BOOK REVIEWS BY SOPHIE GUIDOLIN

Book Reviews with Sophie Guidolin

Welcome to my go-to space for book reviews that inspire, challenge, and empower you to live your best life! From mindset shifts to personal growth and everything in between, these books have left a lasting impact on me—and I’m sharing my thoughts, takeaways, and favourite lessons to help you decide which ones belong on your must-read list.

Whether you’re looking for practical tools, motivational insights, or just a great read to spark change, you’ll find honest reviews, relatable reflections, and actionable tips to take what you learn off the page and into your life.

Dive into Sophie Guidolin’s curated book reviews, where personal growth meets practical wisdom. Discover must-reads that will elevate your mindset, inspire transformation, and help you take action in your life."

LOVING WHAT IS BY BYRON KATIE

Have you ever stopped to ask yourself, ‘Is it true?’ How do I absolutely know this is true?

Byron Katie’s Loving What Is will completely reframe how you see your thoughts, your emotions, and the world around you. It’s not about changing your circumstances—it’s about changing your relationship with your thoughts. These lessons are life-changing for anyone ready to break free from stress and find peace.

10 Transformational Lessons from Loving What Is
(Shift your mindset, shift your life)

Stress comes from resisting reality: The more you fight what is, the more you suffer.
“Is it true?”: Question your thoughts. Not everything you think is the truth.
Don’t believe everything you think: Your mind creates stories—challenge them.
Freedom is in acceptance: When you stop resisting, peace flows naturally.
The Work = the breakthrough: Asking 4 simple questions can dismantle even your most painful beliefs.
Your suffering is optional: It’s not your circumstances but your thoughts about them that cause pain.
Let go of blame: It’s about understanding, not pointing fingers.
Happiness is your natural state: Once you stop clinging to false beliefs, joy surfaces.
Reality is always kinder than your thoughts: Trust what is, rather than the story you create.
True transformation is internal: The change starts with your mind, not external circumstances.

Ever feel like your thoughts are running the show? Loving What Is by Byron Katie completely flipped my perspective on life. It taught me that most of our suffering comes from the stories we tell ourselves—not reality itself.

The 4 questions in The Work are so simple, but wow, they’re powerful.

The 4 Questions by Byron Katie, known as The Work, are a simple yet profound tool for self-inquiry. They help you challenge and dismantle negative thoughts or beliefs that cause stress and suffering. Here they are:

Is it true?
- This question prompts you to examine the absolute truth of the thought you’re holding onto.
Can you absolutely know that it’s true?
- This deeper question challenges you to consider whether there’s any certainty or doubt in the belief.
How do you react—what happens—when you believe that thought?
- This question explores the emotional, physical, and behavioural impact of holding onto the thought.
Who would you be without that thought?
- This invites you to imagine your life, mindset, or feelings if the thought didn’t exist.

The Turnaround

After working through the 4 questions, Byron Katie encourages you to "turn around" the thought, flipping it to its opposite or a variation. For example:

Original thought: “They don’t respect me.”
Turnaround: “I don’t respect them,” “I don’t respect myself,” or “They do respect me.”
You then reflect on whether the turnaround could be as true (or truer) than the original thought.

This process helps reveal the root of your stress and offers clarity, compassion, and a path toward peace.

DOWNLOAD THE WORKSHEET HERE

If you’re ready to stop resisting, let go of blame, and find peace (even in chaos), this book is a must-read.

Principles: Life and Work

By Ray Dalio

Want to know the secret to success in both life and work? Ray Dalio’s Principles breaks it all down with actionable lessons that are equal parts logical and inspiring. From embracing failure to building strong relationships, these principles are a game-changer for anyone looking to level up their mindset and decision-making.

Lessons from Principles: Life and Work
Build a life and career on clarity, integrity, and growth

Embrace reality, then deal with it: Facing the truth is the foundation for success.
Pain + reflection = progress: Growth happens when you learn from your struggles.
Be radically open-minded: Seek out opposing views to broaden your perspective.
Know your weaknesses: Self-awareness is the key to improvement.
Decide based on principles, not emotions: Consistency beats impulsive decisions.
Create a system for decision-making: Clear rules reduce stress and improve results.
Think like an engineer: Approach problems with logic and structured thinking.
Build meaningful relationships: Strong teams thrive on trust and transparency.
Fail well: Every failure is a lesson if you’re willing to learn.
Evolve or die: Continuous learning and adaptation are the secrets to long-term success.

Principles: Life and Work by Ray Dalio is a powerful guide to achieving success through clarity, consistency, and self-awareness. Drawing from his experiences as the founder of Bridgewater Associates, Dalio shares his life lessons and decision-making framework that has helped him navigate challenges in both work and life. The book is divided into two parts: Life Principles, which focus on personal growth, self-reflection, and embracing reality, and Work Principles, which provide actionable strategies for creating meaningful relationships, building effective teams, and making sound decisions. Central to Dalio’s philosophy is the idea of radical transparency and the importance of facing problems head-on while learning from failure. By applying his systematic approach and foundational principles, readers can cultivate resilience, improve their decision-making, and design a life and career built on integrity and continuous improvement.

Which principle speaks to you the most?

