Sophia

As a woman approaching my 2nd act (I turn 29 this year) this book offered up a dose of needed perspective and reassurance. Reassurance that with the RIGHT preparation, insight and introspection - things are just going to keep getting better.

To be honest, I skipped about a third of this book - the chapter on senior sex and nutrition, but from what I did hear, I have a mental note to go back and read this in 30 years.

I love that Jane Fonda herself narrates, at 72, with such passion and vivacity. She is a true tour de force, despite all her admitted and exposed flaws, plastic surgery and insecurities. Love her, and she has a LOT to teach.

Bought this for my mom and my grandmother for mother's day.

Four points:

1. Definitely great advice, but nothing revolutionary.
2. Structure was condescendingly formulaic and almost robotic.
3. Narrator sounded like a call center automaton or a stepford wife. Groan-worthy.
4. Probably better as a hard copy. Would lack the awful narration and the formulaic structure would be easier to visualize. Her process is most likely very effective, but only if one was participating as an active reader - taking notes and writing down thoughts along the way. I think there is workbook that goes with this. I do not doubt that her program is effective - but not best translated as audiobook.

This books is not transcendent or very philosophical. It has a taste of spirituality but not a hint of sanctimony. What is this book?

Immediately applicable to daily life. Funny. Real. Self-depreciatingly honest but filled with self-love. A simple and no-nonsense look at the complexities of life and searching for happiness. Filled with write-that-down wisdom for life alongside write-that-down decluttering tips.

I am actually in the process of designing my own happiness project right now and cannot wait to start. And will definitely be buying her next book, "Happier at Home". Can't wait.

I would recommend listening AND buying a hardcopy to follow up with. I loved listening to Gretchen tell her own story, but I had to get the hardcopy too for underlining and notes in the margin.

Love me some @Garyvee! Gary is such an over-the-top and inspiring personality and businessman. This audiobook is filled with "off the script riffs" and "rants" - the passion and belief of what he is talking about is very transparent.

I gave the story only three stars, because I think that he is a bit scary about working your ass off. He evangelized grueling work and sleeping three hours a night to get what you want out of life. But he is very clear that you should be very sure that you are working toward your true authentic passion and if you are - staying up until three am should be fun.

This read give a great balance to Four-Hour Workweek, which follows the premise of NOT working too hard, not worrying too much about your work being your passion, and instead automating your cashflow as much as possible.

Both are books about leveraging the internet to be your own boss and live the dream, but with diametrically opposed strategies on how to do so. I suspect that the best strategy lies somewhere in the middle.

Definitely recommend this listen. Take his overall advice for life to heart (putting family first and living your passion), take notes on his social networking techniques, but take his "be your own toughest boss" with a grain of salt. We should all work hard, true, and this should be fun if we are doing what we love...but most people we get burnt out following his advice.

Balance is key!

Ugghhhhhh...sooooo long and DEPRESSING. Nothing really happens in this book. The plot drags and drags and at ever turn the main character is just getting crapped on and crapped on again.

I was so relieved to finish it. I listened to the whole thing in hopes of a happy ending. Not going to be a spoiler - but I will say that to me, the conclusion was not worth the wait.

If you are looking for some classic sci-fi, I would recommend Stranger in a Strange Land.