Review: The Wisdom of Sundays: Life-Changing Insights from Super Soul Conversations by Oprah Winfrey

5 stars for The Wisdom of Sundays: Life-Changing Insights from Super Soul Conversations by Oprah Winfrey.

This book is chock-full of wisdom and great words, words that come together to form meaningful sentences which then transformed into beautifully expressed passages that vibrate with life-altering energy that ultimately instil a sense of peace and calm.

Many of the passages from this book resonate with me and deeply. As I read, I am like OMG, I can totally relate to this and this and this. It is like a spark to my heart, a light bulb clicking on and illuminating the truth. I don't mean the truth as in new information being revealed, but that of what is already there, the truths of life, something I already know all along. And then seeing them put in words, elevate it to a different level; I can see it, feel it and understand it.

Though Oprah Winfrey writes simply, I can feel the power of her words. Deeply. I can feel the simple pleasures of life shining through her words of wisdom and taking root in my heart. I love all her personal essays, the opening passage to each of the ten chapters. The ones on awakening, intention, mindfulness, forgiveness, grace and gratitude, love and connection leave a deep impression on my mind especially. I read those passages not once, not twice, but many times, to allow myself to soak in the present moment of reading and let those feelings wash over me repeatedly.

The Wisdom of Sundays has fulfilled its purpose well. It has helped me uncover the little spaces in my life, find comfort in them, gain insight to their meaning, and see the way forward to an extraordinary new existence; that life matters, that each of us matters and makes a difference. The simplest of things, when appreciated with deep respect, take on a completely new meaning. When we slow down, not only do we allow ourselves to appreciate the simple things in life, we also allow ourselves to delight in the present moment. Following the insights, I find myself making the effort to be more mindful, to slow down to appreciate the little things that I have mostly taken for granted for bulk of my life, such as the changing blue hues of dawn as the eastern sunrise gradually breaks over the horizon, the swaying of willow branches and leaves in the wind along the path less taken, the smell of freshly cut grass, the sound of birds singing and chirping, the sight of bees flying from flowers to flowers, sipping nectar and collecting grains of pollen.

The above said, I do find one downside - which is not exactly a negative in this case, but more of a weakness, I feel - to this book. And that is that these super soul conversations are extracts; they are a section of the original conversations. They may be the gist of different conversations, but still, only a part of the bigger picture. It will be nice to know more than that portion of the conversation, perhaps the full context in some even. Then again, on the flipside, because these super soul conversations are contributed by many - some world-renowned spiritual teachers, others much-admired visionary leaders, best-selling writers - most, if not all, have written quite a number of books, there is no lack of self-help books to turn to if I want to add more to my reading list.

I think the beauty of this book, The Wisdom of Sundays, is that Oprah Winfrey does an remarkable job extracting life-changing insights from all conversations in her self-help talk show, Super Soul Sunday. There are so many super soul passages that I will like to list down in this one review, but to do so is to quote the book in its entirety, which in no way am I doing it. So here's the deal. Read The Wisdom of Sundays yourself.

Review: Retire Inspired: It's Not an Age, It's a Financial Number by Chris Hogan

5 stars for Retire Inspired: It's Not an Age, It's a Financial Number by Chris Hogan.

I have at long last read Retire Inspired. This book has been on my reading list ever since my significant other read it last year. I promise myself that I will read it this year and read it soon. Now that the deal is done, I can finally upgrade the status of this book from unread in my reading list to read in my read list.

Be inspired!
Plan for your future
Invest in your dreams
Retirement will no longer be an age thing
Goodbye to the have-to stage of survival and welcome to the want-to stage of living

This is one amazing book on retirement, retirement planning, budgeting and investing. It is educational, encouraging, empowering, inspirational and insightful.

Real-life examples are included, by way of illustration, to bring across the meaning of high-definition retirement dream clearly. Concepts are presented with easy to understand explanations and calculations. Strategies are shown on how to retire well. Basically, this book is written to inspire us and to help us avoid the pitfalls that can set us back from the retirement of our dreams.

One thing to note is that this book is written with the U.S. market in mind. Many of the items covered on the topic of legal, tax, estate planning, insurance and real estate issues that surround the subject of retirement cater specifically to the U.S. market, but even so, I feel that the advice given is very much practical and easy to relate in countries with similar applicable rules.

