The Bodacious Book of Succulence: Daring to Live Your Succulent Wild Life

by SARK

The author of Succulent Wild Woman shows both men and women how to live more creative, fulfilling, and unique lives and stay true to their passions and individuality while maintaining financial and spiritual success. Original. 75,000 first printing. Tour.

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction, Art, Inspirational, Spirituality, Health, New Age

144 pages, Paperback

First published May 8, 1998

About the author

SARK (a.k.a. Susan Ariel Rainbow Kennedy) is an American author and illustrator of self-help books. Five of her sixteen books have been national bestsellers, and she has sold more than two million copies of her books.

Reviews

[Hope · Rating 4 out of 5]

SARK's first books, Succulent Wild Woman and Bodacious Book of Succulence, are refreshing, whimsical, empowering, healing. I owned a women's bookstore when they first came out and SARK really created a sensation. Later, IMHO, her books became redundant and she tried to hard to recreate her initial success. Ultimately, she was way over-marketed.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book backwards, which I think SARK would approve of. She’s so positive, life is TALL instead of short. Remember to nourish. Remember the micromovements.

[Rebecca · Rating 2 out of 5]

In some ways, this is a quick fun read.

However, the hand written pages bug me and make it difficult to read.

And it's basically jus...moreIn some ways, this is a quick fun read.

However, the hand written pages bug me and make it difficult to read.

And it's basically just one long cheery "you can do it" fortune cookie kind of book.

The two most useful concepts in the book are micromovements and the idea that it's ok to feel whatever it is that you feel whether its anger or pain or love.

I would recommend it if you are feeling depressed and need someone encouragement to get up and do whatever it is that you need to do to make your life happy.

Other than that, it's mostly fluff. Rainbows and fuzzy kittens.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

I LOVE SARK. When I'm in the mood, of course, for her depth-filled whimsy and watercolorful prose. She's a definite uplift when you're feeling off~and simultaneously assures you that it's a-ok to feel off!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd never read any Sark before, other than products (posters, cards, coffee cups) that I have seen in gift stores. Her graphic style is immediately recognizable, and I think often thought of as "cheesy" or "precious". I picked this up used, was drawn to it by the words "bodacious" (which recalls my own last name) and succulent. I was curious.

The book is delightful, and I had many many aha and me too moments in its pages. I really enjoy the way she thinks about life, work, relationship, and self-love. I enjoy her open-hearted approach to being real and open to our own faults, the faults of others, and the work that it takes to become more whole and happy.

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

First read in 1997 and the 25th an over edition came out with new material. Enchanting and inspiring then. Evolved, enchanting and inspiring now. A favorite to help me remember my creative, wild, and succulent nature.

[Mary K · Rating 1 out of 5]

Just not my cup of tea

[Maki · Rating 5 out of 5]

I find all of SARKS books to be very fun to read and full of hope and inspiration.

[▫️Ron S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5
I’m a longtime fan of SARK, and it was good to get this visit.

[Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

SARK books breathe lifeblood back into anyone's soul.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book. It was different, refreshing and looked at things in a more simple manner. Would totally read again.

[TC · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lovely, quick read. I love SARK's positivity and goofiness and her appreciation for beauty in life. It's full of platitudes that are nonetheless profound and spirituality that isn't going to speak to everyone -- both extreme rationalists and many traditionally religious people won't like her, as she's definitely in the New Age-y camp. If you can take what you can use and leave the rest, there is plenty of to love here. I particularly like her story about her father's death and her grieving process as well as how she talked about her romantic partner -- a "succulent" man who is nonetheless a Christian Republican, to her horror and ultimate acceptance.

[Alannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I tend to forget about SARK until I have another life "crisis" and feel like I need some inspiration, and then I remember I have some of her books tucked away. At times they can be a bit too cheesy for me, but I am the kind of person who takes life too seriously in general, so they do kind of lighten me up a bit. A lot of the topics SARK writes about hit home for me and re-reading them always gives me food for thought. Most of all, SARK reminds me that being imperfect is okay and never to forget to make time for art!

[HeavyReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've had several books by SARK over the years, but this is the one that is still on my bookshelf. I pull it down when I need inspiration and encouragement as a poet, a photographer, an artist, a living person. I appreciate all this book has taught me, including to relax and create, even if my art doesn't bring in money.

[Melissa Yael Winston · Rating 1 out of 5]

When I read Succulent Wild Woman a little over two years ago, for some reason I liked it. Naturally, I bought another of SARK's books. Maybe between the time I bought it in March 2008 I changed enough to stop appreciating SARK, but this book was, well, garbage. Just a collection of platitudes in colorful and occasionally illegible handwriting.

[Tiare · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's amazing what one dedicated hour to completing a book can do, this book is super fast to read. I kept waiting for that one AHA moment to come out of this, and I didn't really receive it, but I do like her style of writing and I know that her words have been absorbed in to my consciousness. And that is enough.

[Kaitlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Someone once said to me "You are so Sarkey!"...maybe you are too? It's a fun book to have when it's a rainey cold day and you're curled up with a cup of tea. You can pick it up read the end to begining if you want. There really isn't an order to Sarks writing.

[Julie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book, but it felt a little too, I don't know, earth mother-y to me. Maybe I wasn't in the right frame of mind when I read it, and I need to revisit it when I'm in a different place in my life.

[Cece Baez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read most of SARK's books and found that she tends to repeat herself within a book and between books......so, once you've read ONE of her books, you need to read no more.....they say the same thing in different words and different pictures.

[Joanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't like this quite as much as Succulent Wild Woman but at the time, I was still caught up in SARK's spell enough to enjoy it.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delicious book!!!!!

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book got me through several rough times - perfect combination of wit, quotes, honesty, humor, colors, art!

[Aradia V · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just love Sark.

[Jennifer Kronk · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my current "bed side" book.

[alia · Rating 3 out of 5]

if you haven't disovereed sark yet- you must! her books are generally written in crayon and are swirly and vibrant and lovely

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

read this after 'succulent wild woman'. SARK has created these awesome workbooks for a creative and brave life.

[Gabi Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love love love SARK. Her works always inspire me!

[Mona · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspiring for both my personal & professional self.

[Summer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember reading all of these books in college, my junior year and loving them. They are very colorful and uplifting if I remember correctly! Great example of a creative journal. :)