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52 Ways to Live a Kick-Ass Life: BS-Free Wisdom to Ignite Your Inner Badass and Live the Life You Deserve
A much-needed kick in the ass for women everywhere!
Like many women, Andrea Owen always lived life on the sidelines, watching each day pass by without ever catching a glimpse of the happiness she yearned for--until the day she had enough. She realized that she had to take action and step out of the box she had created for herself if she really wanted the best life possible. And now, as a celebrated life coach, she shows thousands of women how to take the reins, create an actionable plan for their goals, and finally reach their full potential.
In this powerful book, Owen guides you through her acclaimed strategies for creating a more fulfilling life. Each goal-orientated lesson empowers you to take control of the barriers that keep you from achieving the love and success you desire. From breaking the unrewarding cycle of people pleasing to dealing with unsupportive friends, this book approaches the problems you face with a candid look at why you aren't satisfied--and how to fix it. Owen's life-changing wisdom helps you uncover your self-limiting beliefs as well as push you out of your comfort zone by zeroing in on the most difficult issues. Never one to sugarcoat the truth, she holds you accountable for your actions while offering expert advice for knocking down that cynical inner-voice and loving yourself wholeheartedly.
With 52 Ways to Live a Kick-Ass Life , you will shut off your internal auto-pilot; kick empty expectations to the curb; and live a bigger, gutsier life.
Like many women, Andrea Owen always lived life on the sidelines, watching each day pass by without ever catching a glimpse of the happiness she yearned for--until the day she had enough. She realized that she had to take action and step out of the box she had created for herself if she really wanted the best life possible. And now, as a celebrated life coach, she shows thousands of women how to take the reins, create an actionable plan for their goals, and finally reach their full potential.
In this powerful book, Owen guides you through her acclaimed strategies for creating a more fulfilling life. Each goal-orientated lesson empowers you to take control of the barriers that keep you from achieving the love and success you desire. From breaking the unrewarding cycle of people pleasing to dealing with unsupportive friends, this book approaches the problems you face with a candid look at why you aren't satisfied--and how to fix it. Owen's life-changing wisdom helps you uncover your self-limiting beliefs as well as push you out of your comfort zone by zeroing in on the most difficult issues. Never one to sugarcoat the truth, she holds you accountable for your actions while offering expert advice for knocking down that cynical inner-voice and loving yourself wholeheartedly.
With 52 Ways to Live a Kick-Ass Life , you will shut off your internal auto-pilot; kick empty expectations to the curb; and live a bigger, gutsier life.
224 pages, Paperback
First published November 18, 2013
409 people are currently reading
2995 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 115 reviews
March 23, 2016
The is by far the best self help book I have ever read. It is a fast and easy read and I was able to read it in 2 days. In fact I keep it in my night stand as a refresher, I keep referring back to it. I really like Andrea's no nonsense way and I like the way the chapters are laid out. She gives you actual examples and ideas. If I can get this in the hands of every woman I care about I would.
December 20, 2017
Wow this book was painful to read. Don’t get me wrong, there are some useful nuggets but overall it felt like every other self help book out there. It was like this woman wrote her opinion and tried to spin it as life advice. Also she’s divorced, she mentions it like 30 times and the whole thing felt like her word vomiting how it still affects her. I’m not saying divorce shouldn’t affect someone... I’m just saying she should write a self help book for divorce and not something that a single 25 year old like myself is going to pick up and buy. Just sayin
September 19, 2013
I don’t read a lot of self-help books just because they always seem to have the same end result – you can change if you put your mind into it. The reason why I picked up this book is because of the title - 52 Ways to Live a Kick-Ass Life: Bs-Free Wisdom to Ignite Your Inner Badass and Live the Life You Deserve. Everyone wants to live kick-ass life and if this book really was without any BS, then maybe this is something I would really enjoy.
I thought that anecdotes were very suitable for the situations that were described in the book. They were funny, straight-forward, and really made you see the point that the author was trying to make. A lot of times self-help authors try to tip-toe around people because they think they are “broken”. 52 Ways to Live a Kick-Ass Life: Bs-Free Wisdom to Ignite Your Inner Badass and Live the Life You Deserve hit you on the head with the truth and only truth. It was a great read and even though it wasn’t something that made me absolutely love the book, it was entertaining and very enjoyable read.
