What do you think?
Rate this book
Illogical: Saying Yes to a Life Without Limits
From the New York Times bestselling author of Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man, a call to break through our limits and say yes to a life of infinite possibility.You may know Emmanuel Acho as the host of groundbreaking video series “Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man.” Or as a New York Times bestselling author. Or as an Emmy-winning television broadcaster. Or as a former linebacker for two NFL franchises. What you probably don’t know is that Emmanuel defines his own life with just one Illogical. Behind every triumph, every expression of his gifts, Acho has had to ignore what everyone around him called “logic”: the astronomical odds against making it, the risks of continuing to dream bigger or differently. Instead of playing it safe, at every turn Acho has thrown conventional wisdom—logic—out the window. Now, in this revelatory book, he’s empowering us all to do the same.Whether it’s creating the next groundbreaking startup, fighting for change as an activist, or committing to a personal passion, Illogical is the go-to book for all readers ready to become change-makers. With a step-by-step guide to finding our callings and shifting our mindsets, enlivened by stories from Acho’s life and other illogical pioneers, and the Bible, Acho asks us to replace the limits set for us, and which we set for ourselves, with a world of possibility. Our horizons, he shows us, are endless.
242 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 22, 2022
124 people are currently reading
2065 people want to read
About the author
Emmanuel Acho
6 books375 followersEmmanuel Chinedum Acho is a Nigerian-American former linebacker who played in the National Football League and is currently working as an analyst for Fox Sports 1. He played college football at Texas before being drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the sixth round of the 2012 NFL Draft.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 213 reviews
April 25, 2022
Emmanuel just had a way of bringing the truth that hits the target everytime!!
“Whatever your it is, you’ve got to invest in it. Put your time, money and mental capacity into it. Deciding to use your it. Use your skills, your talents and gifts. We’re all gifted in something are we using it.”
I love that Emmanuel wrote this book first before UCWABM. It’s all about finding your passions and doing IT! I love how he wove lessons from his life and stories from the Bible in this book. Dream big and DO your passions. Disperse your gift to the world. Don’t leave it wrapped.
“Whatever your it is, you’ve got to invest in it. Put your time, money and mental capacity into it. Deciding to use your it. Use your skills, your talents and gifts. We’re all gifted in something are we using it.”
I love that Emmanuel wrote this book first before UCWABM. It’s all about finding your passions and doing IT! I love how he wove lessons from his life and stories from the Bible in this book. Dream big and DO your passions. Disperse your gift to the world. Don’t leave it wrapped.
April 6, 2022
I love his other book, and I respect his work, but this book quickly became hard to listen too. It seemed very egocentric and was more about his accomplishments than anything. When he spoke of other's stories it worked. But I found myself really turned off by his constant reference to himself. Doesn't come across as memoir and not good enough to be self help.
June 18, 2022
I'm so torn on how to rate this one.
Illogical: Saying Yes to a Life Without Limits was installment 2 of my series where I legitimately just grab whatever was the most recently returned e-book to my local library, then review it.
To be fair, I hadn't heard of Emmanuel Acho.
To be fair again, I loathe self-help in general. I always feel like the author is speaking directly to Karen down the street, telling her exactly what to say to empower her to cold message another neighbor in hopes of recruiting more lost souls to her pyramid scheme.
That being said, Acho had some really memorable anecdotes here, and I did enjoy the stories he told about his own life.
HOWEVER... and this is a BIG however.... the whole "BE ILLOGICAL" trope really made no sense. Maybe this was a quick marketing grab for a title, but it had almost no relevance to any of the tips or stories illustrated throughout the book.
Some of the advice was about being flexible.... being open.... being in the right place at the right time... being in acquaintance with famous people ... being willing to swap up your kitchen utensils. Nothing was illogical, and the repetitiveness of the catch phrase got old.... FAST.
That being said, Acho knows how to tell a story. His words are compelling and I really do think he has interesting, important things to say.
I'd just rather read them next time in a memoir.... not necessarily a self-help book.
Illogical: Saying Yes to a Life Without Limits was installment 2 of my series where I legitimately just grab whatever was the most recently returned e-book to my local library, then review it.
To be fair, I hadn't heard of Emmanuel Acho.
To be fair again, I loathe self-help in general. I always feel like the author is speaking directly to Karen down the street, telling her exactly what to say to empower her to cold message another neighbor in hopes of recruiting more lost souls to her pyramid scheme.
That being said, Acho had some really memorable anecdotes here, and I did enjoy the stories he told about his own life.
