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stellahadz's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
3.75
This book is equal parts memoir and self-help; if you go in expecting exclusively one or the other you'll likely be disappointed. In some aspects, How To Fail isn't particularly groundbreaking - it expresses ideas that have been expressed before in other media, including Day's own podcast, but that is not to say that it is badly written or not worth the read. Some parts resonated deeply with me - for instance, the chapter in which she talked about failing her driving test and feeling like a fish out of water after finishing school because "[i]n adulthood, no one gives you marks for getting the answer right." Other parts made me roll my eyes a bit - not all of us have the means to go on a yoga retreat in Morocco to cope with a bad breakup - but then again, it's not the author's job to be relatable to every single reader, it's her job to share what she's learned from her own experiences. Day isn't afraid to discuss her experiences with infertility, sexual harassment, and divorce, and I commend her for her willingness to address these topics from her own perspective.
Not all of it was for me, but I can see this book being helpful to people dealing with similar issues as Day, and more generally to younger adults wanting to start engaging with self-help literature.
Not all of it was for me, but I can see this book being helpful to people dealing with similar issues as Day, and more generally to younger adults wanting to start engaging with self-help literature.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility, Miscarriage, and Medical content
Moderate: Bullying and Sexual harassment
Minor: Domestic abuse
magicsarah's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility and Miscarriage
Minor: Sexual assault
weewaw2020's review against another edition
challenging
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
I picked this book specifically due to a period which felt like one thing after another was going wrong and I needed some encouragement and a pick me up and oh my gosh, what a book! It was exactly what I needed especially in the audiobook format, which the author narrates, as it felt like Elizabeth and I were having a chat over a coffee each time I pressed play.
Although I couldn’t relate to every chapter (I’ve never been married or had children etc) there were so many amazing quotes and sections that really spoke to me in areas such as sport, work, relationships, friends, family and study, that it almost felt like Elizabeth has written this book for me personally. Would highly recommend to anyone who has ever failed (ie everyone!)
Although I couldn’t relate to every chapter (I’ve never been married or had children etc) there were so many amazing quotes and sections that really spoke to me in areas such as sport, work, relationships, friends, family and study, that it almost felt like Elizabeth has written this book for me personally. Would highly recommend to anyone who has ever failed (ie everyone!)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Miscarriage
twilightfairyx's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
3.75
Whilst the book has a fabulous and hopeful opening identifying that we have all failed at some point in our life. Some of the chapters went a little too detailed into areas which were not as particularly relevant to me, but others may identify with.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Miscarriage
ceratopsians's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage
hayleighlouise's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage
Minor: Death
katielouu's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
A beautiful exploration of how failing actually makes us stronger and that it's okay to not be good at everything.
I love the podcast so much and I'm glad that you get to see more of Elizabeth's thoughts on failing and how she herself has used failing to her advantage.
There are so many passages that I know I will re-read again and again when I need reminding that its okay to not have it all figured out yet.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 I definitely recommend checking out both the book and the Podcast!
I love the podcast so much and I'm glad that you get to see more of Elizabeth's thoughts on failing and how she herself has used failing to her advantage.
There are so many passages that I know I will re-read again and again when I need reminding that its okay to not have it all figured out yet.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 I definitely recommend checking out both the book and the Podcast!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage
scarletellajones's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity and Miscarriage
amythomas's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infertility and Miscarriage