Assessment:
Plot/Idea: This uplifting guide will strike a chord with readers seeking to achieve their goals and live a fulfilling life. Smith draws from his own experience, offering practical advice and functional tips to improve mental and physical health, and he refreshingly emphasizes effort as a measure of success, as opposed to simply assessing outcomes.
Prose: Smith’s enthusiasm emanates off the pages, as he uses an A to Z approach to cover a variety of topics. Each chapter ends with a reminder that “the ball is in your court. Hit it exactly where you want it,” allowing readers a chance to reflect, followed by taking action, and the guide's positive approach is inspiring.
Originality: Smith’s inclusion of real life situations empowers readers to relate to his personal experience, a choice that, when combined with his hands-on approach, results in a relevant and usable guide.
Character/Execution: Smith's writing is well-organized, and his ascending structure—delivering pointers from A to Z—makes the recommendations straightforward and digestible. The illustrative examples will appeal to all readers, as will Smith's use of metaphor to drive home his advice.
Date Submitted: October 26, 2023
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With a solid logical flow and awe-inspiring insight, 2024...Your Year of More: Plan Your Goals and Invest Your Efforts by Noah William Smith tells the secret of what motivates some people to experience life of a higher quality than others.
"The best moments in our lives happen when we strive to create them." These words by Smith set the course for a fulfilling journey of enlightenment, that will see readers go into the new year, 2024, motivated and ready for a season of fresh perspectives and attainment of dreams.
Borrowing from the recent COVID-19 pandemic where many people adapted their lifestyles to survive the new reality, the author begins by imploring his readers to adopt positive thoughts and desires, in anticipation for the best kind of life in the coming year. This, he believes should strictly be on ideas that make one excited and pleased. In an excerpt from page 8, he asserts that "COVID-19 showed us to adapt swiftly to be a part of tomorrow. We learned to listen, adjust our behaviors, and align our survival efforts." When people adjusted their daily practices, he noticed that there was a reward, a payoff for their actions. In the same way, he believes that those who will adapt their innermost desires and thoughts for a better 2024 are bound to achieve many more yields and rewards.
As a reader delves deeper into subsequent chapters, they will realize that Smith wants to leave them thinking more creatively, energized to do the things they want to do, and more immune from unhelpful thoughts. Although he speaks in the first-person narrative, his words are deeply reflective and inspiring. For example, on page 40, he says, "When I occupy my mind with helpful thoughts, I create soothing experiences." On the same page, he again says, "I want to reinvent my professional skills. To do that, I should expand my knowledge to include the latest developments. I also predict what will be trendy in five years." These are words that visionary and enthusiastic readers' minds will relate to, as they reflect on their futuristic endeavors and goals.
While writing this first book of Part 2 of his A to Z series, 2024...Your Year of More, Smith recollects how a couple of times he found himself wondering why the idea of wanting more got stuck in his mind. He had interestingly thought he was content and therefore didn't need more, but to his amazement, a rude inward awakening was transpiring. The uniqueness of his discovery was that now, he wanted more of the things he highly esteemed such as maturity, wisdom, life satisfaction, and feeling alive. On page 98 he says, "Much of life’s enjoyment and contentment comes from striving toward more of what we value." This, and numerous other assertions, will evoke crucial considerations of every reader's priorities, and how they may affect the attainment of a comfortable and continuously lively life in the future.
Quill says: Author Smith's personal experiences excellently confirm that the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty and validity of their imagination. It is a must-read for everyone who wants to understand how success is a result of small efforts that have been repeated often." - Feathered Quill Reviews
"2024…Your Year of More by Noah William Smith serves as an uplifting guidebook that underscores the significance of setting aspirations and crafting short-term plans to foster a fulfilling life. Smith encourages us to make 2024 a year of “more” – a year brimming with memorable moments and remarkable achievements. He passionately urges readers to take a deep dive into their own yearning for growth and invites them to embark on a shared journey toward a more enriching existence.
Smith excels in igniting the desire for greater fulfillment within readers. His book places a strong emphasis on seizing opportunities, staying in the present moment, and assuming responsibility for our own progress. These principles deeply resonated with me, as did the comprehensive ‘A-Z of More’ list featured in the book. This approach ensures that you not only set goals but also track your progress along the way. While some exercises may initially seem repetitive, they serve as a valuable practice to build discipline and cultivate the habits necessary for success. From Accountability to Goals to Knowledge, this guide is filled with aspects I am sure to incorporate more of into my own life. The author offers well-structured exercises to help individuals stay on course towards their aspirations. The thought-provoking exercises and practical timelines provide a roadmap to personal growth and fulfillment.
I highly recommend this book and intend to follow its guidance personally. 2024…Your Year of More by Noah William Smith has the potential to inspire and empower anyone seeking a more fulfilling and purposeful life journey."
"A personal yet universal guide to finding greater happiness, this is an uplifting and actionable guide for those seeking a shift in the trajectory of their lives, outlook, or ambitions. Urging readers to embrace creativity, value alignment, and personal satisfaction with how one's time is spent, the book's contemporary, post-Covid perspective is relatable and refreshing. Smith's frank prose is accessible, believable, and timely, and succeeds because of his obvious passion for the subject matter, and for life." Self-Publishing Review
