Review of Always Strive to Be a Better You
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Kong You Liow
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- Latest Review: Always Strive to Be a Better You by Pete Hall
Review of Always Strive to Be a Better You
[Following is a volunteer review of "Always Strive to Be a Better You" by Pete Hall.]
Always Strive to Be a Better You by Pete Hall is a self-help guide that explores the pursuit of an ideal, happy and virtuous life.
Hall weaves together the narratives of seven individuals who have achieved authentic and fulfilling success, distilling their experiences into 13 key insights organized into four guiding principles, each playfully named with a Greek reference in homage to Plato.
Each key learning includes references to the interviewees’ life stories. There are exercises in each chapter to help readers reflect and put into practice the lessons. The naming of each key learning was quite creative, (e.g. clean your mirror, behold the cardinal), so I’ve enjoyed the “aha” moments when I understand what it stands for after reading through the chapters. The interviewees are inspirational everyday people doing what they love, spreading joy and energy to people around which makes them relatable.
My biggest takeaway was on the key learning of "clean your mirror", emphasizing the danger of assigning a trait noun to oneself (e.g. I am a procrastinator). Hall cautions against that we tend to turn such labels into self-fulfilling prophecies. Instead, he advocates for discussing personal tendencies instead (e.g. I tend to work on non-urgent tasks when I am overwhelmed). This is because we can change our tendencies but not our definitions, which is a lesson I am eager to practice.
The book recounts a memorable life story of an interviewee in the "embrace disequilibrium... and then reframe it" key learning. He was diagnosed with testicular cancer. He gave himself 24 hours to be angry, sad and frustrated because these emotions are valid. He made peace with the fact and looked for a silver lining after 24 hours. This is where toxic positivity and authentic positivity are highlighted - the willingness to confront your own emotions and others' emotions. Derek looked for the little light at the end of the tunnel and focused on gratitude. I believe this is something commendable and I will strive to bring authentic positivity when faced with adversity in the future like Derek.
Despite being a self-help book, Hall manages to avoid the common pitfall of turning it into a promotional platform for his courses. The subtle inclusion of his website a few times throughout the book does not disrupt its flow, adding a non-intrusive touch.
This book is an essential read for those seeking relatable life stories and valuable lessons on cultivating a virtuous and happy life.
In conclusion, Always Strive to Be a Better You is a well-written book with inspiring key learnings. It has no negative aspects, therefore I rate it 5 out of 5 stars.
******
Always Strive to Be a Better You
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Always Strive to Be a Better You by Pete Hall is a self-help guide that explores the pursuit of an ideal, happy and virtuous life.
Hall weaves together the narratives of seven individuals who have achieved authentic and fulfilling success, distilling their experiences into 13 key insights organized into four guiding principles, each playfully named with a Greek reference in homage to Plato.
Each key learning includes references to the interviewees’ life stories. There are exercises in each chapter to help readers reflect and put into practice the lessons. The naming of each key learning was quite creative, (e.g. clean your mirror, behold the cardinal), so I’ve enjoyed the “aha” moments when I understand what it stands for after reading through the chapters. The interviewees are inspirational everyday people doing what they love, spreading joy and energy to people around which makes them relatable.
My biggest takeaway was on the key learning of "clean your mirror", emphasizing the danger of assigning a trait noun to oneself (e.g. I am a procrastinator). Hall cautions against that we tend to turn such labels into self-fulfilling prophecies. Instead, he advocates for discussing personal tendencies instead (e.g. I tend to work on non-urgent tasks when I am overwhelmed). This is because we can change our tendencies but not our definitions, which is a lesson I am eager to practice.
The book recounts a memorable life story of an interviewee in the "embrace disequilibrium... and then reframe it" key learning. He was diagnosed with testicular cancer. He gave himself 24 hours to be angry, sad and frustrated because these emotions are valid. He made peace with the fact and looked for a silver lining after 24 hours. This is where toxic positivity and authentic positivity are highlighted - the willingness to confront your own emotions and others' emotions. Derek looked for the little light at the end of the tunnel and focused on gratitude. I believe this is something commendable and I will strive to bring authentic positivity when faced with adversity in the future like Derek.
Despite being a self-help book, Hall manages to avoid the common pitfall of turning it into a promotional platform for his courses. The subtle inclusion of his website a few times throughout the book does not disrupt its flow, adding a non-intrusive touch.
This book is an essential read for those seeking relatable life stories and valuable lessons on cultivating a virtuous and happy life.
In conclusion, Always Strive to Be a Better You is a well-written book with inspiring key learnings. It has no negative aspects, therefore I rate it 5 out of 5 stars.
******
Always Strive to Be a Better You
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Always Strive to Be a Better You by Pete Hall
