As previously mentioned, 101 ESSAYS that will CHANGE the way YOU THINK by Brianna Wiest is a compilation of her previously published philosophical essays. It's about: the importance of slowing down and being in the moment; fear and stepping into the unknown; happiness, passion, and purpose; identity; having choices; suffering and letting go; courage and hope. What I got from listening to this book? Invaluable insights to apply to my every day, helping me be more aware, purposeful, and happy. What else could I ask for? This may be my last book of the year and it is probably the most fitting. I wish I had marked more important facts and gotten more time to reflect on this book, but it just wasn't in the cards.

Look, I understand the appeal of compiling 101 Essays: it's good marketing, it's great marketing even, but I'm gonna need you to stop. These are not essays, these are lists and blog posts that I could easily find in any celebrity blog—Gwyneth Paltrow and Kourtney Kardashian are giving us the same food for thought for free. I found myself dreading going to this book. When I did read it, I would get annoyed or just fall asleep. Flow” (in case you don’t know—you probably do) is essentially what happens when we become so completely engaged with what we’re doing. You don't need to understand everything or have every answer because even if you try, you will never do. I do not have these things. Every piece of advice given to think a certain way about what you already have, I do not have. Now what?I like the term "knowing-doing gap". Having experienced it in abundance, I often wonder why I can learn so much about what to do and never really do even a fraction of it. Needs a lot of reflection but this chapter covers it beautifully. Bei manchen Themen habe ich sogar eine gegenteilige Meinung als die Autorin und einige Phrasen sind mir sauer aufgestoßen. Honestly, the book is very well-written and covers a wide range of topics that are relevant to many people. The essays are very thought-provoking and offer a lot of practical advice for dealing with everyday challenges and struggles.The essays are also very well-organized and easy to navigate, which makes it easy to find the information you need. The essays are very short and easy to read and understand as well. Some pieces presented in the book are inspiring, philosophical, and deep. Reading them you can gain valuable tips and insights. These pieces might actually change your attitude or thinking in some way. Two main reasons. One, if an important concept or idea repeats, it can only help to fully grasp its importance and meaning or to revisit the concept from a different perspective. Two, the book is long and I personally could do without some parts, but it is a compilation. I might not be interested in some chapters, just as other people might not be interested in the ones I liked most. The importance relies on that the sum of it all makes it whole; and it's a compilation!

It means being the hero of your life, not the victim. It means rewiring what you have until your everyday life isn’t something you need therapy to recover from. It is no longer choosing a life that looks good over a life that feels good. It is giving the hell up on some goals so you can care about others. It is being honest even if that means you aren’t universally liked. It is meeting your own needs so you aren’t anxious and dependent on other people. Accomplishing goals is not a success. How much you expand in the process is." - I tend to disagree. I think both are successes but for different reasons. For such a young author, Brianna is already quite known. She can boast of four published works. As an author, she is most famous for her philosophical style of writing. I also want to say before diving in deeper that I do believe this book was written with good intentions. I know there will be people out there who read this and it will help them and it will resonate with them. I’m happy for those people. I just wasn’t one of them. I applaud the amount of work and effort that went into this book and by no means mean to shed a negative light on the author. I think the author’s thoughts are authentic. I genuinely enjoyed some parts of the book. (But I got somewhat annoyed when I realized it won’t be 101 essays, but (mostly) of various lists. Please deliver on your promises next time.)In this essay, the major take home is how disparate generations have multiple differing and often conflicting ideologies about their personal search for 'truth' versus the consensus monocultures wherein subjectively identified insights can become hypocritical and difficult or taboo, to objectively accept an idea/belief or faith as the "Truth" if it doesn't register as part of your cultural heritage so in essence not your personal subjective. I am thinking of Mahatma Gandhi, Kamaraj, and my grandpa. They accomplished a lot, touched many lives and did not even have a large wardrobe! They were certainly individuals of grace. I wonder what was going through their minds during moments of suffering and happiness.