TESTIMONIALs
Here's what readers of Uncommon Courage have shared with me - so grateful to everyone who's sending reviews
What readers are saying about Uncommon Courage
Uncommon Courage: An Invitation is a self-improvement book written by Andrea T Edwards.
This book is intended to help the readers improve their lives, how they associate with each other, and how they interact with Mother Earth. It is an invitation to make everything in our life and environment better, despite the challenges we now face as humankind, some created by us and others beyond our control.
The author presents a hundred and eight wisdoms drawn from her experiences. These eye-opening, timeless wisdoms tackle seven themes: self-awareness, self-empowerment, empower others, external influence, social leadership, career thoughts, and climate courage. Each strategy (wisdom) is placed in its chapter, and below each chapter, a theme it touches on is indicated. I greatly enjoyed my journey through this enlightening read.
There were several things I liked about this book. First, I couldn’t help but notice its splendid formatting. The first impression it gave was of the amount of work and resources the author invested in this project. The book’s pages are great and appealing to read through. The chapters are also short, engrossing, and scannable. They enhanced my reading experience. The author’s passion for each topic presented was also apparent, making this book more interesting to me. I liked the fact that the author backed it with examples from personal experiences and well-cited sources.
The topics were informative, enlightening, and entertaining. Most resonated with me directly. While some were great reminders, others were totally new concepts, and I learned a lot from them. This book passes for self-improvement and educative read. The topics are vast. I could see myself through these pages.
Apart from those, I loved the attention the author gave to the issue of climate change. I found the topics discussed eye-opening and the various strategies she proposed for combating climate change informative. This was the feeling I had when reading them: everyone should read this.
What I liked the most about this book was that the concepts were not only informative but also practical. At the end of each chapter, the author provided reflection and call-to-action questions. They are thoughtful, insightful, and well laid out. They further reinforced the previously presented concepts and made me draw more from this book. This, in turn, added to my overall enjoyment of this work.
Overall, I absolutely disliked nothing in this book. It was perfectly edited, as I didn’t find any errors. Therefore, I am glad to give it an excellent rating of five out of five stars. This book has great wisdom, and I’ll be rereading it from time to time to refresh on the strategies.
I highly recommend this book to readers who want to improve their lives. Unlike many self-improvement books, this all-encompassing read touches on topics that will improve your life and help us conserve our home, Earth. On the other hand, I don’t think of anyone who may find this least suitable.
Helen Akoth
Uncommon Courage by Andrea Edwards | OnlineBookClub.org
“Never be ashamed of the music you love.”
Regardless of how successful we are, we are destined to have the moments where we need a little courage and strength from within or from a source outside, be that an inspirational idol, a mentor, a friend or a guru.
I saw an ad for this book on Instagram and I could not stop myself from reading it. I’m more than glad that I completed reading this book though, in the beginning, I was feeling a bit overwhelmed with the author’s personal story and huge introduction part of the book.
The book is a collection of 108 wisdom mantras from the author, focussing on seven kinds of wisdom- self-awareness, self-empowerment, empowering others, external Influence, social leadership, career thoughts and climate courage, with the obvious announcement that not everything will work for everyone, the wisdom is to be acquired with what resonates.
As an army musician during her youth, the author travelled solo which enabled her to come out of her comfort zone and led her to learn many lessons in life. The author has jotted down all the life lessons we might find in other self-help books and together they make reading this 480-page book a wholesome experience. Not a book to binge-read, it’s a slow and steady process, a few chapters a day, all the way pondering over the strategy shared.
The chapters for each strategy have effective and short worksheets that help us become a better version of ourselves. Even though the book is big, it’s not a difficult read and I finished each chapter slowly to grasp the main message. The language is very easy and pleasing to the mind as if a friend is advising us. Minimal but effective and detailed illustrations add up to the beauty of this marvellous work.
Certainly a book to be read and re-read, I can declare that this is my favourite non-fiction read of all time till now. I’ve never read anything of this kind. With multiple lessons to learn and grow as a better individual, this book is definitely an underrated gift from the author to the world who’s trying to make the world a fairer place and everybody a better human being.
