Review of Pecked to Death by Ducks

[Carissa Joan Simpson]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Pecked to Death by Ducks" by Rochelle Brandon, MD.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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Pecked to Death by Ducks: How Minutiae Can Distract You from Living Your Best Life by Dr. Rochelle Brandon helps women identify why they’re so overwhelmed by the day-to-day and how to manage their lives to afford peace. Brandon took the reader on a journey through several forms of “clutter” in our lives: physical clutter, such as old clothes and true junk; mental clutter, like media noise and anxiety; and workload clutter, both professionally and personally. Through dozens of helpful tips and action plans, Brandon delivered a guide that could help bring peace to women everywhere.

I say women specifically, and so does the author. Brandon is specific about her audience, which I appreciated. Too many self-help books try to help everyone, but Brandon found a niche and worked within that specific group. I would have enjoyed hearing more about how her gynecology work informed her novel.

I appreciated the inclusion of illustrations. Each chapter is marked with a drawing of a woman with ducks, whether she’s overcome with them or has them all in a row. Brandon leveraged these drawings to provide levity to what could be overwhelming topics, which overall makes the reader more receptive to her message.

What I appreciated most about this book was Brandon’s focus on utility. Any self-help book is designed to help others better their lives; however, Brandon dedicated time and space in her book for reflection. There were lines where women could write out what was bothering them, how they could address it, and what happened when they took that action step. This journaling aspect set Brandon’s book apart in the over-saturated self-help genre.

However, this journaling aspect isn’t valuable if women don’t know what to write. Brandon could have provided more specific examples of how a woman would handle these issues. For instance, Brandon talked about setting boundaries and doing so even when the other person is not receptive. However, many women who have too many “ducks” also have difficulty with conflict and would have benefitted from receiving specific examples and instructions on how to do that. While I understand Brandon’s brevity is intended to keep readers from getting overwhelmed, I think the lack of instruction is equally overwhelming.

Despite the lack of depth in some areas, the book is incredibly helpful, and Brandon’s message inspired me. I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars and would recommend it to all women.

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Pecked to Death by Ducks
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[Joe Alex 2]

I find the concept of “clutter” in various aspects of life; mental, physical, and workload, particularly interesting. The journaling aspect, where readers can reflect and take action, feels like a practical tool I’d value. However, I’d want to know if the book offers enough actionable strategies for setting boundaries, especially for those who struggle with conflict. If it does, I’d definitely consider reading it.