HOWEVER... and this is a BIG however.... the whole "BE ILLOGICAL" trope really made no sense. Maybe this was a quick marketing grab for a title, but it had almost no relevance to any of the tips or stories illustrated throughout the book.
Some of the advice was about being flexible.... being open.... being in the right place at the right time... being in acquaintance with famous people ... being willing to swap up your kitchen utensils. Nothing was illogical, and the repetitiveness of the catch phrase got old.... FAST.
That being said, Acho knows how to tell a story. His words are compelling and I really do think he has interesting, important things to say.
I'd just rather read them next time in a memoir.... not necessarily a self-help book.
December 30, 2024
Two chapters in, when Emmanuel was talking about being illogical, I could only think, ‘That word… I do not think it means what you think it means.”
Basically this book boils down to, whatever you want to do, feel the fear and uncertainty and do it anyway. Plus, lots of inspirational anecdotes, many about Emmanuel.
I cringed when he met Holocaust survivor Tova Friedman, asked to see her tattoo, then said “it’s fading!” Like she’d be pleased. Then asked why she hadn’t had it removed. She’s had it for over 70 years, Emmanuel! Why do you think she didn’t?? Did you not do any research before meeting her? I suppose Tova meets equally clueless people every day, but I expected the author to be more on the ball. He also wrote that the series of events that led to her survival was “illogical”. For instance, she was taken to the gas chambers one day but they were broken, so she lived another day, then the Russians were closing in on the camp so she never got marched to the gas chamber again. She hid in the morgue one day, under the sheet with a corpse. Like any survivor, a mix of strategy and pure luck enabled her survival. Nothing illogical about it.
If you want a superficial ‘just do it’ piece of self help, this is ok, but it’s all been done before and done better.
Basically this book boils down to, whatever you want to do, feel the fear and uncertainty and do it anyway. Plus, lots of inspirational anecdotes, many about Emmanuel.
I cringed when he met Holocaust survivor Tova Friedman, asked to see her tattoo, then said “it’s fading!” Like she’d be pleased. Then asked why she hadn’t had it removed. She’s had it for over 70 years, Emmanuel! Why do you think she didn’t?? Did you not do any research before meeting her? I suppose Tova meets equally clueless people every day, but I expected the author to be more on the ball. He also wrote that the series of events that led to her survival was “illogical”. For instance, she was taken to the gas chambers one day but they were broken, so she lived another day, then the Russians were closing in on the camp so she never got marched to the gas chamber again. She hid in the morgue one day, under the sheet with a corpse. Like any survivor, a mix of strategy and pure luck enabled her survival. Nothing illogical about it.
If you want a superficial ‘just do it’ piece of self help, this is ok, but it’s all been done before and done better.
June 20, 2022
My opinion of this book declined as I progressed through it. The book is essentially a humble-brag where Acho showcases his achievements in a repetitive style. There’s an air of forced “epicness” in every page. It feels like en extended version of my college essays, where I tried to aggrandize my menial life experiences in an effort to sound like I’ve been through more than I have. The repetitiveness and inconsistent timeline-hopping got old quickly and ruined the potency of Acho’s various messages.
May 11, 2022
I didn't think the title of this book was the right one. What the author considered "illogical" behavior is actually logical and rational to me.
The author used illustrations from his own life to show how he was forced to deviate or adapt to new conditions when the aspirations and goals he was working towards no longer seemed attainable. He quotes the Bible and also shares stories about things that may have been considered failures but he coped with them and realized new goals. Honestly, with the exception of personal stories, there is nothing groundbreaking or revolutionary about this main idea presented.
The basic theme that I got from this book is that we shouldn't be tied to one vision that we consider our life a failure if we do not achieve that specific aim. We should think big, outside the box, take risks and be flexible with our aspirations. The message here was meant to encourage and inspire. The ability to adapt is absolutely logical and necessary for survival. The title just seems like click-bait for marketing purposes, and it does the message a disservice.
*Special Thanks to Flatiron Books via Netgalley for the reading copy given in exchange for an honest review
The author used illustrations from his own life to show how he was forced to deviate or adapt to new conditions when the aspirations and goals he was working towards no longer seemed attainable. He quotes the Bible and also shares stories about things that may have been considered failures but he coped with them and realized new goals. Honestly, with the exception of personal stories, there is nothing groundbreaking or revolutionary about this main idea presented.
