Review of Purpose
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DM Fisher
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- Latest Review: Purpose by Gina Bianchini
Review of Purpose
[Following is a volunteer review of "Purpose" by Gina Bianchini.]
INITIAL THOUGHTS:
Even though I had no idea what Purpose: Design A Community & Change Your Life, A Step-By-Step Guide To Finding Your Purpose & Making It Matter, was about, my experience was that it is a wonderful book and an interesting concept using a multitude of strategies to help find and bring to fruition—your purpose/purposes.
It was deeply enjoyable and the only reason I gave it 4 stars out of 5 will be reflected in the following review. If the topic wasn’t so incredibly daunting and frankly a bit fantastical to put into practice and achieve, it would have gotten a 5 out of 5 from me.
WHAT I LIKE & LOVE:
The author might disagree with my characterization that this book is “self-help” but this seemed to be the direction it took, along with my own thoughts of books that I like to call or tag “purposeful education”. Many of these types of books are incredible reads and give us that initial impetus to move forward, but in reality, may be quite difficult to achieve—Purpose: Design A Community & Change Your Life, A Step-By-Step Guide To Finding Your Purpose & Making It Matter, was no exception but made the concept a bit more plausible.
Although the writing is articulate and the “steps” are explicit and thought out, moving from reading and comprehending the information to putting it all into motion and as a continued practice, seems not only daunting, but near impossible. However, the commonsense way she writes allows the reader to be a bit more apt to (actually) follow through with all of the prompts, writings, and activities, even if you are unfamiliar with the subject matter.
Throughout the book, the extraordinary clear voice, authenticity, passion that the author exudes for the subject matter, is crystal clear, and pulls the reader into her ideas. The vigor, energy, and positive nature in which she writes, pours out of the pages as she moves from topic-to-topic, even when discussing pitfalls and obstacles it still seems to be attainable.
WHAT SPARKED MY CURIOSITY & WHAT I QUESTIONED:
The book did have some parts that I began to question, especially as each chapter built onto the previous one; finding ways to follow through and accomplish all of what is being purported, seemed near impossible. Furthermore, as a reader (and reviewer), it was a bit frustrating when I wanted to participate in the direction and action steps dictated from the author but simultaneously wanted to read ahead to see what came next. This likely created the feeling that made the tasks seems even more daunting as they grew in number, and as they felt foreign to readers that are unfamiliar with the topic or topics being discussed.
My comments above aside, the terminology in the book was not hard to understand (or learn) but at times, it all did seem very overwhelming—there is A LOT to do if we hope to find and follow through on our purpose(s)!! Equally true if the reader feels like they have a lack of knowledge about some of the subject matter, or if the entire concept seems intimidating especially if technology, networking, and today’s ubiquitous stratosphere of social media is not your forte.
Another aspect I observed, although I doubt the author wanted this to be a take-away, was that in reading the countless actionable steps that need to be taken, it almost appeared “Ponzi scheme” like. In other words, to get to the finish-line and to achieve your “Big Purpose”, building your communities (both IRL and digitally) felt a bit contrived and at times even bordering gimmicky. To me, this is partially since one of the ultimate goals is to have members of your community financially contribute, when that can be a very hard commitment to ask of some people. On top of the fact that it can also feel inauthentic, and that the “host” is only after monetary gain, not merely a place for community to gather without attachments. However, I understand that the intention is to build a community based on “help for all” and a part of that is to generate income and to sustain a living.
Finally, curiously, the term “host”, feels a bit attached to the word disease and might there possibly be a better word for what the community leader is called? The word “anchor” seems more apropos in so many ways, especially since it is the place that so many people (hopefully) will be able to congregate, share stories, ups and downs, and so much more.
CONCLUDING THOUGHTS:
Overall, the book, Purpose: Design A Community & Change Your Life, A Step-By-Step Guide To Finding Your Purpose & Making It Matter, was truly a fascinating read and glimpse into the notion that every human on earth has the talents to find their purpose. If we merely take the time, energy, focus, and (I would add) familiarity, with the ideas and subjects we love and are passionate about, failure is not an option. If we commit to what we really want, whatever “it” is and take the steps at any pace, achieving our “Big Purpose” and bringing our “Future Story” into reality is plausible, procurable, and positively possible.
