Such a popular book right now. Or maybe it was, and I’m late to the party. All the hype definitely played a part in me picking it up and checking it out. Not so much because I thought it was something I needed/wanted to read, but because it seemed to have a following and I was intrigued by the cool people around me that had great things to say about it.
With that being said, I downloaded the sample on my Kindle before I decided to purchase the book (add to the ever-growing list of reasons I love my Kindle). Not only because I wasn’t sure I would actually read it, but also because it cost more than I generally like to pay for books. Upon reading the sample, I quickly realized this would be an easy book to get through as it is broken down into tiny little ‘chapters’. Perfect for someone who wasn’t sure they wanted to read the book in the first place.
The book felt like a blog. Being that I am a blogger, I didn’t necessarily hate that. Being that I enjoy books and blogs as separate things, I didn’t love that. The author touches on a lot of subjects in an almost, thoughtful without answers way. I find this intriguing in that it created a mental environment for readers to think and process alongside rather than offering a quick fix, 10 step program, type of read. The author does not go into many details as to the specifics of the change she implemented in her life. This allows the reader to make it what they will and to somewhat translate the message for themselves.
There were a lot of things that I take away from the book. There were a lot of things I needed to hear and think through in my own life. The biggest thing being that it is okay to say no. And also, to be reminded that it is pride to think everyone needs you all the time. It created small, safe opportunities to self evaluate.
Even though this was an easy read, it took me a long time to get through. This became my “waiting in line” book. Rarely was I able to sit down for long periods of time and read as it was hard to get into being that it is not written as one cohesive, continuous thought. So I read bits and piece in lines or waiting rooms or pre-meeting at coffee shop. And it definitely worked well for that and offered good bits to think over, and just enough to mull over and process during those 15 minute segments of the day.
Have you read Present Over Perfect? What did you take away from it?
