This Year I Will

How to Finally Change a Habit, Keep a Resolution, or Make a Dream Come True

By: M. J. Ryan

Narrated by: M. J. Ryan

Length: 4 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's summary

Learn the secret to making changes that stick! Every so often people get inspired (again!) to lose weight, to get organized, to start saving, or to stop worrying - but a few months later they give up, frustrated. It doesn't have to be that way.

In This Year I Will..., best-selling author M.J. Ryan offers breakthrough wisdom and coaching to help listeners make this time the time that change becomes permanent.

Why do people find it so hard to change? The secret is that everyone has their own formula for making changes that stick, but most people don't know what theirs is. They think there is one way to lose five pounds, and another way to stay on top of their e-mail, but they don't realize that for all changes, there is one system that works best for each individual.

This Year I Will... helps you lock on to your unique formula for planning, implementing, and seeing a life change through, so you can use it again and again to tackle anything else you'd like to do.

For anyone who has broken a New Year's resolution, fallen off a diet, or given up on fulfilling a dream, the ingenious strategies, inspiring stories, and sheer motivational energy of This Year I Will... will help you make a promise to yourself that you can actually keep.

©2006 M.J.Ryan (P)2009 Gildan Media Corp

Critic reviews

"If you're struggling and think that one more title can't possibly make a difference, think again. M.J. Ryan has the rare gift of breaking things down into clear pieces that can be tackled." (Laura Berman Fortgang, author of Now What? 90 Days to a New Life Direction)

Great way to start the new year!

"I don't believe in New Year's resolutions." Ever said that or heard that? I actually don't believe in making huge vows at the beginning of the year, and falling flat on my face a month later. I am a believer in trying to implement lasting lifestyle changes in my life that lead to a happier/healthy me. The problems usually arise after my burst of energy fizzles out, and I am back to square one, usually 10 lbs heavier and just a smidge bitter.

What I needed was a way to organize my ideas and goals, and a way to jump from goal to action. Once that was in gear, I needed help with sticking to those goals. Thus the book, which if you didn't already know, is a "self-help" book, which already was an issue for me, since I don't care for this genre (probably because I've only read a few really, really bad ones). That aside, I really enjoyed the straight forward layout and style of the book, and the practical suggestions. It served as a workbook and was divided into sections that you can revisit from time to time if you need to refocus on your projects.

While some information was repetitive and also a little contradictory, I was able to take away a lot of good points, for example, reflecting on habits that were successfully created in the past, and what I did to accomplish them. It took awhile to really hone in on past successes, but I was able to reflect on how I broke the habit of cursing (including even thinking them in my head), avoiding soda, and even when I lost 35 pounds and kept them off for two years. She also tackled awkward subjects like dealing with naysayers, especially when they're family or close friends. Made me realize that I've been that person in the past. Why do we do that?!

I read about 60% of this book last year in an effort to finally shed unwanted pounds, and then just didn't have the energy to finish it. How funny and sad, huh? Needless to say, I did not lose the weight I wanted last year. This year though, I finished the book and even downloaded the audio book so I can listen to certain areas again when I need to get reenergized. My three main goals this year are to run a half marathon by the end of the year (I am not a runner at all), adopt a cleaner way of eating (including buying organic meats, fruits, and vegetables), and to review all of the books I read this year. I'm actually doing pretty good!

So what about you? What are some things that you've wanted to implement or change in your life? If you're feeling a little stuck and need some direction on pinpointing where to get started, you'll probably really enjoy this little book.

Well Done in an Area that is Overdone

What made the experience of listening to This Year I Will the most enjoyable?

It was realistic and non-judgmental. It recognized that failure and the human condition are part of the process.

Who was your favorite character and why?

N/A

Which scene was your favorite?

N/a

What’s an idea from the book that you will remember?

Again, that failure is part of the process and does not have to be the end of the process.

Listening on 2x helps...

If you could sum up This Year I Will in three words, what would they be?

Totally awesome content

Who was your favorite character and why?

Not really applicable

How could the performance have been better?

The book is worthy of and needs professional narration

What insight do you think you’ll apply from This Year I Will?

Creating and tracking metrics for personal goals

Any additional comments?

It the book was redone by a professional I would actually purchase it again in order you have it as a annual "new year" reread.

Some really good ideas

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes - if it helps you jump start a new path forward.

Any additional comments?

Sound just was off - the reader wasn't a professional reader.

awful

Don't waste your time. The narrator is OK, but the material is bits and pieces pulled from here and their. Essentially the all you need to know: take action/do something and give yourself a reason why. I gave up listening to his a little over 1/2...something I rarely ever do.

Not Worth the Time

This book is comprised largely of quotes from other authors and thinkers, and her opinions on them. A lack of cohesion and original thought would have been bad enough but her performance was very poor. Regular stumbles and lack of necessary pauses ruined the author’s reading. Probably better as a book than audio. Maybe.

The worst narration ever

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

The author should have never narrated this audiobook. Extremely poor performance and audio production. In need of lots of editing. The concept of the book is fine, but the performance is so distracting that the book becomes useless. Bad move, M.J. Ryan, bad move.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Angry that I paid for this piece of garbage

should have tried a real narrater

What would have made This Year I Will better?

a real narrater

What do you think your next listen will be?

I'm not sure

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of M. J. Ryan?

not the author

What character would you cut from This Year I Will?

There are no characters really

Any additional comments?

Boring and I didn’t feel like it was giving me anything new that I haven’t heard before

Horrible production

What would have made This Year I Will better?

This book sounds like it's being read into a laptop speaker. You can hear background noises and lacks any editing.

What other book might you compare This Year I Will to and why?

The book is very interesting and the suggestions are solid but the production, YIKES!

How could the performance have been better?

Too many stops and slurred words that distract from the lessons.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from This Year I Will?

I would invest in a speach coach or a professional broadcaster like Michael J Elston.

Any additional comments?

The production does not live up to the usual excellent quality I've come to expect from Audible. This was a terrible production.

Garbage

Would you try another book from M. J. Ryan and/or M. J. Ryan?

No.

What could M. J. Ryan have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Written her own words; as it is, this book is little more than a collection of inspirational quotes cribbed together with a few connecting thoughts. Also, for reading her own book, she's very halting and full of strange pauses that make her hard to follow.

Would you be willing to try another one of M. J. Ryan’s performances?

No.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

There is nothing in this book you couldn't get on the internet for free--or from a cheap book of inspirational quotes.