21 Fantastic Failures

by Sonali Misra

What do Steve Jobs, Oprah Winfrey, Albert Einstein and Amitabh Bachchan have in common?
They are all success stories, but they also failed spectacularly.

21 Fantastic Failures brings to you the real-life stories of icons from the fields of business, science, technology, politics, sports, literature, art, film, TV and music, highlighting the points in their lives where each of them failed but, undeterred, decided to pick themselves up and forge ahead. The decisions they made in those moments converted their setbacks into triumphs and etched their names in history.

Covering biographical details, trivia and learnings from the way each figure tackled failure, the lessons within the book can be applied to not just professional but also personal spheres. Every chapter is presented in a simple, entertaining way to serve as a practical guidebook for twenty-first century readers.

Contains chapters on:
Amitabh Bachchan • The Beatles • Richard Branson • Julia Child • Walt Disney • Thomas Edison • Albert Einstein • Lady Gaga • Vincent van Gogh • Steve Jobs • Michael Jordan • Nelson Mandela • Lionel Messi • Elon Musk • Colonel Sanders • Dr. Seuss • Steven Spielberg • Ratan Tata • Vera Wang • Serena Williams • Oprah Winfrey

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction

200 pages, Paperback

Published September 1, 2020

About the author

Sonali Misra decided at a young age that if she was ever going to be stuck working at a desk, it would be for something she enjoyed. She mapped out her life accordingly (or at least she likes to think so), so that it would revolve around her passion for words and stories. She began writing at the age of eight and has been published in British and Indian anthologies, and her nonfiction book, 21 Fantastic Failures, is now out from Rupa Publications.

Born and brought up in Delhi, India, Sonali attained her bachelor’s in English literature from Lady Shri Ram College for Women, worked in book publishing for four years and then completed a master’s degree in creative writing from The University of Edinburgh. In the UK, she also co-founded an international literary magazine that exclusively promotes underrepresented voices. She is currently pursuing her PhD in Publishing Studies from the University of Stirling and is simultaneously working on her first novel.

Reviews

[Reading_ Tamishly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Too good to be not read!

Review coming up!

[Aakanksha Jain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sonali Misra's debut work, 21 Fantastic Failures, is based upon twenty-one narratives about well-known individuals. But these are not the success stories but the failed ones.

I appreciate the author's research and admire her work. This fast-paced book is perfect for all kinds of readers, especially beginners. The lessons are inspiring and provide a diverse outlook on difficulties and defeats. I recommend it.

Read the detailed review here - Books Charming

[Vishnu Chevli · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title "21 Fantastic Failures" is the lone reason for me to select this book by Sonali Misra. And as the title suggests, the USP of this book is lessons for readers from 21 successful personalities.

Every self-made man/woman has his or her experience. It's a common fact that a single failure teaches us more things than multiple successes can. One of the most famous teachings of Chanakya was "Smart people learn from their mistakes, but the real champ learns from mistakes of other." ( I haven't used exact wording, so spare me from your wrath). In short, this book allows us to learn from these great people's failures.

Coming to 21 stories, let me warm you. If you are looking for some unheard stories of these personalities then you might feel disappointed. Because much is said and written about the life of these celebrities. Your next question would be "then what is new in this book?". Well, it is structured such that you will get an idea of what steps these people have taken (which in turn you may take) to get out of dire situations.

One chapter is dedicated to each celebrity. The structure of these chapters go like this
1. Paths that the person could take.
2. Lessons learned.
3. ‘Extra mile’ that the person in question chose to go

Overall, a good motivating book. If you have read many books in this genre, then you may find it about average, but for once-in-a-while or first-time readers will find the book good.

The cover of the book can be improved, you may consider that as a weak point from my point of view.

Overall 3.75 out of 5 stars to this book.

[Wanderingg__soul · Rating 4 out of 5]

"We are not our circumstances"
We look upto people who are successful and aspire to be like them, but what we never see is their struggles, their rejections, their hardwork behind that success.
In this book, the author has analysed 21 such successful personalities and discussed about the turning points in their life, their failures and also simplified the lessons from their stories.

Each person has a story to tell and choices to make. Our choices decide where we end up in life. So we need to remember, when things get hard, thats the time when you can change your story.

Two of my favorite chapters from this book were of Oparh and Vincent van Gogh.

Definitely an inspiring read!

