As you may already know, I love a good book haul! Book Outlet has fantastic prices and I’ve found myself indulging in a few book hauls during the pandemic, dreaming of all the wonderful books that are available to read. One of the books I selected in a recent haul was ‘Perfectly You’ by Mariana Atencio. National Hispanic Heritage Month kicked off mid-September and I picked up this book to read in celebration!
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Review & Thoughts
Perfectly You by Mariana Atencio
I enjoyed the writing style and the author’s authenticity and honesty. So much strength and character was woven into the pages of her story and I felt inspired by reading about her life. Mariana shared real stories that tug on the heartstrings and her stories were a wonderful reminder of what’s important in life.
There were so many stories in this book that made you think and tons of inspirational sound bites. There was a quote towards the end of the book that really summed up her message beautifully. “We cannot let our faults, perceived disadvantages, differences, or weaknesses keep us silent or separated. Everyone feels different sometimes, but we can find unity and give back. Being perfectly you is the foundation for giving our best to the world. It is a gift of love.” (Pg 228)
In essence, her message is about the importance of understanding where people are coming from, the difficulties that people endure, and to treat others with respect and dignity. “Being human is the only thing every single one of us has in common. The way we deal with our differences – other people’s and our own – will define how we live.” (Pg 224) It’s dehumanizing to think of people as ‘illegals’ instead of looking at why they’re here and how hard they’re working to earn a better life. We are so lucky to live in the US and be US citizens and it’s our responsibility to treat people with respect and to do what we can to share stories that will inspire people to take action and do good in the world.
In a Nutshell: Perfectly You is an inspirational story about the importance of treating others with respect, despite our differences. Wonderful book that I highly recommend.
My Rating: 5 / 5 Stars
Book Source: Hardback book purchased from Book Outlet
Details From the Book Jacket
Published: June 11, 2019 by Thomas Nelson
Book Blurb:
In this much-needed book, which is part self-help and part autobiography, award-winning correspondent Mariana Atencio digs into what makes each of us special and the ways in which we can become a force for good in a broken world.
As a bilingual correspondent for NBC News, Fusion TV, and Univision, Mariana holds a unique perspective—having immigrated from Venezuela to America as a young adult, having overcome challenges to graduate from Columbia University and eventually become a national news correspondent, and having seen firsthand the humanity that is ever so present in the midst of both adversity and opportunity.
Mariana’s story is the powerful, inspiring story of life in the United States as an immigrant. Yet it is at its core a human story. It is all of our stories, and it is a call to every man, woman, and child to unlock the magic of their potential and begin to thrive.
The media screens of today perpetuate stereotypes, but what would happen if instead of comparing ourselves and falling short, we compared ourselves and celebrated our uniqueness? What would happen if we believed in our worth and embraced what makes us different? And what if we truly saw those around us as neighbors and not merely adversaries to our particular group or station?
The days of doubt and division must end. It starts with authenticity, persistence, and understanding what truly makes you special.
Book Links: Amazon | Goodreads
Books by Mariana Atencio
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