Harsh Tyagi
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Good Reads
Australian author Andrea T. Edwards has lived globally – in North America, Europe, Thailand and Singapore, and from that exposure she promotes creating and living in a better world together in People Power. She is known as The Digital Conversationalist in her role as a business to business communications professional, empowering others to ‘step into all the opportunities in the digital space.’ Her books to date – 18 STEPS TO AN ALL-STAR LINKEDIN PROFILE and now UNCOMMON COURAGE.
Andrea’s life experiences allow her to mold stories from different vantages, stories that range from personal relationships to business observations, parenting, and even coping with the increasingly complex world of the social media. Her lilting writing style draws the reader into her generous opinion of the opportunity to improve ourselves and the world in which we live.
As she states in her opening of the book, ‘Written from my heart to yours, [the book] is here to help you embrace your best life, regardless of what is going on around you. No mater how good or how bad things are, this is about the mindset that helps you live your best life all the time. It’s not easy, and it takes constant vigilance, but it works. It really does…once you fully embrace the deeper wisdoms of peace, love, and joy, well…you need to embrace them all the time, regardless of external influence, and especially not just when the going is good. Because real wisdom means connecting deeply to who you are from a place of profound love – for self, for community, for the world. Love is really all there is.’
What follows is a collection of stories from thoughts and ideas of Andrea’s life, related in her seven kinds of wisdom: self-awareness, self-empowerment, empowering others, external influence, social leadership, career thoughts, and climate courage.
The communication is light-hearted yet potent, and reading this book will likely produce positive changes in all of us to become a better human and make the world a better place. Very highly recommended.
👍 Top Contributor: Children’s Books
🌟 HALL OF FAME TOP 100 REVIEWER
Grady Harp
Los Angeles, CA United States
I found in “Uncommon Courage” a book with such a positive vibe that it was hard for me to put down once I started reading it.
It offers us 108 interlinking strategies to start thinking differently and instill once and for all optimism in our own minds and lives.
The narrative becomes inviting and the invitation includes being courageous enough to live in this world every single day. It is a practical book which one of the main aims is inner transformation and reflection.
After reading it, I realized it was not that difficult to think and reflect upon my current life and visualize myself in the future and understand that I am not late anywhere, I am right in the place and time I should be right now.
Susan B
Good Reads
Practical advice and insights for everybody looking for courage to step outside their comfort zone
Climate Courage, Social Leadership, Building your own Narrative, having courage to be whoever you want to be. Andrea Edwards authenticity shines through this adventure guide to being uncommonly courageous, stepping outside your comfort zone and diving into the unknown.
Andrea’s practical steps to simple ways to take the leap, push yourself to be ok with who you are and using your voice for good, is a guide we can all reference any time we experience self-doubt or the inner voice which so often holds us back.
Having walked the walk, Andrea shares her own uncommon courageous experiences, leaping into the unknown on multiple occasions and surfacing with a stronger, happier family unit taking on the world.
With an accompanying workbook to help you explore what resonates most for your adventure, anyone can utilise this practical guide to keep reinventing and avoid settling for the status quo.
Wendy McEwan
Professional An Invitation You’ll Want to Accept: Find Your “Uncommon Courage” | BookTrib
The first thing I thought when I picked up Uncommon Courage by global award-winning B2B communications professional and certified speaker Andrea T Edwards was, “what a BIG book!” But the subtitle is “An Invitation” so how can you pass that up? And then cracking open the book, it looked so inviting just as the subtitle said … friendly font, boxes with special sections, graphics, drawings and “space.” It truly did look inviting!
The back of the book says, “Uncommon Courage is an invitation to be your courageous best self every day. It’s an antidote to the overwhelm, fear and rage rolling around the world. It brings you a path to contentment, peace and happiness.” Well, I’m in. Let’s get started!
AN UNCOMMONLY GOOD BOOK ABOUT EMBRACING LIFE
I have to say that this is a very unique book and well worth its weight (literally). It is not your typical self-help book. It is full of stories and inspiration, and, at the same time, Andrea is like your cheerleader in life. She says that the book came to be from her “50 Wisdoms in 50 Days” videos that she put out during the start of the pandemic. They were messages of encouragement and hope during this difficult time we were all going through; they then became the impetus for this book (with 50 messages blossoming into 108!).
Uncommon Courage is meant to help you embrace life regardless of everything else going on around you. According to Andrea, “once you fully embrace the deeper wisdom of peace, love, and joy, well … you need to embrace them all the time, regardless of external influence, and especially not just when the going is good.”
