As Sure as the Dawn by Francine Rivers

As Sure as the Dawn is the third and final book of this series.  It continues the story of a character from the first book, Atretes.  He is a German warrior who was enslaved by the Romans and forced to fight as a Gladiator.

This book introduces new characters and fully develops some that we were just introduced to in the first book.  Atretes only had a few short interactions with the heroine of this series, Haddasah, but they had a profound affect on him.  They frequently flash back to them in this book.  Atretes was a hard man before becoming a Gladiator and having his heart broken by Julia Valerian, but those two things have really hardened his heart.  But God places some people in his life that are able to show him kindness, even when he is being a jerk, and speak Truth to him.  Will he make it back to Germany and escape everything he hates about Rome?  I guess you will have to read the series to find out!

Loved this one too!  5 out of 5 stars!  What are you waiting for?  Read. these. books. now.

Echo in the Darkness by Francine Rivers

Echo in the Darkness is the second book in The Mark of the Lion series and I loved this book too!

I'm not going to say too much about this one because I don't want to give away any spoilers.  The story of the Valerians continues.  You see the effect Hadassah had on all of their lives and where it takes each of them.  Marcus retreats from everyone on a long journey to process everything that happened in the first book.  Julia's actions continue to catch up to her and she starts to learn some hard lessons.  This book felt more heavy.  All the characters were dealing with and going through a lot.  But the same undercurrent carries the stories through.

I will say I loved the ending of this one!

Again 5 out of 5 stars!  And seriously- read. this. series. now.

Voice in the Wind by Francine Rivers

I LOVED this book!  Voice in the Wind by Francine Rivers is a book that will stay with me for a long time.  I have recommended this book (and the whole series) to so many people and the two girls that already finished loved them!  The rest of y'all need to get on it because seriously this series is that good!

This one sentance summary from paperbackswap.com sums it up pretty well:

In an ancient culture frighteningly similar to modern-day America, a young slave girl fights to save the family -- and the man -- she has grown to love.

This book is the story of Hadassah.  She's a young Jewish girl by blood but Christian by faith in Christ.  The story opens with her home Jerusalem being destroyed by the Roman army.  Her family is killed and she is made a prisoner and then sold as a slave to the wealthy Valerian family.  This family has issues.  Marcus is a young man who is trying to build a name and wealth for himself apart from his father who he disagrees with and resents.  Julia is...crazy.  She is a young girl who does what she wants, when she wants, and rebels against just about anything and everything.  The poor mom is torn between them all.  And Hadassah serves this family faithfully and lovingly.  So much happens in this book:  arranged marriages, death, abortion, love, hate, violence, just about anything and everything you could think of.  And Hadassah is just such a great example through it all of how to live you life for God- putting your faith and future completely in His hands and trusting him- while loving people (even when they are unlovable) and just living your life with integrity no matter the circumstances.

It is seriously so good!  Definitely 5 out of 5 stars!  I highly recommend this book and series!!

A Dog's Purpose by W. Bruce Cameron

I LOVED this book!  I cried at least 5 times while reading this book.  This book made it to my "Keep Forever" shelf (which only has about a dozen books on it).

This book is the story of one dog.  But he is re-born as a new dog multiple times.  It is all told from his perspective.

First he is the puppy of a mutt.  Then he is the adopted puppy of a family (in particular a boy who he pretty much grows up with).  Then he is kind of an outlaw looking for his way back to the boy...will he find him?  and his purpose?  and how all his lives are connected and gave him what he needed to fulfill his purpose?

It is hilarious, interesting, heartbreaking, and just generally cute (in an amazingly awesome way!).  I read it while I was on vacation in Vegas and it made me miss Cam so much.

If you love a dog, you will probably love this book and wonder what the dog you love would say if he could.

I give it 5 out of 5 stars.

Sorority Sisters by Claudia Welch

I bought this book on a whim at Barnes & Noble one night.  Funny story- I spent 3 hours in Barnes & Noble one Saturday night reading a book Social Q's and He's Just Not That Into You because I wanted to read them but not buy them.  You probably aren't supposed to do that- oh well!

I bought this book because I wanted to get one of their beach bags and you had to buy a certain $ amount to get the beach bag for $9.99 and I will take advantage of any excuse to add to my growing "to-read" list.

This book was on a display and it sounded like the perfect beach read.  It was even autographed!  I read that the author is from NC so she must have had a signing at the store recently or something.