The basic theme that I got from this book is that we shouldn't be tied to one vision that we consider our life a failure if we do not achieve that specific aim. We should think big, outside the box, take risks and be flexible with our aspirations. The message here was meant to encourage and inspire. The ability to adapt is absolutely logical and necessary for survival. The title just seems like click-bait for marketing purposes, and it does the message a disservice.
*Special Thanks to Flatiron Books via Netgalley for the reading copy given in exchange for an honest review
March 27, 2022
This book is about ignoring logic in your life and being willing to accept the illogical way and take risks. It is about pushing boundaries and shifting your mind. The book is a step-by-step guide to finding our passions. It includes stories from the author's life, other pioneers, and the Bible. It encourages us to throw out anything that limits us and be open to possibilities.
This isn't about believing in goals; it's about setting objectives without limitations. When I started my own publishing company, many people told me it wouldn't work. I learned that people like to feel safe, so they recommend safe ideas. After reading this book, I realized that we have to take some risks and not be afraid of failing. Trying is what matters, no matter the outcome.
To listen to my interview with the author, go to my podcast at: https://zibbyowens.com/transcript/emm...
This isn't about believing in goals; it's about setting objectives without limitations. When I started my own publishing company, many people told me it wouldn't work. I learned that people like to feel safe, so they recommend safe ideas. After reading this book, I realized that we have to take some risks and not be afraid of failing. Trying is what matters, no matter the outcome.
To listen to my interview with the author, go to my podcast at: https://zibbyowens.com/transcript/emm...
July 15, 2023
Thank you to Net Galley and Flatiron Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. Acho, a former NFL player, has carved out his post-football career as a podcaster, ESPN commentator and a writer. I really enjoyed his first book and this was good as well. He talked about the things that others may think are illogical - a bet in blackjack, breaking the 4 minute mile. He advises to take in the advice others give you but also follow your dreams/intuitions and some of the greatest achievements/discoveries are made by those that take the risk. He also suggests to find you "it". What are you good at and enjoy...his is communicating, and then developing it. I read and listened to the audiobook. As he's a great speaker, I also recommend the audiobook.
April 2, 2022
This book is better than I could have imagined. I saw Emmanuel Acho in an interview talking about it and thought it sound intriguing, so I read it. Wow, it is inspiring, insightful, thought provoking, and so much more. There is something for everyone in this book.
Thanks to Flatiron books and NetGalley for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.
Thanks to Flatiron books and NetGalley for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.
August 21, 2022
3.5 stars - While I am not a huge fan of self-help books (they come off as cheesy to me), I will listen to any book Emmanuel writes. I enjoyed hearing more about his life and successes, along with his his thoughts and suggestions on leading your best life.
January 15, 2023
Picked this up bc it was lying around. It’s an inspiring book but really lacks substance in how to actually execute. More just about very obvious things that may lead to “success”. It is also very vague in how to take action on the things mentioned in the book.
April 4, 2022
I'm a big Emmanuel Acho fan but not of this self-help book. Too many self-help books published already, this is not his lane.
September 7, 2023
As a 2022 graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, I felt compelled to finally read the book Acho graciously gifted each graduate. I wanted to enjoy this book and be a nice fellow Longhorn but, alas, I could not. Here are some of my thoughts:
1. Lot of definitions and “Merriam-Webster defines—“. This would have been fine if he didn’t define the most basic words like consequence.
2. Vocal cords appeared at the beginning of the book and vocal chords appeared at the end. This was one of many typos, missing words, and other errors that should have been caught for such a short book.
3. Ended the book with pleas to develop your talents, including investing money to hone your skills. Obviously someone with NFL money would say spending the money is worth it but most people don’t have NFL money.
4. Extremely repetitive (as most self-help books are) and unpleasant to read.
He earned a second star for mentioning Taylor Swift.
1. Lot of definitions and “Merriam-Webster defines—“. This would have been fine if he didn’t define the most basic words like consequence.
2. Vocal cords appeared at the beginning of the book and vocal chords appeared at the end. This was one of many typos, missing words, and other errors that should have been caught for such a short book.
3. Ended the book with pleas to develop your talents, including investing money to hone your skills. Obviously someone with NFL money would say spending the money is worth it but most people don’t have NFL money.
4. Extremely repetitive (as most self-help books are) and unpleasant to read.
He earned a second star for mentioning Taylor Swift.
