The Observer: A Modern Fable On Mastering Your Thoughts & Emotions

by Todd Stottlemyre

Wall Street Journal Best Seller

“A powerful work with insights that, once applied, will help you lift your life to a completely new level.”—Robin Sharma, #1 bestselling author of The 5AM Club and The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari

Kat has it all—money, success, recognition, influence—except the one thing she desperately a fulfilled life. A business entrepreneur in the high-end sportswear industry, Kat is driven in relentless pursuit of ever-greater success.



The two anchors in Kat's frenzied life have been her father; a famous baseball pitcher turned team manager, and her son, who is following in his grandfather's footsteps. When both anchors become unstable, Kat's life tips dangerously out of balance. The market and her finances flip, and relationships start slipping through her fingers. Eager for solutions, she turns to find uncanny wisdom from places she never expected.

The Observer unpacks the idea of 180-degree thinking, which changes everything for Kat. Now, seemingly impossible goals come into focus with crystal clear clarity. As Kat focuses on the right things, the impossible becomes her new reality.

Imparted with truth and wisdom, The Observer is a classic for discovering the peak performer within yourself. This timeless story of success principles is more important today than it has ever been before as uncertainty lurks right around the corner.

232 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 29, 2020

Reviews

[Wendelle]

The starring role of this fable featured a rich woman who for some reason was characterized to earn 8 million dollars a year, goes clubbing, and gets triggered at the audacity of her parking valet when he attempts to say hi to her and to ask how her son is doing... I didn't get this book at all.

[Darren · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a 5-star article packaged in a 3-star format. The core lessons are in several pages out of the 200.

[Luca Nicoletti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary

Can a fiction book teach us something about nonfiction? Sure it can, and this book is the perfect example of it: a fable, a young adult fiction with the imprints of a fiction book on self-development, teaching us how we can master our thoughts and emotions. The story follows a brief period of a woman in her career, teaching us that focusing too much on only a few aspects of our lives, sometimes, can lead to burnout and to missing out on opportunities in other fields. The protagonist focuses too much on her career and neglects her emotional and personal life until something happens that changes her perspective, and her life altogether.

My evaluation

What did I like the most?

I really enjoyed how the author was able to teach us something by telling a story, a novel. The story is fantasy, but reality-inspired, and you get to know that by listening to the after-closure thoughts of the author, which explains how he came up with the idea of this book. Lovely words from him.

What didn’t I like?

Maybe the speed at which the events in the story develop. Many of them are too close, and some are not really following a precise storyline, I felt like some dialogues between the protagonist and other characters in the book should have been located more precisely in the story, or at other moments as well.

Overall a really good audiobook which I enjoyed listening to and that, other than entertaining me, also thought me something (nothing new, but a few lessons are there).

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book took me by surprise in an amazing way. I absolutely loved this book and the messaging that was instilled in the story. As I was reading this book, I felt lighter. The messaging made me stop and really absorb the story and the characters more.

While, you might think that with a strong messaging that the story can be heavy or too preachy and that is not the cause at all. The characters are very engaging but thoughtful as well. Mostly Kat as she is the one that really has her eyes opened with the different situations she encounters. To the point that she realizes that she has not been as "observant" as she should or needed to be. Luckily, she still had time to make things right. The Observer by Todd Stottlemyre is a definite five star recommended read!

[Su3en · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked it because I can use some of the tools offered in the book.

[Cris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mixed thoughts about this book. I did finish it but sometimes it’s beyond infuriating. During the book I either wanted to increase the stars or decrease them.

The mention of Tony Robbins says it all….

This is a cautionary fictional story.
It portraits a self entitled, out of control, bad hunch driven business women (ENTJ) who loses everything she owns and discovered that being a friend/ mom is the most important in life [eyes roll]

The author is clearly not understanding the needs of ENTJs, the drive for change which looks like drive for achievement from outside. The continuous learning journey these people go through but not showing to others.

The author is just using the negative traits of ENTJs to say why people should be the opposite.

Nevertheless there are some good points in the book, gratitude, self awareness, focusing on all areas of life.

Still mixed thoughts

Try also stumbling on happiness, by Daniel Gilbert

[Swe · Rating 4 out of 5]

A worthy book to pick up if one is looking to better manage their life in all aspects. I liked how the author wove a story with a family of characters and set the handy self management tools and toolkit as elements in that story.

[Arun Narayanaswamy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emotional and impactful. This is a typical feeling I get when a good tactful leadership self help book marries a nice fictional story. Very impressive book and certainly helps you remember a lot of concepts shared. A worthy read

[Sydney Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been absolutely AWFUL with my goodreads but this was finished a couple weeks ago (book slump af). This story was absolutely beautiful!! I definitely need to get into more self help books as I feel this book opened my brain into a whole new genre 🤍 would def recommend!

[mohammed sameer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book, it teaches you how to manage your thoughts, emotions and thus actions by being a observer.

[David Fredh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good story about meaning of life and beyond

[Ta0paipai · Rating 2 out of 5]

A self-help fable? But the narrative is boring and hollow. I’d rather save time and read a list of the valuable, actionable points.

[Dustin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great thought you need to observe and focus yourself. The need to let go of baggage and anger is so important. Junk the pain and focus on what will make you successful.

[Daniel Kruis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A modern story, presenting many mindset principles and a deep relatable message within.

[Carina Herlina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Got it for free from a poke restaurant. It’s a bit cringe sometimes, but it did motivate me to live a successful life.

[Nicole Castle · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved it! perfect timing in my life to read this book.

[Judy Eaton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting!