Review of Life and How to Live it
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Callen Kwamboka
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Review of Life and How to Live it
[Following is a volunteer review of "Life and How to Live it" by Chaz Holesworth.]
Reading Life and How to Live It feels less like flipping through a book and more like sitting in a quiet room with someone who's spent time with their thoughts—and is brave enough to share the mess and the meaning. It’s a gently meandering exploration of what it means to be alive, stitched with musings on identity, emotion, choices, and that persistent, sometimes exhausting, quest for purpose. The author likens life to a journey filled with unpredictable turns, a central metaphor that underpins the entire narrative. That framing stuck with me—it’s not just about observing life, it’s about being inside it, actively shaping it while also surrendering to the unknowns.
From the first few pages, the book resists being boxed into any genre or goal. It doesn’t promise self-help steps or offer motivational pep talks. Instead, it breathes—sometimes slowly, sometimes urgently—through a series of quiet insights and open-ended thoughts. There’s a passage that lingers on the idea that we often chase meaning like it’s out there somewhere, forgetting that maybe it’s built slowly through the ordinary: how we love, how we choose, how we show up when no one’s watching. I found myself thinking about my own routines—what I rush past, what I ignore. That kind of reflection, in my opinion, is the book’s real gift.
The strength here is its philosophical richness. The writing dips deeply into themes of selfhood, the nature of suffering, the illusions we carry, and how each decision, even the small ones, shape who we become. I can say I appreciated the boldness in not spoon-feeding the reader. But I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that sometimes I felt a little lost in the fog of abstraction. The book excels in philosophical depth, though its abstract approach may not satisfy those seeking direct advice or solutions. There were moments—especially during longer reflections on choice and morality—where I wished for something more grounded. A story, a scene, a face. Just something to bring the ideas down to earth, even for a paragraph.
Still, maybe that absence is part of the invitation. I’m not sure, but I got the sense the author wanted the reader to do some work. To think for themselves. And honestly, I respect that. Not many books trust their readers to that degree anymore. One section near the end talks about legacy, not in terms of what we leave behind for the world, but in how we live each day with intention. It doesn’t shout this message—it sort of whispers it. That whisper stayed with me longer than I expected.
I gave Life and How to Live It five out of five stars. Not because it was seamless or always clear, but because it moved something in me. It encouraged me to pause, to sit in the questions rather than rush toward answers. If you’re the kind of reader who enjoys the in-between spaces, who doesn’t mind when a book raises more questions than it resolves, then this one might speak to you too. It’s not for everyone, but it might be for you, wherever you are in your journey.
******
Life and How to Live it
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Reading Life and How to Live It feels less like flipping through a book and more like sitting in a quiet room with someone who's spent time with their thoughts—and is brave enough to share the mess and the meaning. It’s a gently meandering exploration of what it means to be alive, stitched with musings on identity, emotion, choices, and that persistent, sometimes exhausting, quest for purpose. The author likens life to a journey filled with unpredictable turns, a central metaphor that underpins the entire narrative. That framing stuck with me—it’s not just about observing life, it’s about being inside it, actively shaping it while also surrendering to the unknowns.
From the first few pages, the book resists being boxed into any genre or goal. It doesn’t promise self-help steps or offer motivational pep talks. Instead, it breathes—sometimes slowly, sometimes urgently—through a series of quiet insights and open-ended thoughts. There’s a passage that lingers on the idea that we often chase meaning like it’s out there somewhere, forgetting that maybe it’s built slowly through the ordinary: how we love, how we choose, how we show up when no one’s watching. I found myself thinking about my own routines—what I rush past, what I ignore. That kind of reflection, in my opinion, is the book’s real gift.
The strength here is its philosophical richness. The writing dips deeply into themes of selfhood, the nature of suffering, the illusions we carry, and how each decision, even the small ones, shape who we become. I can say I appreciated the boldness in not spoon-feeding the reader. But I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that sometimes I felt a little lost in the fog of abstraction. The book excels in philosophical depth, though its abstract approach may not satisfy those seeking direct advice or solutions. There were moments—especially during longer reflections on choice and morality—where I wished for something more grounded. A story, a scene, a face. Just something to bring the ideas down to earth, even for a paragraph.
Still, maybe that absence is part of the invitation. I’m not sure, but I got the sense the author wanted the reader to do some work. To think for themselves. And honestly, I respect that. Not many books trust their readers to that degree anymore. One section near the end talks about legacy, not in terms of what we leave behind for the world, but in how we live each day with intention. It doesn’t shout this message—it sort of whispers it. That whisper stayed with me longer than I expected.
I gave Life and How to Live It five out of five stars. Not because it was seamless or always clear, but because it moved something in me. It encouraged me to pause, to sit in the questions rather than rush toward answers. If you’re the kind of reader who enjoys the in-between spaces, who doesn’t mind when a book raises more questions than it resolves, then this one might speak to you too. It’s not for everyone, but it might be for you, wherever you are in your journey.
******
Life and How to Live it
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
