Review of The In-Between
Posted: 10 Apr 2025, 00:15
[Following is a volunteer review of "The In-Between" by Christian Espinosa.]
Modern life revolves around survival, growth, targets, and many external and mostly superficial aspects. While we persist toward the destination/goal, we often forget to enjoy the journey/the micro-moments. Additionally, worldly success does not last long. It falls short of creating the desired effect. We find ourselves chasing the next goal. What is missing in the ways we pursue our lives and various interactions?
Very often, a near-death experience or a life-altering circumstance forces us to stop, pause, and reassess the way we conduct ourselves. Here is an excerpt from the book that many readers will resonate with: "Some regrets don’t hit you all at once. They seep in at the corners of your life, at night or on a long drive, until they become a refrain." When the author willingly and consciously confronts these regrets, he finds the hidden treasures. The author, Christian Espinosa, hopes readers will understand the value of micro-moments while learning to live in the in-between.
The book is spread over 10 chapters. He shares details of his formative years and the ways they molded him. He explained how he felt justified and did not see anything wrong with the way he functioned until his personal and professional life took a turn for the worse.
He beautifully assesses several instances to demonstrate the positive aspects of mindfulness. Not having time for our loved ones is very common nowadays. Through the instances involving Trisha and his grandfather, he tells us the importance of living in the present moment rather than losing it over securing a non-existent future. His experience with the counter lady at Schnucks, Sonia, and Monique is a lesson about actionable awareness. He explains how interactions with awareness, intention, and insight helped him handle situations where all engaged parties focused on finding a solution rather than only personal goals, a great lesson for personal and professional spaces. The latter half is about informed intentions, authenticity, core value alignment, presence, insight, and leadership.
How many of us are physically present but heavily preoccupied and absent in the moment? The author suggests introspection to help reset our identities. Sometimes, we hold back because of the people around us. At times, we tend to react impulsively and regret it later. I appreciate that the author did not shy away from bearing all his weak moments. His simple, yet powerful writing allowed a peek into his growth. His analysis of the thought process of how he functioned then and now encourages readers like me to apply these tried and tested suggestions. Being mindful of the micro-moments goes a long way and blesses us in ways we are not even aware of; a precious takeaway for me.
A delight for any reader is an error-free book. I appreciate the flawless editing. Another aspect that I loved was the delivery. Important information was condensed and delivered effectively. The closing part summarized the content and allowed a quick re-run of the narratives and the message therein. I cannot think of any negative comments or ways to improve this work. Hence, I gladly rate The In-Between five out of five stars. Profanity was observed a couple of times. I recommend this book to adults looking for inspiration or ways to take charge of their lives.
******
The In-Between
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Modern life revolves around survival, growth, targets, and many external and mostly superficial aspects. While we persist toward the destination/goal, we often forget to enjoy the journey/the micro-moments. Additionally, worldly success does not last long. It falls short of creating the desired effect. We find ourselves chasing the next goal. What is missing in the ways we pursue our lives and various interactions?
Very often, a near-death experience or a life-altering circumstance forces us to stop, pause, and reassess the way we conduct ourselves. Here is an excerpt from the book that many readers will resonate with: "Some regrets don’t hit you all at once. They seep in at the corners of your life, at night or on a long drive, until they become a refrain." When the author willingly and consciously confronts these regrets, he finds the hidden treasures. The author, Christian Espinosa, hopes readers will understand the value of micro-moments while learning to live in the in-between.
The book is spread over 10 chapters. He shares details of his formative years and the ways they molded him. He explained how he felt justified and did not see anything wrong with the way he functioned until his personal and professional life took a turn for the worse.
He beautifully assesses several instances to demonstrate the positive aspects of mindfulness. Not having time for our loved ones is very common nowadays. Through the instances involving Trisha and his grandfather, he tells us the importance of living in the present moment rather than losing it over securing a non-existent future. His experience with the counter lady at Schnucks, Sonia, and Monique is a lesson about actionable awareness. He explains how interactions with awareness, intention, and insight helped him handle situations where all engaged parties focused on finding a solution rather than only personal goals, a great lesson for personal and professional spaces. The latter half is about informed intentions, authenticity, core value alignment, presence, insight, and leadership.
How many of us are physically present but heavily preoccupied and absent in the moment? The author suggests introspection to help reset our identities. Sometimes, we hold back because of the people around us. At times, we tend to react impulsively and regret it later. I appreciate that the author did not shy away from bearing all his weak moments. His simple, yet powerful writing allowed a peek into his growth. His analysis of the thought process of how he functioned then and now encourages readers like me to apply these tried and tested suggestions. Being mindful of the micro-moments goes a long way and blesses us in ways we are not even aware of; a precious takeaway for me.
A delight for any reader is an error-free book. I appreciate the flawless editing. Another aspect that I loved was the delivery. Important information was condensed and delivered effectively. The closing part summarized the content and allowed a quick re-run of the narratives and the message therein. I cannot think of any negative comments or ways to improve this work. Hence, I gladly rate The In-Between five out of five stars. Profanity was observed a couple of times. I recommend this book to adults looking for inspiration or ways to take charge of their lives.
******
The In-Between
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon