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Jump to navigationJump to searchHow to Be Selfish (and Other Uncomfortable Advice) by Olga Levancuka (view source)
Revision as of 15:44, 23 March 2012
, 15:44, 23 March 2012no edit summary
First things first. This is ''not'' a book about how to grab the last piece of chocolate cake or how to make certain that your interests come before everyone else's. It's a book for everyone who has got themselves on that relentless treadmill of meeting other people's expectations and disregarding their own - and who would like to get off, please. Olga Levancuka is a lady who has been through the mill (the book is worth reading just for the ''brief'' details about her life, but the story would make a book on its own) and she's managed to come out at the other end, smiling and spreading happiness amongst other people.
So, you want to know what the book is about? Well, Levancuka is not frightened to tackle some of the big issues (you know, the ones you really ''shouldn't'' bring up at dinner parties) and encourage encourages us to ask how they're benefitting our lives. I found myself completely in sympathy with her over religion, money, social media and relationships, but not quite on all fours over body image and childhood pain. I began by thinking that I could probably dismiss what she has to say in these areas, but what has surprised me is that I've gone back to those pages two or three times - and realised that I have quite a bit to work through in my own mind.
I was impressed by the way that Levancuka sees life as ever-evolving and recognises that change will cause some initial disturbance. The book is thought-provoking ''and'' supportive, inspiring but remarkably free of jargon. Try some of the exercises at the end of the book - there's sure to be one which resonates with you. For me it was the exercise about learning to appreciate the people around you.