I thought that anecdotes were very suitable for the situations that were described in the book. They were funny, straight-forward, and really made you see the point that the author was trying to make. A lot of times self-help authors try to tip-toe around people because they think they are “broken”. 52 Ways to Live a Kick-Ass Life: Bs-Free Wisdom to Ignite Your Inner Badass and Live the Life You Deserve hit you on the head with the truth and only truth. It was a great read and even though it wasn’t something that made me absolutely love the book, it was entertaining and very enjoyable read.
July 20, 2017
Finished this book in one day. The concepts are phenomenal, and I gained a lot of insight into certain areas of my life that I hadn't thought of before. All in all, a wonderful and inspiring read!
January 3, 2018
I do not generally like self improvement books, as they tend to be filled with obvious preaching messages. This was not. It was full of compassion, understanding and extremely useful advice.
March 29, 2022
This is by far the best self-help book I have read. Andrea, gives you amazing tips about how to improve your life. She teaches you about other people. She also teaches you about personal situations. 100% recommended! Amazing book!
December 16, 2016
This book is a must read for everybody! I love love love the chapter titles and love the content even more!
December 12, 2023
Not really life changing. Maybe something I wish I would have read when I was 18….
February 19, 2014
Note: I received a free copy of the paperback edition of this book, from the Goodreads First Reads program, in exchange for an honest review. In no way did this alter my thoughts or feelings about this book.
SYNPOSIS:A much-needed kick in the ass for women everywhere!Like many women, Andrea Owen always lived life on the sidelines, watching each day pass by without ever catching a glimpse of the happiness she yearned for--until the day she had enough. She realized that she had to take action and step out of the box she had created for herself if she really wanted the best life possible. And now, as a celebrated life coach, she shows thousands of women how to take the reins, create an actionable plan for their goals, and finally reach their full potential.
In this powerful book, Owen guides you through her acclaimed strategies for creating a more fulfilling life. Each goal-orientated lesson empowers you to take control of the barriers that keep you from achieving the love and success you desire. From breaking the unrewarding cycle of people pleasing to dealing with unsupportive friends, this book approaches the problems you face with a candid look at why you aren't satisfied--and how to fix it. Owen's life-changing wisdom helps you uncover your self-limiting beliefs as well as push you out of your comfort zone by zeroing in on the most difficult issues. Never one to sugarcoat the truth, she holds you accountable for your actions while offering expert advice for knocking down that cynical inner-voice and loving yourself wholeheartedly.
With "52 Ways to Live a Kick-Ass Life," you will shut off your internal auto-pilot; kick empty expectations to the curb; and live a bigger, gutsier life.
MY THOUGHTS: I don't read a lot of self-help books. Not because I don't think I need to, but because I find I would rather loose myself in someone else's life and story that try and figure out what's wrong with my own. One of the reasons that I was drawn to this book in particular is the title... I mean, who doesn't want to live a kick-ass life?
That being said, I found that this book didn't excite me as much as I thought it would. Here is why:
1. I thought that the chapters were just sort of thrown together, with no real consistency or building from one chapter to the next. Want to read further on a subject? Then skip ahead from chapter 4 to chapter 32. Do not pass go, do not collect $200. Then, go back and try to re-read what you missed, but in reading chapter 6 you have to skip to chapter 28 to finish reading... are you confused yet? Good, because that's kind of how I felt while trying to jump around to read all of the related chapters at once. It just was a lot of jumping around between chapters, and I felt that the author could have arranged the chapters better, grouping all of the sections about weight loss in one area, all the ones about letting go in another, etc.
2. I felt as though a lot of the chapters were repetitive. What I mean is that the author takes the same theme, or idea, and words it differently making it into another chapter entirely. Personally, I wouldn't have cared if there were 52 chapters or 30 chapters, and I thought that some of the chapters could have been condensed.
3. There seemed to be a lot going on with the actual layout of the book, which I found distracting. The blank pages, instead of being left blank, were covered in tiny little lines that were hard to look at, and make the entire page look grayed out if you stared at it long enough. There were tons of different fonts (combining different type faces, sizes, bolding, italicizing, etc) that made parts of the book distracting. I can understand the thought behind this - to draw your attention to the most important part of the chapter, but felt that the super large font made my eyes jump to only that part, and made me skip some of the other important things on the page. Personally, I find this distracting. And while it's probably not the author's fault, it did take away from my opinion of the book.
