The Monkey, the Moon & Maybe: How to Embrace Change & Live Fearlessly

by Barbara Burke

Barbara Burke’s first workplace fable, The Napkin, the Melon & the Monkey offered readers age-old wisdom and simple tools for being happy and successful. Now comes the sequel, The Monkey, the Moon & Maybe, an insightful tale of inspiration and guidance for handling one of life’s most daunting challenges — constant change.

After being promoted to contact center supervisor four years ago, Olivia has settled into her new role. But, her prospects for a bright future are shattered when the CEO of her company announces a major merger. Not knowing if she will lose the best job she has ever had puts Olivia into an emotional tailspin. When her exasperated husband demands she get a grip and her team of frightened service reps turn against her, she asks her mentor, Isabel, for advice.

The lessons Olivia learns during her transformational journey provide the road map she needs to live with uncertainty at work and in life. A road map that anyone can use to live fearlessly. These lessons include:

> How to be more resilient — the key to living a happy life.
> How to use mindfulness to reduce stress and improve outcomes.
> How to handle your next life-changing event with grace and ease.
> How to struggle less, love more and live a more joyful, satisfying life.

Olivia added 12 new Aha!s to her original list of 22 Aha!s from the first story.

134 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published September 1, 2014

Reviews

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book for free from the author through Goodreads Firstreads.

A book that took me by surprise.
Olivia is a supervisor at the call center for an electric company, and we follow her lead her team as well as herself. She's not perfect, she has herself failed and turned to others for advice, but will still always give a peptalk to her team. When they all fear that they're gonna lose their jobs, things heat up. Olivia lets the stress get to her and takes it out on her family, but tries to motivate herself.

Well, this book seems like it could be the life of any of us. Not perfect, stressful, and us fearing things that end up making us blind. But this book gives you little tips and advice on how to avoid that, that it's okay and that it's gonna be better. You just need to take a step back and see the whole picture.

This is a sequel, and I really want to read the first one now.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

~Disclaimer: I received this book for free in a giveaway~

There were most assuredly some positive messages in this book. And it does have good advice. However, I didn't find the dialogue presented to be very realistic and found the distracting to my read.

I found the book very heavy handed and didn't really find much of it to be portrayed in a realistic light. Emotions will always effect you. And its nice to say not to react emotionally, but everyone will. Moving past it and whatnot is important, but no one is as rational as this book wants you to be.


Note: These are my immediate thoughts about this book. I JUST finished it. If my view changes I will add edits below.

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I especially enjoyed the 'story' about the monkey, and the information on using SODA. Both of those portions of the book have really stuck with me, and I have actually used SODA quite a few times since I read about it in this book.

I would recommend this book to just about anyone; especially for someone who is stressed out a lot due to their career.

I have my associates in business administration, and I am going to school for my bachelors, and I think a lot of the information in this book will help me with my everyday life, as well as, in my future career in business.

[Steph · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was actually quite a bit better than I thought it would be. When I first started reading it, I thought that it would be just like all of the other self-help books. You know the type: the books that tend to spew hippie jargon and hide behind obvious truths. However, this one pleasantly surprised me. Some of the main character's suggestions were things that I learned during school, but it was nice to see how they could potentially be applied in the real world. After reading this, I want to read its predecessor. Oh, and I totally want a monkey named Izzy now.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this book for free from goodreads giveaways. I really loved this book. It motivated me to keep going at work, no matter what the circumstances are. Holding a pitty party will not help anyone. Make work as enjoyable as possibly.
This book is highly recommended for all managers and/or hard workers who could have a future in management. Personally I am not a manager, but I could really relate to this book. I try to make work a fun environment! I don't want to give away to much, but check it out.

[Darcee Kraus · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this novel in the First Read's giveaway! Burke proposes positive ways to cope with challenges many of us face in our everyday life. I found the monkey's lesson on SODA to be helpful and practical. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is considering reading it, you won't be disappointed!

[Kendra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great positive business and life practicalities that anyone can apply. Short read that will leave anyone with some tidbits to take into their own lives. Loved the fighting melons story and the aha moments.
I received this book free from Goodreads.

[RACHEL · Rating 3 out of 5]

Burke provides many helpful tools for the workplace and for life in this short workplace parable.

My copy came through Goodreads First Reads.