stenaros's review against another edition
3.0
I think the universe was telling me something when the library system sent me both "The Secret" and this book at the same time. I'm not the skeptic that Beth Lisick is; in fact I had already read four of the self-help gurus she consulted: Steven Covey, Suze Orman, Deepak Chopra and Julia Cameron. I also have my own organization self-help guru, the Flylady. So this was familiar territory to me.
"The Secret" lives on the edge of this book. She keeps hearing about the movie, but never actually gets to see it. This is too bad, as I would have loved to hear what she thought of the whole thing.
The book was funny in parts, but reading it I could sense how indifferent she felt; about some of the self-help gurus or writing the book itself, I'm not sure which. I think that is what kept me from really liking this book, though I did enjoy it.
A fitting quote: "This seems like a linchpin of why so many people get sucked into self-help and empowerment programs. They can't trust that what they are doing is the "right" way to be doing it."
"The Secret" lives on the edge of this book. She keeps hearing about the movie, but never actually gets to see it. This is too bad, as I would have loved to hear what she thought of the whole thing.
The book was funny in parts, but reading it I could sense how indifferent she felt; about some of the self-help gurus or writing the book itself, I'm not sure which. I think that is what kept me from really liking this book, though I did enjoy it.
A fitting quote: "This seems like a linchpin of why so many people get sucked into self-help and empowerment programs. They can't trust that what they are doing is the "right" way to be doing it."
msjoanna's review against another edition
3.0
Beth Lisick is funny. She's someone I would want to be friends with. And, impressively, she's able to convey this in print in a way that comes across as genuine and endearing rather than presumptuous or annoying. She opens herself to the reader in this memoir as she discusses her own shortcomings.
The book itself is a fun concept -- exploring different self help books (and even guru conferences and such) during the course of a year. But the project was executed lazily and haphazardly in a way that ended up interfering with my enjoyment of the project. It's funny though, because the way the book project goes is representative of Lisick's personality and part of what makes her personally so endearing. If she'd been more rigorous in her self-help exploration, it might well have made her less accessible as a person.
In any event, I enjoyed the book in a light reading sort of way. I didn't really learn much or have deep insight here, but I'm not sorry to have spent the nine hours that the audiobook took to listen to.
The book itself is a fun concept -- exploring different self help books (and even guru conferences and such) during the course of a year. But the project was executed lazily and haphazardly in a way that ended up interfering with my enjoyment of the project. It's funny though, because the way the book project goes is representative of Lisick's personality and part of what makes her personally so endearing. If she'd been more rigorous in her self-help exploration, it might well have made her less accessible as a person.
In any event, I enjoyed the book in a light reading sort of way. I didn't really learn much or have deep insight here, but I'm not sorry to have spent the nine hours that the audiobook took to listen to.
sharonfalduto's review against another edition
Beth, a freelance writer (also occasional high school teacher and banana-costumed-banana-hander-outer) goes on a year-long plan of following self-help gurus in order to get her life together. She tries Jack Canfield for general "life organizing," John Gray (of the Mars/Venus books) for relationships, Richard Simmons for exercise, suze Orman for finances, Sylvia Browne for--I'm not sure what that chapter was, but something. She tries to keep her innate cynicism in check, but her humor and warmth still shine through. She is funny and relatable. I really hope she made some money off this book so she can pay some bills, though.
mhall's review against another edition
3.0
I like this. She seems fun to be around. Like her other book Everybody into the Pool, this is a cheerful read. She goes on a Richard Simmons weight-loss cruise.
meli65's review against another edition
4.0
This was a lot of fun -- she has a light, engaging writing style and I breezed through it quickly.
lfagundes's review against another edition
3.0
cute. this chick reminds me of me... too cynical and bitchy for her own good -- but wants to better herself. she went to UCSC, lives in Berkeley, performed with Sister Spit - it was like reading a book by one of my friends.
swhuber's review against another edition
2.0
I first started reading Beth Lisick's book because I heard her reading at Litquake in San Francisco (which she describes in the course of her book). I thought her reading was hilarious and I loved her presentation style. I knew then that I had to read her book..
However, the book itself does not live up to Lisick's style. It is amusing and makes me feel better about my own problems in life, but it loses the flare that made me find her amusing and hilarious. Overall, I feel she is a better performer, not necessary a great writer.
However, the book itself does not live up to Lisick's style. It is amusing and makes me feel better about my own problems in life, but it loses the flare that made me find her amusing and hilarious. Overall, I feel she is a better performer, not necessary a great writer.
odearrr's review against another edition
5.0
Insane. I fell out of my chair laughing at the Richord Simmons Cruise to Loose chapter.
jeffreyp's review against another edition
3.0
Enough laugh-out-loud moments to make it work (see chapters on money and on the Richard Simmons cruise), but pretty much peters out before it's over...
nectarine_waffle's review against another edition
3.0
I like this. She seems fun to be around. Like her other book Everybody into the Pool, this is a cheerful read. She goes on a Richard Simmons weight-loss cruise.