In this post: Grounds that present this book gives the talk of life everyone needs to hear from their bigger sister. With resources galore, any topic you need to know (from health to wealth and everything in between) is a guaranteed read in these pages.
Category: Finding Yourself + Post College
Ramiah Recommended?
YES! Absolutely, stop reading this post now and read this book.
Read it already? Then let's continue.
The Girl's Guide is everything I wanted in a book about adulting. It really is what every girl needs to read. Almost every topic imaginable is covered in this book, and who wouldn't want a consolidated guide to your post-grad life?
Kirsch is the actual big sister everyone needs, which is not the tone I completely got in Welcome to the Real World (you can read my review of that book here), Adulting: How to Become a Grown Up in 535 Easy(ish) Steps (my book review of that is coming soon), and definitely not in Lean In for Graduates (see here for my review). Kirsch is fun, hilarious, forgiving, and honest. In example:
I certainly don't expect you to follow every guideline and snippet of advice I've assembled in this chapter -- no one is perfect, and the pursuit of scrupulously healthy habits every single day is unrealistic. We're human: We eat doughnuts, we get drunk, we forget to take our vitamins and to wear sunscreen. - Melissa Kirsch (pg 2
She even pulses lots of other women, licensed professionals, and authors and researchers for their advice and credits lots of works in the appendices of the book (I wish I knew this before reading, however, because the layout of the book did leave the impression other sources were not being cited).
This book draws upon so many resources, you would think that alone would make it great, but dare I say, the resources it connects readers to makes it much better. From guides for buying a car to websites for buying a good doctor within your health insurance's network, this book is truly a one-stop-shop of a resource.
Many times, I felt as if Kirsch was speaking directly to me. I have been feeling pressured to pursue graduate school out of fear that I will wait too long and somehow lose my 'student skills.' There were several quotes that calmed my nerves, among them: "There's no rush. Graduate school will always be there. The longer you're out of school, the more you miss it" (pg 85). Likewise, I needed a wake-up call about many things regarding health, money, and even connecting with the natural world around me. If there is a specific topic you want to learn more about, I recommend you pick up a book entirely dedicated to this topic (perhaps starting with the works Kirsch recommends throughout her chapters) because this book serves more as a beginner or primer for each subject. That being said, if you need a pretty comprehensive understanding of... really anything you should know as an adult woman, this is your book!
Ramiah Reflects
My New Favorite Life Quotes (I tried to gather a quote from each chapter):
"I spend a lot of time reassuring myself that my body is no different on those ugh days than it is on the days when I feel great about myself… I try to recognize the feelings for what they are and then go about my day." - Amanda, Ch 1
"There's only one way to learn how to be a boss, and that' by working for him or her" - Melissa Kirsch, Ch 2
"Life is much easier when you avoid trying to buy joy and save up for the stuff you need." - Melissa Kirsch, Ch 3
"Be yourself, and when asked your opinion… speak up" - Melissa Kirsch, Ch 4
"Friends are a little like shampoo - sometimes they stop being functional, and you need to change brands for a while." - Melissa Kirsch, Ch 5
"The good aspects of the relationship don't go out the window when you disagree" - Melissa Kirsch, Ch 6
"It may not be accompanied by canned laughter and feuds might not get wrapped up by the end of the episode, but your family sitcom, for better or worse, never gets canceled." Melissa Kirsch, Ch 7
"The answers don't come easily, but being okay with the process, by just living your life, talking to spiritual gurus if that's your thing, interacting with people, your surroundings, nature -- you'll figure it out." - Melissa Kirsch, Ch 8
"A good roast chicken will feed you for a week" - Melissa Kirsch, Ch 9
"Never buy a sale item if you would not have looked twice at if it weren't on sale" - Melissa Kirsch, Ch 10
Questions to Ask Yourself (and answer!):
What is an adulting topic you would like to know more about?
What is an adulting topic you would like to focus on right now? Think of money, taking care of your house, or first-job success.
How is your diet? How is your diet, really? Do you still have a balanced meal like you did in the dining hall or when you were living at home with your parents? If not, how can you make it better?
Food for Thought:
Have 'smaller, smaller' as a mantra (i.e. break big problems into tiny issues so they seem more manageable) (chapter 1)
You had a personality and a life before this job came into the picture. You will become a shriveled, wilting raisin-person if you reject your outside interests and become a workaholic. You will turn boring. (chapter 2)
Always rsvp for parties, always bring something to parties for hostess (wine, liquor, flowers, food, etc.). Talk to everyone. Always say thanks to the host on the way out. Follow up by saying it was a great party the next day. (chapter 4)
Ramiah's Re-read When
Re-read when:
You need a reminder to reduce stress and want strategies for it
You want great tips to stay healthy - checkups, food, sleep, exercise
You need to straight up learn! i.e. nutrition facts
You need help with any job-related question (searching for a job, in first job and have a bad boss, being laid off, etc.)
You need a reminder that work is facts, not feelings (I.e. feedback)
You need reminders to love yourself
You are working on a budget and managing your own finances
You need a reminder to be a good friend or ditch bad ones
You are dealing with family and family issues
You are dating, you are single, or your ore looking
You are searching for faith
You need to clean your house
You are buying a new wardrobe
See below for my book notes:
Check out my other posts and book notes here.
Until next time!
Montana Houston
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