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51 of 51 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
WONDERFUL ADVICE ON LIVING WELL BY MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICES !, January 2, 2007
This review is from: You Are Your Choices: 50 Ways to Live the Good Life (Hardcover)
This challenging self-help book is author/lecturer/interior designer Alexandra Stoddard's 25th book and contains lots of wonderful advice on living "the good life". The book is essentially 50 short essays which can be read quickly in any order: just dive in and read. The author is philosophically grounded using the Aristotelian viewpoint, including the Golden Mean and Golden Triangle, and reveals herself as a very sensitive and introspective person who invites the reader to share those qualities as they re-examine their lives. While the 50 essays represent a considerable drop in number from the 500 of bits of advice from her previous book of 20 years ago, it in no way lessens the impact of this book. Along the way, she re-visits some still revelant books from the past, like "The Lonely Crowd" (Chapter 9) and "Emotional Intelligence" (Chapter 21). Quoting everyone from David Riesman to Gandhi to Plato to The Buddha to the Dalai Lama to St Bernard, she begins and ends each essay with a quote from a famous person or philosopher. Don't worry guys, there's plenty here for us too, with the bonus of insight into the workings of a keen female mind.
This book is all about adding enjoyment, dignity, pleasure, beauty, "tenderness and love" to our hurried, crowded, and technologically-driven lives in order for us to "savor" the experience of living well, indeed the author sees it as "an obligation, a duty". Ms. Stoddard gives lots of good advice throughout the book on: making the right choices because "you are your choices"; the ability to say "No!" (my personal favorite and yes it can be "liberating" to use it); standing tall with realistic expectations; little pleasures; resetting priorities; the importance of comfort; "cheap thrills"; self possession; the great concept of "invisible possessions"; crisis management; trusting intuition; 13 bits of good advice in "Get Organized" (Chapter 48); and so on. This book is full of interesting ideas from a unique viewpoint, with some minor redundancy, that may have been forgotten by us along the way of life. And while I don't agree with everything in the book, Ms Stoddard is certainly a persuasive writer with a wonderful sense of being, perception, and humor.
For the deeply religious among us, you won't find much of that in this secular work beyond the quotes and allusions, but it is very philosophical and mostly in line with the best ideals of religions, and therefore of value to people from different walks of life. Beyond that, the author admirably hits her targets over and over. The author feels too many of us take our entire lives for granted, even the rich and famous. This book may expand or invigorate certain areas of your life that need 'tweaking'. Along the way she gives unique personal examples of how she handles some tricky modern problems: note how she controls email and other tools of technology rather than being controlled by them. Many Interesting and useful ideas in short, quick chapters!! Definitely Recommended! "Choose well", indeed. Four ENGROSSING Stars!!
(This review is based on an unabridged ebook digital download. Save a tree, go digital when possible.)
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42 of 42 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Buy this book if you are a student of the good life, January 27, 2007
This review is from: You Are Your Choices: 50 Ways to Live the Good Life (Hardcover)
It's been a long time since I have read one of Alexandra Stoddard's books. I recall that I enjoyed the last one, but felt that it was a little simplistic. However, I feel very differently about You Are Your Choices. I love it! The author encourages the reader to do their best in life, enjoy life to the fullest, see the beauty in life, live without fear, be loving and kind to others and ourselves, to enjoy good health and nature, to be organized and many other positives. I know these are things that I try very hard to practice in my life already, but a gentle reminder is always welcome. Her frequent quotes from the great philosophers were thought provoking. I particularly liked her references to Aristotle's Golden Mean and Golden Triangle.
Stoddard gives specific examples from within her own life and from the lives on others with reference to how to "live the good life." She encourages the reader to be strong enough to make the right choices, but at the same to be brave enough to make a change when necessary.
Stoddard's writing rings true and is motivating. This book is inspirational, encouraging, uplifting and a breath of fresh air. There is such a variety of quotes, even if you are an avid reader (which I am), you will still likely take in a lot of new information.
My guess is that anyone who has a strong objection to this book is in a negative state of mind. Just the simple act of reading this book alone...was part of my "good life." I would highly recommend this book to anyone wishing to do what they can to be a better person and to enjoy life to the fullest.
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37 of 40 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
she is so annoying, December 17, 2007
I loved the title and grabbed this book on impulse off of the new books shelf at my local library. A couple of hours later I was very disappointed. The author has some good basic ideas (albeit a bit trite) but they are clogged by the tales of her version of "the good life"--a round-the-world trip at age 16, multiple trips to Bermuda and Paris, her meals at the "finest restaurants in New York". I especially loved the part when she gently chides her readers to ease back on some of the technological demands of their jobs, as she does thanks to her three assistants. I can't afford to pay someone to screen my e-mails for me, and funny, my boss doesn't seem to be receptive to picking up the tab either. Some of her examples are alienating, insensitive, and insulting to the readers out there who are squeaking by financially and can't afford to have a dress made for themselves in Hong Kong. I will never pick up another book by Alexandra Stoddard.
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