Get a Life That Doesn't Suck
358616
Loved the book. I have been wondering for years what set those who were living their life on their own terms from the vast majority of the rest of us who hated being stuck in the rat race and felt helpless to do anything to change our lives. The other reviewers are right, this book cuts right to the point and does a better job then books that are two to three times bigger. Highly recommend this.
3513781
I began following Chris Guillebeaus blog shortly after discovering his first book, The Art of Non-Conformity (a title that managed to capture my attention and a book with a message that captured more than that).  Chris has managed to live a rewarding life by forging his own career path that meets his personal goals (including visiting every country).  Chris has a simple, and yet beautiful philosophy that he states on the AONC site that translates to his body of work, including his latest offering.
1. You don't have to live your life the way other people expect
2. You can do good things for yourself and help other people at the same time
3. If you don't decide for yourself what you want to get out of life, someone else will end up deciding for you
4. There is usually more than one way to accomplish something

His newest book, Born For This, is due out April 5, 2016.  The book is centered around how to find the work that you were meant to do.  It is a tool for aiding those who may be struggling to find happiness in their career.  Chris structures the material around what he calls the Joy - Money - Flow formula.  Simply put, he asks the reader to consider what they like to do, the financial aspects they need to live the lifestyle they want, and the things that they are really good at doing.  It is a smart way to break down the aspects to winning what he calls the career lottery.

Chris effectively uses real world examples to aid the reader and bring clarity of meaning for each of his sections within the guide.  It was a nice change to see that he utilizes a wealth of individuals from various careers to illustrate his points (my personal favorite was the lighting designer).

For those who may be accustomed to reading books that offer career advice, you will probably find Chriss approach to be quite different.  He does not write for the corporate CEO type, but rather for the everyman who wants to make a difference in his own life and the lives of others.  And, he manages to accomplish this using a good deal of humor.

The advance copy of this book hit my mailbox at a fortuitous time in my life.  I had been undergoing a period of realignment and discovery within my personal and professional life.  I was coming out of a job that was not bringing me joy, was good financially, and I was good at doing for quite some time (the job had gone through drastic changes over the final year and a half that caused the focus to be adrift from what was important to me).  I found it to be a useful instrument for helping me figure out where to go next and how to get there.  Fortunately, I have managed to find an opportunity that brings me the right balance of joy, money, and flow at this chapter in my life.

In summary Chris Guillebeaus, Born For This, offers a practical approach to making positive career changes.  It should be a staple in every working adults collection.
2663561
Finally: A book that acknowledges not everyone has the same financial advantages! People with depression and other chronic illnesses often have additional, health-related expenses and may not be able to work as much as healthy folk. (Some may not be able to work at all.) They may lack the energy and focus for tried-and-true frugal hacks like batch cooking, comparison shopping, side hustles and DIY everything.

The author, who experiences depression and other health issues, rewrote the typical PF tenets until they worked for her. Typical doesnt work for someone whose life is atypical. Perry is honest about what she CAN'T do, and describes the ways she works to mind her spending, shop as intentionally as she can, and build an emergency fund for the inevitable life issues that pop up. She's even creating small retirement accounts for herself and her husband (who is also chronically ill); although they're small, she has hope that they'll grow.

Hope is an important part of this book. The book leads and also encourages the chronically ill, but doesn't let anyone off the hook. Perry reviews the ABCs of PF with the eye of a survivor, the compassion of a therapist, and the BS detector of a fellow traveler who knows what its like to hear the siren call of, Your life is so HARD, poor you  and you totally deserve that [whatever-it-is]. Perry offers numerous tips for saving money and, most important of all, encourages readers to forgive themselves for being merely human.
3933567
A good book for when you're on the valleys of life. Practical suggestions!
758991
This is an easy read. How no matter what your job in life is, life is not always easy. Don't give up
2879877
I read this in one weekend. I found the honesty refreshing. Simple stories of the past, including those that do not put the author in a good light give credibility to the entire work. This is not an inside baseball analysis of his political life, but rather a trip back to his boyhood, heartwarming stories of growing up and familial relationships (good and bad), and some frank talk of his personal bad decisions. It's like everyone's life but not everyone would put it in print. There is also joyful acknowledgement of all the characters in his past that had a positive influence on his life.

It is peppered with enough southern humor to keep you smiling, and even snort your coffee once in a while.

I came away with an appreciation for Fred the child, the young man, and the man NOT in the spot light of acting or policitis though that is covered very briefly; I suspect another book or two might be covering those issues. He got into Law & Order quite by accident (and an unlikely chain of events) through a case he (as a young lawyer) took on out of desperation to do something significant when there wasn't anything significant to do in a small town. He certainly did not have acting aspirations, which I think is unusual in itself these days.

