It's Not About You: A Brief Guide to a Meaningful Life
From the author of the #1 bestseller StrengthsFinder 2.0 comes a moving memoir and inspiring call to action for bettering your own life by doing your best for others.
Life is not about you. It’s about what you do for others. That’s the realization that has driven Tom Rath—the mega-bestselling expert in self-development research—to evolve his focus from one’s inward search for strength to the larger outward search for purposeful contribution to others. It’s Not About You is a short introduction to the next chapter in the life and career of perhaps our greatest living self-help writer.
Diagnosed with a rare genetic condition at age sixteen, Tom’s awareness of his own mortality drove him to pursue a meaningful life in the nurturing care of his family, including his eventual mentor and collaborator, Tom’s grandfather Don Clifton. In this empowering hybrid of a self-help memoir, Tom remembers and celebrates his greatest teacher as he emphatically encourages each and every one of us to answer life’s great question: What can I put into the world?
Reviews (203)
~~Excellent...just excellent~~
This book contains wonderful information about life and living. It couldn't have come at a better time as I am losing my eyesight. (Vision in right eye is gone) and the left one ...although holding steady is also darkening bit by bit. Some of his wisdom rings true and several examples ... 'get over yourself, invest in people who matter most, invest your time wisely and life is too short to live with regrets'. Lots more in this one besides these few points that I mentioned.... Regrets ...I don't have many as I am in my 70's now but do have a couple that I need to address before that time comes when I may become completely without vision. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction on a couple of items. Most highly recommended. Please note that I borrowed this with my KU subscription.
5 reasons why you should read this book
First of all let me say thank you to Mr. Tom Rath, I was almost to tears when I read this book. Without further due let get to the five reasons I believe everyone should read this book. 1. Personal Experience: There is literally no better way to connect with a reader than sharing your personal experience. Mr. Rath's story is deeply moving and at times can lead you to be emotional as well. In many ways his personal story is the definition of the book itself. 2. Not a self help book Yep you've read right. Too many of the self help books lead us into the trap of focusing only on ourselves and Mr. Rath took time to define why we can be our own enemies. If people actually tried to help others this world would be a much better place. 3. Somebody needs your help Think about it, someone might be having a worse time in life than you. Just imagine the joy of putting a smile on that person's face. No amount of money in the world could purchase what you mean to others. 4. Powerful anecdotes and research packed into a little book Mr. Rath found a way to drop so many timeless gems and to include research into a short book. Absolute genius. My favorite line"Real growth is the product of following your contributions more than your passions" 5. Think about your legacy Many people live for here and now. What if 2019 or 2020 is your last? How would people remember you? When you focus on your contributions your life will experience new dimensions. For crying out loud just buy the damn book its too good of a message and one quite frankly that is needed in a time such as this
Not a guide
It’s a lovely autobiography about the authors experience, but not really a guide for others.
Short powerful read
A short powerful read to start the new year off with the right message ITs Not About You! Live life tonite fullest by doing for others. A message that can make a difference and meaningful lasting g change.
a nice quick read- uplifting
I liked the focus of the book and that it was a brief message- got through it quickly and read it again!
It was and easy to retain short read full of good advice!
It was a nice short read full of good advice. It was easy for me to retain that advice because of the length of the read!
straight to the vein
easy to read, direct, blunt and fast, no chance to misunderstand. A great truth, a great message. Enjoyed this reading.
Walk through life
Quick easy read. One of those books you get through in one sitting. The author provides great life lessons and guidance with impact as it is done so through his walk through life.
My favorite inspirational book
Where do you start a book review when you find that one book that causes you to pause, repeatedly rewind the audio, stop, and then restart the book again? I did not want to miss any of the goodness, educational, or spiritual importance on these pages of love. Maybe it is my battles with vision challenges and chronic pain that caused me to connect with this book. I am not sure, but the author's words and his experiences spoke to me in a deeply profound way. I felt like my soul was nourished. The chapters are short, powerful, full of meaning, and purpose. It's Not About You is the food my soul needed to continue reaching for more and strive to do better. This book brought tears, deep reflection and made me want to make time standstill. There are words of hope on every page, and I highly recommend this book. One of my all-time favorite inspirational books.
Inspirational but not totally resonant
This is a short, easy read. The author’s story is very inspirational, and while there are certainly some nuggets of true wisdom in here, it’s not an infallible piece of writing. Humans are prosocial, and I agree with the premise that a life of purpose and service is the most likely path to bring true fulfillment, especially when compared with the hedonism so rampant in America today. Humans are literally wired to be “part of a tribe,” and I completely agree that contributing to something greater than oneself is deeply meaningful and fulfilling (for non-sociopaths). We have piles of data confirming the premise that strong social networks are essential to overall well-being. However, always focusing outwardly- prioritizing how you can “contribute” to others and never mindfully learning to know oneself- is a recipe for mid-life resentment. Especially if you’re a woman in a patriarchal, Christian, western society. Maybe this book is solid advice for men, who are less innately “nurturing” (biologically and hormonally speaking) and are more inclined towards physical tasks (hunting/gathering, i.e. providing), but having lived a life of dutiful devotion to the comforts and needs of others above my own (as dictated by the Christianity I was indoctrinated from infancy with), I can assure you, by the late 30’s, there is a real sense of having been exploited and taken advantage of by others who benefitted from my selfless contributions, and weren’t as quick to reciprocate. I am still genuinely eager to help whenever I can, and I still believe that a purpose “greater than myself” is both worthwhile, deeply satisfying, and worth pursuing. But I feel MUCH happier since bringing balance into my life. Learning to say, “No.” Learning to ask for help. Indulging the desire for alone-time to read, journal, participate in endurance sports, and basically be “selfish” when the urge strikes. Personal achievements are just as necessary for feelings of meaning, true satisfaction, and overall accomplishment, as those we make on behalf of others and society. That was the component I felt was missing from this book. “Get over yourself,” is just not always the right advice- every day, at all times. But it is a great philosophy for the mindfully self-aware person who is looking for deeper meaning from the doldrums of life!
Comments
Post a Comment