[Yash Asthana · Rating 5 out of 5]

21 Fantastic Failures is an excellent compilation of the journeys of successful people across a variety of spectrums. It brings about how they overcame adverse situations to become the very best in their respective fields.

While the moments of glory of these personalities are widely known to the masses, reading the book gives a great insight into how they tackled their low phases and how these failures (along with how the individuals dealt with them) played a role in achieving success.

[Bookishbong Moumita · Rating 5 out of 5]

What's your defination of "failure " ?

In my 20 something years , there are so many times I have considered myself as a " failure". But every time I failed ,I discovered that last time when I considered myself as "failure" ,I actually temporarily couldn't get what I wanted or demand at that time.

I have definitely have my own definition and parameter to judge failure and success . Our current situations and upbringing also define these meanings . But 21 fantastic failure  by Sonali Mishra helped me to understand how easily sometimes I give up.

This book is a collection of 21 stories of 21 celebs from different fields - Amitabh Bachchan to Messi . In these stories we could see their "failures " . But they later on change their lives.

If you are looking for something inspirational and help you to understand why you shouldn't give up or how you should embrace that change , then pick this book up !

[Vidhya Thakkar · Rating 5 out of 5]

It has 21 real-life stories of well-known personalities from the fields of business, science, sports, politics, art, movies sharing their journey. How they failed but decided to pick themselves up again and forge ahead.

The decision they made in those moments converted their setbacks into triumphs and etched their name in History. From Amitabh Bachchan to Ratan Tata, from Lady Gaga to Nelson Mandela, the author shared the journey of the one's we adore interestingly. The crisp and intriguing narration with an engaging writing style makes this book more interesting.

Their struggle, their thoughts are wonderfully expressed by the author. I liked the way the stories were sequenced. It's a well-researched book. There are a few stories which we are unaware of. Each chapter, teaching us a different lesson. Lesson on consistency, struggle, patience, Sacrifice, to not fear failure, to be kind and many more.

This book surely motivates us to not give up. It's okay to pause for a while and then start. The lessons we all must apply in our lives.

I loved reading about Nelson Mandela and Ratan Tata.
Sharing my favourite quote from the book:
• You shouldn't really consider yourself successful based on the prosperity you gain for yourself. But you should go home at night feeling satisfied if you have made a difference.~ Ratan Tata•

I loved it. It's a book that will inspire us to learn from our failures. I loved this book.
A light, interesting and informative read perfect for the beginners.

[Khyati Gautam · Rating 3 out of 5]

21 Fantastic Failures by Sonali Misra is a compilation of 21 stories of illustrious personalities, highlighting how they managed to achieve success in their lives. The people behind the stories include names such as Nelson Mandela, Oprah Winfrey, Albert Einstein, Ratan Tata, Steve Jobs, etc.

Divided into 21 chapters, the book brings inspiring stories to the table. The fact is if you already have a fair idea about these people, you might not find anything unique in the narrative of this book. However, what makes it stand out is its structure that lays out a brief account of the concerned person's life, what choices they had, and what path they eventually chose to walk on. Additionally, each chapter has a section on 'lasting lesson' that turned out to be the one sharing insightful life lessons.

The book is based on the idea of learning from one's failures. It is one lesson we ought to learn and abide by in our lives. Remember - there are no mistakes, only lessons :)

How would this book help you?

If you want your, say, daily scoop of motivation, you might consider reading this one If you're new to non-fiction and want to try your hands at some motivational content, pick this up. The writing is lucid and the overall presentation makes reading it a joy ride.

[Enakshi J. · Rating 3 out of 5]

‘21 Fantastic Failures’, as oxymoronic as it sounds, is a peek into the lives of 21 such people who snatched success from the jaws of death, quite literally. Whether it was Amitabh’s struggle with his coma or Oprah’s battle with her diabolical past, each story has a lot to offer.

You might ask me how is this book from any other book that retells the success stories of famous people. Well, to be honest, it isn’t. Most of the books that fit in the same category have similar names and the stories are repetitive. The plus point of this book is its organization into various headings like Paths that the person could take, lessons learnt and a small section devoted to the ‘extra mile’ that the person in question chose to go.
Read the complete review here: https://aliveshadow.com/category-book...

