Podcasters/influencers/how-to gurus such as Liz Moody, forever offering “hacks” to punters unwilling to change at a fundamental level, annoy me, but the tragedy is that I am drawn to them, time and time again, and occasionally, just occasionally, I snatch a pearl or two of wisdom. At best something about their very approach or style penetrates my cynicism, to great effect. 100 Ways to Change Your Life: The Science of Leveling Up Health, Happiness, Relationships & Success, which offers a self-explanatory menu of ideas, is a cut above most such how-to books, primarily due to the author’s engaging style and her sheer energy. Some of her suggestions helpfully reinforce practices of my own, such as her “fresh start” idea; maximizing the amount of nutrients per bite, and, separately, eating thirty types of plants per week, both in keeping with my current extreme Whole Foods Plant Based diet; and eliminating sources of decision fatigue. She addresses establishing boundaries, something I’m pondering with one of my relationships. I read with interest about the hack of taking a cold shower; about “vision and action boards”; and about a “breathwork practice.” How to “overcome procrastination” is treated blithely, and a number of offerings, such as “amping up your charisma,” are plain silly, but my “silly” might not be yours. Overall, 100 Ways to Change Your Life is worth a look.
Book, movie/show, and album reviews