The 5AM Club by Robin Sharma

Lessons from The 5AM Club

Own your mornings, elevate your life

Waking up at 5 AM sounded impossible—until I read The 5AM Club by Robin Sharma. This book is all about owning your mornings to transform your life, and trust me, it delivers! The 20/20/20 formula—20 minutes of movement, 20 minutes of reflection, and 20 minutes of learning—has completely changed how I start my day. I’ve gone from hitting snooze to waking up with purpose, energy, and clarity.

This isn’t just a book about waking up early; it’s a roadmap to living a life that’s more focused, intentional, and balanced. Whether you’re looking to boost your productivity, cultivate a stronger mindset, or simply carve out time for yourself, The 5AM Club is a must-read.

Win the morning, win your day: The first hour of your day sets the tone for everything.
The 20/20/20 formula: Spend 20 minutes moving, 20 minutes reflecting, and 20 minutes learning each morning.
Rituals over willpower: Consistent habits create lasting change, not fleeting motivation.
Protect your "prime hours": Use your early mornings for deep focus and creativity.
Stress builds resilience: Embrace discomfort to grow stronger mentally and emotionally.
Sleep is non-negotiable: Quality sleep fuels peak performance and creativity.
Own your distractions: Cut out what doesn’t serve your goals—especially in the mornings.
Progress beats perfection: Commit to daily improvement, no matter how small.
Surround yourself with excellence: Who you spend time with shapes your mindset and ambition.
Legacy over likes: Focus on what truly matters—impact, growth, and purpose.

Mornings are where the magic happens, and The 5AM Club by Robin Sharma is the ultimate guide to making them count.

The 20/20/20 formula alone has been a game-changer for me—20 minutes to move, reflect, and learn each morning has helped me start my days feeling focused, strong, and inspired.

If you’re ready to own your mornings and elevate your life, these lessons are the perfect place to start.

The 5AM Club by Robin Sharma has genuinely been a game-changer for me! I’ll admit, I used to be a “just five more minutes” kind of gal, but after reading this book, I realised how much power there is in taking control of your mornings. The 20/20/20 formula—20 minutes of movement, 20 minutes of reflection, and 20 minutes of learning—has become a non-negotiable part of my routine.

Now, my mornings are where I set my intentions, energise my body, and feed my mind, all before the chaos of the day kicks in. It’s honestly helped me show up more focused, productive, and centred—not just for myself, but for my kids, my work, and everyone I connect with.

This book isn’t just about waking up early; it’s about creating a life that’s built on purpose, clarity, and balance. If you’re ready to stop feeling like life is running you, and start running your own show, The 5AM Club is an absolute must-read!

THE QUEENS CODE

BY ALISON ARMSTRONG

This book seriously changed how I look at all relationships—both with myself and others. If you’ve ever struggled to truly get the men in your life or want to build stronger, more respectful partnerships, The Queen’s Code is your next must-read.

Lessons from The Queen’s Code

Men and women are fundamentally different, and that’s okay.
Appreciation is the key to unlocking connection.
Stop trying to "fix" your partner—embrace their strengths.
Men thrive when they feel respected and valued.
Women’s power lies in communication and understanding.
Drop the “man-blaming” habits—it’s unproductive.
Choose curiosity over criticism in your relationships.
Words have power: use them wisely in your conversations.
Small shifts in perspective can transform your relationships.
Kindness and patience build stronger partnerships.
Men are wired to protect and provide—let them.
The "Queen’s Code" is about empowering, not controlling.
Honour each other’s needs instead of demanding change.
Understand that men value action, women value connection.
Avoid making assumptions—ask questions instead.
Gratitude unlocks better communication and harmony.
Relationships are a dance—learn to move in sync.
Drop the power struggle and embrace teamwork.
True partnership is built on mutual respect and trust.
You can rewrite your "relationship code" at any time.

A fresh perspective on relationships: This book dives into understanding men and women on a deeper level. It's like the lightbulb moment we’ve all been searching for.
Empowering and eye-opening: It flips the script on the typical "battle of the sexes" narrative and focuses on building connection and respect.
Relatable storytelling: Written in a fictional format, it’s an easy and engaging read—not your usual dry self-help book.
Key takeaway: Understanding men isn’t about "fixing them"; it’s about learning to communicate and appreciate each other’s differences.
Practical tools: The book offers actionable insights on how to create healthier, more fulfilling relationships (and who doesn’t want that?).
Self-reflection galore: This isn’t just about improving your relationship with others; it’s about growing as a person.
Great for all stages of life: Whether you’re single, dating, married, or navigating something in between, there’s wisdom here for everyone.
A must-read: If you’ve ever felt like men and women are speaking two completely different languages, The Queen’s Code is your translator.
Men and women aren’t broken, just different: It’s about understanding, not fixing.
Appreciation > Criticism: Men thrive when they feel valued—ditch the nitpicking
Your words are magic: They can build or break connection—choose wisely.
Curiosity beats assumptions: Ask questions instead of jumping to conclusions.
Respect is everything: For yourself and for them—it’s the foundation of love.
The power of gratitude: It creates deeper bonds and opens up communication.
Ditch the blame game: Focus on teamwork, not competition.
Women’s power is in connection: When you communicate with love, magic happens.
Rewrite your “relationship code” anytime: The past doesn’t define your future.
Kindness is queen: Patience, understanding, and compassion will transform any relationship.

Ladies, this book is an absolute must-read! The Queen’s Code by Alison Armstrong will change how you see men, relationships, and (most importantly) yourself. It’s not about fixing anyone—it’s about understanding, appreciating, and building something beautiful.