musingsfromamandalyn's review against another edition
1.0
I am rather confused on how this is a book. I also don't know how 48 pages can actually say nothing. It was like a very badly written blog post with a lot of random photos thrown in to give it length. Only good thing is that it only took like 15 minutes to read...
hlparis's review against another edition
4.0
Another antidote to being perfect. "Pursuing perfection makes you unforgiving to others." I really like Anna Quindlen's writing style and don't always agree with everything that she says, but it makes me think. This short little tome is no different. A small volume of photos and creative non-fiction, focused on what many people seem to spend their life pursuing. After all, we grow up learning to do things the "right" way, getting as close to perfect on tests as we possibly can, etc. Who can blame us for trying to keep doing what we are taught and have drilled into us for years? The thing is, there are more stimuli in our culture than ever and it effects us on every level. And achieving perfection while trying to master dozens of things all at once is just not reasonable...or healthy.
It comes down to doing your best. Whatever that looks like in any given moment, in any situation. And if you make a mistake, trying to learn from it. Because mistakes are human.
It comes down to doing your best. Whatever that looks like in any given moment, in any situation. And if you make a mistake, trying to learn from it. Because mistakes are human.
bethgiven's review against another edition
3.0
Another ultra-quick read from Anna Quindlen in the same vein as [b:A Short Guide to a Happy Life|100286|A Short Guide to a Happy Life|Anna Quindlen|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1320522593s/100286.jpg|96695] and [b:How Reading Changed My Life|113148|How Reading Changed My Life|Anna Quindlen|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1320398903s/113148.jpg|3154214]. After those books I've read, I expected more from this one -- but it just didn't grab me like I thought it would (surprising, since I've definitely got some tendencies toward perfectionism!).
sofie_puzzlemaster5000's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
3.0
gschmidt05's review against another edition
5.0
This was such, such a good book. It's super short and has a lot of pictures. I encourage all my friends, all women, and all people to read this. Anyone who has ever felt the need to be perfect, whether that is about their weight, appearance, job performance, or whatever it is. And I'm certain that we've all felt that way at some point or another. Do yourself a favor, and get this from your library. You won't regret it.
dannb's review against another edition
4.0
If you tend to miss life focusing on perfectionism or just need to remember to look around, Anna gets you there...in a short, quick read.
sarahfett's review against another edition
5.0
A lovely essay complimented with black and white photography. This is one to revisit.
lizshine74's review against another edition
I love the way the photographs in this essay build up the strength of the ideas. Take for instance, the photo of women watching another woman do a perfect headstand. The longer you stare at the photo, the more you notice and begin to see the potential stories behind the image, full of envy, love, and resentment. I bought this book at Goodwill this past summer. It was strange. I read the back and felt compelled to buy it. I then felt compelled to bring it to work with me and it's been sitting on my podium for three months now. I've been feeling more stressed and anxious this past week than I've felt in a long while. Yesterday, I kept myself as busy as possible at work because if I stopped I would surely cry. Today, beginning to turn an emotional corner, while my 9th graders were busy making character charts for Hazel in the story "Gorilla, My Love", I opened it and started to read. It took me less than 20 minutes to finish it. I now know what had compelled me to buy it last July and I'm feeling awed by the way books find us sometimes at just the right time.