Review of Never Do Anything Just Right
- Neha Panikar
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Review of Never Do Anything Just Right
Never Do Anything Just Right by Rod Jahner is the author’s memoir chronicling his life, his travels around the world, breakthrough events that changed the course of his life, reinstated faith in God, and to express gratitude for the life he has had so far.
The author states his intention to write this book, right from the start: to leave behind something for his family and future generations. In a time when fond memories and unforgettable moments die with each generation, I like the author’s idea to document the moments, to thank all his family and friends he’s made over the years, and to create something that will stand the test of time. It is akin to glossing over an old photo album, narrating the events that led you there, giggling and laughing about it, and feeling incredibly fortunate to have been there. This document would not only assist fading memories but also tell a story to your kids and grandkids about you.
Some people are the life of a party. People who light up a room when they enter, and everyone has fun even if the location, food, and surroundings are substandard. These are the moments we never forget and always carry with us. These are the moments that light up the dimness in our hearts. The author, I believe, is one such person. He has interesting stories to fill up awkward silences and a sense of humor filled with wit and sarcasm. He is the perfect person to invite for dinner.
The narration is impeccable, and I never had a dull moment while reading the book. There were several funny (and eye-rolling) moments. In some cases, I had to pause reading to have a good hearty laugh. I don’t wish to reveal spoilers, but some deserve special mention. One is about the father of a friend, whose self-winding watch never worked when he wore it but worked just fine when his sons wore it. Another one is about an afternoon lunch with a colleague and each getting tanned on one side of their faces and looking like Neapolitan ice cream at work the next day. My personal favorite was about a friend (heavy sleeper) requesting the author to wake him up for an important event and what the author did when the conventional methods didn’t work. Pick up this book to find out what happened and let me know if you laughed out loud, like I did.
The author plays and loves golf as a sport, so there are plenty of references to great plays, great locations, and unforgettable experiences. This will be a treat to like-minded people.
The author also mentions his moments of regret (apart from not having changed sides intermittently with the colleague at that afternoon lunch). It showed the author’s humility, sincerity, and acceptance of things he did wrong—these are lessons for young(er) readers. This makes this book relatable and not just something written to brag about.
I’ll be honest about one issue I encountered while reading the book. The childhood friends, neighbors, and people external to the family were a little hard to keep track of and remember. When the author referenced them later, it wasn’t easy to picture them. A little more narration on characteristics, backgrounds, and personalities might have helped recall the people easier. However, this didn’t affect the entertainment value of the incidents. As mentioned before, this book is primarily meant for the author’s family and his friends, who will not encounter this issue. For everyone else who are strangers to the author, I would recommend taking notes about the people he met, as it might add some depth to the narratives.
I found a few minor grammatical errors but nothing that was distracting or affected my enjoyment while reading this book. I found nothing to dislike about it.
There is no mature or sexual content, just one instance of profanity recalled by the author about his father being very angry for something he did wrong, testimony to the fact that his father never lost his cool or used cuss words, except for that one time. This mention didn’t feel unnecessary or unjustified.
With no reason to deduct points, I give this book a rating of 5 out of 5 stars.
This is a great idea for creating a keepsake for yourself and the family. It's unlike keeping and maintaining a diary. Just note down the funny and proud moments of your life, and it might serve as the greatest gift ever! This would also serve as a nice book to curl up with one day, when the children are gone, you are alone, feeling lonely, or just have depressing weather to begin with. If you haven’t done this yet and think it’s too late, it isn’t. Just start now; I guarantee you’ll remember more than you think, and it will still work. One day, it’ll lift your mood and spirits, make your life seem worthwhile even though you didn’t become famous for something, or invent the cure for cancer.
******
Never Do Anything Just Right
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- Sarah Zain
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Thank you Sarah!Sarah Zain wrote: ↑06 Feb 2025, 14:02 As someone who has loved writing diaries for a long time, I know it's nice to keep some memories. The good and the bad, the ups and downs. Your review reflectes the beauty of the book. Thank you for the recommendation.
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The review is well made and given an exhaustive account of the book. Thanks.

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Thankyou Gerry!Gerry Steen wrote: ↑06 Feb 2025, 14:53 I like the title of this book. Your review shows that just about anyone could get something valuable out of this man's memoirs. He sounds so engaging. This book must be a wonderful souvenir for his family. I will enjoy reading about his golf experiences and humorous anecdotes. Great review!
- Neha Panikar
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Hi Stephen, I had similar reservations, but was glad to be entertained while reading the book. To me, it felt like meeting new people over travels or a vacation, getting to know them, and exchanging entertaining stories. There were lessons to take like do not decline opportunities to travel or exposing ourselves to new cultures - this widens horizons, and was beneficial to the author and his family as well. Many such lessons would follow which the author doesn't necessarily "teach", but the reader would/might learn depending on their own background/situation. Hope this helps.Stephen Christopher 1 wrote: ↑06 Feb 2025, 17:38 So he wrote this book for his family and friends to have a keepsake and relive old times. What benefit is this book for other readers who don't know this family? Are there messages that we can take from the book to enrich our lives?
- Neha Panikar
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Yes Umesh, maintaining the practice is easier said than done. I'm glad you liked the review. Thank you!Umesh Bhatt wrote: ↑06 Feb 2025, 21:15 Noting down about things happening around us or about our friends and relatives with whom we interact, is a good idea and many people keep diaries for that purpose. Only thing is one has to maintain and supplement it from time to time so that it becomes a good resource for some autobiographical work later in one's life.
The review is well made and given an exhaustive account of the book. Thanks.
- Neha Panikar
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Thankyou Lena! You've captured the essence of it well.Lene Lena wrote: ↑07 Feb 2025, 02:39 Your review highlights the significance of memoirs in preserving memories and family legacies. Rod Jahner's intention to document his life experiences emphasizes gratitude and storytelling. Such narratives not only honor past relationships but also serve as invaluable resources for future generations, fostering connection and understanding. It also sounds like the author is one of a kind with his ability to light up every room he enters. Thank you for this great review!
- Neha Panikar
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Thanks for your comment, Michael! I'd love to know what you thought once you've read this book.Chi Chiu Michael Mak wrote: ↑07 Feb 2025, 08:46 Another one enters the bookshelf of memoirs, faith, and plain old ordinary life. Alas, I've just finished reading a similar memoir, so I'm not reading the book right now. Might give it a shot some day though.