I’ve given away some great books but this one is literally Awesome. Thanks to Amy Einhorn/Putnam, I have two ARCs of Neil Pasricha’s The Book of Awesome, a collection of everyday awesome things that the author has documented on his blog 1000awesomethings.com. Next month, it comes out in book form so you can tuck it in your bag and pull it out whenever you need a little reminder that awesomeness is everywhere.
I love this book and am intentionally not reading it all in one sitting. At the end of the day, I’ll open to a random page, read the comment or mini-essay that accompanies that particular awesome thing, and find myself smiling and nodding in agreement.
Examples:
- Successfully moving all your clothes from the washer to the dryer without dropping anything (this is a BIG deal for me ’cause I’m always dropping socks)
- When the thing you were going to buy is already on sale
- Waking up before your alarm and realizing you’ve got lots of sleep time left
- When there’s still time left in the parking meter when you pull up
- Snow days
Enter to win one of the ARCs by leaving a comment about something awesome you experienced in the last 24 hours. I’ll start: I sat on the couch and read all day while my husband cooked brunch AND dinner. If that isn’t a definition of awesome then I need to relearn the entire English language.
You also have to:
- be a subscriber or Twitter follower (tell me which). Current subscribers/followers automatically get an extra entry; people who tweet about the giveaway get 3 entries
- live in U.S. or Canada, no P.O. Boxes
Giveaway ends Monday, April 5, at 5 p.m. PST. Two names will be randomly drawn; winners will only be announced here and on Twitter and have 48 hours to reply with address before alternate name(s) are chosen.
Let’s start the Awesomefest!
19 Comments
Shell Sherree
March 28, 2010 at 11:10 pmOh, I love to do that with this style of book, too ~ open randomly and see what message is there for me at that moment! As for something awesome in the last 24 hours {I know I’m not in the running, but I’ll join in anyway 🙂 } was finding that something I was buying wasn’t scanning correctly, then having the super-helpful young lady on the checkout not only fix the issue, but put one in for free!! Random acts of kindness… {And your day does sound awesome, PCN.}
Christine
March 29, 2010 at 5:57 amFirst of all, BIG round of applause for Mr. PCN! And don’t you just love the treat of random acts of kindness, like Shell’s? Can’t wait to read what others have to say!
This book sounds fun! Also, like it’ll be a favorite to give as a gift this year! 😉 Reading bits here and there will be like a little daily devotional, only, y’know, more AWESOME!
Spent the weekend with my brother-in-law and his family visiting from Ohio. The following “awesomeness” occurred between me and my 4yo nephew:
Aunt Chrissy says to Greyson “Pardon me… don’t do (whatever he wasn’t supposed to be doing)”. Greyson replied “My name’s not Pardon me!”.
Out of the mouths of babes, eh? Needless to say, the adults got a big kick out of it!
debbied
March 29, 2010 at 6:45 amOkay, this year I have gone back to school in pursuit of that ever elusive degree. You know how some people take “Mickey Mouse” classes? Well, I actually have a Disney class…Disney and Mass Pop Culture. Yesterday we got our midterms back and i got 100. And, it was a blue book (did you know their now “green” books to be environmentally correct?) test–I actually had to write my insightful, well-crafted responses. No, stinking scantron for me! (If you know me, you know those last 2 sentences were completely tongue-in-cheek). And, even though my NCAA bracket is busted Duke still won. It doesn’t get more awesome than that! 🙂
jann
March 29, 2010 at 7:20 amLast summer I checked a dozen books out from the library in anticipation of my vacation at the lake. Due to a variety of unfortunate mishaps, vacation was cancelled, but I still had the week off. What to do, what to do? I camped out on my patio surrounded by books, tea in the a.m., wine in the p.m., and read all 12 books. Nirvana! Love your blog!
Jonnie H
March 29, 2010 at 7:41 amThe awesomeness I experienced happened this morning when both kids slept in allowing me to sleep in as well. This never happens and since it’s spring break when we did get up, we didn’t have to rush around getting ready.
I’m already an email subscriber.
Julia F
March 29, 2010 at 8:00 amOoooooo…. I love the idea! (reminds me of 10,000 things to be happy about, which I used to have on a desk calendar, which, in itself, is kind of awesome)
Awesome: discovering I had two more Cadbury mini-eggs in the bag…..
🙂
(email subscriber, twitter follower)
Mana
March 29, 2010 at 8:35 amMy mom said she was proud of me.
Beth C
March 29, 2010 at 9:08 amThe most awesome thing that happened to me in the last 24 hours was when my husband fixed lunch yesterday(without me even hinting around about it)!
EIREGO
March 29, 2010 at 10:12 amIn the 24 hours I have set up two interviews and 3 conference calls that should turn my life around for the better.
Kai
March 29, 2010 at 10:15 amI was supposed to finish up some work last night but files I was waiting on got delayed so I got to veg in front of the tv instead and watch a movie. I love unexpected down time.
I’m a follower on Twitter.
I loved reading the examples. They all made me smile. Woot woot to everyday awesomeness.
Erin
March 29, 2010 at 11:47 amI held on to all of North America in RISK for almost 2 hours… I still lost, but not without a bit of glory!
Vicki
March 29, 2010 at 12:34 pmOur 2 week old grandson was discharged from the NICU at All Children’s Hospital and got to spend yesterday with his family for his Granddaddy’s birthday!
THAT WAS AWESOME!!
I’m an email subscriber and follow on twitter
+3 TWEET
readingatthebeach(@)gmail(.)com
Jen Forbus
March 29, 2010 at 1:13 pmHey Chris – I LOVE it! My niece was playing with a hoola hoop this weekend…very well mind you…and my Dad said, “oh, she just knows how to shake her booty, that’s why she’s so good.” My nine-year-old niece responded with, “Ya! I learned it from my mom!” Ha!
Anyway, my bit of awesomeness came when I forced myself to go to the pet store because I had a coupon that was only good through yesterday. I forced myself to go use this coupon and found both the cat and dog food on sale in addition to my coupon. So buying both bags yesterday, which I will definitely need and use, saved me $25! Yay!
My other bit of awesomeness from this past weekend came on Saturday when my friend Alafair Burke said, “let’s hang out in L.A.” I felt so special! 😉
I like this concept so well, I’m going to start keeping track for myself and make my own book…a scrapbook of 365 awesome things…one for each day of the year! This is a great idea!
Christine
March 29, 2010 at 2:37 pmJen, have you seen Bill Cosby’s 1983 concert film titled, HIMSELF? If not, I highly recommend it! Greyson’s statement reminded me of it and I meant to mention it before. No matter how many times I see it, I laugh out loud!
At this rate, the TSA at the airports are going to wonder what you’re on or up to in April, Jen with that big ‘ol grin on your face the whole trip to L.A.! 😉
Pop Culture Nerd
March 29, 2010 at 2:55 pmShell—Free stuff is always awesome; kindness even more so.
Christine—From this comment and your previous blog post, your nephew sounds like a funny, great kid. I’ll pass along your applause to Mr. PCN!
debbied—100 on an essay test? Being super smart is most awesome.
jann—Thank you! Your scenario does sound like nerdvana (insert groan here).
Jonnie H—I don’t have kids but have helped take care of little nieces/nephews. When they sleep in, I think I’m dreaming.
Julia F—Oh, love discovering things at the bottom of bags just when you think they’re empty! One of the awesome things in this book is finding extra fries at the bottom of your takeout bag.
Mana—It doesn’t get much better than that.
Beth C—That’s like what mine did! Our husbands went to the same training school.
EIREGO—I hope those interviews/calls result in an awesome job for you.
Kai—Planned downtime is great but unexpected free time is even better!
Erin—That’s amazing! I think my record is holding on to Africa for almost an hour while under heavy attack from my brothers and cousins.
Vicki—That is BEYOND awesome. What a glorious celebration it must have been!
Jen—Awesomeness all around! And that scrapbook is going to be gorgeous.
Paulette
March 29, 2010 at 3:19 pmJust this morning….awesomeness. Chatting with a friend on the way to work and decided that we will not die without seeing a Beatle! So, Hollywood Bowl nosebleed-section tickets were acquired from a ticket agency and we will go on Wednesday night and scream like we are 11 years old!
Pop Culture Nerd
March 29, 2010 at 10:43 pmOh, man, SO fun! I hope you scream so much you’ll be voiceless the next day.
jenn
March 30, 2010 at 10:56 amNo need to enter me, as this type of book wouldn’t really hold me for too long. But I have to say, I love that first Awesome tidbit: carrying clothes from the washer to the dryer without dropping anything. That is truly an awesome feeling! 🙂
Pop Culture Nerd
March 30, 2010 at 11:17 amI KNOW! I always go really slowly, making sure nothing is stuck to the side of sheets or shirts before I move them over to the dryer. But there’s always a renegade sock that hides in a sleeve or fold and then leaps out onto the floor right before I cram everything into the dryer. It makes me so angry that on the rare occasions I manage the transfer successfully, I actually do a laundry-room dance.