I LOVE LOVE LOVED this book!  I laughed.  I cried (multiple times).  I fell in love with all these girls and could identify with all of them at different parts throughout the story.  It had me re-living some of my memories from my college days.  It had me appreciating my girl friends and wondering how all our lives were going to play out over the next few years.

The book follows four main characters over about 30 years of their life.  It follows them through their college days to adulthood.  It had me gasping and telling parts of the stories to my friends.  And seriously I cried multiple times.

I started it last weekend at the beach and left the book at the beach to finish it the next weekend and I was actually sad to leave the characters behind and anxious to know what happened to them.

Put this one on your "to-read" list for sure!

I give it 5 out of 5 stars!

Empty Promises by Pete Wilson

I got a free copy of this book through BookSneeze.com.  I admit, I'm shallow sometimes and judge a book by it's cover and I loved this cover.  I also loved the extended title:  Empty Promises: The Truth about You, Your Desires, and the Lies You're Believing.

I finally got to read this book on my long trek to San Diego.  Oh, I didn't tell you about that.  I went to San Diego in July.  My flight left 40 minutes late from Raleigh and I was stressing out the entire time about making my connecting flight in Chicago.  I made it just in time.  However, we sat on the plane at the gate for over 2 hours!  They had some kind of technical problem and were trying to get it fixed in order to be cleared for take-off.  They kept saying 15 more minutes.  But finally, they made us get off the plane and told us to stay close to the gate for further instructions.  They switched us to another gate/plane and we finally left Chicago around 4:30 (we were supposed leave at 12:30).  I started my journey my journey just before 10 am in Raleigh and was supposed to get to San Diego around 2:30, but finally made it 5 hours later at 7:30 pm.  Needless to say it gave me a lot of time to read. And I took advantage of it by devouring this book!

I LOVED this book!  The book is all about the things we chase and try to use to fulfill our lives.  The things we put our trust, faith, and hope in.  And how all of those things will only leave you empty.  Only God can fulfill those deepest desires and give you purpose.

There are chapters on Achievement, Approval of Others, Power (or really control), Money, Religion, Beauty, and Chasing The Dream (you know car, house, husband, 2.5 kids and a dog).  I could identify with every chapter.  I have made all of these things idols at some point in time and struggle with keeping them all from taking over control of my heart and mind.

But he doesn't leave it at identifying these idols, he gives you practical tips for keeping them at bay.  He has a chapter on "You are What You Worship" and "Living Close to the Truth".  He talks about you have to be disciplined and keep yourself in God's word and reminding yourself of the truth always.

I seriously can see myself re-reading this book for years to come!

I give it 5 out of 5 stars!

Also on a side not, I was telling some girls in my small group about this book and they asked who it was by. When I told them Pete Wilson and started to explain he was a pastor of a church in Tennessee when one of the girls stopped me and said "Oh my gosh!  He was the pastor of the church I went to in Nashville!"  What a small world!  She said she had read his other book Plan B, but had not heard of this one.  I might just have to check out Plan B because this one was so good!!

The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein

I LOVED this book.  I fell in love with it from the first page when I realized it was written from the point of view of the dog!!  I am so head over heels in love with my dog and often wonder what he is thinking.  Now thanks to this book I now wonder how Cam would tell my story.  What would he have to say about our life together?

The Art of Racing in the Rain is written from Enzo's perspective.  Enzo is Denny's dog.  It tells the story of how Eve, Denny's wife, enters the picture.  It tells the story of how their daughter Zoe joins the family.  It tells the story of Eve's tragic and unexpected death.  And it tells the story of how Denny fights for his family all through Enzo's eyes.

You are probably wondering where the title comes from.  Denny is a race car driver.  Not like NASCAR race car, but like fancy Italian cars racing.  Enzo has learned a lot about racing from Denny and watching races with Denny, and even riding in the race car with Denny.

Oh and did I mention that Enzo likes TV and learned on a documentary that when dogs die they come back as a man?  And Enzo can not wait to come back as a man!

I laughed, I cried, I flew through this book.  I give it 5 out of 5 stars!  A great read!!

Here is a trailer for the book:



It apparently is also in development to become a movie.

And the book is very well written and filled with great quotes.  Here is one of my favorites:

“Here is why I will be a good person. Because I listen. I cannot speak so I listen very well. I never interrupt, I never deflect the course of the conversation with a comment of my own.

...I beg of you, pretend you are a dog like me and LISTEN to other people rather than steal their stories.” 

And go here for a lot more great quotes from the book!