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

21 fantastic failures is..... Wait for it.... absolutely fantastic! Everytime we see a famous personality, we only perceive their success or the winning streak that they hold, however, just like every success story there is a past of disappointing failures which seems to be lost to the general folks. Sonali Misra, through her book has exquisitely brought those struggles and failures of the some of the most biggest and recognisable personalities to light, to help inspire us and empower the readers that failures can be deemed as learning experience and not as the end of one's definition of living the life in a perfect manner. Being flawed isn't something that needs to be hidden and every talent gets honed over time and determination.

Throughout the book, she briefly talks about their lives and choices that shaped their future, how they were able to rise from the ashes of their respective fights like a phoenix to inspire millions through their efforts, words and actions. The author of this book gave well researched and impeccable insights encompassing individuals such as authors, inventors, scientists, freedom fighters and many more. A truly unique and powerful read with a decisive part in the consequential and well rounded future.

What this book taught me is that while we remain focus on the future, let us take notes of the struggles that highlights our journey never forget the importance of the same. They have a lot to teach us, only if we are willing to keep our minds open. You have a choice, either let failure rule us or believe in ourselves and welcome the positive reverberation within. We are encouraged to always pick the later, just like the 21 fantastic people in this book.

I'd definitely recommend this to everyone.

[Ishita Malhotra · Rating 5 out of 5]

One would think that we know all there is about these famous personalities. But the author explores a part of their lives we never nearly talk enough about. We grew up in a culture that pushes us to find our "passion", and somehow insulates that once we do "find" it we will be happy and successful. Unfortunately, success isn't linear, and passion is made not found. The book helps us understand that, and take solace in the fact.

The writing style is simple, succinct, and well-structured. I thoroughly enjoyed the read and plan to keep it in my home library as a "pick me up". Would definitely recommend that you pick up a copy!

[Kalyani Gandhi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clear, eloquent prose, detailed information, riveting stories ... this book has it all. I loved the structure of each chapter and the fact that the reader is able to feel like they're part of the famous personality's often not-so-famous journey. I felt intrigued, invested, educated and most importantly, inspired. Love, love it!

[Rosie Sinclair · Rating 5 out of 5]

Feeling lost in the depressing mire of the present lockdown? Need some motivation, or even reassurance, that you’re not wasting your life? Then this is the book for you. Misra’s beautiful writing and insightful comments on these 21 famous peoples’ (often train wrecks of) lives leave the reader feeling better about their own, and brings a grain of hope to this bleak, bleak present. Would give it 6 stars if I could. Very enjoyable read.

[Navya Sri · Rating 4 out of 5]

21 Fantastic Failures gives a better understanding of  how failures are fantastic sometimes  paves way for spectacular path towards success. How the failures should not affect the mind set and outlook on the further goals. This has some of the chapters on stories of Thomas Edison, Sanders,  Ratan Tata, Vincent van Gogh etc. and what do they all have in common?
Real- life examples, commonalities, different tackling methods makes to learn more about yourself. This is practical, organized, compelling arguments on making things better makes it a good read. It gives practical tools for overcoming situation with real life examples. Many lessons to be discovered and learnt from it.

With the most inspiring stories, this makes it a good read. Rate it 4.

[Rakhi · Rating 5 out of 5]

We read several self-help books. Of late I have also reviewed many. Most of them tell us how to prepare for failure or how to not fail. But how to come back from failure is seldom dealt with in such books. 21 Fantastic Failures deals with this topic.

How can failure be fantastic?

We all know this story of Amitabh Bachchan. His rise to fame, famous movies, ABC corporation, its failure and again coming back to glory. Not all stories are known by everyone. For some, the success stories are known but failures are not known to the laymen as the success was humungous to remember failures. One such personality mentioned in the book is Oprah Winfrey. Most of us know about her show and its success but not everyone knows that she had a scary childhood, when she was molested several times by different people and landed in great trouble which, is impossible for a teenager to come out of. But with sheer hard work and determination, she attained the feat. Steve Jobs is one another personality in the books, whose story of failure is unknown to the public.

Failures from every sector:

The author has taken care to select the personalities from different sectors and nationalities. She has given a brief biography of the personalities to the point where they reach the crossroads. This makes the book interesting as the readers would be intrigued to read what the crossroad was and how it was overcome. The book is brimful of exciting real incidents. The research and related efforts taken by the author is palpable in the book.