All that being said, I think that the author definitely did hit the nail on the head when it comes to finding relevant examples that are relatable, and enjoyed the direct message of each chapter. I thought that the ideas presented were done in a blunt and straightforward way - there was no fiddling through to find out what the main message or theme was. The author really does write things to HELP people, rather than just tossing more BS into the already BS-filled world of self-help books. But, more than that, everything was broken down into bite-size, manageable chapters that allowed for thoughts and exercises to creep into my head before proceeding onto the next chapter. The book allowed for reflection on what was being said, and often gave ways to help yourself realize that whatever was being taught in the chapter can happen in your own life.
What I loved most about this book is the fact that it seems to genuinely want to help women move forward in their lives - past the walls they build up around themselves; past the awful ex-boyfriends and ex-husbands, and into a world where women can truly live the life they want to live. It doesn't seem to be about telling people what they want to hear, or what will sell on bookshelves. This book is genuinely about helping women.
I definitely think there is a lot within this book that I will be able to use in my own life to live a happier, healthier and more kick-ass life.
Overall, I give this book 3.5/5 stars, rounded up to four stars because the author does make some really good, thought-provoking points that I can see making a difference in my own life. It may not be the most uplifting book ever written, but it is a much-needed kick in the pants that I will be passing on to other women in my life.
Finally, I just want to thank the author and publisher for allowing me to receive a signed copy of this book. I received it in a VERY timely manner, and appreciate their thought and care in sending it.
SYNPOSIS:A much-needed kick in the ass for women everywhere!Like many women, Andrea Owen always lived life on the sidelines, watching each day pass by without ever catching a glimpse of the happiness she yearned for--until the day she had enough. She realized that she had to take action and step out of the box she had created for herself if she really wanted the best life possible. And now, as a celebrated life coach, she shows thousands of women how to take the reins, create an actionable plan for their goals, and finally reach their full potential.
In this powerful book, Owen guides you through her acclaimed strategies for creating a more fulfilling life. Each goal-orientated lesson empowers you to take control of the barriers that keep you from achieving the love and success you desire. From breaking the unrewarding cycle of people pleasing to dealing with unsupportive friends, this book approaches the problems you face with a candid look at why you aren't satisfied--and how to fix it. Owen's life-changing wisdom helps you uncover your self-limiting beliefs as well as push you out of your comfort zone by zeroing in on the most difficult issues. Never one to sugarcoat the truth, she holds you accountable for your actions while offering expert advice for knocking down that cynical inner-voice and loving yourself wholeheartedly.
With "52 Ways to Live a Kick-Ass Life," you will shut off your internal auto-pilot; kick empty expectations to the curb; and live a bigger, gutsier life.
MY THOUGHTS: I don't read a lot of self-help books. Not because I don't think I need to, but because I find I would rather loose myself in someone else's life and story that try and figure out what's wrong with my own. One of the reasons that I was drawn to this book in particular is the title... I mean, who doesn't want to live a kick-ass life?
That being said, I found that this book didn't excite me as much as I thought it would. Here is why:
1. I thought that the chapters were just sort of thrown together, with no real consistency or building from one chapter to the next. Want to read further on a subject? Then skip ahead from chapter 4 to chapter 32. Do not pass go, do not collect $200. Then, go back and try to re-read what you missed, but in reading chapter 6 you have to skip to chapter 28 to finish reading... are you confused yet? Good, because that's kind of how I felt while trying to jump around to read all of the related chapters at once. It just was a lot of jumping around between chapters, and I felt that the author could have arranged the chapters better, grouping all of the sections about weight loss in one area, all the ones about letting go in another, etc.
2. I felt as though a lot of the chapters were repetitive. What I mean is that the author takes the same theme, or idea, and words it differently making it into another chapter entirely. Personally, I wouldn't have cared if there were 52 chapters or 30 chapters, and I thought that some of the chapters could have been condensed.
3. There seemed to be a lot going on with the actual layout of the book, which I found distracting. The blank pages, instead of being left blank, were covered in tiny little lines that were hard to look at, and make the entire page look grayed out if you stared at it long enough. There were tons of different fonts (combining different type faces, sizes, bolding, italicizing, etc) that made parts of the book distracting. I can understand the thought behind this - to draw your attention to the most important part of the chapter, but felt that the super large font made my eyes jump to only that part, and made me skip some of the other important things on the page. Personally, I find this distracting. And while it's probably not the author's fault, it did take away from my opinion of the book.