All the messages in the book fit into seven key wisdoms:
Self-awareness
Self-empowerment
Empower others
External influence
Social leadership
Career thoughts
Climate courage
The messages include such topics as:
Do you have voices in your head?
Worry is a waste of time
Let people be dicks sometimes
Integrity and values
Beware the victim mindset
You’ve just got to do you
Focus on the best in people
Seize your moments
And 100 more!
SOME KEY TAKEAWAYS WE CAN ALL BENEFIT FROM
I learned that 90% of the things we worry about never come to pass, and maybe even 99%, which “means that the only real effect of worry is that it stops us from moving forward.” The best thing you can do, then, is to put all that energy spent on worry into focusing on changing the situation. “Worry won’t change the situation – but actions will.”
Give each other the benefit of the doubt. This is how we make room for grace. “When we don’t give the benefit of the doubt, we lock people into being their worst selves, even if it was just momentary,” since ultimately, “when you really let the negative emotions go, you are giving a gift to yourself.”
Trusting your own council is a strength – not weakness or arrogance. “You take input and advice from those around you and then you draw your own conclusions based on your knowledge, your experience, and your insights” because when it comes right down to it, “The only goal in life is working out who you are.”
BRIMMING WITH BOLD, BRAVE BABY STEPS TO SUCCESS
In the afterword, Andrea’s husband, Steve (who we feel like we get to know in the book), says that the book is “thought provoking, scary and exciting, all at the same time.” He is right about that. Andrea takes us on this journey with her as she “unpacks her 50 years of life experiences recounting amazing and humbling interactions around the world through the lens of her boundless and unquestionable curiosity.”
This book is packed full of words of encouragement, inspiration, humor, humility and practical advice that you can actually apply to your own life. As Andrea says, “pick something you can change today and just start.” That’s it … pure and simple.
Barbara Wilkov
BookTrib
Title Booklife Critics Report 2022
- Plot/Idea: 8 out of 10
- Originality: 8 out of 10
- Prose: 9 out of 10
- Character/Execution: 9 out of 10
- Overall: 8.50 out of 10
Assessment:
Plot/Idea: Edwards puts forth concrete ideas on creating a more positive world, specifying the audience for her guidance carefully while structuring the text in an intuitive, approachable manner.
Prose: The prose manages to be both entertaining and enlightening. Edwards’s style is effortless, and the book’s many activities are self-explanatory.
Originality: Uncommon Courage draws from familiar self-help elements, but Edwards injects originality through the book’s use of unique metaphors and a wealth of hands-on exercises.
Character/Execution: Full of accessible information and easy-to-use activities, this guide offers readers an abundance of exercises that can be tailored to meet individual needs. The structure is similar to a workbook, and Edwards delivers on her objective to help readers achieve their best life.
Book LifeMy go-to coffee companion. This book, by my beautiful friend Andrea T Edwards, is never out of reach. Full of wisdom but not preachy, sprinkled with beautiful anecdotes and lots of humour, this is a book you never “finish”. You keep it to hand, even when you have read it through, and open it up at a random page as you have your morning coffee. It never fails to inspire. A soothing respite from the crazy world we find ourselves in and the nudge we all need to play our part in fixing it.
Maeve Henry,
Writer
Looking for a Christmas present #bookrecommendation? It’s written by a dear friend of mine Andrea T. Edwards, CSP but this is not a review born of loyalty alone.
#UncommonCourage is the antidote to apathy in the face of a difficult world. It’s full of love, wisdom and practical exercises to help us become ‘kinder, compassionate, open, self-aware and constructively self-critical’. If you’ve felt at a loss to know how to make a difference in the face of
our environmental, political and social iss
ues, this is a breath of fresh air and practical help.
Anna Jane Franklin
Market Strategist
Read more of the review
The Book Whisperer
Five Star review from the Book Commentary
Andrea takes readers on an entirely new journey of learning through her personal experiences while keeping a perfectly balanced pace. The book will remind readers of a bonfire party where the wise would share their stories and wisdom with those who cared. From leaders to students and learners, this book will come along as a gem, one filled with manifold lessons and insights into life.
Above all, it gives readers the tools they need to take the lead in their lives. Written in gorgeous prose and in a voice that is both compassionate and captivating, Uncommon Courage invites readers into frank and meaningful conversions with themselves, their culture, and those around them.
