As you read the reviews on Bookshop Talk, you'll notice that every review is positive. No, we're not a bunch of literary
pushovers who love everything we pick up; we just see no point in telling you about a book if we didn't like it.

February 7, 2011

THE CHOICE by Og Mandino, 1986

The Choice
Choice! The key is Choice. You  have options. You need not spend your life wallowing in failure, ignorance, grief, poverty, shame, and self-pity. But, hold on! If this is true then why have so many among us apparently elected to live in that manner? (Amazon product description)

Review by Emily Sonderegger, Book Addict

This is really one of the best books I've read in a long time. It's a self-help book hidden inside a great story, and one that makes you stop and think. I actually burned the chicken tonight trying to finish the last two chapters!

Mandino takes what is usually a preachy subject (how to live our lives) and turns it into an introspective feast. By setting his advice to a fictional story, he makes it interesting without being trite or lightheaded. I appreciated that. I can't handle the self-help books that take an idea and pound it into your head until you've got a migraine. This one is subtle.

The things that I'll take away from this book are life-altering. It's all about taking time to stop and smell the roses (pardon the cliche). It's about living your dreams. It's about being present in your own life. And we come to that conclusion along with Mark. I love that we are, in a sense, taking the journey with him.

There were also some twists along the way that I liked. I thought I had things all figured out and nicely wrapped up. Turns out, I'd come to the wrong conclusion completely. I didn't see it coming. And then Mandino threw another twist at me and surprised me! I love it when a book does that.

Though this is an older book, I really believe everyone ought to read it. It's good for the soul.


Market: (Adult Fiction)
Language: (Mild)
Sensuality: (None)
Violence: (None)
Mature Themes: (relocation, finance)

Book formats:
The Choice (paperback)
The Choice (e-book)


To learn more about the author, visit: Og Mandino

3 comments:

Amy Finnegan {BookshopTalk.com} said...

I've heard amazing things about Og Mandino for at least ten years, but I've never thought seriously about reading one of his books . . . until now!

Thanks for this great review! :)

~Isabel said...

This is the book i would LOVE to win! I'm from THE IDEA ROOM!

Dana said...

Based on this review, I believe that this is the book I'd love to win. I too am from 'The Idea Room'

Dana

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