He asks what are the “things” that create the life of our dreams, and states that it is really the small stuff. Small, strategic moves in the beginning of any endeavor yield massive growth down the road. There were some good scenes and stuff that I didn't see coming, but on a whole this was a largely forgettable story.

Content warnings - parental neglect, self harm references, grief, loss of a parent, violence, sexual content, mature language, domestic violence (set in the past, not the main context of the story) So, what is it that kept me so intrigued you ask? Multiple layers of deceit. The mysterious reasons behind running away from London. The odd stranger that has taken sudden interest into both mother and daughter, Rachel and Vivian. The toxicity seeping through to the surface threatening to infect all around. It’s a slow burn of a story but one that is absolutely worth the cerebral investment. The narrative is really where this story is at its strongest – the feeling of a threatening shadow just creeping into the corners of your vision was palpable. What’s going to be revealed? This is a story that will have to be torn out of your hand to get your attention on something else! Other gems: A small deviation from "true" leads to a big difference over time. A decision made today may not be all that important today, but it might have huge repercussions later in life. Ask questions and seek real answers, even to small, everyday things. "Only a fool believes everything he thinks." There is almost always a benefit to learning something new. "Average" is not something to strive for. Sometimes something small is the only clue that something is wrong.

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The advantage in any arena of life is earned far in advance of the moment when its required to perform." There were lots of little clues that COULD cause one to wonder. But there were also plausible explanations for all the little uncertainties. I know the optimists say "don't sweat the little stuff", but if you ignore all the little things, you can eventually find that it isn't sweat forming on your forehead, but the raindrops from the impending storm and a dam is about to break. Vivian isn’t like other teenagers. On the surface she seems the same as her friends, but she knows she is different. When enigmatic Alex takes an interest in her, Vivian’s cool demeanor hides an intensity of feeling she has never known before.

I loved the first person narration as that really gets you inside a character's head and boy what a character this Vivian was: Again, it is important to note that for a time in my life, I chose to be blind. Because of that choice, I was blind not only to beauty; I also was blind to opportunity, to forgiveness, to the value in others, and a host of other things, material and spiritual. My rejection of these virtues at that time effectively neutralized any chance I might have had to pull myself into the light of a better life. Extraordinary achievers do not compare themselves to other people. Instead, they compare themselves to their own potential." The point of view is the way we see things, blindness is the decision not to see anything. The choice of an unfavorable point of view is a limitation, and the choice of blindness is a tragedy.

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It’s very well written plot. The chapters alternate between Vivian and Rachel’s points of view, giving us an insight of their relationship as well as their past and present. In “The Little Thing”, Andrews shares a number of short stories reminds me of Paul Harvey’s old radio series “The Rest of the Story,” where’s there’s more to a story than what we know from its most obvious facts. True, more than three decades have passed since I lived on the beach, but there were just as many sunsets then as there are now. The fact that my self-pity and anger allowed me an excuse to ignore beauty—to choose blindness—does not mean that sunsets did not exist at that time. Imagine as a mother, repeating that again and again whenever something strange happens around your child or when your child behaves in an unexpected manner. The audio narration was expertly and professionally done. I like that Andrews while narrating the audiobook included a few whimsical statements relating only to audiobook listeners; not a part of the book. He includes areas where he felt punctuation does not express well his intentions, and this can be added (and it is) in this audiobook version via his expression. Being a professional speaker, the narration was well-done and Andrews adds inflection to his work, which is not a surprise being he is the book’s author.

I absolutely loved this story, but I did not love the characters. I felt so bad for Rachel the mother, dealing with a teenage daughter that seems so unable to love or show love or empathy or anything. I really felt for her and could only imagine what that would do to a mother. You love your children more than anything in the world, but what about if that child is so not nice?The book covers a wide range of thoughts, including chapters that will bring peace to your family, and some, when you harness what they teach, can make you a lot of money or turn your team into a winner. And I am more passionate than ever about my search to notice that thing—that one tiny thing—that, when understood and harnessed, allows me to help YOU create a life of extraordinary purpose and powerful results. It’s less about drive and willpower than it is about a deep understanding of certain principles and why they work . . . every time. Her idea is to move and have a fresh start. Without her mother to talk to she settles down to life with her daughter, now aged 15. I finished up the book in just a few hours. I read each and every word cover to cover. It's that good! Mother and daughter are both keeping secrets. But just how dangerous are they? As lust and anger give way to violence Rachel will have to decide: is she prepared to give up everything for her child? Even her own life?

The author is very proud of himself, which is ok, until you start to toot your own horn too much. I got tired of him telling us about how his books has been sold in so many countries, has been used by so many schools, and so on. He covers it a few times in a very short book. Really, his stories and thoughts stand well enough on their own and people would talk about him and his books even without him having to tell us how wonderful he is every chapter. While it was easy to figure out the reveal quite early into the plot, the ending was still unexpected and dramatic. To be clear, perspective is how we decide to perceive a thing. Blindness is the decision not to see it at all. Emma Dodd's illustration and book design always feel very special, and The Little Things makes gorgeous use of gold foil throughout, which is sure to enthral little ones and could also make this book a very nice gift.Listened to the audiobook, read by the author who has a very enthusiast male American voice and excited tone, suitable for x2 speed and commuting. Successful people are never compared to others, in fact they compete with themselves, they make a comparison with their own potential. If one aspires to a higher level of life, one will not reach it by following the path chosen by all others. This book is about the little things - literally. For the seemingly insignificant things that can change the overall picture. I read it and fell in love. Fell in love with the story, the messages, the author, all of it. A few months later I was on a work trip in Gulf shores, Alabama and stopped in a coffee shop. Apparently Andy had just been there doing a book signing. I had just missed him, but there were plenty left. So I dropped a pretty penny in there and bought signed copies of all of his books. Except for this one!