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ohgirlvstheworld's review against another edition
5.0
Brilliant insight from one of history’s leading cultural figures. Even sixty years after its original publication, the advice and perspective remain relevant.
allygrove's review against another edition
3.0
I'd say 3.5 stars. I enjoyed this. While there was nothing earth shattering in the advice it prompted thought on my end and I learned things I didn't know.
sgrizzle's review against another edition
medium-paced
4.0
“Learning and living. But they really are the same thing, aren’t they? There is no experience from which you can’t learn something. When you stop learning, you stop living in any vital and meaningful sense. And the purpose of life, after all, is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost and to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.”
It’s amazing how both timely and dated this book is lol. And also how Roosevelt veers between talking about her incredibly privileged life like it’s no big deal and also being very practical with her advice. She very casually describes what I think amounts to emotional neglect as a child, but I had to remind myself to place it in context of being born in 1884 (this goes for some of the other content as well, some descriptions had me like 🥴). All in all an interesting time capsule and still filled with wisdom. Eleanor was a one of a kind leader.
(OH she tells a story about a young woman who came from Washington state to New York to pitch a bracelet idea- for young widows who don’t feel comfortable wearing their wedding ring and also want to show that they are available 😆- and Eleanor was like “nope” and then called her a time waster in the book. IMAGINE BEING THAT GIRL AND THEN READING THIS 💀 I had to stop for a moment I was laughing so hard)
It’s amazing how both timely and dated this book is lol. And also how Roosevelt veers between talking about her incredibly privileged life like it’s no big deal and also being very practical with her advice. She very casually describes what I think amounts to emotional neglect as a child, but I had to remind myself to place it in context of being born in 1884 (this goes for some of the other content as well, some descriptions had me like 🥴). All in all an interesting time capsule and still filled with wisdom. Eleanor was a one of a kind leader.
rebeccalm's review against another edition
5.0
Eleanor Roosevelt was an incredibly bright, caring, humble, witty, and wise woman. I didn't quite know what to expect upon picking up this book, but I was pleasantly surprised by how captivated I was from the start. Her writing was very honest and personal, especially with all of the examples she proffers from things she's observed and lessons she's learned. I'm a person who loves to write down quotes from books that really speak to me. In this book, within the first chapter I was already finding myself writing down so many things that I was basically re-writing the book. So I stopped writing down everything that spoke to me, and just decided to read it more slowly - to think about and really savor everything that she was trying to convey. I had checked this book out from my local library but I can't express enough how much I loved it - I am determined to buy myself a copy to keep on my shelf at home.
moonbites's review against another edition
3.0
There was some great tidbits of wisdom in here. I think it may have been better off as just a chopped up book of quotes though. Sometimes the narrative just got tedious.
theredfox's review against another edition
3.0
While there were parts of it i loved. It seemed a bit redundant.
pickekat's review against another edition
4.0
One of the first nonfiction books I’ve read in a while, and I’m very glad I picked it up. I love Roosevelt’s honest voice and good advice, and it made me look at how I approach my time and circumstances differently. I definitely recommend.
oceanwriter's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
5.0
Over the years I’ve heard a number of great quotes from Eleanor Roosevelt. I never realized she had books published until I came across this one. My high exceptions were met and then some.
While not necessarily an autobiography, near the end of her life Eleanor Roosevelt compiled the lessons she learned through various experiences. Each life lesson is nicely organized into each chapter of the book, making it easy to read out of order if so desired.
Though I’d personally consider it more of an inspirational read than self-help, her eloquent writing and zest for life were uplifting. I started by listening to the audiobook version and then purchased a copy halfway through. Is her advice practical to the average person in the modern age where we have new sets of problems that were not around in her lifetime? Not quite how it was presented, however, her words are stepping stones.