BOOK REVIEW: You Are Awesome by Matthew Syed

Shane | 22 August 2018 | Reply

BOOK REVIEW: You Are Awesome by Matthew Syed

Wren & Rook
May 2018
Paperback, $19.99
Reviewed by Shane Pinnegar

Paperback / Self-help / Children’s

10/10

Matthew Syed has cleverly constructed an essential helper to any kid (or adult) who is struggling with direction, motivation or self-confidence – and in my experience that is most of us.

Ex- British Olympic table tennis champ Syed explains in friendly, fun language with loads of humour how we have to work hard to attain goals, and gives readers wonderful insight into how to approach every challenge with a growth mindset. Handy tools to remember abound, especially that of marginal gains – breaking a task down into its smallest components, making marginal improvements in each area, then reassembling to find the cumulative gains have been considerable.

I can say with hand on heart that if I had been guided through this book in my early teens, my life may have been very different, and I’m extremely proud that my eleven-year-old daughter has already started reading it and asking questions about it.

Instead of that X-box game or DVD, do your kids a favour and give them this book. At worst it’ll reinforce their positivity. At best, the sky is the limit, whether they need help with their exams, sport, hobbies or self-confidence.