"As someone who will read a self-help book, put the book down and forget to implement anything I’ve read, building in this memory and connection to films and music is a nifty way of micro-dosing personal development as well as encouraging you to spend the time thinking more closely about other films/music/books and what perspectives they offer."
Guidance found in unexpected places. Cultural references are used in this innovative self-help to help you find a new outlook on life. No Short Cuts is a self help book executed through the unique and innovative use of music and film references. This book has an accompanying playlist, features QR codes to scan at the appropriate time and contains both personal anecdotes and film scenes as well as Stoic and Taoist teachings to invite personal reflection. It’s a demonstration that you can find inspiration and moments for self-reflection anywhere. No Short Cuts by Randolph Fenton combines philosophy and advice that you would expect from a self-help book along with analysis of key scenes in popular films like Forrest Gump, Dead Poets Society, The Devil Wears Prada to offer a new perspective on work, relationships and personal growth. I liked this structure as it translates self-help tips into a language that most people are familiar with, using popular film and music to provide examples that readers can understand and then relate to their lives. His analysis of the tracks in the playlist explains their relevance, but I also liked that it forms a connection between two forms of media. After reading through the book, intentionally listening to the playlist as a whole is an opportunity to reflect on the different ideas connected to each track. However a further utilisation is that hearing the tracks spontaneously in the future could act as a subtle reminder to reconnect and reflect. As someone who will read a self-help book, put the book down and forget to implement anything I’ve read, building in this memory and connection to films and music is a nifty way of micro-dosing personal development as well as encouraging you to spend the time thinking more closely about other films/music/books and what perspectives they offer.
Charlotte Walker, A LoveReading Ambassador
| Primary Genre | Indie Author Books |
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