Inspirational / Spiritual
Becoming Nobody: A Personal Account of One Man's Search for Self-Knowledge
by Rick BranchRating: 7.00
Plot/Idea: Branch’s self-reflections evolve throughout time, demonstrating his growth and understanding of the philosophies to which he has ascribed. Each chapter is compact and focuses on something Branch has learned from his worldview and life experience.
Prose: In the format of one-way emails, Branch summarizes what he has learned from several philosophers, including George Gurdjieff, Eckhart Tolle, and Socrates, among others, and uses substantial quotations from others’ writings.
Originality: Those familiar with existential philosophy and books on the art of self-reflection will find Branch’s exploration familiar, but the concise format and highly digestible chapters are fresh and accessible.
Character/Execution: Branch’s story, which unfolds over a 10-year span, is brimming with questions, reflections, and meaningful personal development.
Plot/Idea: This faith-based work opens each section of poetry with a Christian devotional to motivate and encourage readers. The author's reliance on poetry sacrifices some structure, and readers may wish for more personalized stories to drive home the book's main concepts.
Prose: The author writes mainly in religious verse, which makes the narrative heavy in places. The style is uplifting and inspirational despite a lack of complexity.
Originality: The bulk of the narrative is comprised of verses similar to religious psalms, and the author's free-flowing text gives the work fluidity and space for quiet reflection.
Character/Execution: The author offers readers creative introspection in an easy to follow format that will resonate with Christian audiences.
Plot/Idea: Living with mental health issues is challenging for many, and Glamp-Siligrini reveals the gritty details of her bipolar disorder alongside the impacts it had on her family. She structures the book with chronological descriptions of her life, diving into childhood trauma in the opening pages, and threads the role her spiritual beliefs played throughout.
Prose: Glamp-Siligrini's story spans childhood to the present, delivered in an almost diary-like way, with unstructured prose that adds to the book's informal tone. Strong emotions and vivid recollections make up for areas where the text is lacking in crispness.
Originality: The intimacy of Glamp-Siligrini's story is distinctive, though the topic may be more standard fare. This is a story that many will find familiar, but Glamp-Siligrini fills it with heartache, hope, and resilience.
Character/Execution: Glamp-Siligrini has a strong voice, despite the story's somewhat vague framework, and the narrative's frenzied moments mimic the author's experiences.
Plot/Idea: Looking back on life experiences, the author shares the search for wisdom through re-evaluating biblical passages and their accompanying lessons. The text is energized with spiritual contemplations and intent, offering readers an abundance of opportunity for self-reflection.
Prose: The author favors lyrical prose and whimsical metaphors, with a drive to capture the essence behind biblical events while applying them to contemporary life.
Originality: Looking backward for answers to present difficulties is a meaningful pursuit, and the author incorporates strong Christian overtones throughout the work in an effort to provide motivation and inspire courage.
Character/Execution: Christian readers will appreciate the author's spiritual insights and creative examination of biblical events. The book is structured in a way that allows scrutiny of well-known biblical stories alongside intense self-analysis.
