FLAWD: How to Stop Hating on Yourself, Others, and the Things That Make You Who You Are

by Emily-Anne Rigal, Jeanne Demers (Illustrator)

When you look in the mirror and only see your flaws, it can be hard to be your best self.
 
FLAWD is your new cheerleader—an energetic guide to seeing your flaws as the doorway to something more.

Through dynamic stories and advice from teens and celebrities around the world, FLAWD will help you
·       SEE yourself as perfectly imperfect.
·       TREAT life as playfully as possible.
·       THINK about what really matters.
·       EMBRACE all that makes you, YOU.
·       UNDERSTAND influence and how to use it.
·       KNOW you can be part of a flawd and powerful transformation.
 
Even though we exist in a culture that thrives on bullying us into believing we're never good enough as we are, FLAWD affirms that you are good enough, ready enough and important enough to be a flawd light in the world.
 
Are you ready to become fearless with your flaws and change the world by being yourself? Then FLAWD is the book for you.

“Not only does Emily-Anne have strong convictions and a beautiful soul, but she has taken action against bullying. Her actions have had such an immediate and enormous impact on the world already.” —Lady Gaga

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help

208 pages, Paperback

First published August 4, 2015

Reviews

[Thomas Maluck · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fundamentally good advice about accepting yourself and understanding your place on the planet (including in relation to others), but I got hung up on how the book keeps juxtaposing relativity and absolutism. Variations of "we can't ever know anything but face your truth" abound. "There are no rules, break all the rules, but here are some rules."

[Adam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'd give it 3.5 stars and in full disclosure I listened to the audiobook version. I see this as a companion or teenager version to Brene Brown's Daring Greatly. It's a great little read, but I almost wished the author waited another ten years before writing it. The advice is solid and, like I said, would be great for a younger audience. There is a little distraction when the author continually references world problems or personal passions and even though I understand her point to always being honest about her opinion about herself, etc, I thought that at times it took away or distracted from the greater message of the book. I think a with a little more time Rigal will be able to go deep with her message and not just broad.

[Katie Zebrowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book for preteens. Emily-Anne Rigal offers helpful advice without sounding unconvincing to the reader. She is open about her experiences, including how she treated others at a younger age. I think it would be incredibly helpful to young girls who are going through a lot of changes, and often feel uncertain about themselves and their place in the world.

[Mai · Rating 4 out of 5]

FLAWD that title is creative and inspiring.we are all imperfectly perfect ,we are enough ,plenty enough ,we are all flawed and that's okay becoz our flaws are what make us who we are ,that's the message of this book and I recommend this book for anyone who has self-image and self-esteem issues

[drowningmermaid · Rating 1 out of 5]

This might’ve meant something to me if I had read it when I was in high school, which is the intended audience.

But this is a bunch of platitudinous pablum for platidudes online. Oft-forwarded Facebook posts often translate poorly to book form, in my experience, and this contains motivation like “You are a sparkle bacon unicorn— unless you’re Vegan, which is also awesome.”

It’s definitely not fair to expect a 21-year-old to come up with groundbreaking science here, but coming to this directly after “what my bones know” is a definite letdown.

[Marci · Rating 1 out of 5]

I just could not read it. It did not live up to the hype.

[Kambiz · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the best books I have ever read. A bit strange though, because when you start, the format and tone makes you think this book is for teenagers. Then I said, fine, I am a father, I have teenagers, so I could teach to them after. Then I could not even stop. From age 12 to whatever, this book is a must read. It is a good teaching on skepticism, stoicism and critical thinking, but in a very fun, nice and practical way. This book has been recommended to me by the website http://usefulinterweb.com and what a nice recommendation.

[Suzie B · Rating 2 out of 5]

Written for teenagers, this book spreads the message that everyone has flaws and we should learn to accept ourselves for who we are. It is an offshoot from the WeStopHate website and YouTube channel, and encourages teens to stop 'hating' on themselves and others, and be more open, accepting, inclusive, happy and loving.
I particularly liked the discussion on signature strength and using yours to help others.

[Johanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'd admit before I opened the book, I was prejudice thinking, here's yet another one of those self-help books. I was wrong. There are no pages and pages of writing, of encouragements and 'secrets'.

The book is easy to read, easy to understand.

Written with great enthusiasm!

Answers exactly my questions.

A recommend for anyone looking for life's answers.

[~Liz~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Humorous and entertaining visuals and illustrations. Good advice - proactive tips and tricks. Recommend to all teens. Overall a visually enjoyable read. :)

[Amanda [Novel Addiction] · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting book. My library has this cataloged as adult, but I think teens would really relate, considering this author became famous for her Youtube movement.

[Nadya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Light read with cute illustrations.

[Chrystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! What a great book for teens. Honestly, I wish this had been around when I was growing up. Learning to love yourself and accept your flaws is a hard thing especially while going through your teen years when everything is changing drastically. You have horomonal changes, social changes (think starting high school, cliques, etc) and identity issues. This book touches on some amazing things that can help our teens.