March 22, 2025
I picked up Illogical based on a recommendation from someone who isn’t an avid reader and considers it their favorite book—after reading it, that makes sense. The book is very surface-level, offering familiar advice like “believe in yourself,” “take chances,” and “don’t overthink it.” While the message is positive, it doesn’t feel particularly groundbreaking—especially for anyone already actively pursuing goals and navigating challenges.
One aspect that stood out (and not necessarily in a good way) was the heavy use of sports and religious references. While they might resonate with Acho’s intended audience, they didn’t feel compelling or relatable to me. It became clear that this book wasn’t written with readers like me in mind.
Additionally, there’s an underlying layer of privilege in Acho’s perspective. Yes, he’s a Black man, but he’s also a man—and one who had significant opportunities laid out for him, particularly with his brother already paving the way. That privilege isn’t fully acknowledged, which makes some of the advice feel detached from the realities that many people face.
Overall, Illogical is an easy, motivational read, but it doesn’t offer much depth or new insight. It may be a great fit for those who don’t read often or are just starting their personal growth journey, but for readers looking for something more nuanced or thought-provoking, it might fall flat.
One aspect that stood out (and not necessarily in a good way) was the heavy use of sports and religious references. While they might resonate with Acho’s intended audience, they didn’t feel compelling or relatable to me. It became clear that this book wasn’t written with readers like me in mind.
Additionally, there’s an underlying layer of privilege in Acho’s perspective. Yes, he’s a Black man, but he’s also a man—and one who had significant opportunities laid out for him, particularly with his brother already paving the way. That privilege isn’t fully acknowledged, which makes some of the advice feel detached from the realities that many people face.
Overall, Illogical is an easy, motivational read, but it doesn’t offer much depth or new insight. It may be a great fit for those who don’t read often or are just starting their personal growth journey, but for readers looking for something more nuanced or thought-provoking, it might fall flat.
March 28, 2022
I saw Acho on CBS Mornings and liked what he had to say. So I bought his book. Illogical? Not necessarily. He says goals are finite. You set a goal and boom! you either make it or not. Dreams are more open ended. I like that idea a lot. He set goals in high school, like winning homecoming king and athlete of the year. Didn't get either one and cried bitter tears. Failing can do that to you. Failure at anything is hurtful. Like trying to hit a bestseller list. And you don't make it. But you did sell books. Celebrate that, author! And you have won over loyal readers. See what I mean? He also talks about finding "it". That's finding your passion. I was lucky enough to find mine and it makes what I do not seem like work at all. But I spent years toiling at something else. If that's you, still toiling, you might want to pick up this slim volume and get inspired. I read it fast and enjoyed every minute. Came away ready to pass it on to my grandson. He has lofty goals right now. Maybe he should just dream... and not listen to the naysayers in his life.
Read
December 31, 2022I checked this out after seeing Acho on a YouTube Short talking about his belief in systems over goals. This book was hyped as an extension of that conversation so I was expecting a collection of similar insights.
Unfortunately, I was disappointed. It was more of an exercise in various ways to share the same two facts: he was cut from the NFL repeatedly and he started a controversial talk show.
It’s my own fault, though. I have to stop reading self-help fluff and expecting something fresh.
Unfortunately, I was disappointed. It was more of an exercise in various ways to share the same two facts: he was cut from the NFL repeatedly and he started a controversial talk show.
It’s my own fault, though. I have to stop reading self-help fluff and expecting something fresh.
May 20, 2022
I’m most familiar with Emmanuel Acho for being the co-host of Speak For Yourself and enjoy his sports content, but wanted to check out this new book he had out. And I really love what he says about crafting a life for yourself that’s beyond the usual talks of logic and standardized thinking. Through stories from his own life and others, Acho gives you the jumping off point to start your illogical life. He provides tips at the end of each chapter to build it in your own life. In addition, Acho reads the audiobook himself, and brings an extra dimension to the book. It’s less than 5 hours long and it’s highly recommend.
May 1, 2022
I could do without the constant religious references and comparisons, but I really enjoyed this book and flew through it.
May 7, 2022
I liked a lot of the ideas but thought the book was a bit repetitive at times
May 12, 2022
Listened to this audio book on my way home from work. It was such a great book and I really enjoyed it. Definitely a book I would listen to again for a refresher on being illogical!
February 21, 2024
I adore Emmanuel’s positive voice and encouraging message!
April 19, 2022
Acho is a wonderful speaker, and at only 4 hours this audio book is nice to listen to while working or cleaning. Not as impactful as Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man, but it is uplifting.
May 10, 2022
I listened to it in an audiobook (Audible) narrated by Acho himself.