Read more of this review
The Book Commentary
There are so many aha moments in Andrea T Edwards Uncommon Courage: An invitation. I laughed, cried and enjoyed adding #wisdoms from this read into my life. Andrea has a unique approach, amazing insight, empathy and the ability to take the knowledge from hindsight good or bad with wisdom and considered reflection. This is definitely not a book you read and then it journeys to the book shelf, it’s out on the desk ready when I need to reflect or seek wisdom guidance. Great read, loved it.
Anna Elliot
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Good Reads
There are countless numbers of self-help books available on the market.
Sometimes it can even seem as though there are more books than problems that exist in the human experience. However, author Andrea T. Edwards in her book Uncommon Courage: An Invitation, offers a different type of solution to the foibles of existence, and one that definitely strikes a chord.
Drawing from her globetrotting experience, Andrea organizes the knowledge she has gained into 7 different kinds of wisdom. She dedicates subsequent chapters to each topic and provides helpful self-analysis questions and notes throughout. She also provides a free workbook which you can download to enable you to really delve deep and get the most that one can out of her writing.
I found the book to be very encouraging and even if not everything mentioned was applicable to my own personal situation, I feel that there is absolutely something in the book for everyone. For anyone wanting an encouraging and adaptable way to get one’s life to a better state, I would definitely recommend reading this book.
Märtha Custis
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Good Reads
<b>Brilliant, actionable discovery</b><br><br>
It is not often that you find such a straightforward, easily followed guide for life. Uncommon courage gave me an insight into myself that I didn’t realise I was looking for, and it is written in an easy to understand and hugely personal way. It really is a delight to read. Andrea’s real life stories have me feeling like I am a part of her journey, and in a world that feels more impersonal each day, that is a wonderful experience. I would highly recommend.
Nicole Lockart
Daytona Beach Shores FL Book Club Member Barb B reviewed Uncommon Courage by Andrea T Edwards (Book Trib Book) Self Help Book. She LOVED it. She encouraged her grandson to read and use it and he is enjoying it as well.
“This book brings joy to the heart and soul. I love the honesty that she imparted in her stories. For instance, telling you at the beginning that parts of the book may not be for you – so don’t read them! Sometimes you have to be tough to get bad thoughts that sometimes come into your heart. Tell them to “Get the Hell out!” She imports her knowledge into how to handle many situations- personal, job, business, and many more. I can’t remember a book I have enjoyed more.” #BookTribBookClub#BookTribBC
Kim Hovanecz
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Good Reads
“Uncommon Courage was a refreshing read providing engaging insights, perspectives and connections of a family that has thrived in a place and time of triumphs and curveballs. The author’s journey is relatable, inspiring and simply a wonderful story to tell.”
Joel Fisher,
Educator at UWCT Thailand
“Uncommon Courage” by Andrea T. Edwards, this precious book reached my hands at a very right moment in my life.
I might have had a different view at times (rarely though), yet I was positively absorbed by the writer’s perspectives and immensely touched by her raw, genuine, transparent shares/observations from her life’s kaleidoscope. Much reflections were triggered.
What stood out often is the notion of self-awareness; a gift for growth in my eyes.
I also enjoyed the format of the book: short thematic wisdoms, the self-work tools offered after most chapters (+ the workbook ), and the very cool illustrations. I was looking forward to the next chapter like a surprise.
And (that one is a first), I loved the look and feel of it; yes, even the texture of the paper pages felt good.
Thank You Andrea!
Muriel Boutin-Becuwe,
An awesome human
Congratulations to you as an Excellent Author of the Best Book “UNCOMMON COURAGE”. The extraordinary contents of this book are filled with relevant words, feelings and motivation, and are most beneficial to young eager students, researchers, academics and sensitive readers. Kudos to you for your diligence and real hard work by bringing out the book in such a rich and praiseworthy format.🍀🌹🍀🌹🍀
Jai Pal Arya
Social Media Connection
Dare to be happy. Andrea Edwards is the author of Uncommon Courage: An invitation, a good self-help book.
As the author says, it has 108 interlinking strategies to shift your thinking, improve your mood, and lighten your heart. It is about courage, bravery and how to find the strength to do things differently.
It is the type of book for people who need a very positive view of life. It is full of tips and advice to improve our life. Although it is very peaceful, sometimes too much for me, I felt that it inspired me to be happy.