The personality that didn't fit in:

There were a lot of personalities whom we know and would love to read about, The failure and the further success of Nelson Mandela, Colonel Sanders, Richard Branson tells the tale of perseverance. ti tells the reader how to not lose faith in themselves and try again and again. Nonetheless, one personality in the book did not fit into this. Though his talent and creations are uncomparable, his story nowhere tells a fantastic failure. It tells all about his mental disease and how he succumbed to it. It is none other than Vincent Van Gogh. There is no doubt that he is immensely talented but somehow doesn't fit into the idea of fantastic failure.

Overall the book is a must-read for everyone from all walks of life. It is inspirational at different levels as it tells the story of real failures and further successes.

[ReadnMarked · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 - 𝟮𝟭 𝗙𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗙𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀

All of us have a role model and we want to know everything there is to know about them. How do they become so successful? What routine they follow? And so on. But let’s look at the lives of these people from a different angle altogether. How many times did they fail? How do they fail? How do they approach their failure? What did they do and what all lessons did they learn in overcoming their failures?

Too many questions but there is one answer - 21 Fantastic Failures by @sonali.writes

The book is a compilation of failures faced by 21 successful people in the field of art, business, science, technology, politics, sports and so on. If you have a role model, there is a bright chance you will find them in this book.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸?

I loved the approach this book has taken. When we read self-help books we read, we are always taught about how to achieve success. We need to work hard. We need to keep trying. We should not give up and so on. But none of the book gives us a list of mistakes to avoid or if at all they happen, what to do next. This book taught me exactly that. We all learn from our mistakes but learning from other people’s mistakes is the best way to avoid committing it in the first place. This for me is a good summary book which has taught me more lessons than I expected from it.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜 𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗻’𝘁 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸?

As the celebrities covered are so big, a lot has been written on them and so you might find this book a bit repetitive. Many times, I found myself saying that ok I knew about this earlier but as I said the approach Sonali has taken to visit an already circulated story and the compilation is what made this book an amazing read for me.

𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

I would recommend this book especially to those who are still exploring the non-fiction world.

𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 - 𝟰.𝟱/𝟱

[Pari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Looking for a motivating read? Look no further! As Sonali Misra brings to you 21 Fantatsic Failures, yes, Failures! Do you know who we are talking about? Misra takes up the cases of Amitabh Bachchan, Lady Gaga, Steven Spielberg and Oprah Winfrey among other great personalities from the field of art, science, politics, sports etc. who shares their ways of tackling failures.

This guidebook is well written and filled with facts and, most importantly, it encourages readers to not give up but be motivated by the lives of the celebrities whose glamorous lifestyle has shone in our eyes so far. But actually how they "... converted their setbacks into triumphs and etched their names in history" ~ the readers will get a good picture from this book!

I recommend this book to all non - fiction readers!

[Read.Dream.Repeat.Blogger · Rating 4 out of 5]

These brief biographies teaches us important lessons on perseverance, patience, hard work, consistency, adaptability & most importantly- struggle. It teaches us that no person, no personality has it smooth & effortless in life, that there is no life without struggles & that we become who we are by the choices we make. This book proves that failures are universal: across time, across geographies. What I admired the most is that the tone throughout remains motivational & never cynical. A must read for all age groups.

[Ashwani Bhardwaj]

I read this book and enjoyed it. These success stories are easy to relate to and the narrative is simple and straightforward, free from unnecessary details. The book should appeal to all age groups, but is highly recommended for the young aspirants. This being her debut book, the author impresses with her command of language and mature handling of an important subject.

[S Singpho · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiring stories with life lessons.

[Han · Rating 3 out of 5]

I felt she could have written about more contemporaries, making the book more relatable.

[Krati Garg · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are the one looking for that "failure ke baad ka plan", then 21 fantastic failures is a book for you.
.
A book that talks about not 1, not 2 but total 21 stories of some world-renowned celebrities such as Amitabh Bacchan, Oparh Winfrey, Vincent van Gogh, Nelson Mandela, Colonel Sanders, Richard Bransone, to name a few, each owing a chapter . The structure of these chapters go like this

1. Paths that the person could take.
2. Lessons learned.
3. ‘Extra mile’ that the person in question chose to go
.
.
Reading the book gives a great insight into how they tackled their low phases and how these failures eventually became their stepping stone to success.

Overall, it is a good motivating book. However, if you have read many books in this genre, then you may find it about average, but for once-in-a-while or first-time readers this is definitely a good book.💛🌻