All that being said, I think that the author definitely did hit the nail on the head when it comes to finding relevant examples that are relatable, and enjoyed the direct message of each chapter. I thought that the ideas presented were done in a blunt and straightforward way - there was no fiddling through to find out what the main message or theme was. The author really does write things to HELP people, rather than just tossing more BS into the already BS-filled world of self-help books. But, more than that, everything was broken down into bite-size, manageable chapters that allowed for thoughts and exercises to creep into my head before proceeding onto the next chapter. The book allowed for reflection on what was being said, and often gave ways to help yourself realize that whatever was being taught in the chapter can happen in your own life.
What I loved most about this book is the fact that it seems to genuinely want to help women move forward in their lives - past the walls they build up around themselves; past the awful ex-boyfriends and ex-husbands, and into a world where women can truly live the life they want to live. It doesn't seem to be about telling people what they want to hear, or what will sell on bookshelves. This book is genuinely about helping women.
I definitely think there is a lot within this book that I will be able to use in my own life to live a happier, healthier and more kick-ass life.
Overall, I give this book 3.5/5 stars, rounded up to four stars because the author does make some really good, thought-provoking points that I can see making a difference in my own life. It may not be the most uplifting book ever written, but it is a much-needed kick in the pants that I will be passing on to other women in my life.
Finally, I just want to thank the author and publisher for allowing me to receive a signed copy of this book. I received it in a VERY timely manner, and appreciate their thought and care in sending it.
May 13, 2016
"52 Ways to Live a Kick-Ass Life" is a really good book! Each chapter has a topic having to do with bettering yourself. Each of the 52 chapters average out to be about 3-4 pages long which I like. The topics of each chapter do with getting the best life you can. Some of my favorite chapters were: Tell 5 People About Your Secret Dream, Stop Apologizing and People Pleasing, Accept That You'll Have Regrets, Have More Fun, Pain=Wisdom, Forgive Yourself, and Fail More often. Those are just a small selection of my favorite chapters. This book can be for anybody in high school and above. It gives great life tips and tricks that can relate to almost anybody. I highlighted some of my favorite paragraphs and passages so I can look back at them later. This is a helpful book for putting little pieces of positivity into your day. The author, Andrea Owen knows how to speak to a board spectrum of girls and I loved the book a lot.
September 22, 2017
I feel like this book never really gave enough information to make the reader feel they could make changes in their lives. Each chapter is so short and just kind of brushes a topic and then leaves you hanging. The author obviously has experienced heartbreak in the past and it makes me wonder if she were in the midst of the raw emotion those betrayals caused her would she read this book and find that it helped her? It took me awhile because I went back thru the book twice and still didn't end with anything that really stuck with me as profound or helpful.
August 17, 2015
I loved this book! This is what I expected from You Are a Badass and didn't find there. I loved Andrea's writing style and it's relational quality. Her 52 chapters are short, to the point, and powerful. Beyond simply dealing with whatever issues you might have, she gives practical tips that anyone needs to do to live an awesome life (have values and live by them, find out what makes you happy, drop friends you've outgrown, etc.). Adding this to my list of "How to Adult" books
July 20, 2017
What a bad ass book
I absolutely can't say one bad thing about this book. It was motivational, without being preachy. It was well written with short chapters so the reader felt like it was easy to get into. The information was presented as knowledge the writer has gone through which was great because it made it more personable. I will definitely be picking this book up again and buying a paperback version to refer back to for reference.
I absolutely can't say one bad thing about this book. It was motivational, without being preachy. It was well written with short chapters so the reader felt like it was easy to get into. The information was presented as knowledge the writer has gone through which was great because it made it more personable. I will definitely be picking this book up again and buying a paperback version to refer back to for reference.
March 27, 2020
This book was very repetitive and not one of the best confidence-boosting books. But, I do have to give it some credit. I had a terrible day today, but I spent every minute I could listening to the audiobook, and it really helped make me feel better. I was going to give it a 3.5 but it helped me get through the day and it seriously stated some things I needed to hear, though a lot of it was referring to situations adults would go through.
January 26, 2020
I struggled to get through this to be honest. It might’ve been the way she wrote or the tone I’m not really sure, there was just something that didn’t make me love the message.
Yes there were some good ideas, but with 52 chapters nothing was really touched on deeply enough for me. It really felt more like.. ‘here’s a great a idea.. now let me talk about how that relates to me and my divorce/cheating ex/low self esteem’.
