Review: Wow

Wow: A Handbook for Living by Zen Ohashi and Zono Kurazono

Publication Date: March 2010
Publisher: One Peace Books
Genre: Self-Help
ISBN-13: 9780978508487
ISBN: 0978508483

(Received for review from One Peace Books)

Purchase: Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, Books-A-Million, IndieBound

If you live in Morehead, KY or the surrounding area:
Purchase from our local independent bookseller: CoffeeTree Books
Borrow from our local library: The Rowan County Public Library

Zen Ohashi on the WEB: Website, Twitter

Synopsis (Book Blurb):

A revolutionary new self help guide from master management coaches Zen Ohashi and Zono Kurazono. In this volume they have created a method for living - a way you too can be successful and powerful in your everyday life. Thirty-one phrases are coupled with simple methods and short explanations designed to implement empowerment and change in the lives of readers. Designed to be carried with you and pulled out when you need it. Wow is the ultimate handbook for life.

Thoughts:

Financial management coaches Zen Ohashi and Zono Kurazono created Wow: A Handbook for Living to give readers a quick tutorial on some of the things they can do in their everyday life in order to bring about success and an overall more productive life. Using thirty-one principles the authors offer exercises, quotations and tried and true methods to get your life on track and keep it there.

I found this one a little hard to understand. I understood the overall ideas they were trying to get across but the execution was a little stilted to me. I loved the black and white illustrations and pictures in the book. They went well with the subject matter and lent a quality of sophistication to the book. Though the principles were sound, I still found it a little confusing.

There were a couple of ideas that I found interesting. One was thinking of a problem and very quickly within 5 seconds come up with a solution. You don't always have to go with that solution, but if you allow yourself to do this exercise you are answering purely from intuition and a lot of times your intuition is your greatest asset in any problem solving situation. I liked this principle and even gave it try with some problems of my own and found it very helpful at least to brain storm for solutions.

Another really good idea that the authors brought forth in the book involved complaining. Whenever you feel the need to complain start out with this sentence, "I have a suggestion..." Instead of telling someone what they are doing wrong, suggest a plan for something they can do that doesn't make it seem like you are trying to give them a hard time. This allows you to brain storm about your problems and find solutions instead complaining.

This book is touted to be one that you can carry along with you and whip out at a moments notice. I don't know about that, but there were some ideas here, for me I just needed a better lay out. It reminded me of a comic book in some ways with blurbs here and there across the page, related but not in order. The principles were there, if a person took the time to glean them from the pages. It's short and sweet, easy to read, with big words and a very clear typeset.

I recommend this one to those who enjoy self-help books and improving their way to look at life. In theory this book really works it you apply the principles and expect them to succeed.

Wow: A Handbook for Living is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 3 out of 5 apples from my book bag!