Customer Reviews

You Are Your Choices: 50 Ways to Live the Good Life

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

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.)

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.

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.

I love all of Alexandra's books and this one is no exception.
She writes inspiring, uplifting, positive messages- there is always
a new way of looking at a situation; always something new to learn.
One of the better writers on philosophy and the art of living the good
life of our time. Buy this book! You won't be disappointed.

I believe it is so beneficial to read something inspirational every day, and especially before bedtime. This is a great book for inspirational reading.

Alexandra encourages you to "read these fifty essays in any order you choose-just dive in and muse." -from the book
I first thought that's just what I'd do, -being one who doesn't do well with rules and the 'proper' way of doing things. I love books of essays because you get to skip around and read just what you want, when you want. Well, after I read the introduction, which is actually labeled: "An Invitation", I thought I'd go ahead and read a few pages in and then look around in different places in the book and read whatever looked appealing to me. Well, I guess I got sucked into reading it in chronological order because the 'invitation' was so non-demanding that I couldn't help but keep reading it in order!

Once again, as happens so often with me, the right book at the precise time I needed it. Sometimes it's almost scary how that seems to work out. I recently (the same day I got this book!)was faced with making a decision about something that was pretty important to me. I was struggling with how to pick the right one, because isn't that what we all really want when faced with big decisions -To choose the right one? The second chapter is "Be True to All Your Choices" I LOVED that one as it made me feel confident and reassured in the decision I had made. Then, I just kept reading and trying to absorb all the healthy inspiration I just came across.

The nice thing is that you can dive in anywhere in the book and get a lot of great advice no matter what you're reading about. The chapters (essays) are only a couple of pages each. The point is made in a pleasant short and sweet style. There are quotes and references from many inspiring philosophical sources throughout the book.

I very much enjoyed this book and highly recommend it! Really great gift idea!

I loved this book.It is about making the most of your life through every day choices and seeing beauty in the simple things. I know most people could benefit from reading this!

This book reminds us of what we already know - that we are indeed responsible for our choices which result in our lifestyle outcomes.

It is a timeless nudge at what we are all hoping to achieve and how we embrace or block the results - a very inspiring read.

Ms. Stoddard has once again come out with a book about her philosophy of life. She is a student of philosophy and has read many of the world's greatest philosophers. It is from people such as Aristotle that she has formed her philosophy of living: live good, live beautifully, and live in truth. She writes that the good life is the only life worth living. That seems to indicate that those who can't afford the good life have a life not worth living. That excludes about 90 percent of the world's people. For someone who is as well traveled as Ms. Stoddard is, she should know that many are living lives that are worthwhile, but who might not have the means by which they can live the good life or at least what she thinks constitutes the good life. She makes the statement that cheap thrills are thrilling. A trite statement and one that is beneath her writing ability.
Much of what is in this book has been stated in her other books. Buy this book if you are a fan. It's also a good one to read if you've not read her before. Just take what she says with a grain of salt and form your own way of living based on your own values, economic resources, and opportunities.

"Life is the sum of all your choices." ~Albert Camus

Alexandra Stoddard has lived a charmed life. As a child her rich aunt took her all over the world and introduced her to many cultures, which she came to love. Not everyone has a rich aunt to take them around the world but Alexandra Stoddard's advice to take a trip of a lifetime is reasonable and I've done it myself on more than one occasion. I loved reading about her trip to Paris and her love of Provence. Both stole my heart when I was in France so I can relate to her love of travel. I haven't traveled recently because it is just so expensive.

Throughout the book, Alexandra Stoddard liberally quotes creative minds and expertly weaves this wisdom into her own understanding of how life should be lived well. Her warm writing style is inviting and the more I read the more I loved this book. There are some especially positive ways of looking at life and Alexandra seems to think of each new experience as an adventure. She infuses her book with this spirit and relates how she lives her dreams. That to me is an inspiration.

I liked her idea about a "beauty scrapbook" where you keep pictures of beautiful things. She speaks about mindful awareness and meditation. There is a chapter on how to say NO. Each chapter presents some new idea that you can incorporate into your own life so you can have a happier existence.

This is a book you will want to read at a leisurely pace. After reading this book the world seems a little more beautiful. I loved her stories of her garden since I just planted lavender and other flowering plants on my deck. Today while cleaning I found out that my client could not ever have flowers in her house - she is so allergic to them. So today I felt very lucky to be able to enjoy flowers and essential oils without having a reaction. I'm waiting for the warm breezes of summer to carry the scent of lavender right into my office. So after reading this book you may feel inclined to spruce up your yard with beautiful flowers. Or just buy a bunch at the grocery store - just because you deserve to have beauty in your life.

~The Rebecca Review

Well written as all of hers are. Yet it seemed to drag on for me and repeat the same thoughts chapter after chapter