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Lessons I Have Unlearned: Because Life Doesn’t Look Like It Did In The Pictures Kindle Edition

by Florence Gildea (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 16 ratings
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‘Lessons I have Unlearned makes you feel like you are having a heart to heart with an old friend. Florence wades right into discussions about identity and spirituality, speaking to those inner voices which all of us battle, with clarity and fluency. I highly recommend this book for every person, because we all battle fears and insecurities. There are no easy answers, but this book is an encouragement that hope remains.' Selina Stone, Tutor and Lecturer in Political Theology at St Mellitus College

We all have ideas about what we think life will be like - ideas we pick up from books, films, music videos, the adults around us, and even church. We think we have a roadmap that will guide us towards success. But it isn’t long before life throws some curve-balls at us. Florence Gildea looks at a series of myths that we cannot help but absorb from films, fairytales, songs, and advertisements: that we get to call the shots and have control over how our lives turn out; that a happily ever after is within our reach. All the strategies we have learned to make ourselves safe, loveable, and successful will backfire. Life, it turns out, is found exactly where Jesus said it was: at the end of ourselves, at the foot of the cross.

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  1. Print length
    104 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    Circle Books
  5. Publication date
    June 25, 2021
  6. File size
    2162 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  10. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Florence became a Christian aged 18 after suffering from severe anorexia as a teenager. She went on to earn a BA in history and an MPhil in Sociology. She has worked as a chaplain in a school, as a researcher to two Members of Parliament, and for several charities. Florence lives in Melbourne, UK.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0959LTV2D
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Circle Books (June 25, 2021)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ June 25, 2021
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2162 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 104 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 16 ratings

About the author

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Florence Gildea

Florence Gildea

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Florence became a Christian aged 18 after suffering from severe anorexia as a teenager. She went on to earn a BA in History and an MPhil in Sociology from the University of Cambridge. She tells stories to help other people feel seen, known and loved.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
16 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Haden
5.0 out of 5 stars Hilariously vulnerable and honest.
Reviewed in the United States on December 22, 2021
Verified Purchase
Florence speaks to her readers the way one might speak to a dear friend — with honesty, humility, kindness, and vulnerability — all while maintaining a sense of humor that is both invitational and comforting.
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hayley
4.0 out of 5 stars Emotional, Inspirational Book on Getting Our Worth From God
Reviewed in the United States on August 30, 2021
This was an incredible example of an inspirational and insightful Christian living book. The author was concise, articulate, vulnerable, and completely focused on her message of obtaining our worth from God, rather than the world. It was written as part narrative, part informational, and it was a surprisingly quick read. While I don’t think the points she shared were particularly new or groundbreaking, she shared them in such a way that it was easy to connect with and understand them.

I enjoyed the bits of humor and the approachability with which the author addressed various cultural issues. I do think she came across as a bit too judgmental/preachy in some parts. This, perhaps, could’ve been combatted if she more comprehensively addressed that while we shouldn’t be judgmental, arrogant, etc., we will inevitably occasionally fall into these traps and this doesn’t make us “bad.” What’s important is trying to be a little better each day and forgiving ourselves as God forgives us when we fail.

Overall, I liked this book even more than I anticipated, and I will continue to ruminate on her themes of body acceptance, happiness traps, and more. This was such a relatable book in a genre full of “Christianese,” and I highly recommend it.

*I received an ARC of this book. This is my complete and honest review.*
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Shirley Alarie
5.0 out of 5 stars Witty and relatable!
Reviewed in the United States on June 25, 2021
Ms. Gildea lays bare her soul, exposing all of her anxieties, struggles with mental illness, anorexia and rock bottom self-esteem with such wit and intelligently crafted examples of her very relatable life, that she immediately engages the reader. Just reading the table of contents chapter titles pulls you in for more!

Florence’s big turnaround happened when she read P. Yancy’s book What’s So Amazing About Grace and is finally able to live into the truth that God loves us completely, struggles and all, and that He never abandons us on this zig-zag journey called life.

Readers will easily identify with the modern-day struggles the author humorously describes, and be comforted by the ancient truths of love, hope, grace, and beauty we get when we are in a relationship with God.

HOW THIS BOOK AFFECTED ME:
Lessons I Have Unlearned helped me to understand the negative impact that modern-day pressures have on everyone, perhaps most especially on those who present a strong profile to the world.

WHO WOULD ENJOY THIS BOOK:
Anyone who is struggling to juggle and control their lives but feels like they are losing the battle will find help in this book.

The book reviews at Finding God Among Us focus on Christian books – adult and children, fiction and nonfiction. Our specialty is books on faith and new Christian book releases. We’re proud to be included in the Top 50 Christian Book Review Bloggers. I chose to read this book in exchange for my honest opinion. Reviewer: Mary Laing
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Kimberly
4.0 out of 5 stars Insights on living a happier life from a Christian perspective
Reviewed in the United States on October 29, 2021
Lessons I Have Unlearned is full of wisdom about how many of the times, the standards we or the world sets for us are not healthy or beneficial. Drawing from passages of the Bible and her own experiences, Florence explains to the reader how we can find inner peace by focusing less on ourselves. I found this book's writing style a little too formal, but I like the messages, which encourage me to live a more authentic life filled with love.

Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
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Kindle Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars spirits and follow conscious voice (belief) to be better.
Reviewed in the United States on October 26, 2021
This book is not my favorite style and I try to read the whole book, however, I'm not Christian so many points I didn't know real meaning of messages. They are very concise and always to think in various ways.

I learn a lot about spirits and follow conscious voice (belief) to be better.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
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Top reviews from other countries

ROSANNA DOBBIN
5.0 out of 5 stars Totally timely and I loved it
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 28, 2021
Verified Purchase
I loved this book and devoured it all in once afternoon. It was so full of riches though I am going to have to go back and digest them all properly. The book deals with the frustration so many have about why life hasn’t turned out like we expected or thought we were promised. It is beautifully written and Florence’s wit and honesty mean it is easy to read, even when the issues she addresses penetrate the core of problems in our hearts. Although she talks about her own experiences, that is never centre stage and the book is relatable even if you haven’t had exactly the same struggles. Florence doesn’t shy away from the messy heartaches of life but instead gently points the reader back to the character of God and the real truths about the wonderful person of Jesus. I would totally recommend for anyone who has questions about life but is suspicious of books and people who claim to have all the solutions.
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