Note: I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. You can win one by entering below!
When Rebecca at Love at First Book invited me to be a part of the #3GAB tour, I immediately agreed because I generally trust her judgment when it comes to books. I’m please to report that she did not disappoint!
3rd Generation and Beyond by Danna Pycher is a short book of life lessons that she learned from being a 3rd generation Holocaust survivor. Simple and heartfelt, she uses her personal experiences from surviving a horrific car accident to an around-the-world journey to find her roots, Danna urges the writer to be grateful and take advantage of life’s opportunities. It reminds me of the life lessons version of The Mastery of Love by don Miguel Ruiz.
I really liked this book and think that it should be a must-read for middle school girls all over. It offers anecdotes such as, “Kindness is infectious. Spread the disease,” and, perhaps more relevant to the age group, “If someone is spewing out hateful words, don’t hesitate to think they will act in a hateful way.” And of course, some of it just made me laugh, like when she talked about her grandfather wearing hand-me-down dresses until he was 8.
Yesterday’s post was “The Why of 3GAB” – Here’s “The What Now”
But some portions of the book struck a more personal chord with me. First, we have a lot in common. Our favorite number is 18, we both loved our grandmothers more than words can describe, and we’re both jealous of Oprah. While I haven’t been in a horrific car accident and can’t relate to her situation entirely, I have spent a few months being physically dependent on others. Her frustration at needing to be helped to get dressed and her inability to do anything for herself rang true for me and I empathize with her struggles.
More importantly, this book struck a chord with me because I’ve always contemplated whether or not to write little essays about parts of my life. One of her biggest pieces of advice in the book is to “write your memoirs” and I think that it’s time for me to stop thinking and start doing. I have this book to thank for the motivation to start documenting my life for future generations. (It also says that, “reading is the portal to a better life,” which is so true)
While I think this book is a must-read for middle school girls, it’s a great book for adults, as well. It reminds us not to take advantage of people or life, and to live the best life we can while we have the faculties to do so. Plus, it reminds you to do these things without bogging you down with unnecessary circular reasoning, which is common in these types of book! In sum:
“You are meant to take risks, because your life is meant to be extraordinary.”
To purchase this book, click here:
Find a local store with IndieBound