Sarah’s Key by Tatiana De Rosnay

A good friend of mine and fellow book lover recommended Sarah's Key to me.  I freaking loved this book! Ever since I went to the Holocaust museum in DC I have been somewhat obsessed with stories involving it.

Here is a synopsis:

A New York Times bestseller. Paris, July 1942: Sarah, a ten year-old girl, is brutally arrested with her family by the French police in the Vel’ d’Hiv’ roundup, but not before she locks her younger brother in a cupboard in the family's apartment, thinking that she will be back within a few hours. Paris, May 2002: On Vel’ d’Hiv’s 60th anniversary, journalist Julia Jarmond is asked to write an article about this black day in France's past. Through her contemporary investigation, she stumbles onto a trail of long-hidden family secrets that connect her to Sarah. Julia finds herself compelled to retrace the girl's ordeal, from that terrible term in the Vel d'Hiv', to the camps, and beyond. As she probes into Sarah's past, she begins to question her own place in France, and to reevaluate her marriage and her life.

I read this book in less than 24 hours. I loved seeing Sarah’s story unfold and following Julia through her discoveries of Sarah’s story and the connection it had to her own life. I highly recommend this book!

I give it 5 out of 5 stars!

It’s also going to be a movie coming out July 22. Here’s a preview:

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

The first chapter of this book I had to read out loud. It made me want to go out and sit on a font porch and sip sweet tea (even though I am probably one of the only Southerner's that hates sweet tea).

The first character you will meet in The Help is Aibeleen and her point of view is written in a very strong southern dialect. So much so that it was hard to read at first- thus the reading it out loud in my own strong southern accent.

The book is written from three different points of view- Aibeleen her best friend Minny and "the white lady" Skeeter. Aibeleen works as a maid for one of Skeeter's best friends and Minny was just fired as a maid by another one of Skeeter's best friends.

Basically the book takes you back to the 1960's in Jackson, Mississippi and gives you a glimpse into the world of the elite Junior League women and the "help" they have. It is right at the start of the civil rights movement and as the tensions rise regarding segregation, Skeeter gets the help of Aibeleen and Minny to write a book from the point of the view of the maids.

I LOVED it! It had me laughing out loud, tearing up, and open mouthed in shock throughout the book. Each chapter left enough suspense to make it hard to put the book down.

I can't believe that people lived like that so recently! I never had to experience segregation, so it is just so hard for me to imagine. I mean I do live in the South and I do know some racist people, but I can't believe it was ever like this!  It made me wonder if one day our children will read a book and be shocked that we were ever so anti-gay.

My only disappointment was with Miss Celia Foote's storyline. She was one of my favorites and I felt like her storyline fell flat in the end.  But my absolute favorite character was Aibeleen and I also loved to hate that Miss Hilly Hollbrook!

I loved it and would totally recommend this book to everyone!

I give it 5 out of 5 stars!

Here is the preview for the movie. I have to say I was a little disappointed when I saw this in the theater last week because it looks like the movie might not live up to the book (at least for me). But I will definitely be going to see it though!

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins is the third book in the Hunger Games trilogy.  Have I told you yet how much I loved these books?  Well when I read the last word in this book I had a break down and sobbed my eyes out.  For like 10 minutes straight.  I had to come back to read the Epilogue after I composed myself.  And then cried again.

I know I sound crazy right?

Even throughout the books I had to force myself to stop or set the book down for a minute to absorb what had happened.  That is when you know a book is really good.

I don't want to give you the summary from Amazon because it gives away too much from the first two books.  Really it is best to go into these books knowing nothing so you can ride the highs and lows without knowing exactly what is going to happen next.

This book was very different from the first two.  I kept wanting to just know what the resolution was going to be.  It took me longer to get through this one.  Maybe 3 days?

But oh my it was so emotional.  It was oh so bittersweet.  Just like any book, I think I internalized what the characters went through and the story to my own life and experiences and hopes and dreams and it was overwhelming.

It's only been a few days since I finished the book, but I already miss the characters.  I already want to re-read them and live the story all over again.

5 out of 5 stars for sure.

