abigcoffeedragon's review
2.0
I read this based on a recommendation. This is supposed to tell you how to find the awesome in your life and steps to take to achieve it.
Well the person that suggested this book swears by it, and many other readers do as well, I have read this from cover to cover, and found nothing inspirational within.
I appreciate the author taking his time to share his experience and his stories, and I am sure that he is a good motivational speaker, but what I also know about books like these is that they are not for everyone. I am in the small percentage that this is not for, which is a shame, because I was hoping to get something added to my intellectual engine to give me that push towards bettering my life. As it is, this is not the step, and today is like yesterday. Uninspired and normal for me.
This may be the book for you though, so do not hesitate if you have an opportunity and the content within sounds like it is up your alley.
The one good thing I can say is that I am glad that I did not buy this book, and that I checked it out from my library. Saved me 10 bucks that I would have regretted spending today if I had bought this.
Well the person that suggested this book swears by it, and many other readers do as well, I have read this from cover to cover, and found nothing inspirational within.
I appreciate the author taking his time to share his experience and his stories, and I am sure that he is a good motivational speaker, but what I also know about books like these is that they are not for everyone. I am in the small percentage that this is not for, which is a shame, because I was hoping to get something added to my intellectual engine to give me that push towards bettering my life. As it is, this is not the step, and today is like yesterday. Uninspired and normal for me.
This may be the book for you though, so do not hesitate if you have an opportunity and the content within sounds like it is up your alley.
The one good thing I can say is that I am glad that I did not buy this book, and that I checked it out from my library. Saved me 10 bucks that I would have regretted spending today if I had bought this.
bethgiven's review
2.0
The author was a guest on the podcast I listen to, and I loved his exuberant and upbeat attitude. That is something that definitely comes through in this book -- his energy just leaps off the page! Acuff is a great writer with lots of great stories that kept me engaged through the whole book.
The mediocre rating, then, is more of a reflection of me as a reader -- I just had a hard time applying a lot of what he said to my own life. While Acuff claims this advice applies to everyone, most of the examples centered around being an entrepreneur -- something I have no desire doing. I'm a mom and my own version of "awesome" is a much more anonymous work.
Also: can I even ask this? Is there such a thing as *too* much awesome? I can't get on the Internet without coming across reminders like "don't forget to be awesome" or "when I'm sad, I stop being sad and start being awesome instead." I used to smile at these, but I think this book put me on "awesome" overload! I get that it's trendy, but my ninth-grade English teacher would tell me to pick another adjective! (This is directed more to the Internet as a whole, not the author.)
Okay. All that said, there are a few things that stuck with me:
~ It takes 10,000 hours to master a skill ... so keep working and practicing. It's okay to not be perfect right away!
~ After the stage of "learning" comes the stage of "editing" -- you don't have time to do everything, so choose the best things.
~ Claim thirty minutes a day to work on your dream. (Acuff advocates for 5am. I have a five-month-old that I nurse in the night, so it's not practical for me to go write at 5am, but I do get what he's saying. I thought the study about willpower in the morning was interesting, and now I understand why I find it infinitely easier to tidy the kitchen in the morning rather than at night!)
~ It's okay if you don't feel like you know exactly what your "purpose" is. Move forward toward good things and you'll discover it as you go.
If you're looking for a kick in the pants to get going on a project (or on life in general), this is a good book to help you get motivated!
The mediocre rating, then, is more of a reflection of me as a reader -- I just had a hard time applying a lot of what he said to my own life. While Acuff claims this advice applies to everyone, most of the examples centered around being an entrepreneur -- something I have no desire doing. I'm a mom and my own version of "awesome" is a much more anonymous work.
Also: can I even ask this? Is there such a thing as *too* much awesome? I can't get on the Internet without coming across reminders like "don't forget to be awesome" or "when I'm sad, I stop being sad and start being awesome instead." I used to smile at these, but I think this book put me on "awesome" overload! I get that it's trendy, but my ninth-grade English teacher would tell me to pick another adjective! (This is directed more to the Internet as a whole, not the author.)
Okay. All that said, there are a few things that stuck with me:
~ It takes 10,000 hours to master a skill ... so keep working and practicing. It's okay to not be perfect right away!
~ After the stage of "learning" comes the stage of "editing" -- you don't have time to do everything, so choose the best things.
~ Claim thirty minutes a day to work on your dream. (Acuff advocates for 5am. I have a five-month-old that I nurse in the night, so it's not practical for me to go write at 5am, but I do get what he's saying. I thought the study about willpower in the morning was interesting, and now I understand why I find it infinitely easier to tidy the kitchen in the morning rather than at night!)
~ It's okay if you don't feel like you know exactly what your "purpose" is. Move forward toward good things and you'll discover it as you go.
If you're looking for a kick in the pants to get going on a project (or on life in general), this is a good book to help you get motivated!
fkshg8465's review
4.0
As always abundantly practical advice that can be applied across multiple aspects of life. But to be honest, I don’t have the desire to hustle like he does. lol. This is a great book for someone looking for a life change and needing some encouragement and absolutely doable tips.
noraconradcom's review
2.0
I liked the ideas in the book and I really enjoyed the prompts at the end to get me started on work - but a lot of this reads like a blog post. I skimmed through a few sections and overall I probably wouldn't read it again but look up the footnotes and go back to the action steps.
somanytictoc's review
3.0
Hard to rate this one because it's really two different books.
The main text is subpar. Acuff proposes a structure in the first chapter, and he names the chapters after that structure, but at no point did I feel like there was any sort of progression through the pages. It was anecdote after personal anecdote with only occasionally peppered-in advice. Not unlike most self-helpy kinds of books.
Then, at the end of it all, there is a section of about 15 pages of direct questions to ask yourself as you try to pursue your passion and start on your dream. These questions are brilliant. I've prolonged my borrowing of the book just to work through these questions. I'm already deeply immersed in my own hopes and fears and I'm only on the 2nd page.
Worth checking out simply for the questions at the end, but you can skip the rest of the book.
The main text is subpar. Acuff proposes a structure in the first chapter, and he names the chapters after that structure, but at no point did I feel like there was any sort of progression through the pages. It was anecdote after personal anecdote with only occasionally peppered-in advice. Not unlike most self-helpy kinds of books.
Then, at the end of it all, there is a section of about 15 pages of direct questions to ask yourself as you try to pursue your passion and start on your dream. These questions are brilliant. I've prolonged my borrowing of the book just to work through these questions. I'm already deeply immersed in my own hopes and fears and I'm only on the 2nd page.
Worth checking out simply for the questions at the end, but you can skip the rest of the book.
missyglee's review
5.0
I absolutely loved this book. I enjoyed how Acuff broke life down into seasons and then made it abundantly clear that it doesn't matter what age you are, you're never to old to START. I'm determined to find my awesome :)
angela_juniper's review
informative
slow-paced
2.0
A lot of fluff with a few useful tidbits. Minus .5 stars because of the constant Dave Ramsey worship, a man who is not only a fraud, but a sexist, greedy bigot who fires pregnant women, hordes his wealth, and forces employees to work and attend professional party gatherings in person during a pandemic. If Ramsey is Jon’s hero, I question the legitimacy and insight of his own advice.