I like that Chris Hogan explains everything in layman's terms. One excellent example which stands out among the rest is his comparison of the stock markets with supermarkets - the concept of the market where things are being bought and sold. He explains that when it comes to investing, "the market" which comprises different types of markets say, the stock market, the bond market, the capital market, works the same way. Investors buy and sell the investments and prices of these investments go up and down all the time, just like the products in a supermarket. To further illustrate his point, he talks about buying strawberries, a small juicy red fruit that everyone is familiar with. Hogan says that he notices that the price of strawberries goes up and down throughout the year and that they are more expensive during off-season months, but cost a lot lesser when they are in season. This is one excellent example of fluctuation in the value of strawberries which a consumer will take into account in the buying decision. And that is also how the stock market works; stocks go through similar fluctuations. I am not new to the stock market having worked in a stockbroking firm before. But I have never thought of it in such a manner by way of explanation. Hogan has shown that it is so much easier to illustrate an abstract concept by analogy with something so everyday such as strawberries. His writing style impresses me so and gives me the feeling that he is working with us not only to help us reach a good understanding but also to see things the way he wants us to.

There are many things to like about this book. Perhaps what I like most is that it is not purely about money, figures and wealth building, it is also about family and relationships. It stresses the importance of managing family and relationships, the most important investments in life. Because if these precious investments are not managed the right way, then all of the retirement planning will have been for naught. To put this point across, Chris Hogan even goes to the extent of sharing his personal stories and life experiences with us.

To sum it up, this is a book about budget, dreams, plans, goals, efforts, sacrifices, commitment and even boundaries. It is about so many things. But really, at the end of the day, it is about spending retirement years doing what you want to do instead of what you have to do. For that, Chris Hogan poses some questions for his readers, questions that pretty much recapitulate the bottom line of Retiring Inspired and provide food for thought.

What are your priorities?
Who is important to you?
What do you want your legacy to be?
What do you want to leave your loved ones with?

Having read this book, Chris Hogan has convinced me that it is possible to retire inspired. I am grateful and thankful that my significant other has also read this book (in fact, he read it first). So now, we both have the same understanding about retiring well and are taking action to work towards achieving the retirement of our dreams. I certainly do not want to retire broke, tired or stressed. I want my retirement to be a normal one at least, not the burden or nightmare retirement. And I know it can be done.

You can do it too! You can make a real difference in your life, in your family, in the lives of your children and possibly even in the lives of your children's children. Read Retire Inspired. Be inspired. Take action. Retire well. Retire inspired.

Review: Healthy Hair Rehab Now! 3 Steps to Fabulous Healthy Hair by Jacqueline Tarrant

4 stars for Healthy Hair Rehab Now! 3 Steps to Fabulous Healthy Hair by Jacqueline Tarrant.

I communicated with colleague-turned-friend J lately and was told that she has expected me to post a review on the last day of last month to make it a high 5. That and also that the last day of last month happened to be a leap day, a date that usually occurs every four years, which makes this date all the more special. Her comments sent a wave of emotions over me. First, pleasure, then regret, and finally nonchalance.

It is certainly a pleasure to know that someone has been checking out my review blog every now and then. There is nothing sadder than floating around out there like a spectre in cyberspace, all alone, talking and writing to yourself. It feels good to know that at least my writings have not been in vain. But as the happy feeling faded off, it was soon replaced by regret. Yes, it was a pity indeed that I could not make it in time to post a review, any review, on the 29th February of this year. Frankly speaking, it comes as no surprise to me that Friend J has this expectation because it would have been mine too. But that would have been the old me. The old me would have strived to finish reading no matter what and made sure a review was posted right on that rare leap day. As the feeling of regret eased off, the new me gave a nonchalant shrug. It did not matter, not that much anyway. A date is just a date. It is enough to know that on this 29th February, I finished reading two books. Hey! Not one but two, ok. The reason my reviews could not have seen daylight was because I was not able to find the time to sit down and put my thoughts and writing in order. The new me takes it easy. No rush job will do. I am no longer willing to stress myself up over such self-imposed posting deadline and risk losing hair over it. Speaking of which, my review is on this book that stresses that every strand matters. I cannot agree more. Seriously.

Hair is a very important aspect of our lives. It is not only a matter of physical appearance, our hair also connects us to our emotional beauty. In today's world, the hair experience is very powerful, not just for women, but men as well. Both men and women place a lot of self-esteem to their hair, so it should never be dismissed as something trivial. A bad hair day, literally and figuratively, can have a devastating impact on any individual. Ask any adult, woman especially, and the likelihood of her nodding her head wholeheartedly is almost guaranteed.

Healthy Hair Rehab Now! is a book written on hair and its related issues for women and men alike. What makes this topic so relevant is that at some point in time, almost everyone will be concerned with hair thinning or hair loss. This day may come later for some, but for many, it may arrive earlier than expected. Hair problem is a mystery and will remain so when we do not seek to understand the underlying causes. Only by understanding the root cause of hair problems can we take steps to avoid, prevent, overcome or even slow down the process of hair damage, breakage, thinning and loss. To this effect, the author uses an interesting approach to shed light on hair issues, encouraging readers to look beyond the surface of the problem and to probe deeper. The writer also emphasizes the importance of knowing our personal hair facts such as the hair condition, texture, type and density, as they can help to improve and maximize our hair's style, health and beauty. Most important of all, this heightened awareness of our own hair and thus health will help to give us a sense of peace.