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Catching Fire is the second book in the Hunger Games trilogy.  I'm in love.  I read this book in probably less than 24 hours which does not happen very often given my busy schedule.  Again I am at a loss for words so here is a summary from Amazon:

Every year in Panem, the dystopic nation that exists where the U.S. used to be, the Capitol holds a televised tournament in which two teen "tributes" from each of the surrounding districts fight a gruesome battle to the death. In The Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark, the tributes from impoverished District Twelve, thwarted the Gamemakers, forcing them to let both teens survive. In this rabidly anticipated sequel, Katniss, again the narrator, returns home to find herself more the center of attention than ever. The sinister President Snow surprises her with a visit, and Katniss’s fear when Snow meets with her alone is both palpable and justified. Catching Fire is divided into three parts: Katniss and Peeta’s mandatory Victory Tour through the districts, preparations for the 75th Annual Hunger Games, and a truncated version of the Games themselves. Slower paced than its predecessor, this sequel explores the nation of Panem: its power structure, rumors of a secret district, and a spreading rebellion, ignited by Katniss and Peeta’s subversive victory. Katniss also deepens as a character. Though initially bewildered by the attention paid to her, she comes almost to embrace her status as the rebels’ symbolic leader. Though more of the story takes place outside the arena than within, this sequel has enough action to please Hunger Games fans and leaves enough questions tantalizingly unanswered for readers to be desperate for the next installment.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Again it sounds a little crazy and sci-fi-ish, but it is soooo good.  This book has a twist that made my jaw drop and made me feel exhausted and angry for the characters.   I got frustrated with Katniss even more in this book and fell head over heels for Peeta.  The story between those two was my favorite part of the whole trilogy. 

This one is just as exciting as fast paced as the first one. 

Of course it gets 5 out of 5 stars from me!

Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

I am sooo in LOVE with this trilogy I can hardly bring myself to talk about it other than to say I LOVED IT.  Since I am at such a loss for words, here is a summary I found on Amazon:

In a not-too-distant future, the United States of America has collapsed, weakened by drought, fire, famine, and war, to be replaced by Panem, a country divided into the Capitol and 12 districts. Each year, two young representatives from each district are selected by lottery to participate in The Hunger Games. Part entertainment, part brutal intimidation of the subjugated districts, the televised games are broadcasted throughout Panem as the 24 participants are forced to eliminate their competitors, literally, with all citizens required to watch. When 16-year-old Katniss's young sister, Prim, is selected as the mining district's female representative, Katniss volunteers to take her place. She and her male counterpart, Peeta, the son of the town baker who seems to have all the fighting skills of a lump of bread dough, will be pitted against bigger, stronger representatives who have trained for this their whole lives. Collins's characters are completely realistic and sympathetic as they form alliances and friendships in the face of overwhelming odds; the plot is tense, dramatic, and engrossing. This book will definitely resonate with the generation raised on reality shows like 'Survivor' and 'American Gladiator.' Book one of a planned trilogy.Jane Henriksen Baird, Anchorage Public Library, AK
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

I know it sounds very sci-fi and an intriguing concept but not very entertaining.  Maybe a little too weird?  It took me a long time to give it a chance and I wasn't too excited about starting it.  But trust me once you get a couple chapters in, you won't be able to put it down.  Every chapter ends on a cliffhanger.  There is so much going on and it is not at a slow pace.  The "games" are so unimaginable, but I kept imagining what this would look like in the world I live in today.  You are constantly trying to guess the characters motives and where the story is going to go.  And of course what would a young adult novel be without some love drama thrown in??

Go now.  Run.  Get the books.  All three.  And enjoy devouring them!

They are making them in to a movie and I can not wait to see how they do this story on the big screen.

5 out of 5 stars.  In fact I'd give it 6.

Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella

I love all of Sophie Kinsella's books.  I especially like her non-shopaholic series books (but the Shopaholic series is good too).

Lara Lington is the niece of a man who started a famous branch of coffee shops.  Her last name is very recognizable.  The book opens with her family gathered for the funeral of her great aunt Sadie.  The funeral is really sad.  The only people there are Lara, her parents and sister, her famous uncle and his wife and their daughter.  That's it.  And none of them even knew Sadie at all.  And none of them want to be there.  There are no flowers.  Sadie suddenly appears to Lara and insists she can not be buried without her necklace.  This sets off a hilarious chain or events as they try to find the necklace so Sadie can rest in peace.

Through this process Lara really gets to know the 23 year old version of her great aunt Sadie.  They become great friends, have some really fun adventures together and Sadie even inadvertently helps Lara find love.

I loved it!  I loved the characters.  I loved the adventures.  It was all great!

And now I will put in my last will and testament that I want everyone to be served a cocktail or glass of champagne upon entrance to my funeral! :)

I give it 5 out of 5 stars.

The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman

This book may just change my life.  I really think it is something everyone should read.

