Review by Larryjean -- Achieve Your Dreams

[Larryjean]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Achieve Your Dreams" by Scott Hughes and A. Lynn Powers and Adam Buongiovanni.]

---

3 out of 4 stars

---

Share This Review

---

Review of Achieve Your Dreams by Scott Hughes and A. Lynn Powers and Adam Buongiovanni

In America it seems that all of the focus is on the fulfillment of the American dream, and much less on the achievement of personal dreams. Parents tell their children to focus on their school work and to get good grades so they have get into a good college and get a good practical job that will ensure them a paycheck and security and benefits and hopefully a 401K. Hughes, in Achieve Your Dreams, argues that this case of practicality against dreams (such as being an NBA basketball star or writing a book) is more detrimental to a person than the failure to achieve such dreams. The rest of the book is spend explaining the common reasons why people stop pursuing their dreams and arguing that each reason is equally invalid. Lastly, Hughes presents six commandments to the reader. These commandments present very practical steps to take to pursue a dream.

I loved how short the book was. I'm an avid reader and I love getting lost in a book that lasts me weeks but I don't want a How-To book to last longer than an hour or two. Why? Because I forget what was said in the beginning of a chapter by the end of it! I enjoyed the random inspirational quotes. It always feel more important reading a quote in a book by someone besides the author. It makes the book or the author seem more valid.

I most liked the ending, how the author summarized his stance on dreams with 10 practical commandments. The commandments were not scattered throughout the book like points, to be quickly forgotten by the next section. They were at the end. To be remembered with the utmost ease. The commandments were also very practical, as I said before. Each commandment consisted of practical steps to take to accomplish each commandment.

I truly enjoyed reading this book. It's difficult to come up with something I didn't like about it. For the usefulness of the review, I would say that what I least liked about the book was the casual tone in which Hughes addressed his audience. It is enjoyable to read a book where it seems the author is simply having a conversation with you, but I think I would have preferred it more if he would have taken just a half step back from his audience. If he could have focused a little bit more on some sort of practical proof that those who don't follow their dreams are destined for a lesser life it would have felt more professional.

I would rate this book 3 out of 4 stars. This book is short and sweet. It is interesting. It is, at least as far as I can tell, grammatically correct and well put together. It is concise. It is very practical as a How-To book.

At first glace it would seem that this book would appeal mostly to dreamers, hippies, hipsters, and the younger generation. I think that is a valid assumption, but I think Hughes would agree with me in saying that this book would also immensely appeal to the older generation, those lost under the pile of their everyday life, trying to find a reason to get up everyday beyond bringing home the bacon.
Those who would not be as drawn to this book would be those who are more focused on the idea of monetary success and safety. Those who have long since lost sight of their childhood dreams. Those who have lost the drive to pull themselves out from under their successful looking lives and reach for something that seems unpractical to everyone else.
I would recommend it to all of my friends who are readers or need some inspiration in their life.

******
Achieve Your Dreams
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

Like Larryjean's review? Post a comment saying so!