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Re: Did the lack of Action Steps take away from the usefulness of this book?
Posted: 16 Nov 2018, 14:15
by EvaDar
abbiejoice wrote: ↑15 Nov 2018, 20:09
Lack of action steps doesn't necessarily lessen the usefulness of a book. Some recommendations could merely be implied within the philosophy. In a way, a book can be meant to be inspirational and not instructional.
I completely agree. Some readers don't enjoy a bunch of exercises and just want the information. For my taste, I prefer some action steps, and would have liked to see them in this book, particularly since the author's philosophy is very action-oriented. For instance, what if you just aren't a person who is internally motivated to make the changes in the book. It might have helped to have some more specific action steps about cultivating motivation. But I think it is a perfectly sound choice not to include them, all the same.
Re: Did the lack of Action Steps take away from the usefulness of this book?
Posted: 19 Nov 2018, 00:54
by gen_g
Eva Darrington wrote: ↑03 Nov 2018, 15:54
I am feeling a little on the fence about this issue. I am enjoying the author's sharing of his own personal stories and can glean some action steps from that. But I can see a use for a short section of recommended practices. For instance, the author mentions that he visualized the solution to a problem before falling asleep at night and found that the solution was more accessible to him in the morning. I have found this to be true as well. But, it is a conscious practice that I do every night, and it is helpful to have some idea of how to do it. So, I guess I am missing some attention to "how to" material.
I agree with Eva; whilst I agree that these action steps can be rather distracting, it would definitely be helpful if someone needed a start point. Perhaps the author could have placed these at the back of the book in order not to detract from the reading flow.
Re: Did the lack of Action Steps take away from the usefulness of this book?
Posted: 19 Nov 2018, 07:50
by FictionLover
gen_g wrote: ↑19 Nov 2018, 00:54
Eva Darrington wrote: ↑03 Nov 2018, 15:54
I am feeling a little on the fence about this issue. I am enjoying the author's sharing of his own personal stories and can glean some action steps from that. But I can see a use for a short section of recommended practices. For instance, the author mentions that he visualized the solution to a problem before falling asleep at night and found that the solution was more accessible to him in the morning. I have found this to be true as well. But, it is a conscious practice that I do every night, and it is helpful to have some idea of how to do it. So, I guess I am missing some attention to "how to" material.
I agree with Eva; whilst I agree that these action steps can be rather distracting, it would definitely be helpful if someone needed a start point. Perhaps the author could have placed these at the back of the book in order not to detract from the reading flow.
I am quite surprised at the number of readers who think action steps would be distracting. I really don't understand why, since even if they came at the end of the chapter, all you would have to do is turn the page and keep reading. The chapter is ending, anyway. I don't see how it would be any more distracting than an illustration or a quote. In this particular book, you are being asked to sign your initials, which I found redundant and unhelpful.
But, I guess I see this book as a "How To" book (which means you are going to be instructed) instead of a philosophy book.
Re: Did the lack of Action Steps take away from the usefulness of this book?
Posted: 19 Nov 2018, 12:11
by Amy+++
I haven't read the book yet, but I agree that some steps at the end of each chapter would be a big help.
Re: Did the lack of Action Steps take away from the usefulness of this book?
Posted: 19 Nov 2018, 13:12
by Theresa Moffitt
I didn’t think action steps were needed. I think it would have distracted from the book. I liked the way the author discussed the topics.
Re: Did the lack of Action Steps take away from the usefulness of this book?
Posted: 20 Nov 2018, 08:23
by stalliongirlke
Exercises are a great way to gauge a learners progress. so it would have been a good idea to have had the exercises as you suggested.
Re: Did the lack of Action Steps take away from the usefulness of this book?
Posted: 27 Nov 2018, 08:33
by Kibet Hillary
FictionLover wrote: ↑02 Nov 2018, 07:22
I found this book lacked Action Steps, and spent much of the book waiting for them. Did you find that the lack of definitive plan detracted from your ability to get the most out of his philosophy?
Would written exercises at the end of each chapter have helped you learn more from the book ?