Motto: Take chances. Work hard. Good stuff happens, sometimes.
1890027
"Learn How To Be The Perfect Bitch" is not about being nasty. It is actually a pleasant little book that will help you get what you want out of life by being slightly more assertive. Whether you want to improve your love life or want a promotion at work, the ideas in this book are invaluable. By reading this book you will learn how to be more spontaneous and mischievous. You will also realize you don't have to be a doormat for people to like you. After putting some of the practical tips to work in your life you will probably notice more respect at home and at work. This book has an interesting title but it is not at all about promoting being bitchy. Men will however all become your slaves. (sorry I couldn't help myself) I just don't think you should wear anything like the woman on the cover, especially not in public. :) Well unless you don't want to be taken seriously.

~The Rebecca Review
4644055
The book isn't targeted at those who don't want to change or those that want to change but cannot, but rather it's targeted for those who actually want to and can change their life. I don't think I could live the way Tim describes in his book. I really enjoy what I do and doing less of it seems like it wouldn't make me better off. But the idea of doing less work isn't what I dug about about the book. One of the ideas was that Tim challenges the notion that people have to work 30-40 years before they can retire and enjoy life. There is no reason why you can't and shouldn't take those trips around the world now. You will likely enjoy and appretricate it more now instead of when you are 60. He also recommends eliminating things which cause stress and waste time. An example of time wasters are events such as meetings, constantly checking e-mail, and even social media. Reducing these actively can help you be more productive. Perhaps something I need to learn how to do. Especially since I am someone who finds myself on twitter and checking email all the time. Although I enjoy those work interruptions perhaps they are not the best use of my time. Tim also recommends firing stress causing clients whose projects produce very little revenue for yourself and just add more stress into your life. I'm making the book sound like a self help book and it's really not; It's also not a get rich quick book. Instead think of "The 4-Hour Workweek" as a guide book. Along with the ideas of the elimination of excessive clutter from work and home Tim provides steps for you to start automating your life. Showing you how to create income streams that don't require you to be involved in the equation. I'm not sure that everyone can optimize the way that Tim and others have. A majority of people who read it WON'T follow any of the advice in the book. People like stability, routine, and security.  If nothing else it's inspirational and will likely get you motivated. It will make you wonder why you work so much and travel so little. Rediscover your time.
4064345
There will just be times in our lives where we would just feel unhappy, with or without reason. Whether it's a temporary dissatisfaction or quite a regular thing in one's life, we all know that being unhappy always don't help. I recommend doing the habits given in this book. It was really good that the author was able to suggest many tips, which gives you plenty of options, and no reason not to be able to create happiness in your life, unless being grumpy is a conscious choice. Good read.
3435577
Forget what you "think" you know about mindset, motivation, and the pursuit of happiness in life.  Forget trying to convince yourself that Thursday night happy hours after work, entry level BMW's and single rounds of golf on Sunday afternoon after mowing the lawn will fulfill you for the next 30+ years (if you even live that long).  This book is a literary PUNCH to the face of mediocrity, and it just might light the fuse that changes your life...

As a HUGE fan of author MJ DeMarco's last book, The Millionaire Fastlane, I had been looking forward to reading this one since the first "hints" of it started circling on the forums.  Unfortunately for many, this book pulls no punches and holds nothing back.  If you are looking for a "feel good" book to coddle you and tell you that your 9-5 job in cubicle world "isn't" as bad as it seems while you dwell on it in misery over your half-hour lunch break in the company cafeteria, this isn't it.  Instead, this book breaks the barrier that so many other "gurus" and motivation/mindset authors dance around.  And its powerful.

"Unscripted" will open your eyes to the fact that there IS another life out there.  It will remind you that when you were a teenager with pictures of a Lamborghini on your bedroom wall, you had energy because the world was literally at your feet.  As you begin running that hamster wheel and slowly letting those dreams die, many of us have traded those decades old goals and aspirations for an entry level job with health insurance and a 401K that will allow you retire as a senior citizen (NOT as the 35-year old Lambo owner you envy at car shows).

For those looking for IGNITION, this is THE book you need in your life.  This is the one that will (hopefully) make you get up off the couch and map out a plan (something so many people FAIL to do in pursuit of their goals), while finally feeling "excited" again about the future.  This book reminds us that luck is not going to make you rich, despite your pleas for salvation watching network television re-runs at 10PM at night, dreading the blast of the alarm at 6AM, signaling that another work day is about to begin.

