Tara Daves

Clear, balanced, actionable

Revisado: 07-16-24

The stories, suggested actions, and broad view of the world we inhabit physically and culturally come together in this compelling read. I found myself disappointed it was finished, and I plan to listen again to catch more of the nuance and will try to incorporate the tips and resources.

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Better calm the woo woo alarm before proceeding

Revisado: 04-20-21

For an empath with a strong spiritual sense as well as some scientific understanding and logical reasoning, I found myself shaking my head. A lot. The author is an MD yet proposes many, many non-scientific theories and remedies. Her knowledge of nutrition is partial at best, and her singular endorsement of "organic" (what she calls "clean" and "living" - as opposed to "dead" - food - huh wut) and gluten avoidance is not sound advice for the population at large, empathic or not. Also, there is zero evidence to the idea that ionization "cleans" air and gets rid of literally every noxious substance you can name (all it does for some, not all, particles is give them a static charge so they tend to stick to surfaces instead of flying around, and salt lamps don't even do that) and it DOES NOT KILL GERMS OR VIRUSES. This is potentially dangerous advice, especially during a pandemic! Not to mention the irritation it could cause for asthmatics.

Nevertheless, if you can accept the basics of minimizing unhealthy behaviors and maximizing healthy ones, it's ok.

Personally, my one strong takeaway is the fact that I can learn to be the empath that I am without the burden of absorbing others' negativity. I honestly didn't know that was possible apart from complete isolation. And for that I'm grateful.

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A little woo-woo for my taste

Revisado: 09-17-20

The placebo effect exists and it's real. I have no doubt that some things happen without a physical cause, and I believe that the substance we call "life" is more than atoms and molecules bumping into one another. Yet in this book are a few scientifically-disproved theories being dispensed as fact, and many of the anecdotes sound pretty sketchy. Having said that, as one who has difficulty meditating - heck, I even have difficulty sleeping - because my thinking brain and its stress 100% runs the show, I do look forward to giving the 3-week suggested meditation practice a try. I've wasted more time doing less valuable things.

Possibly my most important take-away is the need for persistence and patience. I love the example of the stallion turning toward the mares and being repeatedly, gently yet firmly, redirected ahead.

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esto le resultó útil a 11 personas

Enlightening examples

Revisado: 07-08-20

This is an enlightening, if somewhat shallow, look into the psyche of holding onto clutter.

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esto le resultó útil a 3 personas

Fantastic follow-up

Revisado: 07-07-20

If you haven't read Expect to Win, you'll enjoy this book. But if you have, you'll absolutely maximize the benefits by adding this sequel. Carla's Pearls are worth their weight in gold. And Carla is "good people" for sure.

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Well-researched and up-to-date... mostly

Revisado: 08-26-19

Bailor's excellent reading of his book keeps me engaged, and I find it well-written and compelling. Much of the research is on the cutting edge, in stark contrast to the US government guidelines, and I find myself absolutely convinced of the verity of the premise given in the title, that the calorie's role in weight and health is not backed by evidence.

There are at least two "facts" mentioned in the book which have been disproven (whether their inclusion is a matter of timing or motive, I can't guess): 1. we now know that sugar does NOT make kids hyper, and 2. it is also not a requirement that everyone drink 64 oz of water each day (and without enough salt, it could be dangerous). My main criticism, however, is that the assertion that there is such a thing as a "healthy weight" is never questioned. Weight loss is focused on exclusively as the method to increase health, mood, strength, and energy, even though passing lip-service is paid to factors such as familial and genetic influences and underlying and past bodily conditions. On the one hand, Bailor tells us to get rid of our scale, forget perfection, and be simple, while on the other giving so many dos and don'ts that I feel guilty for not enjoying kale and seafood, and for having digestive sensitivities that basically require "efficient", "insane" foods be my staple diet.

Be warned about the half-day "masterclass" that features prominently on the website: I could only listen for two of the four hours, because it was much more like an MLM spiel than a class. Just read the book, and utilize the website for graphics and supplemental info, and don't get suckered in.

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I had no idea

Revisado: 07-13-19

Yes I knew that some cultural practices around the world relating particularly to women are cruel and inhumane. What I didn't understand was that these practices keep half the population in actual slavery and all of the population in abject poverty. I also didn't realize that most of the heavy, physical labor that we in the west consider "men's work" is actually "women's work" in undeveloped and developing regions, because women are the servants and men are the served. And, ironically, it's a cultural battle to get women just the basic necessities to actually do the work, such as shoes and seeds. I could go on about young girls becoming sex slaves via "marriage", women who are injured in the birthing process being banished from their own homes, and the outcasting of widows. It's just too heartbreaking.

I feel a new sense of awe for my sisters who keep living in such conditions, and even more for those who fight for change. They are starting to want their daughters' lives to be different. Even men are catching on that educating the girls elevates the community.

I also admire the men and women who choose to serve these populations. Melinda Gates doesn't just administrate or donate, but rather goes there and lives with the people and talks to the folks. I don't know if I could do it, so I really appreciate those who do.

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The Jetsons Age is Coming

Revisado: 07-09-19

Forget the zombie apocalypse: the real upheaval, according to Andres Oppenheimer, will be the transition from manual labor of all kinds to the mechanical, computerized workforce. In ages past, such societal transformations have always gone on. The difference today, and in the next few decades, is the swiftness of the change. Schools must adapt from rote learning to "soft skills" (I despise that term) training, and every productive person must become a lifelong learner with an entrepreneurial mindset. In other words, the worklife is fixin' to become a constant hustle.

The author contends that there will be a short-term disaster as many workers, regardless of diploma or degree, will be made redundant, resulting in large numbers of unemployable people and therefore a socially volatile situation. However, this will be followed by an age of freedom from the grind and the greater ability to pursue one's dreams, foundationally sustained by universal basic income. I don't entirely disagree, but I wonder how many will remain in the community of consumers, and who will be relegated to serfdom.

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Unexpected joy

Revisado: 06-15-19

When I first started listening, I thought it was a trailer, because the "reading" consists mostly of interviews. I found it extremely enjoyable and encouraging to hear the actual words from actual people - kind of like a podcast, but longer. So, I'm not only counting this as one of my 52 books in 52 weeks, I'm putting it near the top of my mental ranking.

The author participates in at least three 3-day outings outside: one for war veterans, one for former sex slaves, and one solo. I was impressed that, although not scientifically "proven" via double-blind controlled investigation, the biological and mental tests showed increases in cognitive function and decreases in stress and blood pressure. I can't wait for the real study to happen, and I volunteer!

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Breathtakingly thorough

Revisado: 05-27-19

This is by no means a self-help book, unless you're just a huge nerd like me. I found the scope both broad and deep, looking at all aspects of diagnostic and positive psychology, married with philosophy, religious history and practice, politics, and culture. The "happiness hypothesis" as presented here, to me, is comprised of self-actualization, connection to others, service, purpose, and spiritual experience. Although the author is an unwavering atheist, he acknowledges that something of the sacred lies in man (as he says, regardless of the actual existence of God), and that this is entirely different than any other animal.

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