2 out of 4 stars
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Ann Smith gives her insights and experiences of what being beautiful is all about and includes tips and advice on becoming the best a woman can be in her non-fictional book I am Beautiful (and so are You). The title grabbed my attention because I knew that saying “I am beautiful” was not meant to be a proud statement about an outward appearance. I best liked when the author shared the Webster dictionary’s definition of beauty, as it did not include anything about “looks”.
The author makes it clear that our image is not just what we see in a mirror, but it also includes our inner image. She states that what is on the inside shows on the outside and that there are many things women can do that affect how we feel and act. Ann discusses the things that women can do to keep healthy and happy, which reflect an inner beauty. There are chapters on maintaining good habits of eating healthy, exercising regularly, and thinking positively, as well as, touching on clothing fashion and the use of makeup. If I had to sum up this author’s message, I would use her own statement. Ann states:
Ann uses a few Bible verses scattered throughout her book. She also shares quite a number of books that she has read and that have helped her. She shares several real-life examples of people to demonstrate her points on the topics. However, on sharing about her life and family, it felt a bit scattered and not very clear on some details.“Beauty is so much more than looks ... There are some physical things we can do to help or enhance our outer physical appearance but real beauty comes from deep within the recesses of the heart and soul.”
I liked the four women’s perspective on being beautiful, which the author included at the end of the book. They touched on confidence, self-worth, and unconditional love as some of their discussions on defining beauty and being beautiful. However, I did not like the poor quality of the pictures of these women. One was blurry, one was a yellowish-color, and another was dark and shadowy. I also wondered who these women were in relation to the author.
Though I liked the topic and the overall message of being beautiful, I, unfortunately, cannot overlook the punctuation and grammar mistakes. For example, "prospective" was used instead of perspective in describing a man’s viewpoint. I least liked the organization of the book, as some topics were repeated throughout and some things didn’t seem to flow well in the chapter. Therefore, I rate the book I am Beautiful 2 out of 4 stars. If the book would undergo a deep editing, I would consider rating it 3 out of 4 stars.
I think the topic of being beautiful is a very important one that should be discussed and portrayed by women to the younger women and girls. Mothers may like this book to help discuss being beautiful with their daughters. Young women and teenage girls may find this book the most helpful as they are developing their self-esteem. Though men may get some benefit out of reading this book in understanding the true beauty of women, they may like reading this book the least.
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I Am Beautiful
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