Definitely, a book written by its author comes from his gut, from his heart. In several reviews, I read other people recommending the audiobook version and yes, I recommend it too.
I came to the book thanks to Brené Brown's podcast "unlocking us" which I listened to in mid-April, I bought the book the same day (after listening to the podcast) and in less than a week, I finished it.
I loved that his narrative is based on small stories and each one explains the tips to be illogical. Each stage leads you to discover or at least ask yourself what is essential to find your purpose (or the "thing" as he calls it).
I really liked the football analogy when he explained that scoring a goal is only a part of the game and should not determine the experience itself. I never thought about it and it's true!
It has given me new tools. It's a book you can go back to as many times as you need to listen to a chapter or two and get that little dose of courage we sometimes lack before making big decisions.
Bravo ACHO!
Definitely, a book written by its author comes from his gut, from his heart. In several reviews, I read other people recommending the audiobook version and yes, I recommend it too.
I came to the book thanks to Brené Brown's podcast "unlocking us" which I listened to in mid-April, I bought the book the same day (after listening to the podcast) and in less than a week, I finished it.
I loved that his narrative is based on small stories and each one explains the tips to be illogical. Each stage leads you to discover or at least ask yourself what is essential to find your purpose (or the "thing" as he calls it).
I really liked the football analogy when he explained that scoring a goal is only a part of the game and should not determine the experience itself. I never thought about it and it's true!
It has given me new tools. It's a book you can go back to as many times as you need to listen to a chapter or two and get that little dose of courage we sometimes lack before making big decisions.
Bravo ACHO!
December 25, 2022
While I like the general hypothesis, this book is neither original nor well written. It also is steeped in hustle culture.
June 15, 2023
A quick read - terrific book! Can’t wait to watch all his interviews in his conversations with a black man series! I certainly recommend!
June 1, 2022
A light, motivational read. Good things to think about, but often hard to implement. Overcoming our preconceived notions can be difficult. But, that's why we read self-help. Right?
January 10, 2023
Loved this book! Great examples and conversational approach.
Favorite Quotes
• My illogical path led me straight to my truest calling.
• Putting the pieces together, conventional wisdom is a general agreement about basic principles and procedures based on sensible thinking.
• Society teaches us to toil toward a goal we can never reach, like hamsters in a wheel, and by the time we get close, that goal has changed. So what is the solution? Get off the wheel!
• Stop letting your values, your success, or even your greatness be determined by someone other than you. Someone else’s logic, especially someone you don’t even know.
• Logic in and of itself isn’t bad, but faith is better than fear, especially when logic is the limiting factor.
• It’s not easy to shrug off the mantle of the world’s wisdom, it takes courage and perseverance every step of the way.
• It’s time to not let the goals we set for ourselves, or that others set for us limit what we can imaging. We must not let others fears become our own because their words happen to make sense in societally conventional ways. We must rethink what we call success or failure - even thinking beyond failure entirely.
• You can be confident even when you don’t know what comes next, or when you fear the worst comes next because of what logic tells you. You can take risks and trust it’s going to be okay.
• You don’t follow your calling because you’re qualified, you qualify by following your calling. Believe that you can create something beautiful, something magnificent, something majestic for the world to see. Being illogical means having the courage to believe you, yes you, have everything you’ve ever needed to do what you were put on this earth to do.
• As children we have a superpower, the ability to dream the impossible and move without fear of the consequences.
• When logic tells us that taking a risk means failure the thing that’s holding us back isn’t our ability, it’s our fear. Our fear that following the illogical path isn’t safe, even if living a life that isn’t true to ourselves it ultimately worse than taking a chance. Remember, you have the creative genius, the mental ability, or the physical talent necessary, you just need the courage.
• Of course, childlike faith doesn’t mean you don’t have fears, it means you choose not to let your fears stop you from taking a leap. It means you talk openly about your fears with the ones you love most, you share your fears with a close friend or a loved one, and if you’re a person of faith, you share them with God.
• When you’re called to do something great, either by someone else or by your own internal yearnings, there are always plenty of skeptics. Skeptics may crop up in the form of haters, or they might be well meaning friends who disagree, like my friend. Regardless, your calling is your calling, it’s not a conference call.
• Your earmuffs don’t keep the doubt from existing, they keep the external noise from impacting your existence.
• Not all noise is bad noise. Not everyone who challenges your ideas or your ability is doubting you. Some of their feedback can be constructive. Understand when you need to completely block out the noise or when it’s beneficial to engage in constructive dialogue.
