I haven't read any other reviews, so my apologies if this is what everyone else is already saying. This book probably didn't need to be written. However, it includes information that would have been helpful when reading The Art of Tidying:

1. Illustrations to demonstrate her method of folding & organizing, since we all had to go to YouTube to figure it out.

2. A bit more discussion of how to tackle the "komono" or miscellaneous category of possessions. That's anything that isn't clothes, books, paper, or memorabilia. So, you know, just your electronics and office equipment and cleaning supplies and DVDs and hobby supplies and decorations and makeup and first aid stuff and everything in your bathroom and your ENTIRE kitchen. It was nice to see that broken down a bit, with specific instructions on how she likes to organize bathrooms, kitchen, etc.

Had a lot of fun reading this with Henry, but has anyone else noticed that Roald Dahl was kind of a jerk about overweight people?

I can't decide what I think of the author's style, it seemed really detached at times (and so did Eilis). But I was a sucker for the story even if the ending left me feeling depressed.

I wasn't in the mood for a self-help type book when my book club read this, but about 15 pages in I had to turn to my husband and say, "Ok, this is actually really, really interesting."

Stuff that provoked the most thought/discussion:

--We're "wired for story," so recognize that we're doing it. Use sh**y first drafts (SFD) when we feel angry/hurt/scared to work out whether we're telling ourselves stories that are true or that are just a self-protecting mechanism.

--Guilt and empathy vs shame

--Everyone is doing the best that they can.

--Setting boundaries

First review: Ok, I'm only on page 43 but I have Concerns. He tells you to complete an assessment on his website, which will tell you how much money you need to retire. I completed the assessment and learned that we can stop saving for retirement RIGHT THIS MINUTE and we'll have 3 million dollars available when the time comes. Because I am for sure going to have an annual return of 12% on my retirement savings. So, you know, go me!

Of course, I am taking this with many many huge grains of salt, and I'm sure there will be a lot of information in this book that will be useful and motivating. HOWEVER. Telling a 36-year-old with a very average household income that her family is fine to stop saving for retirement seems about a million kinds of irresponsible.

2nd review: Finished. My beef with the assessment calculator aside, this book would be a great one to give to someone who doesn't have retirement on their radar and needs to get a fire lit under them. He's encouraging but also gives some sobering numbers to illustrate what you could be looking at if saving for retirement isn't a priority.

The story is fun, but I had to modify some of the language for Henry as I read it out loud. I read this as a kid and liked it, but had no idea it was written in 1952!

Such an fascinating, well-written book. I learned so much and would have loved to listen to this on audio to get a better feel for the different names and accents. As a protagonist I think Ifemelu walked the fine line between prickly and flat-out awesome. I liked her. And I wish her blog was real. I'm curious to read Half of a Yellow Sun now, since so many people are saying they liked that one better.

People really are the worst. Especially rapists and the people who help them get away with it.