A valuable, transformative prescription for a life of greater truth.
A guide offers a journey into the nature of truth.
In Hinsley’s view, truth is the result of a balance of “Form & Essence”—an interconnection between the measurable, physical world and the invisible threads of spirit that give life larger meaning. But the culture that readers know is frequently out of balance, valuing force and focusing on superficial hallmarks of success. Sidetracked by the allure of comparison, people praise high grades and trophies over mental health and allow social media obsessions to supplant social interactions. In this Form-focused world, people’s peace of mind is sacrificed in the pursuit of status symbols, resulting in a society that is at best distracted and at worst polarized and toxic. But, as the author asserts, hope for a better life is not lost. The peace of mind that readers seek lies buried amid their material possessions, competitions, and social media feeds in the realm of Essence. Though intangible, Essence surrounds people in emotions, personality, and creativity—all the subtle qualities that make them human and wonderfully unique. While Hinsley is not alone in suggesting that immaterialism offers a path to greater well-being, he does not advocate a life devoid of measurable achievements. Instead, he asserts that Form & Essence yield interconnected value, revealing and empowering success through truth. Drawing on numerous real-world examples, the author skillfully illustrates how fear, defensiveness, and perfectionism can stifle achievement. Supporting these stories with the writings of various thinkers, such as Eckhart Tolle, Nir Eyal, and Angela Lee Duckworth, and citing popular works like David Wan, John de Graaf, and Thomas Naylor’s Affluenza (2001) and Jim Collins’ Good to Great (2001), Hinsley crafts a meticulously researched argument that will keep readers engaged and inspired. Discussing subjects ranging from education and fundraising to business and family, the author shows that readers can choose to master their awareness, consume content that uplifts them, and uncover motivations that ignite their sense of purpose. Moreover, this emotional evolution comes not at the expense of success but through creating it—resulting in joy for both readers and their communities.
A valuable, transformative prescription for a life of greater truth.Pub Date: N/A
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: 425
Publisher: Envision Arts
Review Posted Online: Dec. 29, 2022
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A conversational, pleasurable look into McConaughey’s life and thought.
All right, all right, all right: The affable, laconic actor delivers a combination of memoir and self-help book.
“This is an approach book,” writes McConaughey, adding that it contains “philosophies that can be objectively understood, and if you choose, subjectively adopted, by either changing your reality, or changing how you see it. This is a playbook, based on adventures in my life.” Some of those philosophies come in the form of apothegms: “When you can design your own weather, blow in the breeze”; “Simplify, focus, conserve to liberate.” Others come in the form of sometimes rambling stories that never take the shortest route from point A to point B, as when he recounts a dream-spurred, challenging visit to the Malian musician Ali Farka Touré, who offered a significant lesson in how disagreement can be expressed politely and without rancor. Fans of McConaughey will enjoy his memories—which line up squarely with other accounts in Melissa Maerz’s recent oral history, Alright, Alright, Alright—of his debut in Richard Linklater’s Dazed and Confused, to which he contributed not just that signature phrase, but also a kind of too-cool-for-school hipness that dissolves a bit upon realizing that he’s an older guy on the prowl for teenage girls. McConaughey’s prep to settle into the role of Wooderson involved inhabiting the mind of a dude who digs cars, rock ’n’ roll, and “chicks,” and he ran with it, reminding readers that the film originally had only three scripted scenes for his character. The lesson: “Do one thing well, then another. Once, then once more.” It’s clear that the author is a thoughtful man, even an intellectual of sorts, though without the earnestness of Ethan Hawke or James Franco. Though some of the sentiments are greeting card–ish, this book is entertaining and full of good lessons.
A conversational, pleasurable look into McConaughey’s life and thought.Pub Date: Oct. 20, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-593-13913-4
Page Count: 304
Publisher: Crown
Review Posted Online: Oct. 27, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2020
BOOK REVIEW
An important dialogue at a fraught time, emphasizing mutual candor, curiosity, and respect.
Two bestselling authors engage in an enlightening back-and-forth about Jewishness and antisemitism.
Acho, author of Uncomfortable Conversations With a Black Man, and Tishby, author of Israel: A Simple Guide to the Most Misunderstood Country on Earth, discuss many of the searing issues for Jews today, delving into whether Jewishness is a religion, culture, ethnicity, or community—or all of the above. As Tishby points out, unlike in Christianity, one can be comfortably atheist and still be considered a Jew. She defines Judaism as a “big tent” religion with four main elements: religion, peoplehood, nationhood, and the idea of tikkun olam (“repairing the world through our actions”). She addresses candidly the hurtful stereotypes about Jews (that they are rich and powerful) that Acho grew up with in Dallas and how Jews internalize these antisemitic judgments. Moreover, Tishby notes, “it is literally impossible to be Jewish and not have any connection with Israel, and I’m not talking about borders or a dot on the map. Judaism…is an indigenous religion.” Acho wonders if one can legitimately criticize “Jewish people and their ideologies” without being antisemitic, and Tishby offers ways to check whether one’s criticism of Jews or Zionism is antisemitic or factually straightforward. The authors also touch on the deteriorating relationship between Black and Jewish Americans, despite their historically close alliance during the civil rights era. “As long as Jewish people get to benefit from appearing white while Black people have to suffer for being Black, there will always be resentment,” notes Acho. “Because the same thing that grants you all access—your skin color—is what grants us pain and punishment in perpetuity.” Finally, the authors underscore the importance of being mutual allies, and they conclude with helpful indexes on vernacular terms and customs.
An important dialogue at a fraught time, emphasizing mutual candor, curiosity, and respect.Pub Date: April 30, 2024
ISBN: 9781668057858
Page Count: 256
Publisher: Simon Element
Review Posted Online: March 13, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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