The 52 Weeks

October 1, 2013
A blog sparks more of a self-help attitude than a book. Readers who feel the need for a life coach can turn here instead--especially readers similar to the co-authors, two female friends in their 40s, both happily married and with families, who weren't exactly dissatisfied with their middle-class lives but felt like they were stuck in a rut. So they started a blog "as a fun idea between two good friends. Our plan was to get going again, get unstuck and just feel better. This book is our story, but it is also an inspirational blueprint to help others get going again." For all its good intentions, the book is repetitive and not especially deep. The key to getting unstuck is to get out of your comfort zone and try new things, which is a point belabored multiple times within each chapter. What new things? Go to a shooting range. Eat blueberries for breakfast. Try nude yoga. Test-drive a sports car. Study the cabala. Take time to reflect or even meditate. Give to those who are suffering or less fortunate. "If you listen to Bach," they write, "try the Beatles. If you listen to Beyonce, try Bach." This isn't a collection of blog posts, however; instead, it's more of what the authors discovered through their personal experiences, interspersed with testimonies from "52 Weeks Experts" and quotes from the likes of Dr. Seuss, Woody Allen and Ellen DeGeneres. Each chapter ends with bullet points and lists, and then there are much longer lists of suggestions at the end of the book. And worksheets. It likely worked better as a blog, but those who need a prod will find themselves prodded repeatedly here. Little of what's included seems like more than a one-time experience, providing diversion rather than transformational depth.

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