I liked it because I think it is sincerely written from the writer’s own personal experiences. In my opinion, it can positively impact the lives of many people.
Aneley Sánchez Good Reads
In terms of content, Uncommon Courage gets you thinking more deeply about the topics we all care about, and the scope is wide. It gets you questioning your beliefs and behavior towards everything from diversity, climate, self-respect, purpose, contribution, responsibility, friends, family and community. But the real beauty of the way author, Andrea Edwards, handles these topics is that Uncommon Courage gets you thinking about how YOU feel toward them. It’s not preachy, but instead nudges you to question yourself.
In terms of format, it’s just perfect for our times! For me, with my entire life being online, I want something that I can navigate myself so that I can read what interests me at that moment, and I also want what I read to be immediately actionable. That's what makes Uncommon Courage so relevant, practical and fun to read. Each chapter stands alone as a 2-4-page story, and most chapters are followed by a simple worksheet with questions that guide you.
It’s the kind of book you can leave on the kitchen counter or in bed, so that you can open it up, choose the chapter that interests you at that moment, read it, and then think through, write about or discuss your answers to the worksheet questions. I've done this with other people, and it has sparked lively discussions about the stuff that already matters to us.
Uncommon Courage is ideal for any individual, family, teacher, leader or group wanting to play a greater role in creating a better world.
These times help me restore my soul when its feeling beaten and broken.
Recently I have been taking my friends book Uncommon Courage with me to the beach, I am now at the stage where I never want this book to end, so I am sloooooowely reading it, only allowing myself one chapter at a time, so that I can truly absorb everything that I have read.
I do believe we all read a book when it’s the right time to read a book. I am so ready for this book! There are constant reminders in there, things we know, but forget to put into practice in our everyday lives.
So if you pass me on the beach, reading this book, sometimes you will find me crying, sometimes just a silent giggle, but sometimes I unashamedly burst out laughing pretty loud. Please don’t be alarmed, I have not gone mad, it’s just such a darn good book that you actually feel yourself living inside each page, as if Andrea is actually talking to you personally. And if you have never met Andrea before, after this book, you will have met her soul.
When General Dayan who was the late Chief of General Staff then minister of defence of Israel during the six days wars, was challenged by the press, why he voted to give Sinai back to Egypt as a part of the peace accords after he swore he’d never give it back even for peace. He answered: "𝗢𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗮 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗸𝗲𝘆 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱." It took more courage to admit that he was wrong and doing the right thing to win peace and end decades of wars between the countries.
In the past three years, my co-author Daniel Lee and I have interviewed hundreds of leaders in 37 countries for the book First Time Leadership. Our model evolved 7 times. At the core of the model is "Self-Awareness". Common traits of great leaders are their ability to be aware that they are not always right. To be open-minded learners and not be locked by opinions.
In the first chapter of her bestselling book 𝐔𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞, called "Get out of your life", the author, change agent, provocateur, passionate communicator, and social leader Andrea T. Edwards, shares that the first attribute of courage in Self-Empowerment is to be open minded. Let go your walls, biases and judgment. To resist the temptation to think that we are always right and be an avid learner. Get out of your comfort zone and travel to places where people think and do things differently.
I highly recommend this book because I did not like it. 𝗜 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝘁.
Big hugs to Andrea Edwards for sending this over to me last year.
I was excited receiving this book, as I have been in her Facebook ‘Uncommon Courage’ for a while and love her sharing’s there. But the reality hit after getting the book.
Don’t get me wrong, all is well with the book. In fact the book is a huge bundle of wisdom for me. What I thought would be a breeze to read (I love to read and I’m always reading something), this book stopped me in my tracks.
Andrea shares many stories in this book, and while some are funny and some inspiring, many really hit me at the depth of my soul. So many things to reflect on about life, issues and challenges around us. Things that we may consciously know, some we are unconscious its happening around us.
Some of the reflective questions brought tears to my eyes while I tried to answer them or seek the answers within me.
So yeah, enough with my drama, but really, this book is an amazing one and worth every cent of your investment. Pick up this book, read from cover to cover, or just randomly open and read any topic.
- Andrea has categorised them into :
- Self-awareness
Self-empowerment - Empower others
- External influence
- Social leadership
- Career thoughts
- Climate courage
Andrea, thank you again for the lovely gift of this book. It certainly made me look at 2022 with gusto and looking forward to breaking my own demons and battles. Hugssss 😘😘
They say beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. So I'll share with uncommon courage how I experienced this book, and yes, this book is truly an experience!
