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52 New Things
May. 15th, 2016 08:36 am52 New Things by Nick J Thorpe is a book summary of a project he did where he tried one new thing each week for a year.
Some of them (growing a beard, reconnecting with his grandfather) lasted the whole year and beyond, but most were one-offs (colonic irrigation and trying Viagra being two that generated the most interest amongst his friends).
The book is very well written - he seems like a personable guy - and it's an entertaining combination of funny anecdotes and heart-warming pleas for people to appreciate the important things in their lives more. There were a couple of bits that really squicked me out, but I think most people wouldn't be as affected by them as me - though there are potentially other things that might freak people out that didn't bother me at all - but these potential issues are very few and far between.
I have only done six of the one-offs (go to a festival, go somewhere new, bake your own bread, get something waxed, walk an alpaca, go on a road trip), but I was quite pleased that six of the more general ones are already a mainstay in my life (spending time with family, walking part of the way to work, writing, doing things on my own, enjoying unusual nights out and making a point of switching off the TV every now and then to do something more productive).
I enjoyed the book a great deal, and it also made me feel good about myself, because I think I do try to make the most of my free time, doing the things that are important to me, and trying new things on a semi-regular basis.
Some of them (growing a beard, reconnecting with his grandfather) lasted the whole year and beyond, but most were one-offs (colonic irrigation and trying Viagra being two that generated the most interest amongst his friends).
The book is very well written - he seems like a personable guy - and it's an entertaining combination of funny anecdotes and heart-warming pleas for people to appreciate the important things in their lives more. There were a couple of bits that really squicked me out, but I think most people wouldn't be as affected by them as me - though there are potentially other things that might freak people out that didn't bother me at all - but these potential issues are very few and far between.
I have only done six of the one-offs (go to a festival, go somewhere new, bake your own bread, get something waxed, walk an alpaca, go on a road trip), but I was quite pleased that six of the more general ones are already a mainstay in my life (spending time with family, walking part of the way to work, writing, doing things on my own, enjoying unusual nights out and making a point of switching off the TV every now and then to do something more productive).
I enjoyed the book a great deal, and it also made me feel good about myself, because I think I do try to make the most of my free time, doing the things that are important to me, and trying new things on a semi-regular basis.
