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Review of The In-Between

Posted: 10 Apr 2025, 00:15
by Seetha E
[Following is a volunteer review of "The In-Between" by Christian Espinosa.]
Book Cover
5 out of 5 stars
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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

Re: Review of The In-Between

Posted: 16 May 2025, 03:19
by NetMassimo
Thinking about the future is not wrong; forgetting about the present is very wrong. Our worries too often prevent us from appreciating what we have here and now. Sometimes we get like buried by work stuff and other problems while we should live the moment. Thank you for your great review!

Re: Review of The In-Between

Posted: 16 May 2025, 17:48
by Sarah Zain
The first thing that caught my attention was the phrase "micro-moments." The truth is that we don't appreciate much of what happens around us or we ignore it for other things may not be yet ours. I think it's a book worth reading. Thank you for the recommendation Seetha.

Re: Review of The In-Between

Posted: 17 May 2025, 15:31
by Gerry Steen
My wife and I brought up four children, now adults who have children of their own. When we came home every day from work, we spent quality time with our kids. We are glad we did this, as it was well worth it. We are still close with our kids, and by extension, our grandchildren. So, yes, enjoy lots of micromoments with your kids, if you have any. Christian Espinosa is right. Seetha, thank you for this well-written review.

Re: Review of The In-Between

Posted: 18 May 2025, 01:11
by Anu Anand
I love books that make you pause and reflect, and this one sounds like it really does that well. I especially liked the part about regrets slowly creeping in over time; it’s so relatable. Thanks for such a heartfelt and detailed review. Definitely adding this to my reading list!

Re: Review of The In-Between

Posted: 18 May 2025, 12:27
by Omneya Shakeep
I think the book approaches a critical topic of losing ourselves in our daily chores that we forget to appreciate the people in our lives by spending less time with them. This book is a true wake-up call for what is really important in our lives. Thanks for the great review and the recommendation, Seetha.

Re: Review of The In-Between

Posted: 18 May 2025, 19:24
by Neha Panikar
I'd have never guessed what wisdom this book contains basis it's title. But, definitely something I'll read as I've been consciously trying to be mindfully aware and to be physically present. I do feel our aspirations and our focused seeking of it will help us achieve them, but its a travesty how much we lose in the process (and the present). One has to have the vision to foresee what is the trade off they'll be willing to let go of and be happy about in the future. It's hard knowing this because regret could overcome you either way. I hope this book clears this uncertainty to some extent.

Re: Review of The In-Between

Posted: 20 May 2025, 12:32
by Julie Marie Basil
This sounds like a very timely book that reminds readers of the importance of being present to the people around you and living for "right now" rather than some goal in the future. Thank you for your insightful review!

Re: Review of The In-Between

Posted: 20 Jun 2025, 08:34
by Chi Chiu Michael Mak
Seetha E wrote: 10 Apr 2025, 00:15 [Following is a volunteer review of "The In-Between" by Christian Espinosa.]
Book Cover
5 out of 5 stars
Share This Review


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
A meaningful book about the importance of being present in a world full of noise. The book cover is a bit lacking, though.

Re: Review of The In-Between

Posted: 06 Jul 2025, 22:45
by Priya Murugesan
By seeing the cover, I thought it was a fiction book. Your review cleared that for me. Living in the present is something very important for a successful and peaceful life. Thanks for introducing this book!