Liza Varvogli

NOTE: I received a free eBook copy of this book from LibraryThing's Early Reviewers (August 2023).

I have Greek heritage and I love self-help, so naturally a self-help book inspired by Greek philosophy appealed to me. In "The Pursuit of Joy," psychotherapist Liza Varvogli expounds upon ten succinct quotes from several ancient Greek philosophers to make recommendations about how to live your best life in the contemporary world. Each of the ten chapters is based upon a different quote and explores a different facet of happiness and joy. Because each chapter is relatively self-contained, sometimes Varvogli has to generalize instead of taking a deep dive into specific ideas. However, her expertise really makes ancient wisdom come to life, showing that classical philosophy is timeless. Though Varvogli does not attest to be a philosopher herself, her incorporation of ancient Greek philosophy will likely inspire readers to learn more. My favorite quote was from Euripides: "The person who does the most things makes the most mistakes." Upon reading that chapter, I've already started integrating this outlook into my daily life and sharing it with others, transforming our outlook for the better! The exercises and meditations in each chapter are also very helpful, and can help revive a stagnant mindfulness practice. Each of the ten chapters could have easily been its own volume, and I encourage Varvogli to continue exploring these themes in her upcoming books.… (meer)

This is a great book for affirmations! WOW! I’ve read so many and now they sit on my shelves and collect dust, but not this one! I open it every morning and there’s literally an affirmation for anything I need that day. Any time I’m feeling down, or have low energy, I can literally flip to any page and find encouragement and energy to pick up my spirits and remind myself that I’m in charge of my own future. Everyone must grab a copy of this book and keep it handy. I know I do! I’m never without it! Thank you for selecting me to do an early review of this book. I just had technical difficulties in getting it to open on my device.… (meer)