Being the anxious worrier that I am, always second-guessing how I'm living my life, I'm up for any kind of self-help book that put things into perspective (even if I don't follow the author's religious background). I was really open-minded to the ideas Bill had to offer, most of which are good nuggets of wisdom creating a schedule that works for you, finding affirmations that keep you calm and grounded, and organizing your relationships. His writing is concise and conversational; at times it felt like he was talking to a friend, but his outlook sometimes came across as patronizing. Halfway through the book, the stories he tells to prove his points felt repetitive, and at times, judgmental towards people who don't live his lifestyle. (For example, he downplayed the accomplishments of Olympians working hard to earn their medals as fruitless, but felt it was totally acceptable for him to take part in boating races and working hard to win first place. There are several double standards that made me do a double-take given his profession and calling in life). His book gave me the idea of just simplifying my mindset and trying not to blow things out of proportion. This is just a simple read.

We all worship Bey, so it was more than wonderful to find a book of essays celebrating her music, feminism, Southern roots, representing people of color, being an ally to the LGBTQ community, etc. Several perspectives stood out the most - "What Might A Black Girl Be In This World?", "The Elevator", "The Art of Being Beyonce", and "King Bey", to name a few. Each essay is under several pages long, making the book a breeze to read. And the variety of voices shine through, so none of them feel similar. However, the main portion of topics stemming from a personal identity through her music, fierce work ethic, and watching her legacy grow became repetitive. I'm a hardcore Beyonce fan because her music has truly helped me through good and bad times, and I've always looked up to her. That said, there are so many facets outside of her music that are equally inspiring - her fashion, film roles, positive body image, and other career milestones like Destiny's Child "Survivor" anthem, playing Foxxy Cleopatra in Austin Powers in Goldmember, her role in Dreamgirls, serenading Former Present Barack and First Lady Michelle Obama at the inaugural ball, revealing her pregnancy to Jay-Z and the world at The 2011 VMAs. Overall, the book accomplishes making you feel more inspired by Beyonce, and made me want to read more essays that I can find online and revisit her career. As good as this is, I also felt like it could've been a stronger source material too.

One of the simplest memoirs I've ever read, to be honest. I loved Israel's honest and dry writing. It's detailed enough to get the gist of how she forged letters, why she was caught, etc. It's not a page-turner as many would probably consider for a mystery novel, but it was a breeze to read.

Checked this out from the library, so I read this faster than probably how the book should be used. But it's a nice little companion to the larger original You Are a Bad Ass, if you're looking for reminders of simple things to do to remind yourself you're a bad ass.