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Jan
07
Shake up your New Year with The List by Gail Belsky (and a fun giveaway!)
2009 at 10am Posted by Rebecca Joines Schinsky
Recently published November, 2008.
Gail Belsky admits that she isn’t the most adventurous woman in the world, but she’s all about stepping outside her comfort zone, and with The List: 100 Ways to Shake Up Your Life, she’s setting out to help the rest of us do the same. She encourages her readers to start “doing things that are exciting or challenging, even if the mere thought of them makes you sweat bullets.” The List isn’t the kind of book I’d normally pick up on my own, but when Andie from Seal Press contacted me, I thought it would be the perfect book to kick off a new year, and I’m happy to be sharing it with you today.
To create The List, Belsky interviewed a diverse group of 82 women ” who’ve pushed past their fears and beyond their expectations to do all kinds of cool things” and asked them to tell her about the things they had done to step out of their comfort zones, the “shake ups,” if you will, that changed their lives. Each of the 100 items on the list is accompanied by a woman’s story describing her experience, and this gives what could be just another “things to do before you die” book a bit of added dimension.
Whether you’re looking for newfound sexual freedom (strip; go commando; buy yourself a sex toy; take a lover; sleep with a younger man), adventure (swim with sea creatures; catch a big fish; learn to surf; join a cattle drive), a chance to make a difference (join a relief effort; run for office; organize a rally), enrichment (learn a foreign language; write a novel; find religion; switch careers), or just a little down time (blow off the day; plan a girls’ vacation; live with less), you will find fun suggestions in The List.
Written by and for women, The List is all about empowering women to take risks and do something to make their lives different and better. Whether that means leaving a bad marriage, diving off a cliff, getting a tattoo, quitting smoking, creating a sacred space in their homes, or just escaping for the day, weekend, or week. Readers will likely not agree with or be drawn to every item on the list, but they will certainly find suggestions—ranging from the inexpensive to the totally extravagant—that fit their lifestyles and values. The List would make a great addition to your new year’s resolution plans and would be a fun Valentine’s Day gift for a friend, girlfriend, or girl who is a friend 
I’m happy to report that I’ve done 28 of the 100 things on the list, but since a Book Lady never tells, I’ll just have to leave you wondering.
Click here to make your own list, and leave a comment below telling me at least one thing you’ll be doing to shake up your life in 2009 to be entered to win a copy of The List. One winner will be chosen at random. U.S. and Canada only, please. The contest will close at 11:59 pm next Wednesday, January 14th.
UPDATE: Comments are now closed. Ti of Book Chatter and Other Stuff won the giveaway.
I checked out the website and it’s got a lot of ideas on there. Hmmmm. For me, the big shake-up would be to focus on ME more. I am the one to take the burnt toast, the broken cookie, etc. I end up feeling good about what I’ve done for others but completely wiped out and just a shell of a person after months of it.
[...] Shake up your life in 2009 with The List by Gail Belsky. Click here to [...]
This looks like an really cool book, I would love to be entered in the giveaway. This year was to be my year of making personal changes and I’ve already completed one of my goals – to get a job after 12 years of stay-at-home mom-ing. So what’s next for me? Hmm I’ve always wanted to volunteer at our local animal shelter, so I think I will take a look into that
Defintiely sounds like a cool book! In 2009, I plan on shaking up my life by “escaping” — which looks like No. 59 on the list. I’m planning to visit a friend who’s currently studying abroad in London sometime this spring or summer, and it will be my first time traveling alone — and going alone to a foreign country, no less!
I’m scared but incredibly excited by the prospect. I’m in love with London and didn’t have nearly enough time there when I last visited. And I think it’ll be an important step for me in my never-ending quest for growth and independence. And it’ll help that I have my parents to take me right to the airport, and Stacy to pick me up after I land in London
Here’s to adventure in the new year!
The shake up this year for me involves starting with 40 days of yoga. I have not been taking time to relax lately so I`m hoping this will be the kick start I need.
I’m going to make myself join some social groups so that I can make some new friends. It might not sound ground-breaking, but while I’m good at making new friends in school-like situations, I feel at a loss without that structure. So I’m going to have to really push myself to get it done.
I’m shaking up this year by going back to university. It’s going to be parttime and I’m still at home looking after my boys, but it’s something I want to do for ME.
I’m shaking up my life in 2009 by taking writing classes and art classes and I have joined a writing group. The writing group I was terrified to walk in the door and share but I’ve done it on Monday and now I’m very excited to go back and I’m writing.
I think this book definitely has some potential had being a very interesting book.
Thanks for sharing it. (No need to enter me in the contest. Just wanted to leave a note and say thanks for the review!)
awesome book i am hoping to shake up 2009 by taking some road trips
I’m shaking it up by committing to the 3-day 60-mile Susan Komen walk! The training for this will benefit me physically, and the walk weekend itself will be an amazing experience, with lots of funds raised for a great cause (that phrase sounds so trite … may I consult your OED?)
I joined a gym, and that’s very big for me.
I want to concentrate more on taking care of me.
I am shaking up my life by trying to organize it.
madamerkf at aol dot com
I;m going to start working out at the gym.
Thanks for the giveaway.
kimspam66(at)yahoo(dot)com
[...] (Living with the Dead)101. The Book Lady’s Blog (The Little Giant of Aberdeen County)102. The Book Lady’s Blog (The List: 100 Ways to Shake Up Your Life)103. Page Turner (How the Irish Saved Civilization)104. Bookeywookey (American Gods)105. Sarah, [...]
I bought a bicycle seat and am goign to try spinning! I need something constant and real. I got my best gym friend ready and together have decided that the gym will also be our friends, and we hope spinning will give us the stability and workout that we are lacking!
Drastically Change Your Hairstyle I have alway worn my hair the same straight and long
[...] participated in my first Teaser Tuesday, and pondered the lyrics I love for BTT. I wrapped up one giveaway—congrats to Ti from Book Chatter and Other Stuff—and announced an awesome bookish [...]
[...] reviewed two books this week: The Little Giant of Aberdeen County and The List: 100 Ways to Shake Up Your Life. I’m running a giveaway for The List, so be sure to enter before Wednesday. I also read Love [...]
[...] The Little Giant of Aberdeen County (The Book Lady’s Blog)2. The List: 100 Ways to Shake Up Your Life (The Book Lady’s Blog)3. The Little Giant of Aberdeen County (At Home With Books)4. Little Giant of Aberdeen County (3M)5. [...]