The Book of Awesome: Snow Days, Bakery Air, Finding Money in Your Pocket, and Other Simple, Brilliant Things is great. It’s one of those books that would make a great hostess gift, a book to keep in your guest room, a teacher’s gift, graduation gift, or just a fun treat for yourself.
Usually this kind of book is good in theory and good for a few chuckles or nods of agreement, but in this book at least 90% of Neil Pasricha’s observations are 5-star. I shared an essay or two with my 11 1/2 year old daughter, and she loved them too, and in fact ended up reading through the book before I did.
In addition to essays on topics listed in the subtitle, some others I enjoyed were
- The Universal Fry-Sharing Policy
- Wearing Sandals When You Shouldn’t be Wearing Sandals
- The Friendly Nod Between Strangers Doing the Same Thing
- When You’re Watching one of Your Favorite Movies and Realize You Don’t Remember How it Ends
These things are awesome, right? Don’t they just make you smile?
Fun book. I’m glad it exists, and I have a feeling that I’ll be buying many copies of it.
I recently shared something I think is awesome on my blog: Kids who go back to sleep in the middle of the night without parental assistance.
Want to hear something really awesome? We have two Advanced Reader’s Copies to give away, thanks to the publisher. Leave a comment — telling us something that YOU think is awesome. We’ll announce the winners in the May 5 giveaway column.
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Jennifer Donovan loves simple, brilliant things like children’s laughter, a new tub of ice cream, the smell of a new book, and deliveries from the UPS truck. Blogging at Snapshot and managing the great team here at 5 Minutes for Books? Definitely Awesome!
ibeeeg says
I think a stranger pulling over to the side of the road to make sure you are alright (car is in the ditch), and a stranger helped pull car out of ditch is awesome!
Basically, random acts of kindness is incredibly awesome!
The book does sound fun, regardless if I win a copy or not, I will have one in my hands at some point. A good gift idea? Great, can always use good book suggestions for gifts. Thanks.
edj says
Sounds fun. Awesome is when a friend sends you a care package from far away, or when you start a new book and realize it’s going to be a great one, or when dinner turns out perfectly and you’re starving.
Amy says
I have to say, I totally agree with wearing sandals when you shouldn’t be wearing sandals. I tend to start wearing them in March and won’t stop until November! But I also think it’s awesome when you’re at a drive-through window and the employee notices you have a dog in the backseat and they give your puppy a treat. This book sounds amazing, and I’d love to win a copy!
Rebecca says
Awesome is definitely when three of your friends help your boyfriend get his car out of a waist-high pool of water on the road… in 40 degree weather. I would love this book!
katklaw777 says
Awesome is a tunnel of fudge chocolate cake made by your husband for you!!! thanks.
Yvonne Butler says
Jan 1 this year I went into the hospital with pneumonia that turned into Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome and I stayed on live support for ten days. Didn’t come back home until Feb. 4. Doctors told my family they didn’t expect me to make it. I came out of it not being able to even feed myselt. But because of friends, church family and my families prayers, God heard their prayers and I realised that God is not through with me yet. I am 68 but he is using me every where I go I get to share how “Good and Awesome” He is.Thanks for the chance to win this book, I live by myself and read a lots.
Linda Kish says
This would be so cool to read.
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
sal williams says
This book does indeed sound awesome. Other things I think are awesome are baby wipes – makes the job of changing baby so much easier, Crystal Hot Sauce – 2 or 3 drops makes any dish tastier, and I must be truthful here about awesomeness – Matthew McConaughey’s abs have always seemed awesome to me but then I feel the sane way about Julia Roberts’ smile.
Michele Anne says
ausome is a hot fudge, peanut butter sundea…on a hot day….
Benita G. says
I think you are awesome. I think the way you run your blog is awesome. And the time I spend here is awesome.
bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com
Carolyn says
A good nights’ sleep by all family members is awesome!
Upstatemomof3 says
I think two days of time with my brother and sister is awesome. Two days of receiving love from my family with some alone time with my siblings. Absolutely, totally and completely awesome!
Jen E says
NOT getting called for jury duty after all – awesome. This book sounds cool!
Terri says
It’s awesome when something you had forgotten you requested or registered for shows up in the mail. It’s a surprise you knew about!
Aaron says
Possibly winning this book is awesome!
Nancy says
Winning giveaways is awesome! My Keurig is also awesome.
Sharon Walling (sharon54220) says
This book sounds fantastic. Reconnecting with old schoolmates is awesome. These are people that I haven’t talked to in almost 40 yrs.
[email protected]
Rita says
Encouraging words and smiles; listening ears; grandkids’ hugs are among the awesome things in life.
Beth C says
Being a new Grandma and holding my new grandson is awesome!
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net
Katy says
Sleeping in is awesome. I miss it.
Kirsten T. says
I find when the moon and stars align and my two kids nap at the same time is awesome (rare, but happens….like right now!)
Kelly says
Weekends when our schedule isn’t packed and we actually get to spend time together as a family for 2 whole days is awesome! This book looks great! Thanks for the chance!
Kelly Deaton – secrets_girl23(at)yahoo(dot)com (aka) dkad23(at)gmail(dot)com
Katie Schroeder says
This book sounds great! I would love to be able to read it!
Mozi Esmes Mommy says
Snuggling with a sleepy girl is my favorite awesome!
janemaritz at yahoo dot com
We posted about this giveaway at Winning Readings: http://winningreadings.blogspot.com/2010/05/book-of-awesome.html
Marj McClendon says
Oh my, this is the book I am looking for to give to an 11 year old boy that loves to read. (After I read it, of course.) Sharing books is the best thing there is.
AmandaSue says
Having a stranger help you get something from a high shelve at the grocery store is awesome, spending a sunny afternoon walking the dog at the park is awesome, telling someone that you love them is awesome. Thanks for the chance into this giveaway.
unforgetable_dreamer_always(at)hotmail.com
sherri says
Awesome is when the test results are negative
Awesome is a baby’s first smile.
Awesome is winning the stare down contest with the cat.
Awesome is when the one you love loves you back.
Some Lucky Dog says
Being a grandma is totally awesome!
someluckydog at gmail dot com
Leilani says
My husband is awesome! And so are my boys. And so is chocolate.
shawna says
OOh I’d LOVE to give this book to my son’s school advisor!
mainlandmama at gmail dot com
Eileen says
What I think is awesome is the sweet smell of my husbands hazelnut coffee brewing in the morning , even though I can’t drink it~~~
And when I sit in the back yard ( a little bit) envious of the neighbors azure lilacs & wishing we had some in ours~~~and suddenly the wind changes and I get a whiff of their presence in MY yard after all~~~
The long forgotten rebate comes in the mail JUST in time to take the kids for an ice cream treat…
Taking a boat ride and fishing at NIGHT with only my husband…and the world I thought was so big is actually so small…just he and I and God and the stars…well, and the smelly, squirmy bait, but heh…that’s just a part of the magic, too!
I could go on forever, because even when things look bleak and dark and scary in your lives, there are the most “AWESOMEST” things that remind you of all the goodness & people that surround you, or memories that in your heart that can sustain you. And the joy that is there for the taking if only we allow ourselves to sense it!
karenk says
awesome is the first sip of coffee in the morning 🙂
Hailey says
I think my husband is awesome. I think I’m pretty awesome too! 😉
Christina says
Really, really awesome are all the therapists my son has worked with over the years, and more than one neurologist we’ve met. Also awesome are the people who attend the hospital’s yearly auction and give!