Okay.. so I guess it was how she wrote it then that was the problem.
Yes there were some good ideas, but with 52 chapters nothing was really touched on deeply enough for me. It really felt more like.. ‘here’s a great a idea.. now let me talk about how that relates to me and my divorce/cheating ex/low self esteem’.
Okay.. so I guess it was how she wrote it then that was the problem.
December 15, 2016
I think this book is best geared toward women who have been through a bad breakup, but it also has a lot of useful and inspiring advice for everyone else as well.
January 17, 2024
"52 Ways to Live a Kick-Ass Life: BS-Free Wisdom to Ignite Your Inner Badass and Live the Life You Deserve" is a gem of a guide, offering down-to-earth wisdom that resonates with anyone seeking to level up their life. As someone always on the lookout for practical advice without the fluff, this book hit the mark, providing empowering insights to fuel personal growth.
The author's straightforward approach immediately drew me in. This isn't your typical self-help manual; it's a collection of bite-sized wisdom nuggets that cut through the noise. I appreciated the no-BS attitude, making the book feel like a conversation with a friend who genuinely wants to see you succeed.
One of the book's standout features is its actionable advice. Each of the 52 ways is a tangible step toward living a more fulfilling life. The author doesn't just dispense platitudes; she provides practical strategies and mindset shifts that are easy to incorporate into daily life. It's like having a personal coach nudging you toward a kick-ass life.
The structure of the book is user-friendly, with each way presented in a concise and accessible format. The writing style is engaging, with a touch of humor that makes the content relatable. The personal anecdotes and examples sprinkled throughout add authenticity, creating a sense of connection with the author.
The language used is simple yet impactful, making the book accessible to a wide audience. The author doesn't get bogged down in complex concepts, ensuring that readers from all walks of life can glean valuable insights. The book's focus on self-empowerment and taking charge of one's destiny adds a motivational layer, inspiring readers to embrace their inner badass.
In conclusion, "52 Ways to Live a Kick-Ass Life" is a must-read for those seeking practical and empowering guidance on their journey to personal growth. Whether you're feeling stuck, seeking motivation, or just looking for a fresh perspective on life, this book delivers 52 doses of wisdom to ignite your inner badass. The author's genuine and relatable approach makes it a valuable companion for anyone ready to live the life they truly deserve.
The author's straightforward approach immediately drew me in. This isn't your typical self-help manual; it's a collection of bite-sized wisdom nuggets that cut through the noise. I appreciated the no-BS attitude, making the book feel like a conversation with a friend who genuinely wants to see you succeed.
One of the book's standout features is its actionable advice. Each of the 52 ways is a tangible step toward living a more fulfilling life. The author doesn't just dispense platitudes; she provides practical strategies and mindset shifts that are easy to incorporate into daily life. It's like having a personal coach nudging you toward a kick-ass life.
The structure of the book is user-friendly, with each way presented in a concise and accessible format. The writing style is engaging, with a touch of humor that makes the content relatable. The personal anecdotes and examples sprinkled throughout add authenticity, creating a sense of connection with the author.
The language used is simple yet impactful, making the book accessible to a wide audience. The author doesn't get bogged down in complex concepts, ensuring that readers from all walks of life can glean valuable insights. The book's focus on self-empowerment and taking charge of one's destiny adds a motivational layer, inspiring readers to embrace their inner badass.
In conclusion, "52 Ways to Live a Kick-Ass Life" is a must-read for those seeking practical and empowering guidance on their journey to personal growth. Whether you're feeling stuck, seeking motivation, or just looking for a fresh perspective on life, this book delivers 52 doses of wisdom to ignite your inner badass. The author's genuine and relatable approach makes it a valuable companion for anyone ready to live the life they truly deserve.
August 28, 2018
I've read this book twice now and I will probably keep going back to it, as the author herself recommends (when you're in need). I am not a huge fan of self-help books, even though I've been through a phase in my 20s where that's the only thing I would read. But this book is so easy to read and it speaks in such simple words that it just speaks to me. Sometimes it is like stating the obvious and I wonder how did I not see that? Or why didn't I think of that? Or I couldn't have said it better myself. You get the point.