******
Purpose
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
INITIAL THOUGHTS:
Even though I had no idea what Purpose: Design A Community & Change Your Life, A Step-By-Step Guide To Finding Your Purpose & Making It Matter, was about, my experience was that it is a wonderful book and an interesting concept using a multitude of strategies to help find and bring to fruition—your purpose/purposes.
It was deeply enjoyable and the only reason I gave it 4 stars out of 5 will be reflected in the following review. If the topic wasn’t so incredibly daunting and frankly a bit fantastical to put into practice and achieve, it would have gotten a 5 out of 5 from me.
WHAT I LIKE & LOVE:
The author might disagree with my characterization that this book is “self-help” but this seemed to be the direction it took, along with my own thoughts of books that I like to call or tag “purposeful education”. Many of these types of books are incredible reads and give us that initial impetus to move forward, but in reality, may be quite difficult to achieve—Purpose: Design A Community & Change Your Life, A Step-By-Step Guide To Finding Your Purpose & Making It Matter, was no exception but made the concept a bit more plausible.
Although the writing is articulate and the “steps” are explicit and thought out, moving from reading and comprehending the information to putting it all into motion and as a continued practice, seems not only daunting, but near impossible. However, the commonsense way she writes allows the reader to be a bit more apt to (actually) follow through with all of the prompts, writings, and activities, even if you are unfamiliar with the subject matter.
Throughout the book, the extraordinary clear voice, authenticity, passion that the author exudes for the subject matter, is crystal clear, and pulls the reader into her ideas. The vigor, energy, and positive nature in which she writes, pours out of the pages as she moves from topic-to-topic, even when discussing pitfalls and obstacles it still seems to be attainable.
WHAT SPARKED MY CURIOSITY & WHAT I QUESTIONED:
The book did have some parts that I began to question, especially as each chapter built onto the previous one; finding ways to follow through and accomplish all of what is being purported, seemed near impossible. Furthermore, as a reader (and reviewer), it was a bit frustrating when I wanted to participate in the direction and action steps dictated from the author but simultaneously wanted to read ahead to see what came next. This likely created the feeling that made the tasks seems even more daunting as they grew in number, and as they felt foreign to readers that are unfamiliar with the topic or topics being discussed.
My comments above aside, the terminology in the book was not hard to understand (or learn) but at times, it all did seem very overwhelming—there is A LOT to do if we hope to find and follow through on our purpose(s)!! Equally true if the reader feels like they have a lack of knowledge about some of the subject matter, or if the entire concept seems intimidating especially if technology, networking, and today’s ubiquitous stratosphere of social media is not your forte.
Another aspect I observed, although I doubt the author wanted this to be a take-away, was that in reading the countless actionable steps that need to be taken, it almost appeared “Ponzi scheme” like. In other words, to get to the finish-line and to achieve your “Big Purpose”, building your communities (both IRL and digitally) felt a bit contrived and at times even bordering gimmicky. To me, this is partially since one of the ultimate goals is to have members of your community financially contribute, when that can be a very hard commitment to ask of some people. On top of the fact that it can also feel inauthentic, and that the “host” is only after monetary gain, not merely a place for community to gather without attachments. However, I understand that the intention is to build a community based on “help for all” and a part of that is to generate income and to sustain a living.
Finally, curiously, the term “host”, feels a bit attached to the word disease and might there possibly be a better word for what the community leader is called? The word “anchor” seems more apropos in so many ways, especially since it is the place that so many people (hopefully) will be able to congregate, share stories, ups and downs, and so much more.
CONCLUDING THOUGHTS:
Overall, the book, Purpose: Design A Community & Change Your Life, A Step-By-Step Guide To Finding Your Purpose & Making It Matter, was truly a fascinating read and glimpse into the notion that every human on earth has the talents to find their purpose. If we merely take the time, energy, focus, and (I would add) familiarity, with the ideas and subjects we love and are passionate about, failure is not an option. If we commit to what we really want, whatever “it” is and take the steps at any pace, achieving our “Big Purpose” and bringing our “Future Story” into reality is plausible, procurable, and positively possible.
******
Purpose
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Purpose by Gina Bianchini