In this book Gary Chapman lays out the five distinct love languages we use to express love:

Words of Affirmation

Quality Time

Gifts

Acts of Service

Physical Touch


He says that we all have a "love tank" and when that "love tank" is empty we feel unloved and it is hard for us to love our spouses because we don't feel loved by them.  And everyone needs to feel like they are loved!

There are quizzes in the back of the book to help you determine your primary love language.  This is what you need from someone to feel loved.  Mine was Words of Affirmation.  It wasn't the one I would have guessed, but it makes complete sense now that I know it.

I do need to have words of affirmation from my partner.  I need them to tell me I'm smart and pretty and that they love me.  I think my last two relationships failed because I didn't get that.

My last boyfriend never told me he loved me and at a lot of points in the relationship I felt like he just did not want to hear my opinion on anything which made me feel like he thought I was stupid or something.  I can't remember him ever telling me I was pretty either.  I lost a lot of my self-esteem and confidence in that relationship.

The guy I dated before that was different.  He did write some of the sweetest things ever to me.  He did tell me I was pretty.  But he never came out and said he loved me until after HE broke up with me.  I swear I will never understand guys.

I wasn't totally blameless in either of those relationships.  I did not show them or tell them how much I loved them either.  Love kind of scares me, because I have had so many heartbreaks.  I am physically tired of getting my heart broken so it makes me so scared to start anything new.

After reading this book though, I feel like I know what I need now and even better I know how to show love more effectively.  I really think everyone should read this book!

And even though it was written for married couples, the same principles apply to every loving relationship you have from your parents, to your friends, to your children.  I think knowing how to give love is a very important trait to have and after reading this book I think I will be much more effective at making the people in my life feel loved.

I give this one 5 out of 5 stars!

Plain Truth by Jodi Picoult

I LOVED this book! You probably know Jodi Picoult as the author of My Sister’s Keeper. It was the first of her books that I read and I was hesitant to read any others because I thought they would never live up to My Sister’s Keeper. With that book I couldn’t stop reading because of all the emotional drama and cried my eyes out. With this one I couldn’t stop reading because I was enthralled with learning more about the Amish culture and I just had to figure out the truth!

The book tells the story of a dead infant found on an Amish farm and the big city attorney that immerses herself in the community as she defends her young unmarried Amish client against murder charges. Her client is determined to be the infant’s mother and the investigators say the child was not a stillborn and was most likely smothered to death. But as you learn more and more about the Amish beliefs and values the more impossible it seems that an Amish girl would be capable of doing something like that. So what is the truth?

Ellie, the big city attorney, doesn’t even want to take on the case at first and ends up having to move in with the Fisher family as part of Katie’s bail agreement. She gets a first hand look at the Amish lifestyle and their values as she tries not only to come up with a defense for her client but comes closer and closer to the truth of what really happened.

There are so many twists and turns as more and more pieces of the story are revealed. I loved learning more about the Amish and how for them community and fitting in are everything. They just want to live a good Christian life and fit in with the rest of the community and serving each other. I loved piecing the clues together to try to figure out where Katie’s baby came from, what happened to it, and where her life would go after the trial. It was great. I am officially a Picoult fan now!

Another 5 out of 5 stars for Picoult!

The Pact: A Love Story by Jodi Picoult

I LOVED this book! I read My Sister's Keeper a few years ago and picked this book up because I thought the plot seemed really intriguing. I had started to read it a few times throughout the year, but I couldn't get in to it. This time I was determined to get in to it.

After I got past the first few chapters I was HOOKED. The story jumps between "Then" and "Now" and tells the story of Chris and Emily and their families. Chris and Emily and their parents were almost like on family. They lived next door to each other and took vacations together. Chris and Emily grew up together and were just about as close as two people can be. They started dating as teenagers. The book opens with the death of Emily.

They find Emily shot in the head and Chris holding her dead body. Chris tells them it was supposed to be a double suicide, but he apparently passed out before he could take his life.

As the police investigate the situation and you get flashes of before all this happened and different story starts to take shape. Did thes two love-struck teenagers really plan a double suicide? And why?

These two families, who were like one, are torn apart by the tragedy.

Throughout the book, the plot thickens with almost every page turn. You get more pieces to the puzzle, see things from Emily's perspective, and more and more plot lines develop with each chapter.

I could not put it down all weekend.

I give this book 5 out of 5 stars!