The condition of our hair is a good indicator of the condition of our health. If you have the unfortunate experience of strand fallout, or worse still, been in an ongoing battle with hair problems, I will highly recommend reading this book. It may not answer all your questions but at the very least, you will learn what it takes to have a truly healthy head of hair.

How well do you know your hair?

Review: 30 Days to Happiness: Daily Meditations and Actions for Finding True Joy Within Yourself by Rhonda Sciortino

4 stars for 30 Days to Happiness: Daily Meditations and Actions for Finding True Joy Within Yourself by Rhonda Sciortino.

I read this book because I am curious about its content. Is it possible to find true happiness in a mere 30 days?

What is happiness? According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, happiness is a state of well-being and contentment. Sure, everyone wants to be happy, but not many know the way to get there and this explanation of a feeling of being happy doesn't actually tell us much, does it?

This book tells us what happiness, or rather, true happiness is. It is a treasure trove of rich wisdom and practical tips for acquiring and maintaining true happiness. It recognises the need to first determine that which stands in the way of our being happy and then the steps to take in order to pursue, attain and maintain happiness. It tells us how courage, honesty, reliability, listening and many more can help with lighting the path to a happier life and how the choice to stay positive will lead to genuine sustainable happiness.

I like that each chapter is short and starts off with a quote. Some of the quotes actually stick with me that I decide to include them in my list of quotes taken verbatim from books I have read. The concepts are easy to grasp and self reflect upon. Overall, this little book is a do-good book. It tells us to be good, to do good and to improve upon our character. It is a good book, all right, but the reality is, it is easier said than done, especially for the recommended actions at the end of each chapter. I know I am being skeptical, but seriously, I doubt anyone can attain that level of goodness listed herein.

30 Days to Happiness is actually not a 30-day effort in the real sense of things, but rather a daily practice to be adopted as a way of life. This book is after all only a guide, one that spells everything out in words and in print, to bring us closer to inner peace and joy. To attain and maintain genuine happiness, there must be a willingness to change, commitment to improve and the perseverance to see the actions through to where we want to be.

Daily actions to finding true happiness. Anyone?

Review: Spark Joy: An Illustrated Guide to the Japanese Art of Tidying by Marie Kondo

3 stars for Spark Joy: An Illustrated Guide to the Japanese Art of Tidying by Marie Kondo.

Marie Kondo is the envy of most, if not all, simply for what she has done by turning her passion into a business, and a successful one at that judging from her TV shows and millions of copies of books sold. The thing is, precisely because of all the hype, I have been put off reading her book until now.

According to Marie Kondo, the goal in tidying is to create a living environment filled with the things we love and what matters ultimately is keeping the things that bring us joy and discarding those that do not. She believes that tidying up is more than simply deciding what to keep and what not. She advocates that it is a priceless opportunity for learning, one that allows us to reassess our relationship with our possessions and in doing so, create the lifestyle that brings us the most joy. Hence, Spark Joy.

The book is aptly titled. Short and sweet and to the point. It is interesting to read about the Japanese way of tidying, specifically the KonMari method. Her illustrations are charmingly good; easy to understand and self-explanatory. But that's all to it. I will say her methods and solutions are kind of peculiar. Perhaps that's because it is the Japanese way or maybe it is just uniquely hers. But no matter which, it is not likely to be a method I will use in my decluttering. For one, it sure feels funny to give thanks to my belongings before discarding them. It may be a method I employ for young children during a clean-up exercise, but not for an adult, and definitely not me.

I actually read Spark Joy first, way before I started reading Change Your Habits, Change Your Life. But in the end, I finish the latter first as I have difficulty picking this one up where I leave off almost every single time. It just doesn't spark the - reading or tidying or cleaning - joy that I expect it to. Sorry to say, there are a few times I almost feel like giving up. I am glad when the end is in sight.

Though I still cannot understand what the hype has been all about after reading Spark Joy that does not give me sparks of happiness, I think it may still be a good book for those trying to get organised.

Review: Change Your Habits, Change Your Life: Strategies that Transformed 177 Average People into Self-Made Millionaires by Tom Corley

5 stars for Change Your Habits, Change Your Life: Strategies that Transformed 177 Average People into Self-Made Millionaires by Tom Corley.

This book reminds me of another book originally published in 1989 titled The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey. It's kind of embarrassing to say this, I have crossed path with that book umpteen times over the years but I have never read that book nor intended to. Somehow that title just never appeals to me. Now that I have read this book, I may get down to reading The 7 Habits some day. One day.