One of my favorite paragraphs:
"Maybe your life purpose is that you learn about yourself and the world on this journey of life, you do your best to be a good person and be kind to people, and help some people who need help. The end. Maybe doing those three things for the entire nininety-nine or so years of life is really what you were meant to do."
and
"Bottom line: If you want to change your mind, give yourself a break. Personally, I think it's braver to admit you want to change course and then make it happen than to suffer a passionless life."
I think she has very good advice for many situations that I can relate to. And lately I find myself quoting her a lot, or sharing paragraphs with my friends who are in desperate need of some wisdom and encouraging words. I even had to translate sentences for my friends who don't speak English. So yea, I've enjoyed this book. If you are a big self-help reader, maybe you'll find this too simple for your taste or maybe you've already heard and read all this before. But for me, it was an eye-opening book and it helped me become aware of many of my issues that I had been dtragging around for years.
One of my favorite paragraphs:
"Maybe your life purpose is that you learn about yourself and the world on this journey of life, you do your best to be a good person and be kind to people, and help some people who need help. The end. Maybe doing those three things for the entire nininety-nine or so years of life is really what you were meant to do."
and
"Bottom line: If you want to change your mind, give yourself a break. Personally, I think it's braver to admit you want to change course and then make it happen than to suffer a passionless life."
I think she has very good advice for many situations that I can relate to. And lately I find myself quoting her a lot, or sharing paragraphs with my friends who are in desperate need of some wisdom and encouraging words. I even had to translate sentences for my friends who don't speak English. So yea, I've enjoyed this book. If you are a big self-help reader, maybe you'll find this too simple for your taste or maybe you've already heard and read all this before. But for me, it was an eye-opening book and it helped me become aware of many of my issues that I had been dtragging around for years.
December 28, 2017
Overall, I would have to say that this is a good personal development book. It touches on a lot topics and, like with a lot of personal development books, many/most of them really resonate with the reader.
I do appreciate a lot of the topics that were discussed in this book. Every once in a while, I felt like we were going over the same thing again. Some topics were similar without being exactly the same.
Compared to other PD books, I would say that it doesn't exactly stand out. I thought it would be right up my alley because of the "BS-Free Wisdom" that is supposed to be in there. I felt like it was a mix between genuine BS-Free advice, humorous banter and annoying words there to remind you hat this is supposed to be straight-forward. Some of it came off like she it was trying too hard to be BS-Free. I'm not sure if I can explain it properly... but again, it was on and off.
I wish that this book came with exercises or reflection topics at the end of each chapter. I feel like those are the best kinds of personal development books. The ones that force you to stop reading, think about what you learned and apply it to your own life. If this book had those chapter reflections, it would have pushed it over to a four-star rating. But that's just my personal opinion.
I do appreciate a lot of the topics that were discussed in this book. Every once in a while, I felt like we were going over the same thing again. Some topics were similar without being exactly the same.
Compared to other PD books, I would say that it doesn't exactly stand out. I thought it would be right up my alley because of the "BS-Free Wisdom" that is supposed to be in there. I felt like it was a mix between genuine BS-Free advice, humorous banter and annoying words there to remind you hat this is supposed to be straight-forward. Some of it came off like she it was trying too hard to be BS-Free. I'm not sure if I can explain it properly... but again, it was on and off.
I wish that this book came with exercises or reflection topics at the end of each chapter. I feel like those are the best kinds of personal development books. The ones that force you to stop reading, think about what you learned and apply it to your own life. If this book had those chapter reflections, it would have pushed it over to a four-star rating. But that's just my personal opinion.
January 17, 2022
Overall, it was well-written and a good, easy read I finished in a day. I liked the essay structure, where each chapter expanded on one of the 52 suggestions. I also enjoyed the format, where things were in bold or list format to help emphasize thoughts. I did highlight several things and felt like a number of things felt insightful and will be helpful for my life.
It was somewhat repetitive, which makes sense when you’re trying to make 52 suggestions - there’s definitely going to be overlap. I also had some issues with some of the language choices: I didn’t enjoy certain metaphors that compared addiction to other things, and I do not think people should use the word “tribe” to refer to community. I also think that it overly simplifies certain things and that the advice simply isn’t applicable to everyone - and that’s fine. Not every book is for every person.
Overall, I think it’s an enjoyable read, and that you can take what you need from it and leave the rest. I rated it three stars because of the repetition and language frustration, as well as the fact that while I enjoyed it, I probably won’t read it again, although I might look back at what I highlighted. I also plan to read the author’s other books.