I thought written exercises at the end of the chapter would have been a valuable way to anchor the information an help me make some changes.
It is true that written exercises will always help to reinforce what has been taught but I believe that at times it is good to incorporate the lessons into our everyday lives rather than what we shall be 'forced' to do.
Re: Did the lack of Action Steps take away from the usefulness of this book?
Posted: 28 Nov 2018, 20:48
by Jacci
It is helpful to jot down what i've learned, but i know not all will like it. I love doing diary so i found good.
One thing, it will help me someday and what i have written will surely remind me and got amazed that i did what i wrote.
Re: Did the lack of Action Steps take away from the usefulness of this book?
Posted: 28 Nov 2018, 22:46
by FictionLover
Jacci wrote: ↑28 Nov 2018, 20:48
It is helpful to jot down what i've learned, but i know not all will like it. I love doing diary so i found good.
One thing, it will help me someday and what i have written will surely remind me and got amazed that i did what i wrote.
That's good to hear. It's great to be able to follow through on what you read.
Re: Did the lack of Action Steps take away from the usefulness of this book?
Posted: 28 Nov 2018, 23:50
by holsam_87
Having some way to apply the author's practices and suggestions would be very beneficial. I'm a bit of an over-thinker and tend to do everything he said not to since it all causes me all sorts of anxiety.
Re: Did the lack of Action Steps take away from the usefulness of this book?
Posted: 29 Nov 2018, 10:32
by MalMartin
cpru68 wrote: ↑03 Nov 2018, 13:43
I think it was written in a way where one idea flows into the next. I sometimes breeze past action steps in books anyway, and I felt this was good as it was written. I was able to grasp on to what he described without further exercises at the end of each chapter.
I agree with you on this. I believe that the lack of action steps is what made it such a huge success. I don't feel like I am being told what to do, which is something I loath. I feel like I am consciously making the decision that I want to be happier and more successful.
Re: Did the lack of Action Steps take away from the usefulness of this book?
Posted: 29 Nov 2018, 12:12
by kdstrack
I understood his three main areas (crawling, walking, running) as the "action steps." I appreciated the way the book treats the reader as a adult. He gave broad explanations and allows each reader the ability to put the advice into practice in their life without a "to do" list. This recognizes that everyone is in a different place in life and in different circumstances.
Re: Did the lack of Action Steps take away from the usefulness of this book?
Posted: 29 Nov 2018, 21:15
by Jacci
FictionLover wrote: ↑28 Nov 2018, 22:46
Jacci wrote: ↑28 Nov 2018, 20:48
It is helpful to jot down what i've learned, but i know not all will like it. I love doing diary so i found good.
One thing, it will help me someday and what i have written will surely remind me and got amazed that i did what i wrote.
That's good to hear. It's great to be able to follow through on what you read.
Thanks, i love writing! Many times it saves my day when I can't understand what's going on in my life, i will read them again. This book becomes a part of it.
Re: Did the lack of Action Steps take away from the usefulness of this book?
Posted: 29 Nov 2018, 21:23
by Jacci
Kibetious wrote: ↑27 Nov 2018, 08:33
FictionLover wrote: ↑02 Nov 2018, 07:22
I found this book lacked Action Steps, and spent much of the book waiting for them. Did you find that the lack of definitive plan detracted from your ability to get the most out of his philosophy?
Would written exercises at the end of each chapter have helped you learn more from the book ?
I thought written exercises at the end of the chapter would have been a valuable way to anchor the information an help me make some changes.
It is true that written exercises will always help to reinforce what has been taught but I believe that at times it is good to incorporate the lessons into our everyday lives rather than what we shall be 'forced' to do.
Thoughts become useless if we will not try to develop it within us. sometimes hard, but trying to figure it out is so cool.
Re: Did the lack of Action Steps take away from the usefulness of this book?
Posted: 30 Nov 2018, 03:11
by Kibet Hillary
This is true that there is no use of having thoughts and a lot of information, knowledge, if it is not helping us in any way. The author I think tried to make the book address the entire aspect of a person and not some specific areas hence exercise might not have been a good option.