A Life of One's Own: A Guide to Better Living Through the Work and Wisdom of Virginia Woolf

by Ilana Simons

Excellent Book

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction, Biography

Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

I am a writing and literature professor at The New School in NYC, and in training as a clinical psychologist. I wrote a book on the practical, personable wisdom of Virginia Woolf, called A Life of One's Own: A Guide to Better Living through the Work and Wisdom of Virginia Woolf (Penguin, 2007). I paint portraits, love New York, live in Hamilton Heights, and run by the Hudson river.

I do a blog for Barnes & Noble, here
http://bookclubs.barnesandnoble.com/b...

and a blog for Psychology Today, here
http://blogs.psychologytoday.com/blog...

Reviews

[Rashaan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Virginia Woolf is not the first person who comes to mind when we seek a role model for healthy and happy living. Yet as a writer, she is unrivaled, our artistic Alpha Centauri. A Life of One's Own is chock-full of Woolfisms and any keen reader will appreciate the astounding compassion, stamina, and intellect of this literary genius, which Simons reaffirms throughout the text. Surprisingly, Simon's self-help book proved to be a Rosetta Stone to understand and scale up the massively dense and seemingly insurmountable The Magic Mountain by Thomas Mann. I most certainly would have been lost in the freezing blizzard, like hero, Hans Castrop, if my best friend hadn't given me this little gem to guide the way.

If you sift through the contemporary psychology and touchy-feely personal experience of Simon's work, readers will gain a solid foundation and frame of reference to tackle Modernist fiction. Woolf's work slams you in the gut. Like E. M. Forster, her aim, and strength, is to make connections between fleeting moments, when we might otherwise feel disconnected and estranged within the confines of our essentially individual experience. Simon's celebrates this extraordinary talent and reminds us that to build and reach for these connections is the only way to live life.

[Lydia Camp · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an incredibly underrated book: it puts into words all of the feelings that I experience when I read Woolf, and applies them to everyday life. Simons captures the essence of the Woolf’s perseverance, ‘tunneling’ technique, and emphasis on the fluctuating nature of personality. A great read for anyone who enjoys Woolf.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know Ilana from BNBC and couldn't wait to get my hands on her book. Reading A Life of One's Own is like floating down a stream on an inntertube. It's quiet, peaceful, introspective....you just want to snuggle with this book. Along the way Ilana discusses "take-home" messages that can be found in Virginia Woolf's diaries and other writing. I happen to admire Virginia Woolf - she didn't have half so many opportunities that I've had and she was ill but she did so much with herself. This book makes me want to go out and read all the rest of the Woolf I haven't read so I can agree with Ilana some more.

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is an odd bit of literary criticism, blending the author's personal narrative with scraps from Woolf's diaries and insights into her fiction, along with illustrative examples from modern psychological studies. More than anything, it reads like a sophisticated college paper from an author with quirky insights. I enjoyed the book because it came from a great mind, but it felt unrefined and oddly cast. She seems to be searching for her own voice. I would be interested in future books by this author.

[miteypen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a brief book with some big ideas, but I think you have to be familiar with Virginia Woolf's work to get the most out of it. The author is in training to be a psychologist and combines that wisdom with her insights from teaching Modernist literature. The main topic is relationships: how to get the most from them, how to be a good friend, and so on. Included are snippets of Woolf's personal history, just enough to whet your appetite for more.

[Marisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short, interesting read that skims the surface of some of the major themes in Virginia Woolf's great works. There are no particularly earth-shattering revelations, but some of the meditations on solitude were lovely.

[Chelsey · Rating 1 out of 5]

It was a free book, so I can't complain :) I skimmed most of it, the "advice" was all just common sense and it was really a stretch to make the connections the author tried to make with Woolf's work most of the time.

[Richard Cytowic · Rating 2 out of 5]

A delightful, thin book, that distills the more important traits that informed Virginia Woolf's life--with the implication that we should take them to heart. Those who have read Woolf and enjoyed her will smile in recognition while turning the pages of this book.

[Maggie · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was a easy book of little reminders about life. The more interesting part was her ability to pair a life lesson with a thought or comment from Virginia's diaries or books. For that, it was ok.

[Phil]

An interesting psychological self-help book that draw inspiration from Virginia Woolf's Writings

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable easy reading, thought provoking, my time, of course, would have been better spent actually reading Virginia Woolfe, but we all have to have our porn, don't we?

[BookChampions · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an original and thoroughly delightful book--both lovely reminiscences on the work and life of quite possibly my favorite writer and stimulating, surprisingly relevant advice on living life.

[Brett Boeh Bergmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! I found I could relate so well as it merged together my love for literature and psychology. Also, how could you not love a book that takes Virginia and brings her to the present?

[Kumiko Mae LovingSunshine · Rating 3 out of 5]

i have a lot of note taking to do. although it might come off as depressive to take up a life inspired by virginia woolf, the insights from her layered life are arresting.