Review of And Then I Met Margaret
Posted: 04 Jun 2022, 10:17
[Following is a volunteer review of "And Then I Met Margaret" by Rob White.]
And Then I Met Margaret by Rob White is a collection of life lessons he has learned from an assortment of gurus. While a handful of these lessons are taught by traditional gurus such as teachers, mentors, and family members. The majority of his lessons are gathered from the hidden gurus he has come across. White tells of how he has spent a lifetime garnering knowledge from books, authors, seminars, and fire-walking rituals. While all of that has been beneficial, some of his most powerful lessons came from unexpected places. Especially from a grade school student named Margaret.
Each chapter begins with a quote of his “The myth I believed” on a topic and concludes with a comparison of “The reality I discovered” quote. This gives the reader a pause between each short story to reflect on the lesson White has learned, and how it applied to what the reader has just finished reading. The collection of stories is told in chronological order, but they could be read individually. White begins by telling of his small-town beginnings, where it seemed like very few ever “reached escape velocity.” Where it seemed his life was planned for him since it was expected that he finish school and begin work in one of the two mills in town. Further along, White recounts how it took a conversation with his student Debbie to help him understand that most limitations are self-imposed. Later, White gives us lessons he has learned from his entrepreneurship in real estate and owning restaurants. Lessons learned while riding on a bi-plane stunt flight and while driving a formula one race car.
This collection of uplifting life lessons is a powerful read, and almost entirely positive and uplifting. Although chapter nineteen would have to be my least favorite because it tells of how White witnesses the decline in the health of a Maasai child in Africa. Similar to White telling us how sacred and breathtaking these events were for him, I felt like I was intruding on a private ceremony of the Maasai mother while reading his recounting.
There are a small number of errors that did not take away from reading White’s collection of short stories. I give And Then I Met Margaret a 3 out of 4 rating. Most other self-help books are focused on what the reader themselves has to change and I enjoyed that these lessons were told through White’s collection of life stories. Instead allowing us to see how the lessons have changed him.
White has written an easy-to-read motivational collection and anyone who is looking for an uplifting short story will enjoy these. Especially readers that are interested in self-reflection and improvement. If I were to summarize the whole of White’s lessons, it would be: take calculated risks, be brave, be humble, strive for excellence, and listen to your instincts.
******
And Then I Met Margaret
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
And Then I Met Margaret by Rob White is a collection of life lessons he has learned from an assortment of gurus. While a handful of these lessons are taught by traditional gurus such as teachers, mentors, and family members. The majority of his lessons are gathered from the hidden gurus he has come across. White tells of how he has spent a lifetime garnering knowledge from books, authors, seminars, and fire-walking rituals. While all of that has been beneficial, some of his most powerful lessons came from unexpected places. Especially from a grade school student named Margaret.
Each chapter begins with a quote of his “The myth I believed” on a topic and concludes with a comparison of “The reality I discovered” quote. This gives the reader a pause between each short story to reflect on the lesson White has learned, and how it applied to what the reader has just finished reading. The collection of stories is told in chronological order, but they could be read individually. White begins by telling of his small-town beginnings, where it seemed like very few ever “reached escape velocity.” Where it seemed his life was planned for him since it was expected that he finish school and begin work in one of the two mills in town. Further along, White recounts how it took a conversation with his student Debbie to help him understand that most limitations are self-imposed. Later, White gives us lessons he has learned from his entrepreneurship in real estate and owning restaurants. Lessons learned while riding on a bi-plane stunt flight and while driving a formula one race car.
This collection of uplifting life lessons is a powerful read, and almost entirely positive and uplifting. Although chapter nineteen would have to be my least favorite because it tells of how White witnesses the decline in the health of a Maasai child in Africa. Similar to White telling us how sacred and breathtaking these events were for him, I felt like I was intruding on a private ceremony of the Maasai mother while reading his recounting.
There are a small number of errors that did not take away from reading White’s collection of short stories. I give And Then I Met Margaret a 3 out of 4 rating. Most other self-help books are focused on what the reader themselves has to change and I enjoyed that these lessons were told through White’s collection of life stories. Instead allowing us to see how the lessons have changed him.
White has written an easy-to-read motivational collection and anyone who is looking for an uplifting short story will enjoy these. Especially readers that are interested in self-reflection and improvement. If I were to summarize the whole of White’s lessons, it would be: take calculated risks, be brave, be humble, strive for excellence, and listen to your instincts.
******
And Then I Met Margaret
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon