Customer Reviews:
 Now I know what she knows January 6, 2003
9 out of 11 found this review helpful
I've always been a big believer that you can learn from other peoples mistakes if you listen. That way you can avoid having to learn it the hard way. Folk who learned the hard way are usually the best teachers. I've always been interested in the royal family, but I was suprised to know she had the same insecurities we all have had in our simple lives while she was in her royal glory. Ultimately, her simple wisdoms were not only interesting, but very helpful. Another self help book I would recommend along the same genre, but not having anything to do with royalty, is called "The Little Guide To Happiness". It too is filled with earthy wisdoms learned the hard way and then shared in a witty and entertaining way. --That book is my favorite. Also, Sarah's advice is eqaully as good but different because it's from a worldly perspective. It too ranks up there amongst my favorite books now.
Honest, down to earth wisdom, and a love of life December 2, 2005
Frankie (North West England)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Divorce, debt, diets, ridicule, depression - its safe to say that the Duchess of York has been through a lot in life, and all in the harsh glare of the public eye. So who better to share with the public her own view of life, as gleaned from her own experiences? This is the general idea behind this book, in which the Duchess tells a number of short anecdotes from her own life, with topics as diverse as parenting, punctuality, stress, forgiveness, bereavement and self esteem.
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br /Of course, many people may understandably have doubts as to whether someone from so rarified a background could really have anything to teach the man or woman in the street. But the Duchess never patronises or talks down to her readers. Her writing is warm, intimate, and friendly with a self-deprecating humour. It's clearly a very personal book. The stories she tells are little snapshots of her life, charming and endearingly intimate, that build into a picture of the woman behind the image, the real Sarah Ferguson.
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br /Most importantly, the themes are universal, and her reflections on them can be taken on board by anyone. The conclusions are always positive in nature: Don't regret the past, but learn from it. Believe in yourself and be happy with the person you are. Remarkably, for someone who has suffered so much, at the hands of both the press and of the dysfunctional institution into which she married, the Duchess shows not a hint of bitterness.
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br /I found this book funny, sad, touching, inspiring, and always life-affirming. The Duchess of York has the wisdom of a true survivor, but also the sense of wonder and love of life of a child. Step into her world, and maybe you'll see your own life in a different light!
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