Jay Allison

What a mixed bag this was! With contributors like Albert Einstein, Anthony Fauci (before he became the face of COVID-19), and Bill Gates, I expected a lot of insightful and thought-provoking content—and the book delivered, but not always consistently.

Let's start with the highlights. My favorite essay, "Be Cool to the Pizza Dude" by Sarah Adams, set the bar high. It was witty, relatable, and genuinely laugh-out-loud funny. Other gems included "There Is No Such Thing As Too Much Barbecue" by show more Jason Sheehan, which made me smile, and "The Power of Love To Transform And Heal" by Jackie Lantry, which made me tear up.

One of the best things about this book is its format. Each essay is just 1-2 pages long, making it easy to read "just one more" before bed or during a quick break. The essays are short enough to pick up the book, read a couple, and put it down without feeling like you're losing continuity.

However, not all essays hit the mark. Some felt over the top, others were overly religious, and a few were exceedingly patriotic. I found myself rolling my eyes at the overly dramatic ones and skimming through the more banal, cookie-cutter essays. It's clear that even when given the chance to share their deepest beliefs, not all contributors had something truly profound or original to say.

Despite these inconsistencies, every essay managed to be thought-provoking in its own way. I appreciated the variety of voices and the glimpses into different worldviews, even if some were a bit basic. The book did start to feel repetitive after a while, so I recommend spacing out your reading over a period of time to avoid getting bored.

Overall, this is an intriguing collection of personal philosophies that range from deeply moving to just plain ordinary. It's perfect for dipping in and out of, with enough standout essays to make it worth the read. Just be prepared for a few duds along the way. show less

Based on the NPR program of the same name, this collection features 80 essays written by people both famous and not detailing the core beliefs that define them. Some of these essays were light, funny, and whimsical, while others were deeply spiritual, philiosophical, and politically charged; one even brought me and the co-worker who was listening with me to tears. However, there was not a single one that failed. Each told a unique story about the individual who wrote it.

I had the pleasure of show more listening to an audio recording of this collection. Each essay was presented by the original author with an introduction by Jay Allison or Edward Murrow who hosted the original 1950s series. Hearing each essay in its authors own voice lent a special quality to this book, so that the listener heard the essay as the writer intended. There was no questioning the meaning and intent behind their words.

Before I had even completed my listen I bought the ebook, as I knew that I would want to go back to reread and reference both the essays and the notes at the end on how to write my own essay. There is something for everyone in this book, and there is not a single person to whom I wouldn't recommend it. In fact the only reason I gave this book 4 stars instead of 5 is because the studio where I work can get noisy and I couldn't clearly hear all of them. There is a strong possibility that as I go back and reread the essays I missed that I will wish I had rated it higher. show less

I love This I Believe. I first heard the radio show on NPR and then went out and bought the book when it came out. A lot of the statements are memorable, but the one that sticks out for me is by a woman who earned advanced degrees and then decided what she really wanted to do with her life was to be a personal assistant. People at parties treated her like she was dumb or unimportant when they found out what she did, but she learned not to let it bother her. She chose a job she liked over a show more job that would impress people, even though she could've easily found a job that impressed people. show less

I really enjoyed reading these essays. Written by common citizens as well as easily recognized people of fame, they tell of the personal philosophies that these people have developed in their lives. Some are religious, some are political, some are very deep and philosophical, and some are light and funny, but all are worth the time spent reading them. I read the book as I read a novel, but honestly, you could just sit and pick it up whenever you have a couple of minutes and cherry pick an show more essay that appeals to you at that moment. My favorite two essays were one written by Jackie Robinson, "Free Minds and Hearts at Work", and one written by a 16 yr old boy, "Tomorrow Will Be a Better Day". I will be re-reading these essays over and over again and at some point I hope to take the time and write my own. I think it's an important skill - to be able to put into words what you really believe. show less