Customer Reviews

Live What You Love: Notes from an Unusual Life

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

 

 

I was disappointed. The Blanchards sound like very nice, fun, hard-working people who embrace change and roll with the punches. They see opportunities and they seize those opportunities. I admire that and would probably like them in person.

The book, however, annoyed me. Aside from its Trump-like self-congratulatory tone and phoney sounding dialogue, there was a bigger issue that I could not get past.

The book talks about how the Blanchards live out their dreams after coming back from the brink of financial ruin, following the long-term hospitalization of their very prematurely born son. They do this by "following their hearts." I don't dispute the importance of that, but maybe the fact that the hospital decided to pick up the tab for the Blanchards had just a LITTLE something to do with it.

I was so happy for the Blanchards when I read about the hospital's kindness to them. I could not wait to read about how the Blanchards would be inspired by that act and someday do something kind for someone else... how they would incorporate that kindness into their lives and business ventures. What goes around, comes around, right? Maybe they'd donate a percentage of book profits toward medical research? Or do restaurant promotions to support families with sick children? I was disappointed that there is never any mention of them doing anything to help anyone but themselves.

Then, there's the "financial struggles." At times, they are legitimate. But then, when they miss Vermont and want to get back somehow, it sounds as though the Blanchards scrimp and save to buy a piece of property in hopes of "someday" building a small house they could retreat to for 2-3 months a year. A few pages later, they're building the house and struggling to make it happen on a tight budget. I'm not sure their definition of "budget" is the same as most people's, considering it's a majestically situated 6400 square foot home and art studio.

For all I know, the Blanchards may be two of the most generous, philanthropic people around but that never comes across in the book. Perhaps it was the book's "preachy" tone that made the absence of any mention of selflessness so conspicuous. My impression of this book is that it is nothing more than a marketing tool to promote their other books, restaurant, and possibly upcoming resort. They seem to view themselves as free-spirits, but what comes across in the book is that they are really good salespeople.

Three and a half stars really, curse you amazon for your integer rating system.

Look, this book is a good read. Is it revolutionary in new ideas? No. Is it blithe and trite? No. This book is simply a pointed collection of simply-written life-stories from the authors. The stories all contain some angle on how they chose the feel-good, fun-loving alternative as opposed to the mundane, bill-paying one and what a fabulous idea that was for them. They keep some perspective though and freely admit to problems they faced as a result, agony in certain decisions, and errors in judgment.

Will you change your life because of this book? I struggle with that thought. The book is so simple, so easy-to-read, it screams out "beach reading!" at every page that it is hard for me to fathom altering my decision-making style. And yet, I find myself thinking of the characters (well, real people) and while their carefree spirit may not end up guiding me it certainly infects me and nudges me.

Live What You Love is a great book to give at graduations (and other such ceremonies) because its not your usual "Great Man" biography or cookie-cutter "Life Rules" books. It is simply the story of how one couple stuck together and made some brave moves. Plus it's short. And as a grad, I prefer my life-lesson books to be brief.

"Life is to be lived and to be loved", writes Blanchard, which befittingly defines the doctrine of Bob and Melinda's lives, as well as the invaluable message conveyed in "Live What You Love". In an uniquely inspirational companion book to their first triumph, "A Trip to The Beach", Bob and Melinda Blanchard reflect on their extraordinary and anomalous lives full of successes and failures.

The book shares some of their salutary words of wisdom learned from a remarkable life to help you begin to live a life you love. Organized into a series of random intriguing personal short stories, you are provided with tonic quotes and an end to each chapter with a checklist for you to begin striving towards your own aspirations. This book is to be held and carried indefinitely, not rushed through like a novel. It's designed to be read over and over again, consoling a reader like a Tony Robbins or Joel Osteen book.

We've all heard the admonition of, "follow your dreams", but what does it really mean? Where do we begin? I have a steady job and am receiving AARP applications in the mail, is it too late? For anyone who might still hold an unconventional long cherished dream that doesn`t snugly fit into the sequence of an "average American lifestyle", Bob and Melinda do more than tell us how, they show us. To read "A Trip to The Beach" and "Live What You Love" consecutively will have you reflecting on where you are currently and wondering why you haven't begun to fertilize a lifelong dream kept in your backseat.

As Blanchard sums it up, "Our Life is a series of positive acts with purpose." Having lived a life less ordinary; opening eight businesses, residing in two countries, building everything from restaurants to sailboats, to going from six digit debtors to wealthy entrepreneurs has bestowed the Blanchards with a crate full of knowledge on how to live a life for what you are truly passionate for. Despite any atypicalities or the absence of predetermined roadmaps for success, the Blanchards overcame much apprehension in shadowy times to become impelling life motivators.

This was a great book to read during a vacation when the renewal of the spirit welcomes suggestions for renewing a sense of purpose in working life.
What a refreshing view of work !In a time when many people feel their work has taken over their lives, this short book describes how one couple made their jobs fit their lives.

First, a few confessions. I did not read this book, I only skimmed parts of it while in a bookstore. Also, I am naturally cynical, though I want to believe in people (an idealist at heart hidden beneath a cynic's clothing). Normally, I would never consider writing a review for something I never read-- a big pet peeve of mine. However, skimming this book and reading the reviews of the other book by the Blanchard's, "A Trip to the Beach : Living on Island Time in the Caribbean", compelled me to balance out the five star reviews. What I did read of this book seemed very shallow, self-congratulatory, and generally obnoxious and annoying. My feelings were lent further validity when I saw the negative reviews of "A Trip to the Beach : Living on Island Time in the Caribbean" (overall, it does have a four and a half-star rating, though the several negative reviews had a lot of merit). Those reviews pointed out that the Blanchard's were rich before they moved to the Caribbean and they had owned eight businesses previously (one of which was a restaurant in Anguilla before they opened "Blanchard's"). Yet the Blanchards portray themselves as free spirits who on a whim and against logic took a risk to follow their dreams. They write a misleading book ("A Trip...") and then follow it up this disingenous crap. In addition, the Blanchards have a condescending tone towards the natives on the island, and seem to be more concerned about themselves and their business than other people. So basically, they fall into the all-too-prevalent stereotype of rich, old, white people who don't realize how lucky they are (financially, anyway) and who do not appreciate or respect others. Publishing several books about their "heroic" and "inspiring" tales is even more callous and fake. They should run for political office in Anguilla.

If none of this matters to you and all you want is regurgitated, BS fluff to inspire you to do something that the the authors didn't do, buy and read this book. Otherwise, abstain.

I finished this book in two hours. Very encouraging and uplifting. If you need a little emotional boost or support when you are in the early stages of starting a new business, read this!

But hold on -- not only does it offer emotional support, I find that it also offers the budding entrepreneur quite a few good advice and examples if you read carefully. On the whole, I find this book more useful than Martha Stewart's recent book on starting a business. Martha's advice is too impractical sometimes for cash-strapped entrepreneurs ('get the best lawyers !!' or something to that effect).

This book was amazing. I had bought 10 copies to provide to my guests at our destination wedding to Anguilla and everyone loved the books. I personally read it on the plane ride down there and found it to be quite inspirational. I definitely recommend this book to anyone looking to begin enjoying life to the fullest

This is one of the best books I have ever read. I couldn't put it down. Very inspirational.