It was somewhat repetitive, which makes sense when you’re trying to make 52 suggestions - there’s definitely going to be overlap. I also had some issues with some of the language choices: I didn’t enjoy certain metaphors that compared addiction to other things, and I do not think people should use the word “tribe” to refer to community. I also think that it overly simplifies certain things and that the advice simply isn’t applicable to everyone - and that’s fine. Not every book is for every person.
Overall, I think it’s an enjoyable read, and that you can take what you need from it and leave the rest. I rated it three stars because of the repetition and language frustration, as well as the fact that while I enjoyed it, I probably won’t read it again, although I might look back at what I highlighted. I also plan to read the author’s other books.
September 22, 2022
It's fine. There is some great advice in here, most of which is nothing you can't find elsewhere. If it's your first self-help book it's a good choice, just don't take everything in here as law.
Good points:
Super digestible, most chapters are like 2 pages
Targets some issues that women and AFABs face more than other groups, such as chronic apologizing
Accessible language so I think any reader could probably gain something from it
I found it helpful on my initial read through in 2017, and I'm finding it helpful on my second read in 2022.
Swearing is fun. She took every opportunity she could find to say "ass" and ran with it, I respect that.
Bad points:
Much of the advice is easy to find elsewhere.
"Anyone can do it" bootstraps mentality
Sometimes condescending - oops I meant "tough love" 🙄
Sometimes repetitive
Poorly organized. There are several instances of chapters that just elaborate on something from another chapter but they're not even next to each other when they should have been combined. I don't think an editor was involved.
The chapters surrounding body image pretty much only cover being overweight (which is handled in neither the best way nor the worst)
It was written in 2013 so it smells like it was written in 2013
Good points:
Super digestible, most chapters are like 2 pages
Targets some issues that women and AFABs face more than other groups, such as chronic apologizing
Accessible language so I think any reader could probably gain something from it
I found it helpful on my initial read through in 2017, and I'm finding it helpful on my second read in 2022.
Swearing is fun. She took every opportunity she could find to say "ass" and ran with it, I respect that.
Bad points:
Much of the advice is easy to find elsewhere.
"Anyone can do it" bootstraps mentality
Sometimes condescending - oops I meant "tough love" 🙄
Sometimes repetitive
Poorly organized. There are several instances of chapters that just elaborate on something from another chapter but they're not even next to each other when they should have been combined. I don't think an editor was involved.
The chapters surrounding body image pretty much only cover being overweight (which is handled in neither the best way nor the worst)
It was written in 2013 so it smells like it was written in 2013
October 15, 2017
I wasn't very fond of this book... I found maybe 1 or 2 of the chapters helpful... But honestly, it just sounded like a hodgepodge of podcasts that I've listened to before. I found that I was forcing myself to read it, but not enjoying it (I have problems leaving a book unread once I've started it). I think the reason I was disappointed was because I had different expectations for this book. I like inspirational books that have sort of a step-by-step, chronological, "this is what you need to do first," sort of thing going on, and the organization of this book was very fluid. If that's more your jam, and you haven't read and/or listened to a lot personal development, you might enjoy this book.
March 10, 2018
okay i'll be 100% real that this still wasn't the motivational pep talk i was looking for and i don't remember 3/4 of this book woops maybe it's because i read this in the span of a two weeks (this book put me to zzz) but i think it's because most of it was things i didn't Personally have problems with (i.e body image, how others perceive you and like the stuff I *kinda* cared for were reitterations (idk how to spell i need autocorrect was that even close) of things she mentioned in the other book i read of hers
i need a book like you are a badass because that one was a Motivator™ with the positive affirmations of you deserve it so go for it mindset
anyway not that it's bad it's just not what i was looking for
i need a book like you are a badass because that one was a Motivator™ with the positive affirmations of you deserve it so go for it mindset
anyway not that it's bad it's just not what i was looking for
October 20, 2020
I needed to hear this entire book at this particular time. I am ending my 25 year marriage to a person I don’t even know at this point. I believed all the lies. I tried to navigate through the triangulation with my kids as I was trying to co-parent....sadly, this is the first time I really saw the manipulation of me and the kids and the lies to us both....all in a way, he says, “to keep everyone happy.” No jack-ass, it was to keep you happy and the rest of us are still confused as to what the hell happended. Relationships with my family of origin, my children, and grandchildren have been irreversibly damaged by the things he has said (and not said...I think that has done the most damage.
