many pictures are fabulous), but also on the inside. A real life role model for any age. Highly recommended.

I would like to say that I am very pleased that I bought this book-it is very beautifully well written and is a perfect tribute to Audrey Hepburn. As a serious admirer and fan of Audrey Hepburn,I can truly say that this book has the thought,love,care, and kindness that are befitting to Audrey.There are many quotes that Audrey said and all are of tremendous wisdom and thought. If you're like me,you'll be an Audrey Hepburn fan for life.
Audrey,you were a beautiful,talented,and loving lady-we miss you very much.

If pop star Pink sings "Where oh where have all the smart people gone, where oh where could they be?"... then this book cries "Where oh where have all the LADIES gone? Where oh where could they be?" If ever there is a role model for a renaissance in being a lady (not to be confused with a bombshell)... it is Audrey. Her grace, aristocratic sophistication, refinement, depth, humanitarian spirit, and genuine posh-like glamour was real as much as it was regal. In a world of cheap bombshell images the statement: that which is least seen is most beautiful is truer than ever. Audrey was an archetype of an era where being a lady was respected and advocated.

This beautiful treasury shares the same qualities as its subject--there is magic at work here that winsomely floats forth and manages to be unforgettable. More than a lovely tribute to this remarkable icon, it resonates with life affirming smarts and down-to-earth pluck. Hurrah for author Hellstern. Audrey is smiling on you...

I really wasn't familiar with Audrey, but this book was a great introduction for me. Passed by it in a book store, and the title grabbed me. Sat down to browse thru it and never got up. Wonderful words of wisdom here. Didn't realize she was so down-to-earth. Now I'm off to find more stuff about her. There were a few editorial misses, but thanks for a great book.

I am so glad I bought this little coffee-table type book! I am definately an Audrey fan, but my sister (who isn't) really enjoyed the book as well. I have it displayed on my bookshelf and people are always leafing through it when they come over. You won't be sorry you bought this one!

A lovely little book for anyone who loves Audrey, not just as an actress, but for all the human goodness with which she became synonymous.

I absolutely love this book! My cousin in California was reading it this summer when I visited on vacation - and I picked it up and couldn't stop reading. I came home and immediately bought my own copy and am working throught it bit by bit, chapter by chapter, as I read about Audrey Hepburn's wonderful perspective on health, on beauty, on love, on style, on happiness, and much more. I'm even incorporating some of her wisdom into my health & wellness blog on Chevy Chase Patch. [...]

This is a charming read and filled with so many wonderful quotes and application points for life in today's busy world. And given that I live in stressed out, aggressive, over-caffeinated, often "not-so-lovely" Washington, DC, I'm finding great joy in modelling Audrey and bringing little corners of loveliness in my workplace, in my home, and in all my various relationships.

I highly recommend this fabulous read! It definitely is a stocking-stuffer for my girlfriends and sisters this year...