Acknowledging how painful it can be to revisit childhood memories, Arussy encourages readers to always err on the side of honesty, concede their shortcomings, and avoid blame, a toxic force that, he writes in a chapter rebuking the pitfalls of “blame culture,” can destroy relationships as much as damage personal wellbeing—“life starts when we stop blaming others” he asserts. Each chapter concludes with simple, direct questions that echo Arussy’s steady, pragmatic advice, a friendly yet professional tone that reliably guides readers and candidly clears a path towards personal improvement, while not falling prey to criticism or harsh judgments.
That warm but direct tone is arguably the book’s strongest asset, and Arussy is at his best when he urges readers to “move on and focus on your ownership and lessons… on the power you have within the situation and own it.” His smart, uncompromising style forms the backbone of the guidance here, but that savvy is elevated by the book’s refreshing ideas, like avoiding the pitfalls of “living life under the constant scrutiny of strangers” on social media, facing fears head on, or transforming envy into a motivation instead of a roadblock. Telling your story is the ultimate accomplishment, Arussy argues—it’s “a choice to love the life you have.”
Takeaway: Refreshing, candid look at how personal stories can fuel success.
Comparable Titles: Leslie Leyland Fields’s Your Story Matters, Matthew Dicks’s Storyworthy.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