There is a reason why hundreds of entry-level houses sit together in suburban communities, while only a few giant mansions overlook them all up on a hill.  Unscripted explains why some people own those mansions, while other people simply envy them.

Thank you to MJ for (yet again) shaking things up and reminding so many people that happiness can be 100% funded by entrepreneurship.  You just have to be willing to get off the couch.  "Unscripted" is the book that millions of people have need to read, but no one (until now) had the balls to write.
1091996
Life doesn't happen to us--it responds to what we put out. In other words, we attract our focus. This book provides the tools to assist a shift of focus from the powerlessness that is ingrained by society and mainstream media to the divinity of who we truly are-creators of our own life. If you're not completely happy in your life right now, I encourage you to read this book. It will empower you to take a look at how you're doing things and take advantage of the universal assistance that is available to make it exponentially easier to manifest the life you desire.
1308783
Often times when life throws us a curve ball, out natural tendency is to find some corner somewhere, cry in cup of coffee, and sing our favorite verse of poor, poor me. But what if we drew a deep breath, stepped back, and considered for a minute how we could use this opportunity to make a positive change of direction in our lives?

Shawn Smucker was faced with such a situation. After returning from four years of managing a large business in England, he felt lost working 10 hour days painting houses and living in his parents basement with his wife and two children. When his aunt called out of the blue and asked him to write her life story, he had no idea how his life would be impacted. He approached the project tentatively lacking the confidence of a career writer. But when a publisher reviewed the initial two chapters that he had written, the publisher contacted him wanting him to write the book. Had he pursued other unrelated temporary opportunities, his writing career would have never launched. That first published book led to a second and eventually to a successful career in writing.

Building a Life Out of Words is a transparent look at the struggles of a 29 year old husband and father attempting to establish himself as a professional writer and the self doubts and second guesses that come along the way. It is a very encouraging story to those of us writing and wondering where the path will lead us.

His final line in the book is the most encouraging of all, I hope that you will be known as a person who lives. Really lives. Someone who makes decisions, not based on whats expected, but on whats possible. Someone who does things, not because everyone else is doing them, but because its what you want to do more than anything else in the world. Now that would be a life worth living.
4636015
This book is simple and shows you how to live your life from a place of positivity and peace. I have recommended it to friends and family members. It gives you a healthier outlook on life.
1090106
The life stories and triumphs of the author regarding his professional career and personal issues with his over-weight remind us that "life goes on" despite temporary setbacks, disappointment, or disillusionment.  There is indeed light at the end of the tunnel, if we just allow hope to emerge in our life outlook always. As long as we price things right, e.g. placing self-integrity, health and family, friendship above the pure money pursuit, we'll find ourselves shrouded by happiness, and devoid of any despair.  The uplifting message that things will be OK, despite how gloomy the situation may look and feel at the moment, is to be kept for the present tough economic times, where family tragedies seem to hit the headline news everyday. The sheer dark humor, which I can appreciate through personal experience, about how dysfunctional the workplace and the office politics can be is worth a read all by itself!  This book is a must read for anyone impacted by
the layoff phenomenon and want to reach the key understanding necessary to recover from it! I give it a 5 star.
3197881
A perfect book for those people who always complain about their jobs and wish they could do something else to be happy. You can. Janice MacLeod is proof of that. Stop complaining, get inspired, and start a plan. The universe's got your back.
642212
In "Learning to Live" Shamarion Whitaker shares her personal life experiences and mixes them with things we know to be true and shows us how to live our lives with a new perspective.

We know life would be easier, though not with some difficulty, if we would use common sense and follow biblical advice such as praying about everything and forgiving others.  Whitaker also talks about not sweating the small stuff and being flexible as well as making peace with your in-laws and taking responsibility for your actions.

If you are struggling with life, Whitaker's book can help you deal with some problem areas and help you find more positive ways to spend your time.  Whitaker helps you take your focus off of your problems and yourself and put it back on God's Word and His promises.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookCrash book review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
4112351
Some self-help authors ask you to make a leap of faith and a huge commitment to change your life for the better. You won't find that stuff in here. Author Benson's approach is that little changes in the things you're already doing will add up to big differences in your enjoyment of life. No need to turn your life on its head; just do old things in new ways. Few of the 26 1/2 ideas will be new to you, and in fact you probably know they're things you should be doing already. The engaging and encouraging way they're presented make it easy for you to give them a try. You'll start taking care of your self better, and take the parts of your life that could be minus and turn them to plus. The writing style seems simplistic at first, but its simplicity belies its depth. Each time you read it, you'll see something that you didn't notice before. Buy, read, and re-read this valuable book.