Any other Jodi Picoult fans out there? Which one should I read next? I was thinking about picking up "Keeping Faith" because it sounds interesting but I've heard some of her books are disappointing. Any Suggestions?

Night by Elie Wiesel

As I discussed on my 30 Before 30 blog, I have become obsessed with the Holocaust. I saw this book discussed when it was featured as one of Oprah's book club picks. I knew it was about the Holocaust and Oprah liked it a lot so what did I have to lose?

Nightis a small book packed with emotion. It is Elie Wiesel's memoir of what he experienced during the Holocaust. His words really bring to life what the Jews in the concentration camps felt. I would almost shiver at his descriptions of the unbearable cold. My stomach would feel empty just reading about their starvation. I could feel their desperation and at times I was thinking there was no way I could have survived that. I would have just given up.

His driving force for staying alive is to be there for his father. Also they had made it so far, how could they just give in to death? Then it would have all been for nothing.

He also finds himself questioning his faith. How could God allow this to happen? I have those same questions. It seems unreal that this was something very real. Not some Hollywood plot line. These were real people that did this. Real people that had to experience it. There are no easy answers to those questions.

If you really want to understand what day to day life was like in the Nazi concentration camps, I highly reccommend this book. Even if you don't want to know, you should. So read it anyway. It will make you appreciate your life even more and instill in you a sense to watch out for evil like this in today's world.

I give it 5 out of 5 stars.

Breaking Dawn by Stephanie Meyer

Oh Stephanie Meyer, how you have captivated my mind with your romantic magical world and your increasingly thick books (768 pages this one!). But it was so worth it. Breaking Dawn was the crowning glory on this series. Just when Eclipse had left me feeling like nothing really got accomplished, this one accomplished everything I was craving and things I never even thought to crave! Amazingly, in the end, it left me wanting even more!

In this book, everything the other books have been building up to happens. Then you get thrown twist after glorious twist. It is about love and family, power and protection, magic and fairy tales. Some chapters will leave you sighing and smiling with warm fuzzies. While other chapters with leave you gasping at things you never saw coming. Most chapters toward the end will run together as you race to find out the outcome. And the end left me happy with the outcome but turning the page hoping to find the start to a brand new story.

At one point in the book I literally had to get up immediately to call my friend Heather and gush about what had just happened. If you read this series you will be both thankful and frustrated by other fans. The ones who have already finished might let some big plot line slip or talk non-stop about how much they loved it which will push you to read at all times just to find out what happens. Those who are behind you in the series will frustrate you because you just want them to hurry up and finish so you can discuss EVERYTHING that happens! Either way you will find yourself talking about this series.

I give this one 5 out of 5 stars! (my first perfect score)

(Email me if you want to discuss because seriously I LOVE talking about all things Twilight, but don’t want to give away too much here!)

P.S. I am SO hoping for a follow-up series!

StrengthsFinder 2.0

DO YOU DO WHAT YOU DO BEST EVERY DAY?
Chances are, you don’t. From the cradle to the cubicle, we devote more time to fixing our shortcomings than to developing our strengths.
To help people uncover their talents, Gallup introduced StrengthsFinder in the 2001 management book Now, Discover Your Strengths. The book ignited a global conversation, while StrengthsFinder helped millions discover their top five talents.
In StrengthsFinder 2.0, Gallup unveils the new and improved version of its popular online assessment. With hundreds of strategies for applying your strengths, StrengthsFinder 2.0 will change the way you look at yourself—and the world—forever.
AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY IN STRENGTHSFINDER 2.0 (using the access code included with each book)
• The StrengthsFinder 2.0 assessment, fine-tuned to be faster and more accurate
• A Strengths Discovery and Action-Planning Guide featuring: A customized version of your top five theme report; 50 Ideas for Action for building on your top five themes; A strengths-based action plan for setting goals
• And much more on the StrengthsFinder 2.0 website: A strengths community area; Resources, activities, and discussion guides; A strengths screensaver and program for creating display cards of your top five themes

After reading this summary I snatched this book up and quickly went home to read the intro and take the online assessment. I was nervous what I would find out but as soon as I saw the report I felt like there was a psychic in my computer. This is SO me! But I didn’t even realize it until you spat out this report! Thank you for helping me find myself computer!

The report is great because it goes in depth to each of your strengths- tells you what the theme means, what actions you can take to develop them further, and gives real life examples of each strength in the real world. It is a great tool and gives you some focus for your professional development.

I give it 5 out of 5 stars (worth every penny)!

Learn more about StregthsFinder 2.0