There are chapters about accepting who you, actually embracing your flaws. There are writing exercises to do that will help turn the negatives into positives. It's a great initiative to help open the dialogue between teens to help each other and not bully each other. We are unique and should be viewed as such - no one fits into the cookie cutter ideals of the "perfect" person, so it's unrealistic to think that teens should be left thinking that something is wrong with them or that they are not "fill in the blank" enough to fit in.

Don't take my word for it, check out the Monster High site (they are collaborating with Emily-Anne for Flawd) and her site WeStopHate.org. I love that Mattel has joined this author by using their Monster High dolls to show acceptance - freaky flaws and all. I think that the dolls themselves can show pre-teens/teens that being different is okay. I've read a few of the books and they are a delight, so perfect match if you ask me!

I'll be passing along my copy to one of my aunts that works with teens. I think this book will help her to help themselves with accepting who they are. I'm happy to have been given the chance to promote this book and pass it along to someone who I know will use it to help so many others.

[Theresa Hildebrand · Rating 3 out of 5]

This would be a great book for adolescents, teens & anyone in their early 20s who is still figuring out who they are. Lots of motivational, been there, done that ~ lived to tell the tale stories from the author. The most annoying part of this book was the author's heavy reliance on quoting people who commented on her YouTube videos or blog posts. Ironically she talks about not worrying what other people think of you ~ then ~ she continues to quote what other people think of her. Wait what ? It also bothered me that people were not quoted by name but rather by screen names, so it was like JuJuBee182 says... I was feeling my 50 years as my annoyance with this grew with every quote. All in all, I would recommend this book to a younger person who is struggling with life. Actually, I think I would just sit down & talk to that person myself. Maybe I should write an inspirational book because I could totally quote actual people.

[Nancy Svinicki · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very good read, and had lots of helpful, encouraging information.

However, this book is really geared toward teenagers. I'm 26, and I've lived and left the online language phase of my life. The use of contracted words and 'u' instead of "you" is endearing at first, but gets annoying quickly. I lost patience with the book about a third of the way in, and started skipping around and skimming at that point.

One of the things I do appreciate, and what keeps me coming back to young adult non-fiction, is the information being distilled into the easiest explanations with no drawn out paragraphs of superfluous commentary. Plus, finding books like this is hard, so I appreciate that it's been written. And the topic is so needed, for myself, for people younger than me, for all of us who are told that we're not good enough and our flaws are faults.

[Krista Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Did not agree with all the world view philosophies in the book but that said it contained some real gems of insight. Love the heart behind wanting to encourage young people to accept themselves for their own unique selves and to value others.

An example of positive self talk for when you feel not good enough ask yourself, "Not good enough for what? To be who I am?"

[Lorna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Targeted for teens, but I think it's good for any age. They say that "practice makes perfect". But my favorite quote from the book is, "The point of practice is NOT to make things perfect; it's to make things POSSIBLE. We exist in a culture that makes us believe we're never good enough. This book helps us see our flaws as something to celebrate. Our flaws make us perfectly imperfect.

[Jess Lane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was good. It is of course geared towards teenagers and I think it will be good for them. For adult women who struggle with these issues especially in my age group it can be just a bit annoying at times. Great for teenagers and young women in their early twenties but thirty plus this isn’t for us.

[Celia Juliano · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars Though this is aimed at a younger audience (than I am), I found this a good, quick read. The author's voice is engaging, but I didn't find anything new here. Still, worth reading, especially for younger people or anyone struggling with self-criticism.

[Andria · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would like a time machine, please, so that I can give this book to 16-year-old me. I would have adored, and greatly benefitted from, its self-awareness exercises and "embrace your imperfections" message.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Flawd offers some great advice for teens who need a boost of self-esteem and confidence. I love that WeStopHate.org inspires programs for teens and by teens to help stop bullying and hate. Young people like Emily-Anne Rigal give us hope for the future!

[Kacie Kennedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book designed for a younger (teen) audience, but a good easy read. Would definitely recommend it to any high schoolers I know who are working on becoming more comfortable with themselves or who want to change the world.

[Crystal EVHS Mendoza · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very interesting book that talks about how in a world where wholeness, realness, and self-expression can put an end to bullying and combat negativity with positivity.

[Royale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very wise and insightful for an incredibly young woman. I wish someone had written this book 30 years ago when I needed it!

[Yeewei Cheo · Rating 5 out of 5]

this message in this book is so important, intrapersonally and interpersonally helpful. philosophical in a layman way.

[Monica · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a cute book but although the advice can be applicable to anyone, this is really serving a teenage audience.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is definitely geared toward teens. It offers a lot of great information, stories, and advice on just being yourself and to be happy with who you are.

[Carmen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting thoughts...I love the philosophy for changing the world!

[Dogsandbooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good advice, always bears repeating. Presented by and for a young audience which was interesting. Make it so you guys !
DPL 158.1 R

[Tina Grove]

Probably a good book for teens and new or emerging adults (18-mid twenties). As a 30 year old I just couldn't get into it.