Uncommon Courage is an experience into the world of an unadulterated, yet deeply wise and unique perspective of Andrea, a true gift in our beautiful world.
I loved seeing the world through her eyes, for as I did, above all, I truly got to know with utter rawness who Andrea is as a person more than ever before, and it became a journey of deep admiration.
The book will make you cry, laugh, wonder, ponder, explore, and in the end it shares a living example of how to truly cherish and love yourself for all that you are, are not, and can be. Some parts are unapologetically challenging and it's all these differences that expand our perspectives.
For me, it is a journey into unconditional self-acceptance, self-love, self-expression. It inspired me to be even more than I am, and accept all that I am not. Truly a gift.
I can't imagine anyone who wouldn't get something invaluable for themselves from experiencing Uncommon Courage.🌹
Uncommon Courage is a collection of Edwards’s insights that prompt readers to assess their lives. Such reflection, she writes, is a gift we give not only ourselves but also our loved ones, our communities, and the world at large.
Edwards shares what she learned from 30 years spent as an entrepreneur and working in a corporate setting, combined with her experiences as a wife, mother and friend. She crystallizes these learnings into seven sections. A series of 108 “wisdoms” in all, they are conveyed in brief passages, with topics running the gamut from self-empowerment (“Breath [sic] in love, breath [sic] out hate”), social justice (“Lead with compassion”), career assessment (“What do you really want from your career?”) and climate change (“How to deal with eco-anxiety”). Using hashtags for related ideas, she ties her wisdoms together to illustrate the bigger picture that they represent.
Edwards colors within the lines for most of her wisdoms (“Give yourself permission to dream”). But she offers some contrarian advice, too (“Let people be dicks sometimes”). There’s also an unusual and arresting section discussing those whose time dealing with struggles to survive poverty, immigration, war zones and other extreme challenges necessarily trumps self-reflection. She knows her book is not for them, and she reminds readers that the act of self-contemplation is truly a luxury for many people around the globe.
The author delivers short, snappy prose, and her good humor will endear readers to her. While many of Edwards’s ideas will sound familiar, her fresh voice gives them new life. Eye-catching, comic-book-style graphics complement each wisdom and add to the book’s appeal.
Overall, Uncommon Courage a pleasing read with enough variety to appeal to those of varying generations, social strata and sexual and gender orientations.
Uncommon Courage: An Invitation by Andrea T. Edwards gives readers a plethora of useful information that will give them the courage to make changes in their lives and work towards self-improvement and personal development. The book includes 108 interlinked life strategies that readers can consume at their own pace and pause/continue to read without a hitch. It will have a positive impact on readers and ignite their passion for accomplishing whatever they have set their minds to achieve. Andrea T. Edwards's quirkiness and creativity are visible throughout the book, making it a relatable and interesting read. She writes in a tone that is casual, yet compelling and irresistible, offering wisdom garnered through her travels and encounters with history and different cultures.
By the end of each chapter, the readers will have a greater sense of purpose and desire to live their lives to the fullest. This book is not an ordinary self-help book as it includes a mix of topics and practical knowledge required to spike interest and help readers interrogate the way they live. From finding your life partner to the more dreadful issue of the deteriorating environment, Andrea has shared her insights on several different topics that are applicable and relevant to larger audiences. She has given the readers a collective lesson in hope, inspiration, and self-esteem. This is a book that offers a road map to building a life one dreams of; filled with wisdom and insight, it is a gift to receive with gratitude and to pass on with kindness.
Author: Andrea T Edwards
Review: 5/5
"Never be ashamed of the music you love."
Regardless of how successful we are, we are destined to have the moments where we need a little courage and strength from within or from a source outside, be that an inspirational idol, a mentor, a friend or a guru.
I saw an ad for this book on Instagram and I could not stop myself from reading it. I'm more than glad that I completed reading this book though, in the beginning, I was feeling a bit overwhelmed with the author's personal story and huge introduction part of the book.
The book is a collection of 108 wisdom mantras from the author, focussing on seven kinds of wisdom- self-awareness, self-empowerment, empowering others, external Influence, social leadership, career thoughts and climate courage, with the obvious announcement that not everything will work for everyone, the wisdom is to be acquired with what resonates.
