Audible Book Review: Meditations for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman

 

I openly admit from the start that my review of this Audible book will not do the book justice. In Meditations for Mortals: Four Weeks to Embrace Your Limitations and Make Time for What Counts by Oliver Burkeman, the author outlines a different approach to making the most of the time we have and how to take action on what matters most to you. 

This is the second book by Burkeman I have listened to, and I realize now that I need printed copies to mark up and bookmark. Just like with the first book, Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals, I found tons of helpful and insightful information in Meditations for Mortals, but I can't remember all of it because I was listening to it while driving. 

Here are the two tidbits from Meditations for Mortals that I found the most valuable: 

• Seeing our TBR piles as a river, a flowing stream of possibilities you can dip into and choose what you feel like reading, letting the rest float on by. Doesn't that take the pressure off?
• Creating a Done list instead of a To-Do list. Also, reduces the pressure because you are focusing on what you have done, not the mountain of things left undone. 

The author narrates the book, and he has a great voice to do so. Meditations for Mortals is formatted to be read one day at a time over four weeks, but I listened to multiple days at once. This did not impede the absorption of the material, but I truly wished I could have written down notes. 

Burkeman's books are powerful resources for those looking to make changes in their lives. Blending different influences into a philosophy the author calls "imperfectionism," readers can use Meditations for Mortals to create a more meaningful life. 

Product details

Listening Length	4 hours and 4 minutes
Author	Oliver Burkeman
Narrator	Oliver Burkeman
Whispersync for Voice	Ready
Audible.com Release Date	October 08, 2024
Publisher	Macmillan Audio
Program Type	Audiobook
Version	Unabridged
Language	English
ASIN	B0CW47NDT6

I downloaded this book from Audible with a credit. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? and Mailbox Monday - May 6

Welcome to It's Monday! What Are You Reading? and Mailbox Monday.   

 

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week. It's a great post to organize yourself. It's an opportunity to visit and comment, and er... add to that ever growing TBR pile! So welcome in everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog and then was taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date.   

Welcome to May! Hope you had a nice week. Χριστὸς ἀνέστη (Christ is Risen) to those who celebrate Orthodox Easter. It was so late this year, and with both in-laws gone, I almost forgot about it. We are going to wait until the Lil' Princess is back home to have our Easter dinner. 

Another hectic week, but with lots of high points.

• New listings are coming.
• Signed up a new buyer.
• Submitted two offers.
• Wrote the query letter for the small town romance I wrote in November.
• Grabbed some new books on house history from the library and raided their annual used book sale.
• Lil' Diva's first dance recital was this weekend, too!

Working at the office

Pumpkin muffins and pumpkin cornbread

Caught a nice sunset

The teaching staff being introduced

As for my reading world, not a lot happened this week. I've been on the road a lot, so Audible is the only thing I can really get to lately. 

My review for this book appeared on Wednesday. You can still enter the giveaway here.

This review is coming May 17th. 

I am enjoying this book for our Prairie Pages Book Club.

I am on the last 30 minutes of this one. 

I need to start this one this week. 

I'll start this one this week. I grabbed a Kindle version to make reading easier. 

This will come on vacation with me in July. 

Upcoming virtual book tours:

• Be Resilient in Your Career by Dr. Helen Ofosu - May 16 (Review)
• Mastering Your Scenes by J. A. Cox - May 17 (review)
• I Will Ruin You: The Twisted Truth Behind the Kit Martin Murder Trial by Emilio Corsetti III - May 31 (Review)
• Royally Arranged by Amber Malloy - June 4 (First Chapter Review)
• Rock, Crush, and Roll by Hunter Snow - June 12 (First Chapter Review)
• Is Truth Stranger Than Fiction? You Decide... by JB Miller - July 3 (Review)
• The Righteous Arrows by Brian J. Morra - July (Review)

 

Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week. Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.

Here is what I grabbed at the library for books on house history. The second photo is the books I added to my TBR pile thanks to the used book sale. 

This was the free book I grabbed as a thank you for donating books to the used book sale. 

Sheila Roberts sent me this one to review.

That's it for me today. Hope you enjoy traveling the blogosphere seeing everyone's books. 

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? and Mailbox Monday - Feb 5

Welcome to It's Monday! What Are You Reading? and Mailbox Monday.   

 

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week. It's a great post to organize yourself. It's an opportunity to visit and comment, and er... add to that ever growing TBR pile! So welcome in everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog and then was taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date.   