• Sometimes learning to put on your earmuffs is as simple as acknowledging the criticism in your mind but not letting it overwhelm you or change your course. Each time the noise gets quieter and quieter, and your earmuffs get stronger as you get stronger. If we are aware but not overwhelmed sometimes, we can even let something good slip in.
• But another question remains, what happens when you’re the one who’s doubting yourself? What happens when the doubts won’t go away. At that moment it’s time to sign an eviction notice.
• The thing that sets people apart in life is what they actually believe about themselves, deep down in their heart of hearts in the depths of their soul. Do you believe that you can change the world? Do you believe that you can do something that’s never been done before? Do you believe that you can free yourself from logics limits and start living differently? Do you believe that you can live a life free from the fear of failure?
Many times when we hear questions like these they are asked with cynicism, as if considering such things is a waste of time and energy, that you’d have to be foolish to believe in something so unbelievable. Hear me when I say this – I want you to be dumb enough to believe.
• Don’t listen to the haters. Don’t let others doubt limit your achievement.
• The same things that people despise you for will lead you to your destiny.
• They thought the sky was the limit, I knew logic was.
• Faith is only necessary as long as there is doubt, but eventually your faith will be your eyes.
• The moment you think to yourself ‘I might be crazy’ is the first checkpoint on your path to accomplishing greatness. When you have that moment, don’t lean into your doubt. Let it propel you into the reality that you are about to do something great.
• Crazy is a speed bump, not a roadblock. When you find yourself stuck in a mess, keep inching forward. Slowing down can allow you to see the best way forward, but don’t stop.
• Along your journey trying to achieve the unthinkable, it will get worse before it gets better, but hope anyway.
• When you’re illogical you first have to win the war within your own mind, you have to defeat the thoughts and trust that it will work out, even when it looks ugly. You have to believe you can defeat the giant. Remember that you already have all the necessary tools to be the greatest version of yourself. If you want to win the war, you have to face your battles head on.
• We all have different fears, but don’t let other people’s fears become your own.
• Doubt your doubts, ignore your fears.
• What lies are you believing about yourself? Where are you running away from the battle instead of running toward it? Whose armor are you wearing? Those questions will have to be answered within yourself before you can win a war against anyone else.
• In order to win the war between faith and fear, you must let faith be the aggressor.
• Will Smith recently said, “It’s amazing how skewed your vision can become when you look at your present through the lens of your past.”
• So many of us are keeping our lives from moving forward because of the patterns we’ve experienced before. Because logically, these patterns continue. We need to always keep ourselves open to the possibility that this time it will be different.
• Letting ourselves fall into the trap of expecting the worst generates the worst. But when we are vulnerable to our expectations being completely blown away, we open ourselves up to our dreams and the possibilities of changing our communities, and our lives, for the better.
• The saying ‘seeing is believing’ is because our eyes rule our actions. Once you have finally accomplished something once believed to be impossible, well doing it again, that’s no longer difficult.
• If your goal becomes your singular focus in life, as it did with me, then not reaching that goal leads you to question your whole self and existence.
• Don’t set a goal, have an objective with no limitations.
• When it comes to chasing your dreams, don’t aim for one thing, direct your energy forward to an infinite number of outcomes, that way you don’t miss. Aim to make as big of an impact in this world as possible. If you shoot at something you just might hit it. But why aim for one thing when you can have everything?
• In every decision I make now, I think of how much of an impact I can make in this world. When the opportunity arises, the impact follows. I don’t miss. When it comes to choosing small, targeted goals versus huge, effective impact always choose impact.
• Keep an attentive ear to the brilliance that exists around you. Learn from others brilliance. Grow from others genius, use it to help you soar.
• Every child, and many adults wish they could fly. The Wright brothers actually did.
• Keep those who help you close. Honor the people who aid you on your journey, bring them with you, reciprocate the help. You can’t help each other if you aren’t in it together.
• So this begs the question, what’s your it? The answer to that question if simple. What is the thing that you are inherently good at? Or you thoroughly enjoy? I’m not talking about the thing you kind of do well, but what is the thing you are naturally better than everyone else at, or you’re naturally inclined to do?
• Think for a second about your life. If you could answer the question about what you were naturally skilled at growing up, or what you naturally gravitated to growing up, then you’ll be closer to finding your it.
• If you want to take the limits off your life, you need to invest in your it even before you think it will pay off.
• The key to changing your life is to use your skills, your talents, your gifts - because we are all gifted in something, but we don’t all use our gifts.
