Review of (dis)Empowered

This forum is for volunteer reviews by members of our review team. These reviews are done voluntarily by the reviewers and are published in this forum, separate from the official professional reviews. These reviews are kept separate primarily because the same book may be reviewed by many different reviewers.
Post Reply
Ifionayi Onosetale
Posts: 66
Joined: 14 Oct 2023, 14:27
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 36
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-ifionayi-onosetale.html
Latest Review: Edwin Steelside Searching out the devil by Bradford Bennett

Review of (dis)Empowered

Post by Ifionayi Onosetale »

[Following is a volunteer review of "(dis)Empowered" by Ellen Busch.]
Book Cover
5 out of 5 stars
Share This Review


(dis)Empowered is Ellen Busch's inspiring memoir, telling her story from a little girl misunderstood by the education system as a child with dyslexia to an empowered woman who overcame an abusive marriage and other personal challenges. The book is a really nice dedication to her parents, Ellen E. Busch and Robert Busch, who have been her constant supporters. It also clearly brings out the great influence made upon her life by mentors like Kate Gray and Commander Mark Divine. Ellen's story is that of resilience, the fight against the odds, and self-belief as she maneuvers through life's adversities in order to reclaim her life and fashion a fulfilling future.

This book really does a nice job of authentically expressing the woe and victorious flashes of Ellen in her struggles. It's such a personal story that it does not take much to grow attached to Ellen. The addition of several mentors and their teachings only adds dimension to the story, providing readers with valuable insights into personal growth and resilience. The structure of the book itself, the line of development from Ellen's childhood until adulthood, speaks for itself. 

Generally, the narrative is vivid and clear; it is easy for the reader to follow where the main character is going. In addition, various mentors and their teachings bring depth into the story, allowing meaningful insights to be passed across about personal growth and resilience. I would recommend this book to all those who are going through personal struggles or seeking some inspiration toward self-growth.

Although powerful and inspiring, this book could have given more details when some events were described. For instance, Ellen attended the SEALFIT and Unbeatable Mind courses, but it is not elaborated on how she participated. Details about these experiences may help a reader clearly see how those courses facilitated her growth. Some parts could be condensed so that the remainder of the book moved along at a more even pace. Overall, however, it is a very interesting book, and I do not dislike any part of it.

I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars because it is a must-read, owing to the very strong story of Ellen. The honesty used by the author in portraying the story of Ellen was so captivating and inspiring. The book could do with some more detailed accounts regarding some of the major experiences that would really fill out the picture regarding Ellen's transformation. The inspirational message and the relatable, authentic voice of the author hold up the book. The book was exceptionally well edited and error-free.

******
(dis)Empowered
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Post Reply

Return to “Volunteer Reviews”