There is pretty much nothing new that we don't already know about the key to transforming our lives. Habits. It is all about habits. Good habits versus bad habits. Rich habits versus poor habits. New habits versus old habits. Eliminating old poor habits versus replacing them with new rich habits. Yes, rich habits not only put us on the path to success, they will also put us on the path to happiness. And ain't success and happiness on everybody's radar?

However, before we can change for the better, we need to first understand habits. This book is a good place to start. It provides a good understanding to why habits exist and how they are formed. Armed with a better understanding to habits, the book then goes further to highlight the powerful habits that create success before revealing to us the strategies to getting rid of habits that are holding us back in life.

After reading Change Your Habits, Change Your Life, I am beyond happy to say that unconsciously, I am already practising many of what the author coined as powerful habits that create success. This book helps to reaffirm my habits, that they are good habits and I need only to keep up with the good work and perhaps make a few other changes, to fulfill my own version of success and happiness.

The change has started.
My life is changing.
It will never be the same.

Review: Slow: Live Life Simply by Brooke McAlary

3 stars for Slow: Live Life Simply by Brooke McAlary.

January's been a busy month with lots of changes and adjustments. I don't remember ever posting just one book review in an entire month. It feels just so... not me. Where has all my time gone to? Deep down, actually, I do know the answer. I have made the deliberate decision to slow down, to exercise more, to rest more and to not stay up late into the night to read.

That brings me to this book. I read it because I like the laid-back title. I do admit, the thickness of this hardcover book put me off initially, but eventually, I decide to borrow it from the library and lug it all the way home.

All things considered, this is not bad a book on self-help except for the sheer volume. I enjoy reading the part where the author talks about mindfulness and her version of a slow life, which in her mind's eye is that of a cabin in the woods. I believe each of us has our own version of the cabin in the woods. It may be a house by the beach, or the beach itself, or a tree or a river or even a hilltop. It is a place where we want to seek refuge in when the hustle and bustle of life seems too much for us to bear.

Truth be told, in this Year of Less, not only am I taking action to drop things out slowly until I am left with only what I deem necessary, I am also looking forward to my version of a cabin in the woods, to slow down and to live life simply. To that end, this book is a good introduction to why a slower life is a more contented one and how we can go about achieving it.

I agree with the author that there is no perfect way to live life simply, only the recognition of what to rid of slowly but surely until one is left with what is necessary and with what makes one happy. I also agree with the way the author describes slow living. So, I will end this review off with a passage - that I really like - taken verbatim from the book.

"Slow living is a curious mix of being prepared and being prepared to let go. Caring more and caring less. Saying yes and saying no. Being present and walking away. Doing the important things and forgetting those that aren't. Grounded and free. Heavy and light. Organised and flexible. Complex and simple."

Review: The Year of Less: How I Stopped Shopping, Gave Away My Belongings, and Discovered Life is Worth More Than Anything You Can Buy in a Store by Cait Flanders

5 stars for The Year of Less: How I Stopped Shopping, Gave Away My Belongings, and Discovered Life is Worth More Than Anything You Can Buy in a Store by Cait Flanders.

I chanced upon this book last October during one of my weekly visits to the library. I am not sure what to make of this self-help memoir at that time but I decided there and then to procrastinate in reading and make it my first review of the new year instead. Looking back, the choice to make this book my first read of Year 2020 turns out to be a life-changing decision.

The Year of Less is practical, sensible and very real. It is packed full of lessons for all of us on finding meaning in our lives. The author is a former binge consumer turned mindful consumer of everything. She shares in her book how she rid of excess things and live life based on experiences rather than worldly possessions, how she practices living intentionally with a goal in mind and be a more mindful consumer, and how she embraces minimalism and learns to live with less.

Suffice to say, this author is proof enough that "where there's a will, there's a way". If we are willing to let go of the things we think we need, if we are willing to walk away ready to change our life, we can have a life we really want. Ultimately, it boils down to changing habits and routines; changing the fixed way of doing things that we have unconsciously spent years perfecting.

I think I have never made a better choice by appointing this book my first book (review) of the year. It certainly paves the way for a great start. The author's personal stories motivate me to stop shopping, simplify, declutter and focus on things that are important to me. She has also inspired me to be braver in my life, to let go of the things I thought I need and get out of my comfort zone to pursue a life I really want.

I foresee Year 2020 to be a year of Less. My year of less, but also a year of more. Because less is more. Less quantity, more quality. I have finally plucked up the courage to turn the life I truly want into reality. With changes come uncertainties - that is for sure - but I also know that whenever we let go of something negative in our lives, we make room for something positive. I am excited and looking forward to saying goodbye to negative vibes, lost money, lost dreams and lost opportunities, Year 2020 shall be the beginning of my saved money, saved dreams and saved opportunities.

If you want changes but have been afraid, be it of uncertainties or failure, then this book is a must-read. You will be inspired to take steps towards a better future for yourself and the people that matter to you.