As an army musician during her youth, the author travelled solo which enabled her to come out of her comfort zone and led her to learn many lessons in life. The author has jotted down all the life lessons we might find in other self-help books and together they make reading this 480-page book a wholesome experience. Not a book to binge-read, it's a slow and steady process, a few chapters a day, all the way pondering over the strategy shared.
The chapters for each strategy have effective and short worksheets that help us become a better version of ourselves. Even though the book is big, it's not a difficult read and I finished each chapter slowly to grasp the main message. The language is very easy and pleasing to the mind as if a friend is advising us. Minimal but effective and detailed illustrations add up to the beauty of this marvellous work.
Certainly a book to be read and re-read, I can declare that this is my favourite non-fiction read of all time till now. I've never read anything of this kind. With multiple lessons to learn and grow as a better individual, this book is definitely an underrated gift from the author to the world who's trying to make the world a fairer place and everybody a better human being.
“Uncommon Courage” by Andrea T. Edwards will inspire you to think deeply about yourself, positively impact your emotions, and define what truly matters to you. As a woman who has lived an interesting and influential life, Andrea has great wisdom to pass on to her readers. Whether you’re a mother with a child requiring special needs, someone who wants to save the earth, or just find a way to expand your point of view, this book will speak to every part of you, and then some.
The author has an amazing spirit. Her positivity, care, and encouraging voice overwhelmed the pages and made it easy for me to connect with her. Although she doesn’t share many of my personal views, I found her to be mostly accepting of other viewpoints and be everything you would want your opposite to be. She promotes open thought, gentle debate, and inspires positive interactions and understanding amongst all peoples. As our world becomes more and more inclined towards censorship and silencing debates, I found most of what she had to say very enlightening, and I wish more people would follow suit with this line of thinking.
I also really enjoyed her approach to self-improvement. While many self-help books will give you a list of things to do, Andrea instead goes right to the source, which is you. How can you move forward if something inside is holding you back? I loved the way she teaches you to analyze your emotions and figure out what is causing the negativity. We all could use this sort of personal analysis, so I applaud her for focusing so much on this neglected area of our lives.
The range of topics she discussed was pleasantly surprising. While some might consider the number of topics she touched on lacking in focus, I found it kept my attention, even if some topics did not really apply to me. One chapter might focus on attracting your perfect life partner (something she has experienced personally), while another may center on the environment, raising children, or how to improve your thoughts with positive thinking. I found the mix of topics relevant and applicable to many types of people.
Nearly every chapter has exercises at the end to help you engage with the topics and achieve personal growth, so people who enjoy homework will not be disappointed. Most of her advice applies to everyone, so I enjoyed the level of inclusivity she achieved. If you’re looking for a book that combines advice and wisdom with fun and surprises, look no further. This is a great book for anyone who wants to make themselves a more positive force in their sphere of influence.
The title of this book by Andrea Edwards highlights what makes it special from the beginning. The book opens with an invitation to help readers answer the question "Why You?", then becomes a well-equipped hardware store stocked with beautifully packaged and presented "How To" tools, models, and proven ideas. Finally in chapter after chapter, Andrea calls us to action with compelling "Now Do" advice that encourages, inspires, and enables. Read this book, follow her advice, take the Uncommonly Courageous steps that make a difference for you, for those you serve, for those you care about, and for those you love.
The guide is long, but it stays highly digestible, with short chapters that can be consumed while riding down an elevator, taking a break from chasing the kids, or in a more concentrated, meditative manner. That approach seems by design: Edwards’ structure allows readers to dip in and out according to their interests or needs. The guidance can be deep or breezily superficial (“buy wine that’s at least four years old”); like all good advice, it can even be irksome when she hits the right button and tells a truth you might not yet want to face. The book’s busy, with some potentially distracting elements—such as the adages Edwards calls “wisdoms” that relate to another project, unconventional hashtags, and QR codes introduced for further reading—but Edwards takes pains to expose readers to fresh ideas and possibilities beyond the purview of the average self-help book.
As Edwards introduces new habits and mindsets, helpful footnotes suggest opportunities for further research, and workbook pages encourage contemplation of the material. Her style is highly narrative, with dishy anecdotes bursting with practical advice delivered in her funny, straightforward, and entirely supportive fashion.
