Union Square Review:

Official Review of Play the Rules Book ONE: Empowerment https://unionsquarereview.com/pages/play-the-rules

In Play the Rules, Dr. Armillotta combines humor and interesting personal stories with motivating self-help ideas that are “aimed at shaking up the stereotypes [of living] that are so common most people never question them.” She encourages readers to break through their fears and resistance to change and to take calculated risks in order to have a better, well-rounded, fully enjoyed life. The author divides her thoughts into thirty-three different rules, all geared toward giving readers empowerment over their lives. Many rules are not new ideas, but they are presented with much enthusiasm.

Dr. Armillotta encourages readers to be daring, to take leaps of faith, to stay away from negativity and clutter, and to expect downfalls and failure as part of the growing process. She discusses how fear holds people back from accomplishing goals and how it creates distractions so that people don’t see the true picture. She recommends questioning everything and shows how individualism is detrimental to one’s growth.

The author includes numerous quotes from well-known authors, actors, scientists and more, which help place an emphasis on the particular rule she is writing about. Her tone is conversational, informative, and easily understood. Some minor editing issues are evident, but they do not detract from the commonsense advice provided by the author.

Although readers might be inclined to read this book rapidly in order to absorb all the lessons it contains, it is best to slow down and savor each rule. By doing so, readers will gain the full impact of each self-help idea, and be better able to incorporate them into their daily routine.

4 Stars!

Midwest Book Review:

http://donovansliteraryservices.com/february-2021-issue.html#ptr Play the Rules

Book One: Empowerment is a self-help book designed for those who don't ordinary turn to self-help guides, and adds a sense of humor into the mix of advice on how to understand and tap into empowering routines in life, adding them to personal approaches to success.

Unlike other books on empowerment, Dr. Monica Armillotta utilizes narrative non-fiction to blend autobiography and humor as she presents over thirty 'rules' that can be used, broken, manipulated or tailored to support efforts towards achieving empowerment.

Many stereotypes dominate both this subject and the self-help industry in general, which is why a number of readers might initially avoid these helpful insights in yet another book about empowerment. That would be a shame, because Play the Rules is truly different.

From a review of the typical polarization between faith and fear and how to challenge that trepidation and redefine its limits to the side effects of indulging in magical thinking instead of proactive behaviors, Dr. Armillotta draws upon concrete personal experience to cement her advice: "Even knowing this might happen, I chose to try and will away the problem instead of preparing for the alternative. I chose to cling to my plan for a cozy weekend at home instead of embracing the unexpected detour. I was numbed by the false sense of comfort we often feel when we stick with the crowd, and while I stood in a seemingly endless queue of airport transfers, I realized that I was losing precious time I could have spent taking things into my own hands."

From the lasting impact of stories and scenarios, which form foundations for subconscious decision-making not always to our benefit, to revising these stories to discover that belief may be based on shaky ground and needs revising, chapters draw out the common connections, concerns, and conundrums of daily living. They point out, through example, how many underlying patterns may be identified, confronted, and changed.

The observations are often not only astute, but hard-hitting and funny, all at once: "Yoga enthusiasts are a mixed bag. There is the rare handful of enlightened ones—angel-like creatures projecting a kind of reassuring aura around them—along with the majority of us, who still hope one day to get there while pretzeling our way through the most challenging poses. And then there are those who are just there because it’s trendy. This last group is just there for another accessory practice so they get to look like they’re part of the in-crowd—wearing the compulsory Lululemons leggings and overpriced, matching tops of course. Basically, they’re the hardcore materialists, as well paired with spirituality as pasta would be with ketchup."

More so than most self-help titles, the result is a lively read that offers comic relief and concrete observations about the process of gaining more empowerment in life.

Play the Rules, Book One: Empowerment is highly recommended reading for those interested in the subject, who want a different recipe for success than the usual formula self-help book provides.

NetGallery:

Official Review: https://www.netgalley.com/book/209398/review/675144

A great book, with more wise words than I have read for a long time. I found it magical, uplifting and an antidote to fear, and I do recommend it.

Albert Einstein is quoted a lot, maybe I just remembered the quotes he made more. Also very wise. But Winston Churchill and Gandhi and even Sylvester Stallone feature in the quotes, and plenty of others.

A very positive book, covering many areas e.g. on success involving failure, and the courage to keep going. Things will never be perfect, either, and much more.

An inspirational book.

I would give it more stars, but I am limited to five.

5 Stars!