Book Review - Awaken the Giant Within

Awaken the Giant Within: How to Take Immediate Control of Your Mental, Emotional, Physical and Financial Destiny! by Anthony Robbins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this one. It's focus relies on changing your mindset and thoughts in order to instill change in other aspects of your life. It was pretty motivational and a quick listen. I am a firm believer in the power of behavioral therapy and how mindset can really change all aspects of life. This can be applied to finances, diet/physical changes, emotional and being happy and all that's in between.

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Book Review - The Total Money Makeover

The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness by Dave Ramsey
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I listened to this as an audio book. I do this with numerous self-help type and nonfiction books throughout the day and in the car. My kids don't mind most of the ones I listened to, but this one my kids whined every time I put it on. As my children put it, "not the guy who yells at you!" I think he's just trying to make his point, but it does sound pretty forceful in the audio. The ideas in this book are a great starting point. I feel if you are in debt and able to stick with the plan you can definitely work your way out. My biggest gripe with this book was lumping everyone in the same category. Some of us are in debt due to circumstances like medical or loss of jobs or market crashes that were somewhat out of our control. While we are inching our way out of debt, my debt didn't come from too many lattes or clothing purchases. And the $1000 emergency fund wouldn't have covered my time in a coma on ventilators or my daughter's genetic testing. Our income is substantially lower than what his examples give, but the concept still applies, it's just going to take us a lot longer than the year or two the 20 somethings making 50k a year each in a small apartment were able to finish in. I do like the plan and the way it's laid out, I would suggest using the plan as an outline and then finessing to your specific circumstances.

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Book Review - Grit

Grit by Angela Duckworth
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this one. I love the concept of grit, that talent only takes a person so far and so often it's those who are truly dedicated, passionate and who don't give up that succeed where others may struggle or fail. I think this is an important lesson to teach my kids especially when some of the things they love, they don't fit the mold for. It also helps for my daughter who was born with talent, but doesn't care to work hard at it because she's just naturally good.
I can see where it might fall flat for others. It almost reminded me of a movie in which the trailer (TED talk) had all the good and key points and the rest of the actual movie (book) didn't add much in the end. I enjoyed the entire thing, but I didn't get a ton more from the book than I did from the TED talk. If you have the time, want a few more stories and examples then read the book; if you're short on time or just want the gist, the TED talk might do enough for you.

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Book Review - The Willpower Instinct

The Willpower Instinct: How Self-Control Works, Why It Matters, and What You Can Do to Get More of It by Kelly McGonigal
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this one a lot. So much that this is one of those books I feel I would like to have sitting on my shelf to reference at a later date. It's a mix between the science and the practice of willpower. It's written as a class, and she suggests taking a chapter at a time. I actually listened to the entire book all the way through and then went back to focus own each chapter. I think it would be really useful for anyone trying to change a habit or addiction they are trying to overcome. Obviously serious addictions would need professional intervention but those that can be changed through personal habits would benefit from her suggestions. This book focuses more on how we can make changes than others that focus on the science behind habits itself.

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Book Review - The More of Less: Finding the Life You Want Under Everything You Own

The More of Less: Finding the Life You Want Under Everything You Own by Joshua Becker
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this one. As I'm constantly trying to declutter but find myself holding on to "stuff" just because, Becker motivated me to take some more serious measures. This book helped me get super inspired to really go through and get rid of more than 2 carfuls of what I felt was already pretty simplistic home. He really helped me look at stuff in the sense of so much of it holding me back because who wants to spend an hour moving knick-knacks to dust and caring for extra items we don't even use? Definitely a book to read when you need motivation to let go of "things."

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