• Consequences exist for action, but what people don’t tell you, they also exist for inaction.
• Find your it, find your scientific anomaly, find your uniqueness and double down on it. You don’t need to walk away from the table. All the cards you need are right in the palms of your hands.
• Opus Gloria: My desire is to inspire those to go higher, past the required, so those they admire can also admire whom they’ve inspired before they expire.
Favorite Quotes
• My illogical path led me straight to my truest calling.
• Putting the pieces together, conventional wisdom is a general agreement about basic principles and procedures based on sensible thinking.
• Society teaches us to toil toward a goal we can never reach, like hamsters in a wheel, and by the time we get close, that goal has changed. So what is the solution? Get off the wheel!
• Stop letting your values, your success, or even your greatness be determined by someone other than you. Someone else’s logic, especially someone you don’t even know.
• Logic in and of itself isn’t bad, but faith is better than fear, especially when logic is the limiting factor.
• It’s not easy to shrug off the mantle of the world’s wisdom, it takes courage and perseverance every step of the way.
• It’s time to not let the goals we set for ourselves, or that others set for us limit what we can imaging. We must not let others fears become our own because their words happen to make sense in societally conventional ways. We must rethink what we call success or failure - even thinking beyond failure entirely.
• You can be confident even when you don’t know what comes next, or when you fear the worst comes next because of what logic tells you. You can take risks and trust it’s going to be okay.
• You don’t follow your calling because you’re qualified, you qualify by following your calling. Believe that you can create something beautiful, something magnificent, something majestic for the world to see. Being illogical means having the courage to believe you, yes you, have everything you’ve ever needed to do what you were put on this earth to do.
• As children we have a superpower, the ability to dream the impossible and move without fear of the consequences.
• When logic tells us that taking a risk means failure the thing that’s holding us back isn’t our ability, it’s our fear. Our fear that following the illogical path isn’t safe, even if living a life that isn’t true to ourselves it ultimately worse than taking a chance. Remember, you have the creative genius, the mental ability, or the physical talent necessary, you just need the courage.
• Of course, childlike faith doesn’t mean you don’t have fears, it means you choose not to let your fears stop you from taking a leap. It means you talk openly about your fears with the ones you love most, you share your fears with a close friend or a loved one, and if you’re a person of faith, you share them with God.
• When you’re called to do something great, either by someone else or by your own internal yearnings, there are always plenty of skeptics. Skeptics may crop up in the form of haters, or they might be well meaning friends who disagree, like my friend. Regardless, your calling is your calling, it’s not a conference call.
• Your earmuffs don’t keep the doubt from existing, they keep the external noise from impacting your existence.
• Not all noise is bad noise. Not everyone who challenges your ideas or your ability is doubting you. Some of their feedback can be constructive. Understand when you need to completely block out the noise or when it’s beneficial to engage in constructive dialogue.
• Sometimes learning to put on your earmuffs is as simple as acknowledging the criticism in your mind but not letting it overwhelm you or change your course. Each time the noise gets quieter and quieter, and your earmuffs get stronger as you get stronger. If we are aware but not overwhelmed sometimes, we can even let something good slip in.
• But another question remains, what happens when you’re the one who’s doubting yourself? What happens when the doubts won’t go away. At that moment it’s time to sign an eviction notice.
• The thing that sets people apart in life is what they actually believe about themselves, deep down in their heart of hearts in the depths of their soul. Do you believe that you can change the world? Do you believe that you can do something that’s never been done before? Do you believe that you can free yourself from logics limits and start living differently? Do you believe that you can live a life free from the fear of failure?
Many times when we hear questions like these they are asked with cynicism, as if considering such things is a waste of time and energy, that you’d have to be foolish to believe in something so unbelievable. Hear me when I say this – I want you to be dumb enough to believe.
• Don’t listen to the haters. Don’t let others doubt limit your achievement.
• The same things that people despise you for will lead you to your destiny.
• They thought the sky was the limit, I knew logic was.
• Faith is only necessary as long as there is doubt, but eventually your faith will be your eyes.
• The moment you think to yourself ‘I might be crazy’ is the first checkpoint on your path to accomplishing greatness. When you have that moment, don’t lean into your doubt. Let it propel you into the reality that you are about to do something great.
• Crazy is a speed bump, not a roadblock. When you find yourself stuck in a mess, keep inching forward. Slowing down can allow you to see the best way forward, but don’t stop.