I need to take my life back and light the match and burn that mf bridge to the ground.
I need to take my life back and light the match and burn that mf bridge to the ground.
August 20, 2023
It was a good self help honestly I’m just not at the point in my life where I needed a self help I’m actually pretty happy with my life there was some good tips I took out of it though but most of these we already know..
I did appreciate the authors honesty, she was not ashamed of showing her struggles as a point that we are not alone and def not the only ones that have gone through this.
Really I think this is a good book for like a graduation gift every brand new adult needs to hear these things…thank God I’m at the age where I don’t care what others think so much and just love the life we have built! Not saying there won’t be a need for self help later and I still appreciate reading them.
I did appreciate the authors honesty, she was not ashamed of showing her struggles as a point that we are not alone and def not the only ones that have gone through this.
Really I think this is a good book for like a graduation gift every brand new adult needs to hear these things…thank God I’m at the age where I don’t care what others think so much and just love the life we have built! Not saying there won’t be a need for self help later and I still appreciate reading them.
August 7, 2017
Andrea's book is one of my top 5 books! It really spoke to me on how to ignite my inner badass and help keep the calm in areas I am not able to! I was actually finishing this book on my Kindle while flying to New Orleans when we were told that we had to backtrack to Houston due to a storm in NOLA then found out I had a 5 hour layover! In the past I would of not handled this well but I was literally reading this while this all happened and helped me remember that I cannot control everything so not worth the time to get upset about it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 13, 2017
This book took me a very long time to complete. I purchased this book at least within a year's time of it being published. So I've had it since perhaps, 2014? (Sometimes I feel like when I purchase a book it actually takes me longer to finish since I know I don't have the next patron at the library breathing over my shoulder to complete it.)
Okay let me say this first, I know I gave kind of a middle to low star rating here. That doesn't mean this won't be a five star for a lot of people... also it doesn't mean that I found this book fun but useless... Not the case... It is very well written.
I just felt that some of the points felt too specific whilst others felt way too vague. I think a lot of the advice was very good and plan on re-reading to highlight points.
Also I think her chapter on "perfect body" was not good... I think I agree with her but she should be clear that, your health is important but there is no such thing as perfect... She wasn't clear on that, and she also throws the word "perfect" around in other parts of the book that negates the no such thing as perfect.
Okay let me say this first, I know I gave kind of a middle to low star rating here. That doesn't mean this won't be a five star for a lot of people... also it doesn't mean that I found this book fun but useless... Not the case... It is very well written.
I just felt that some of the points felt too specific whilst others felt way too vague. I think a lot of the advice was very good and plan on re-reading to highlight points.
Also I think her chapter on "perfect body" was not good... I think I agree with her but she should be clear that, your health is important but there is no such thing as perfect... She wasn't clear on that, and she also throws the word "perfect" around in other parts of the book that negates the no such thing as perfect.
June 8, 2021
Love this book so much! It’s so easy to get through chapters, and I’ve even been taking notes! Her writing voice is also very relatable. There was even a chapter on dumping friends you’ve outgrown, and that chapter came at a time in my life where I really needed to consider where to go with a toxic friendship. This book helped me figure that out! Perfect for women in their 20s! One of my favorite self help books so far as a successful woman who is sometimes insecure and also holds onto the past too much.
November 21, 2024
This self help book is actually full of decent advice that won’t make you want to throw up.
I feel like it all comes from a place of understanding and realizing you have to do what makes you happy.
Each chapter comes with challenge for the reader to engage with their own experiences. I think this book would be really helpful to someone going through a hard transition in their life.
Thank you to NetGalley, Andrea Owen and Adams Media for the opportunity to read this book. I have written this review voluntarily.
I feel like it all comes from a place of understanding and realizing you have to do what makes you happy.
Each chapter comes with challenge for the reader to engage with their own experiences. I think this book would be really helpful to someone going through a hard transition in their life.
Thank you to NetGalley, Andrea Owen and Adams Media for the opportunity to read this book. I have written this review voluntarily.
April 28, 2024
1.5 stars. This book has no groundbreaking concepts. Every book in the self-help genre has the same ideas just stated in different manners. I must admit I somewhat despise self help books for the simple fact that I feel as though they all try to make the readers the problem. The actual problem is how the author wrote the book. I was bored and over it by 16%.I guarantee I won't remember any of the ideas in this book in a month.
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