Self-help

“Awakening Your Creative Soul” by Sandra Duran Wilson

Awakening Your Creative Soul: A 52-Week Journey to Artistic Discovery Book Cover Awakening Your Creative Soul: A 52-Week Journey to Artistic Discovery
Sandra Duran Wilson
Arts, Crafts & Hobbies
North Light Books
October 17, 2018
paperback
624



"Awakening Your Creative Soul: A 52-Week Journey to Artistic Discovery" by Sandra Duran Wilson is partially an inspiration, partially step by step mixed media book. Sometimes it is hard for me to distinguish where you should follow your own concepts when even the paint colors are names in the details section, and when you should go on your own, exploring own creativity and values.

Beautifully illustrated with the author's example arts, the book is deeply personal and encourages travel down your soul while working on the visual art projects. In fact, one of the projects evolves around a piece of the music, and how you do respond to it. The book is also a very spiritual one, although drawing equally from Native American as from India or other Eastern cultures. Its organization, weekly chapters grouped by the seasons, reflect concepts of Easter philosophy itself.

What I did not appreciate at first, but later realized is a part of the mix media art, is how many different suppliers are required to finish any of the projects. Papers, glues, paints, and this is just a beginning. And after you came back from the visit to the local art supplies store, you can also incorporate a number of items found around the house to create three-dimensional construction. At the same time, I recall at least one sculpture project.

I would recommend "Awakening Your Creative Soul to people wanting to explore visual arts on the more intimate, spiritual level.

I have received a free copy of the book for the purpose of this review from NetGalley. The links in this post contain affiliate code.

Entrepreneur Voices on Emotional Intelligence

Entrepreneur Voices on Emotional Intelligence Book Cover Entrepreneur Voices on Emotional Intelligence
The Staff of Entrepreneur Media, Inc.
Self-help, Productivity
Entrepreneur Press
October 30, 2018
paperback
254



"Entrepreneur Voices on Emotional Intelligence" turned out totally not what I expected. Being a middle manager in a corporation, emotional intelligence is something I want to learn.

However, as the series title implies, the book is more geared towards the entrepreneurs, owners of small businesses, which gives the book a slightly different focus. Sure, basic concepts remain the same... I ultimately decided to read the whole book.

"Entrepreneur Voices on Emotional Intelligence" is written as a series of short chapters, almost like a collection of blog posts, each written by a different author. They are easy to digest and full of bulleted lists for quick reference. My favorite chapter? The one on recognizing emotions, taking cues from body language. Also, using emotions to market yourself or your product was very interesting.

Even if you are not a sole proprietor of a small company, you are going to learn a thing or two - and if you are, you will be able to put instantly in practice the lessons on surviving difficulties with clients and employees.

I have received a free copy of the book for the purpose of this review from NetGalley. The links in this post contain affiliate code.

Life Admin: How I Learned to Do Less, Do Better, and Live More by Elizabeth F. Emens

Life Admin: How I Learned to Do Less, Do Better, and Live More Book Cover Life Admin: How I Learned to Do Less, Do Better, and Live More
Elizabeth F. Emens
Productivity
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
January 1, 2019
hardcover
304


I reached for "Life Admin: How I Learned to Do Less, Do Better, and Live More" by Elizabeth F. Emens not really knowing what to expect. After all, each one of us has some subconscious idea what admin is, but it can be sometimes difficult to define. For me, it is running errands, paying bills, getting things done. Crossing off items from the to-do list. Busy work, really, when you get to the bottom of it. That's essentially what the book is about - figuring out how to manage your life admin in more efficient way.

In the beginning, I was not even sure I will be able to get through the book. It starts almost like a dissertation in sociology. I was close to giving up, bored and irritated by all the thoughts on ‘gender roles’ and stuff like that. Luckily, if you last long enough, practical advice, tips, and real people stories will follow. The pages are filled with great advice about the division of work within the household, brilliant ideas like creating and participating in admin support or sharing groups, and even more obvious suggestions as to which shared apps to consider. Discussions on when you need (or not need) to use of personal assistants, cleaning help and babysitters can also be found.