• Along your journey trying to achieve the unthinkable, it will get worse before it gets better, but hope anyway.
• When you’re illogical you first have to win the war within your own mind, you have to defeat the thoughts and trust that it will work out, even when it looks ugly. You have to believe you can defeat the giant. Remember that you already have all the necessary tools to be the greatest version of yourself. If you want to win the war, you have to face your battles head on.
• We all have different fears, but don’t let other people’s fears become your own.
• Doubt your doubts, ignore your fears.
• What lies are you believing about yourself? Where are you running away from the battle instead of running toward it? Whose armor are you wearing? Those questions will have to be answered within yourself before you can win a war against anyone else.
• In order to win the war between faith and fear, you must let faith be the aggressor.
• Will Smith recently said, “It’s amazing how skewed your vision can become when you look at your present through the lens of your past.”
• So many of us are keeping our lives from moving forward because of the patterns we’ve experienced before. Because logically, these patterns continue. We need to always keep ourselves open to the possibility that this time it will be different.
• Letting ourselves fall into the trap of expecting the worst generates the worst. But when we are vulnerable to our expectations being completely blown away, we open ourselves up to our dreams and the possibilities of changing our communities, and our lives, for the better.
• The saying ‘seeing is believing’ is because our eyes rule our actions. Once you have finally accomplished something once believed to be impossible, well doing it again, that’s no longer difficult.
• If your goal becomes your singular focus in life, as it did with me, then not reaching that goal leads you to question your whole self and existence.
• Don’t set a goal, have an objective with no limitations.
• When it comes to chasing your dreams, don’t aim for one thing, direct your energy forward to an infinite number of outcomes, that way you don’t miss. Aim to make as big of an impact in this world as possible. If you shoot at something you just might hit it. But why aim for one thing when you can have everything?
• In every decision I make now, I think of how much of an impact I can make in this world. When the opportunity arises, the impact follows. I don’t miss. When it comes to choosing small, targeted goals versus huge, effective impact always choose impact.
• Keep an attentive ear to the brilliance that exists around you. Learn from others brilliance. Grow from others genius, use it to help you soar.
• Every child, and many adults wish they could fly. The Wright brothers actually did.
• Keep those who help you close. Honor the people who aid you on your journey, bring them with you, reciprocate the help. You can’t help each other if you aren’t in it together.
• So this begs the question, what’s your it? The answer to that question if simple. What is the thing that you are inherently good at? Or you thoroughly enjoy? I’m not talking about the thing you kind of do well, but what is the thing you are naturally better than everyone else at, or you’re naturally inclined to do?
• Think for a second about your life. If you could answer the question about what you were naturally skilled at growing up, or what you naturally gravitated to growing up, then you’ll be closer to finding your it.
• If you want to take the limits off your life, you need to invest in your it even before you think it will pay off.
• The key to changing your life is to use your skills, your talents, your gifts - because we are all gifted in something, but we don’t all use our gifts.
• Consequences exist for action, but what people don’t tell you, they also exist for inaction.
• Find your it, find your scientific anomaly, find your uniqueness and double down on it. You don’t need to walk away from the table. All the cards you need are right in the palms of your hands.
• Opus Gloria: My desire is to inspire those to go higher, past the required, so those they admire can also admire whom they’ve inspired before they expire.
March 18, 2022
3.5 stars
I probably would have given this book 4 stars, but I just read Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man last month, and this latest book feels like at least 25% was a repeat of content.
It also felt a lot like there's more ego involved. It must be difficult to write a self-help/motivational manifesto and still sound humble.
That said, Emmanuel Acho is a great narrator and storyteller. I'm grateful for the early listening copy of Illogical via the NetGalley app.
I probably would have given this book 4 stars, but I just read Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man last month, and this latest book feels like at least 25% was a repeat of content.
It also felt a lot like there's more ego involved. It must be difficult to write a self-help/motivational manifesto and still sound humble.
That said, Emmanuel Acho is a great narrator and storyteller. I'm grateful for the early listening copy of Illogical via the NetGalley app.
May 22, 2022
All the best to him, I've wanted to read his original bestseller. But, this book was pretty disappointing. Even as an inspiring, accept-yourself type book this definitely was lacking. It was a very impassioned plea to think beyond your limits and try some things to take you beyond what the 'logical' things are. It wasn't very well argued and the book itself was illogical at times by contradicting it's own advice. He has the pathos, just not enough logos or ethos. I feel like he will have more to say in the future on this topic, but he's not quite there for something like this, yet.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 213 reviews