{"id":1007,"date":"2011-02-22T00:45:25","date_gmt":"2011-02-22T05:45:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.verastic.com\/?p=1007"},"modified":"2011-04-14T20:17:06","modified_gmt":"2011-04-15T01:17:06","slug":"book-review-the-only-way-is-up-by-folake-taylor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/verastic.com\/site\/reviews\/book-review-the-only-way-is-up-by-folake-taylor.html","title":{"rendered":"Book Review: The Only Way Is Up by Folake Taylor"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Relationships, health, spirituality, culture shock, family, career. These are a few of the things that Folake Taylor, MD addresses in her book, The Only Way Is Up<\/em>. If you know me, even only a little bit, then you’d know that my most interesting chapter was the one about relationships. They [relationships] are so dynamic. So complicated. So intricate. And so, so rewarding — all things being equal.<\/p>\n

Although Folake’s book is meant to empower women, the issues she touches affect everyone. In the My Life Principles<\/em> chapter, she says, “Do not resign to being a victim of fate. Be an architect of your own destiny.”<\/em> I have come to realize that there’s destiny. There’s free will. And then, there are life’s turns, speed bumps, stumbling blocks, obstacles, detours, trials, failures — all hiding between destiny and free will. \u00a0And then you begin to wonder, is my life the way it is because of the choices I have made or because it was destined to be this way?<\/p>\n

I don’t read self-help books. I have always looked at them on the shelves in bookshelves, and I have even sometimes browsed through them, but I don’t recall ever being interested enough to buy or borrow one. I’d read self-help articles online that are the length of \u00a0a chapter or two of a book, but a whole self-help book? I started Folake’s 240-page book with much angst and trepidation, wondering if I’d ever get to its end. But I found myself surprisingly [and pleasantly] eager to turn the next page to find out what next this smart author had to say.<\/p>\n

Several times, I caught myself having aha moments, moments that made certain issues [in my life] clearer and more defined, moments that reminded me that I do not and cannot know it all, that no knowledge is useless, and that there is always something to learn from someone else’s experiences and wisdom. Folake had me gripped, and I really forgot that I was reading a non fiction book – especially a self-help, motivational book.<\/p>\n

I do admit, however, that some chapters were more interesting than others – to me. For example, I had a lot more fun reading the For All My Single Ladies<\/em> chapter than I did reading the Subtle Racism – Racial Insensitivity<\/em> chapter. You, of course, may have a totally different view and experience.<\/p>\n

In conclusion, I would recommend this book to anyone who likes reading, but most especially a person who likes self-help \/ motivational books. Folake validates the truths you already know and calls out the lies you’re fighting so hard to believe.<\/p>\n

The links to buy the book are below BUT<\/strong> come this Saturday, February 26th 2011, Folake Taylor will be live on the Verastically Speakin’ Talk Show<\/a><\/strong>, and one lucky person will win her book. Listen to the show<\/a><\/strong> for details on how to win.<\/p>\n

Information for the show:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Date:<\/strong> Saturday, February 26th 2011<\/p>\n

Time:<\/strong> 10am U.S. Eastern | 3pm GMT | 4pm Nigerian Time<\/p>\n

Call in with your comments\/questions:<\/strong> 1.646.929.1905<\/p>\n

Or text them: <\/strong>1.443.934.9039<\/p>\n

Or e-mail them too:<\/strong> radio@verastic.com<\/p>\n

Listen here<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Visit Folake Taylor’s website<\/a><\/strong> | Visit Folake Taylor’s blog<\/a><\/strong> | Visit Folake Taylor on Facebook<\/a><\/strong> | Follow Folake Taylor on Twitter<\/a><\/strong> | Buy The Only Way Is Up from Amazon U.S<\/a><\/strong> | Buy The Only Way Is Up from Amazon U.K.<\/a><\/strong> | Buy The Only Way Is Up from Amazon Kindle<\/a><\/strong> | Buy The Only Way Is Up from Amazon Canada<\/a><\/strong> | Buy The Only Way Is Up from U.S. E-STORE<\/a><\/strong> [Autographed copies and free shipping on bulk orders] | Buy The Only Way Is Up from U.K. E-STORE<\/a><\/strong> [Autographed copies and discounted international shipping] | Walahi.com<\/a><\/strong> [ships to Nigeria and Africa mostly, but also international] | Smashwords<\/a><\/strong> [e-book in different formats].<\/p>\n

P.S.<\/strong> There’s a poll on the homepage<\/a><\/strong>. Please vote.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Relationships, health, spirituality, culture shock, family, career. These are a few of the things that Folake Taylor, MD addresses in her book, The Only Way Is Up. If you know me, even only a little bit, then you’d know that my most interesting chapter was the one about relationships. They [relationships] are so dynamic. SoRead More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":{"twitter_14738191_14738191":""},"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[262],"tags":[36,349,180,1223,240],"class_list":["post-1007","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-reviews","tag-book-review","tag-folake-taylor","tag-radio","tag-reviews","tag-verastic-giveaway","entry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nBook Review: The Only Way Is Up by Folake Taylor - 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