Takeaway: This wide-ranging, of-the-moment self-help guide urges readers to live with purpose and courage to make a difference.
Great for fans of: Shad Helmstetter’s Negative Self-Talk and How to Change It, Jon Gordon and Damon West’s The Coffee Bean.
Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: B
Illustrations: A-
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A
“The first thing I remember about Andrea is that she was so helpful, from the moment we got connected. I was working for an upcoming tech company, she was in charge of analyst relations at Microsoft. Could she refer me to some of her contacts? Absolutely, she has never hesitated to help and support, ever. Thinking of a legacy - how do you want to be remembered? Hmm…
“Today, her book - #UncommonCourage - arrived. I said I would happily buy it on Amazon, but no, she sent it over from Phuket. It's in my hands now.
“I started reading it earlier today. Chapter 1: Get Out of Your Life. Similarly to Andrea, I ventured out of my native country (Finland) fairly early, and I can totally relate to what she writes about the potential impact of such a move. But hey, is this book for beginners? Maybe I don't need to read it? Chapter 2: Self-Awareness. Gotcha.
“Nonetheless, I move on with the Chapter 3: Self-Empowerment. What five things would I take along if I was stranded on an island?
“(Only later on do I realise she asked for which FIVE SONGS I would take along to keep me company - just how pre-configured are our minds to actually read what we expect vs. what's actually printed?)
“Nonetheless, I felt that thinking about objects to take along was kind of a fun thing to do. My instant thought was my hubby, but please don't judge me on objectification of men.
“Secondly, I was actually thinking of an instrument, so I'm pretty sure that would have brought me to the favourite songs fairly quickly anyway. So, yeah, I was still complacently thinking, I've got this (no Abba though, please). Do I really need to read yet another self-help book?
“Yet, something kept me reading.
“Chapter 4: Do You Have Voices in Your Head? (Self-awareness) Yes, absolutely - and over the years I've actually learned to listen to them in difficult situations, which has proven quite useful.
“Except when those voices aren't productive at all - when they come with a negative, worrying undertone. Or, when they are judgemental.
“Bang. You caught me. As you suggest, dear Andrea, I decided to take a holiday from worries, for a month. Because, 'Worry is a waste of time' (Chapter 5).
“But it gets even better.
“'Let People Be Dicks Sometimes'. Oh, I'm thinking of someone, very close. This might actually be the best life advice I've ever got. And we’re only in Chapter 6 - out of 100+.
“I'm sold. This book might not just save my holiday - another couple of weeks stuck on an island, as a matter of fact - but my very close relationships, my career and all other 'things' I hold dear.
“I shall be reporting back soon, but in the meanwhile - find this remarkable book on Amazon and buy it. Andrea says it as it is - now, listen to that voice. Let people be dicks, sometimes. #withoutbollocks”
“It makes you THINK
...and it makes you GROW
“It's a book written by my friend Andrea T Edwards, as we all coped with last year - she wrote. And what a blessing that is.
“I got my copy last week and I ❤️ it - it’s a compilation of thoughts, of wisdom from her own life and stories. All very relatable and very Andrea.
“📖This is a book for you and me💕.
“And I’ve been savouring it , and so I’ve got four take-aways to share with you already:
“🏆 Aim past the top of the hill ↗️- this one kind of blew my mind. What if you knew your goal, your top of the hill, and aimed past that - to even more? As someone who tends to be conservative in my goal-setting, that’s a mind-bender
“🏆 Embrace Social Media - now this is something that doesn’t come easy to me. Andrea sees it as a tool, as a means of amplifying what matters to you. A means of changing the world. 🔊 A perspective that is so much more empowering and inspiring.
“🏆 Get out of Your Life - in other words, your comfort zone. Get into others’ lives - experience what they experience, notice how they think and view the world - and you will grow. Always good to be reminded of this one.
“And this made me laugh, 🏆Let People be dicks sometimes’ - yep! And love them anyways. We’re all dicks some of the time! I know I am.
“This is an important book - if you know Andrea, you know that what you see is what you get. That is exactly what this book is - what you see is what you get. No jargon, no high flying concepts - but simple concepts that will change the way you view the world.
“And simple action steps you can take to practice them. (There is a free workbook you can download)
“It makes you THINK. And when you think, you GROW. Thank you so much for writing it Andrea T. Edwards.
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