Review by Fola_M -- Beneath the Muscle by Lauren Powers
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Review by Fola_M -- Beneath the Muscle by Lauren Powers
[Following is a volunteer review of "Beneath the Muscle" by Lauren Powers.]
There are motivational books, and there are inspirational books. Then, you come across a book that is a perfect blend of the two, and it grabs your attention right to the very end. A great example is this captivating autobiography, Beneath the Muscle: Unleash Your Inner Champion, by Lauren Powers.
Lauren lays her heart out in this book, taking us through her childhood experiences, her family role models, her failures, and accomplishments. She explains how they all helped shape her into the woman she became today. She doesn’t shy away from discussing her addictions and how they almost destroyed her until she took control of her life again. She is what you would call an all-rounder, having tried her hand, successfully I might add, at different careers that range from bartending to skateboarding and even firefighting. With her experience, she aims to encourage everyone through her book to live life to the fullest and carve their own path.
One thing that struck me at first about this book is how refreshingly real the author is. I love how she pulls no punches throughout the entire text describing in great detail and clear words, how her life was and how she became who she is today. There’s no sugar coating when she explains her downward spiral into drugs and alcohol. She owns up to her mistakes and failures and forges ahead regardless. In other words, she came, she saw, and she conquered.
One of her mantras in the book is ‘Do what you love, help others enjoy the benefits of what you do and success will follow’. This strikes a deep chord within me as I’ve always believed in this motto as well. The author’s notion about life is that you should always follow your passion, and success will find its way to you. The happiest people in life are the ones who follow their heart and find joy in their daily activities. Lauren is driven and passionate about carving her own path in life. She doesn’t subscribe to the notion of following the herd. If a certain career doesn’t work out, she simply goes on to another with no regrets and apologies to anyone. It takes a lot of guts and a massive dose of healthy self-esteem to be able to do this.
I also love the structure of the book. The foreword is from a decorated US Air Force veteran whose life experience and status, lends a solid air of credibility to the whole text. At the end of each chapter, there’s a workbook to download with exercises to do. In her words, “it is a safe space for you to get clear on your innermost feelings and will allow you to shift into the real you”. The photo gallery at the end of the book is a beautiful array of pictures of the author, and the people she has met in her life journey.
All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed the book, so I'll rate it a four out of four stars. It has all the 3 Rs for me; real, raw, and refreshing. I couldn’t find any typo, so I can say it is exceptionally well-edited. Readers of all ages will enjoy this book. If you are struggling to navigate your way through the stormy sea of life, this is your go-to book.
******
Beneath the Muscle
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
There are motivational books, and there are inspirational books. Then, you come across a book that is a perfect blend of the two, and it grabs your attention right to the very end. A great example is this captivating autobiography, Beneath the Muscle: Unleash Your Inner Champion, by Lauren Powers.
Lauren lays her heart out in this book, taking us through her childhood experiences, her family role models, her failures, and accomplishments. She explains how they all helped shape her into the woman she became today. She doesn’t shy away from discussing her addictions and how they almost destroyed her until she took control of her life again. She is what you would call an all-rounder, having tried her hand, successfully I might add, at different careers that range from bartending to skateboarding and even firefighting. With her experience, she aims to encourage everyone through her book to live life to the fullest and carve their own path.
One thing that struck me at first about this book is how refreshingly real the author is. I love how she pulls no punches throughout the entire text describing in great detail and clear words, how her life was and how she became who she is today. There’s no sugar coating when she explains her downward spiral into drugs and alcohol. She owns up to her mistakes and failures and forges ahead regardless. In other words, she came, she saw, and she conquered.
One of her mantras in the book is ‘Do what you love, help others enjoy the benefits of what you do and success will follow’. This strikes a deep chord within me as I’ve always believed in this motto as well. The author’s notion about life is that you should always follow your passion, and success will find its way to you. The happiest people in life are the ones who follow their heart and find joy in their daily activities. Lauren is driven and passionate about carving her own path in life. She doesn’t subscribe to the notion of following the herd. If a certain career doesn’t work out, she simply goes on to another with no regrets and apologies to anyone. It takes a lot of guts and a massive dose of healthy self-esteem to be able to do this.
I also love the structure of the book. The foreword is from a decorated US Air Force veteran whose life experience and status, lends a solid air of credibility to the whole text. At the end of each chapter, there’s a workbook to download with exercises to do. In her words, “it is a safe space for you to get clear on your innermost feelings and will allow you to shift into the real you”. The photo gallery at the end of the book is a beautiful array of pictures of the author, and the people she has met in her life journey.
All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed the book, so I'll rate it a four out of four stars. It has all the 3 Rs for me; real, raw, and refreshing. I couldn’t find any typo, so I can say it is exceptionally well-edited. Readers of all ages will enjoy this book. If you are struggling to navigate your way through the stormy sea of life, this is your go-to book.
******
Beneath the Muscle
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Moonlight Serenade by Terry Mark
