In [i] Always Strive to Be a Better You,[/i] Pete Hall explores what makes people successful in life. He uses Plato’s philosophical theory of the aspects of a happy, virtuous, and good life to frame his discussion. In addition to that, he uses experiences, lessons, and interview notes from seven ordinary people with extraordinary qualities to reinforce his argument for the need to be in constant pursuit of –er, that is, better, wiser, happier, stronger, etc. The book is organized into four tenets and each tenet has several chapters. The first tenet is about knowing yourself where you are advised to listen to your inner monologue. The key learnings under this tenet include cleaning your mirror or personal reflection, strengthening your core, knowing that things are bigger than you, and seeking out your antelopes. Inside the chapter, the stories and experiences of the seven people are examined and the readers are asked questions in the “pause and reflect” section. This style of discussion repeats itself in the other chapters of the book. The second tenet regards working for love where readers are urged to examine the path and destination of their pursuits. The key learnings here include making your goals clear, identifying the place where vocation meets passion, and knowing that you are a reflection of your habits. The third tenet involves allowing your inner light to shine by first understanding that your goals can be achieved this time but not later. The other lessons regard addressing your shortcomings in a positive light and bringing your own energy into the game. The last tenet is about ruling the day by being there, rising up, and putting your feet on the floor.
One of the things I liked about the book regards its organization and inclusion of Pete’s ideas, experiences from the seven subjects, and the “pause and reflect” sections. For example, regarding the chapter on seeking out your own herd of antelopes, the author explains how you should do it, how the seven people have identified their inner circle of friends, and the questions that you should ask yourself about the same issue. The other positive aspect is that the author begins each chapter with a personal story that relates to the topic of discussion in that section. In addition to that, the author has referred to examples obtained from the natural environment to describe our situation as we pursue a better life. He talks about seeking out antelopes, the cardinal bird in North America, and staying out of the cornfield. It is also interesting how the author tries to answer Plato’s question regarding the pursuit of a happy, virtuous, and good life throughout the book.
Regarding the negative aspects, I noticed a few spelling and grammar mistakes in the book that need correction. That was the only shortcoming I discovered when I read the book.
I would give the book a rating of [b] 4 out of 5 stars [/b] because the number of strengths is more than the number of weaknesses. Also, the book’s organization into tenets and key learnings makes it easy for readers to understand the content without too much struggle. The last justification for the rating is that the discussion of the theme is present in all the chapters of the book and hence readers cannot deviate from the main topic.
I would recommend the book to people, especially adults who are interested in self-improvement and personal development. This is because the book offers lessons from people with extraordinary attributes that can help people get better in their lives. Also, psychologists and sociologists can use the book for reference in developing their counseling programs. The book can also be useful to students who are seeking to improve their academic performance.
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