My, my, my, welcome back to Monday! How did we get back here so quickly? Hope you had a great week.

Lots going on in my world. I announced on social media that I have switched real estate brokerages. I am grateful for the 9.5 years spent with my Real Living/BHHS Realty Pros family. I'm also excited to see what the future holds at HB Real Estate. I've been moving into my new office and making plans. 

Bonus room clean up continues, and I've started meal planning on Sundays so I can be better prepared for the week's meals. This has allowed me to make a dessert once a week, like this flourless chocolate cake. I've gone back to time blocking--which I despise--and have added three days on the Peloton into my schedule. I enjoy being more organized, so hopefully the time blocking sticks. 

In my reading world, you will find my review of this children's picture book today at TC&TBC. 

My review of this book appeared here on Sunday. 

A review of this book appeared here on Friday. 

At Modern Prairie, our first book club choice is Little House in the Big Woods. I'm about halfway through it. I have a similar edition, but my copy was only $1.50 in the States and $1.70 in Canada. Yes, I'm that old. 

On Audible, I am listening to this one and loving it.

I need to read these next. 

Upcoming virtual book tours:

• When the Red Bird Flies by Courtney Reames Haydell - Feb 5 (review at TC&TBC)
• Civil Twilight by Anique Taylor - Feb 19 (guest post)
• Universally Adored and Other One Dollar Stories by Elizabeth Bruce - Mar 12 (interview)
• It Will Have Been So Beautiful by Amanda Shaw - Apr 25 (review)

At the Christmas Year Round blog last week

• Favorite Kitchen Appliances That Help Me Prep for the Holidays
  

 

Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week. Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.

The new brokerage has a Little Free Library, and people drop off books all the time. I grabbed these for now:

I enjoy history, even the tough parts. 

That's it from me this week. I hope to be checking in with your blogs early in the day. Hope you enjoy your week. 

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Most Recent Additions to My Bookshelf

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.    

Welcome to the last Tuesday of 2023! How is that even possible? Do you have any plans for New Year's Eve? I'm sure we will be staying home. I have plenty to read. :) 

This week's Top Ten Tuesday is all about the latest additions to our bookshelves. Some of you might even have received new books yesterday. So, here are my...

Top Ten Most Recent Additions to My Bookshelf

From Top Ten Tuesday's Bookish Wishes

Christmas haul

Christmas haul

Christmas haul

Christmas haul

Author for review

Audible credit

Audible credit

Netgalley

Netgalley

Did you receive any books this holiday season? What are you looking forward to reading soon?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? and Mailbox Monday

Welcome to It's Monday! What Are You Reading? and Mailbox Monday.   

 

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week. It's a great post to organize yourself. It's an opportunity to visit and comment, and er... add to that ever growing TBR pile! So welcome in everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog and then was taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date.     

Happy Monday, everyone! I am posting this a bit early since I have a crazy day ahead. Hope you all had a nice weekend. I'm pretty far behind in terms of Christmas shopping and preparations, but at least the main tree is up and has lights on it and most of the other decorating is done. Here's a glimpse at my week.

Through the end of November, I am #5 for individual agents in our company

RAPV Board of Directors Luncheon

RAPV Holiday Luncheon waiting for the movers to pick up toy donations

Dwight wanted to help set up the family room tree

The new tree is 9' tall

Outside lights

In my reading world, I downloaded two new books on NetGalley. You can find my review of this seasonal title here. 

I also reviewed this inspirational romance last week on the blog. If you missed it, you can read my review here. 

This next book will be a DNF for me. I simply can't slog through it. 

This will also be a DNF. I made it through part of Chapter 3, but its not for me. 

I started this next one for a January review.

I also started this next one after I got approved for it on NetGalley.

Upcoming virtual book tours:

• A Yellow House in the Mountains by Glenn Hileman - January 17 (review)
• Civil Twilight by Anique Taylor - January 23 (guest post)
• The Location Shoot by Patricia Leavy - January 31 (interview)  

At Christmas Year Round last week:

• Keeping Your Pets Safe at Christmas
• Christmas Errors, Flubs & Fails: Royal Family Alleged Christmas Photo Mishap
• Keeping Families Safe This Winter
• More Christmas Quotes

Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week. Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.

This arrived on Saturday.

I got approved for these two on NetGalley:

I used Audible credits to add these to my library.

I will be out most of the day, but I will check your blogs later. Hope you have a great day!