One of my favorite chapters was an in-depth analysis of how different people approach their life admin. All people, according to the author, can be divided into four groups, each one handling their admin differently. It was really interesting to read what types of strategies each group employs to deal with their life admin, and you can actually learn a lot to help you just by studying other types of personalities.

The last chapter is a bit out there. It is "imagine life" type of list. It does its job of making you think and dream of what could be done differently in the world to make life admin less of a burden. It's a combination of imagined and real-life stories about how the outside forces (government, companies etc.) could operate in a way that would simplify the admin they imposing on people.

I would suggest "Life Admin" to anybody struggling to keep up with their life admin, is it for a first time in your life having to handle it alone, or just hoping to keep on top of all the things you need to take care, once and for all.

I have received a free copy of the book for the purpose of this review from NetGalley. The links in this post contain affiliate code.

New Minimalism: Decluttering and Design for Sustainable, Intentional Living

New Minimalism: Decluttering and Design for Sustainable, Intentional Living Book Cover New Minimalism: Decluttering and Design for Sustainable, Intentional Living
Cary Telander Fortin & Kyle Louise Quilici
Sasquatch Books
January 2, 2018
hardcover
208

I reached for "New Minimalism: Decluttering and Design for Sustainable, Intentional Living" looking more for how to do decor in newly rearranged living room than decluttering. I had read at least 5 decluttering books in the last few months, and I did not think there is any more to say on the subject. And perhaps the authors did not intend to say more, but they succeed in doing it their own way. Sure, almost any book on the subject will encourage you to figure out your "why", why do you want to start living minimally and declutter your house. In "New Minimalism", however, you will also find the generalistic, but nevertheless useful analysis of four types, or archetypes of how we interact with our belongings - and how to address each one when it comes up.

Another way the authors manage to put their own spin on decluttering craze are their environmental concerns and tips to do things in the Earth-friendly way. Some of the things I never thought about was, for example, to donate your items, thus allowing others to use them rather than end on landfill, but then pack your donations in paper bags that can be recycled.

On that note, however, the authors go a bit too far in their criticism of the cleaning supplies as "toxic chemicals". I am sure there are compounds not good for us in some of the cleaners, but just because acetic acid is called vinegar and you use lemon as a source of citric acid does not mean you avoided chemistry altogether. And while many chemicals are indeed toxic, there are also so-called natural sources of toxins. Cyanide with your almonds, anybody?

While I was disappointed the authors did not spend all that much time talking about the decor overall, the few tips they provided were quite useful. Enough to distinguish it from all other decluttering books out there, starting from the Marie Kondo "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up" to "Unf*ck Your Habitat" by Rachel Hoffman. And if you never read any of those, "New Minimalism" is definitely a good start.

I have received a free copy of the book for the purpose of this review from NetGalley. The links in this post contain affiliate codes.

“Just Breathe” by Dan Brulé

Just Breathe: Mastering Breathwork for Success in Life, Love, Business, and Beyond Book Cover Just Breathe: Mastering Breathwork for Success in Life, Love, Business, and Beyond
Dan Brulé
Atria/Enliven Books
March 28, 2017
Hardcover
224


I have a lot of mixed feeling after reading "Just Breathe: Mastering Breathwork for Success in Life, Love, Business, and Beyond" by Dan Brulé I have very mixed feelings about the book.

The book contains an extensive review of various breathing techniques, organized by "application": healing, motivating, developing spirituality. It is accompanied by stories of yogis, soldiers, doctors - those who invented the techniques and those who breathing helped in some way.

At the same time, by the third chapter you get overwhelmed by all those techniques and start wondering what is actually right choice for you? On which one one should you focus on?

Sure, you can boil all of the breathing approaches down to two types: Conscious Breathing and Breath Awareness. And perhaps just focus on practicing those two daily, as described in the first chapter. Or... you can decide to spend 21 days to work on a larger selection of breathing techniques, different one each day. Luckily, this 3-week challenge at the end of the book summarizes the knowledge for you in a more practical way than all the preceding chapters, which are really overloaded with details.

However, if you are interested in exploring breathing to help you in everyday problems, give "Just Breathe" a try. I am sure you will find a helpful tidbit...

I have received a free copy of the book for the purpose of this review from Goodreads. The links in this post may contain affiliate codes.