Get a Life: The Guide Book by Lisa Whitehead Review
Reviewed by Lynn Short
The cover note to this book says “…………If you’re holding it in your hands, then be sure it has chosen you to work with, and not the other way around. Everything happens for a reason, even if not apparent at the time…….” So when I heard that I was to do the review for this I was prepared to accept that I had been chosen for a reason.
I have always been interested in books which encourage one to become more aware of their surroundings, of life and of themselves. This book is different from many others as it can be used like a handbook or a manual rather than just read.
Each short chapter deals with a separate thought or theme such as being happy, looking for the positive rather than the negative, having belief in yourself and many, many others. Each thought comes from Lisa Whitehead’s own experiences and she draws on ideas and thoughts from other beliefs and cultures (for example Hinduism, Buddhism, the Hawaiian practice of reconciliation and forgiveness), in order to explain them more clearly and further one’s understanding. She includes interesting and enlightening quotes from famous and historical people. You are inspired to recognise that you have a choice in everything you do and to speak your own truth and not always be governed by the thoughts of others. Not all the ideas are necessarily new ones, but provide interesting alternative ways of looking at life.
Get a Life! can be read straight through cover to cover, or over a period of time chapter by chapter. If you wish you can dip in and out, picking out the chapter that you feel is most relevant and helpful for you at a particular time. It is easy to read and is written in a conversational style – as the author herself says, she has written it like her blog, as and when each thought has come to her.
At the end of each chapter there are exercises and this is the one element which gives me a problem. It took me back to the training sessions I attended over several years while at work when we were asked to write something down to illustrate the current topic and perhaps make a plan to deal with it; at that point my mind would go blank and I would almost start to panic. So for me this part of each chapter was unsettling – but then maybe that’s why I was chosen to review this book – maybe that is what I need to overcome and deal with and Get a Life! is there to help.
I would recommend this book for anyone who wants to take a fresh look at their life.
Rating: 4/5
RRP: £9.99
Available to buy from Amazon here.
