Joyrider by Angela Scanlon

Book Review Aug 02, 2023

My review

4/5 stars

I'm familiar with Angela Scanlon's TV work and I'm very much on-board the gratitude train, so this seemed like a no-brainer.

I listened to the audiobook and found that, not only was the author's accent very comforting, but her attitude towards positivity was infectious. She has clearly been blessed with the Irish gift of the gab, as her narration felt much like having a lovely chat with a mate.

I appreciated that the learnings she was offering came in the form of personal anecdotes about how she has improved her own life rather than a lesson format. The personal experience added warmth to the book and made the information feel much more accessible.

While the advice given in this book is nothing new or particular stand-out, the delivery of it actually inspired me to view gratitude journals in a more practical way.

I thoroughly enjoyed the lightness and infectiousness of this book, and was moved by the fact that it reminded me of conversations with my Irish family.

Book blurb

How gratitude can get the life you really want...

'Gratitude is your soul's superfood, but cheaper than goji berries, and twice as good for you. I like to think of it as mindfulness for cynics or the "gateway drug" to spirituality. It's a very tangible thing you can do everyday that will shift your focus to what you have rather than pining and obsessing over what you don't have. Away from a state of lack into limitless abundance...'

So what happens when we stop taking things for granted and start putting some grá* into our gratitude? When we consciously turn our heads and hearts to what we have and focus on the good? In Joy Rider, television presenter and host of the podcast Thanks A Million, Angela Scanlon, presents her guide to tapping into your own natural super resource - joy.

This book is an invitation to embrace the kind of gratitude that cuts through the bulls**t of life to its truth, connecting us with the present and grounding us in self. When there is so much to feel anxious about, Angela shares with readers how focusing our attention on the small, incremental positives in life can completely change it for the better.