This I Believe: The Personal Philosophies of Remarkable Men and Women

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 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" show 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 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 show more 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 job that would impress people, even though she could've easily found a job that impressed people.

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 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 show more 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

This was a good book. I am a big fan of the 'Humans of New York' type of book and storytelling, where it's stories and thoughts of regular people. We as a population don't need a mountain of books telling us what today's hottest celebrity is thinking, but we could all do well to understand each other a little more.

To this end, 'This I Believe' is the revival of a mid-20th century project, originally by CBS over the radio and now continued by NPR, where people were encouraged to write small essays about something they truly believe in. This particular edition combined some of the original essays from the 1950s with modern ones, which in this case were written in the early-2000s.

Unlike 'Humans of New York', this book mixes the everyday show more person with the famous person. You'll find Jackie Robinson, Colin Powell and Temple Grandin alongside people that probably sound a lot like your next-door neighbors. It's refreshing, and the editors strike a good balance of not making this "Thoughts of the Rich And Famous" while also allowing for some interesting, historically impactful people to tell their stories.

There are a lot of religion-based essays in here. Part of this likely stems from the "believe" part of the prompt, and all religion is a matter of belief in one way or another. Part of this seems to be marginally related to timing, since this call for essays appears to have been relatively soon after 9/11 amidst the nation's soul-searching. Part of it is simply because religion was materially more prominent, if you will, in the 1950s average household than it may be today (see: declining church attendance and such). For my tastes, reading this today, it was too much religion.

This was a good read, if a little heavy on religion. I already have Part II of this book and will read it in the near future. show less

I believe in this series. It is fascinating and moving reading about people's beliefs and the events that shaped them. While the essay format is short, just a few hundred words, it forces the writer to get right to the core of their beliefs. From the famous to the person on the street, the series gives everyone the opportunity to express themselves. I feel like my own horizon is broadened by sharing in their stories.

I love listening to the series on NPR, but I don't think it loses power in the written form. It is just different. Reading the book puts more emphasis and interpretation in the choice of words to convey the meaning, rather than relying on the tone of voice of the author. I cried again at the essay from the woman who show more believes all the graves in the cemetary should have flowers. Just as I did when I first heard it on the radio. show less

From the popular NPR segment of the same name, this is a well-rounded sampling of the essays aired both from its current incarnation and from the original show around the time I was born, in the early 1950s. This anthology is nothing if not inspiring, and as an added bonus, it’s a very fast read. One is compelled to reflect momentarily on the author’s words and begin anew with the next essay. I will confess that a few of these personal accounts infuriated me, and some I saw more as an attempt to garner political points (you’ll know them when you see them), and I readily admit that it may have not been intended that way, but in my interpretation. Most, however, seemed genuine and forthcoming, and I am inspired to write one of my show more own. The editors include guidelines as to length and content, and even provide a website for submission. I also appreciated the several pages of black-and-white photos of some of the essayists. I thought it was an added treat to see the faces of those who wrote such thoughtful, deeply-felt, private feelings. This ought to be required reading for anyone, anywhere. show less