Everything is Figureoutable (Book Review)

An interesting book filled with lots of short story anecdotes that can apply to everyday life.

⛰ What It's About

This book, by author Marie Forleo, riffs off of a favorite life advice motto that she learned from her mom --- that everything is figureoutable (and whatever isn't, is a fact of life that cannot be changed). Throughout the book, the author gives lots of examples, some from her own personal life, but often from the feedback letters she's received from others whose lives have changed by applying this philosophy.

🔍 How I Discovered It

None of my audiobooks on hold were available, & I was looking for something else to listen to. The catchy name to the book sounded like a very can-do perspective that sounded like it might have some inspiring device & it was available for instant check out borrowing from the library, so I picked it.

🧠 Thoughts

A nice concept.

🥰 Who Would Like It?

People who are maybe feeling a bit stuck or feeling like they're facing a figurative brick wall & aren't sure where to go. What I found most impactful was her opening story about her Mom's Tropicana Orange FM radio that she received after saving up & mailing in proofs of purchase. The author's Mom lived in a timeperiod with no internet, no cell phone, and she had no formal training, yet she felt empowered, self-actualized, and figured out how to fix things around her home and for her family. Even though her Mom wasn't trained as an engineer, when her beloved orange-shaped radio with a straw-shaped antenna broke, she took it apart & fixed it so that it could work again. She didn't wait for permission or allowance from unknown others to do what she wanted or needed to with her life, including asphalting her roof.

Although it's not the same as The Holiday movie, it reminds me of how the character Arthur keeps giving Kate Winslet's character (Iris) movies to watch with the idea that the strong female lead characters all have developed gumption with the hidden side effect to inspire her character to develop it, too, in her own personal life.

If you like lots of short anecdotal stories that were written in to the author to thank them for inspiring them with the "everything is figureoutable" motto, detailing how various individuals applied that adage to their own lives, this is the book for you.

📚 Related Books

Unknown, however the author seems to have a website that's referenced, throughout. Also, something called Marie TV (unsure if that means a YouTube channel, perhaps?)

🚀 The Book in 3 Sentences

1. Everything is figureoutable, and if it's not, it's a fact of life that cannot be changed.

2. Life is short. Focus on the things you can change or figure out, and not so much on the facts that you can't do anything about.

3. Regret matters. The 4 worst words at the end of life can often start off as, "I wish I had..." Think of the things you wish you would have done, & then go do them.

🎨 Impressions

The way to figure out things is often circuitous, non-linear, abstract, and often involves creative thinking, and extra time and money. But if you ultimately get to do the thing that you were trying to do (like go on a much-needed vacation), then it's probably worth it.

How I Discovered It

Came up as an available now audiobook to check out.

Who Should Read It?

Lots of people. However, if you don't like the repetition of the key phrase "everything is figureoutable," repeatedly throughout the book, you might tire of it easily.

☘️ How the Book Changed Me

It's a nice succinct mantra. Easier said than done. Something nice to fall back upon when it feels tricky.

✍️ My Top 3 Quotes

📒 Summary + Notes

This is an easy read. It's also available as an audiobook. You can check them out at a library near you, or purchase from Amazon. https://amzn.to/3AvZl1D