MISSING OUT ON THE LIFE YOU WANT IS NOT OKAY ANYMORE.
How often do you finish the workday wondering “Really? Is this all there is?” Too many days are spent grinding through the to-do list. And even when it all gets done, those days feel more like a slog than a win. Something is missing.
Maybe you feel change isn’t possible. Or worse yet, that it doesn’t matter much anymore. (Ouch.) But if you’re ready to finally do something different—to BE something different—the time to start making progress toward “better” is already on your calendar: it’s lunch.
With Cheryl Johnson’s playful attitude and discipline from a decade of boxing training, Box Lunch Lifestyle delivers totally doable strategies to fuel your body, reclaim your spark, and build a life that’ll make you proud. You don’t need a gym membership, a new job, or to throw out everything in your pantry to start. You just have to decide to be your own champion.
Are you ready to win back the life you deserve? Join the Box Lunch Lifestyle revolution and learn (or relearn) how to look excuses in the eye, show yourself a little mercy, and watch ordinary workdays become something quietly remarkable—one tiny-bit-rebellious lunch break at a time.
Assessment:
Plot/Idea: The underlying argument -- that setting boundaries and giving one's self a 30-minute lunch break to eat healthy food and embrace personal time during a workday -- is a solid one. In execution, however, the work doesn't entirely convince readers of the merits of its arguments.
Prose: The book is written in clear prose, but is somewhat repetitive and drawn out. That is, the author makes many central claims in the introduction and subsequent chapters somewhat reiterate what was already written. Additionally, the boxing analogy often feels forced and the many bolded, underlined words detract from the professional tone.
Originality: Encouraging people to set boundaries on their own time is an important, though not novel, argument. While there is a nice simplicity in the author's advice, there are some holes in the book's logic. For instance, though the author includes a "this book is for you if..." section, what is left unsaid is that this advice only works under certain conditions.
Character/Execution: While there is certainly something to the author's claim that we could all benefit from guarding our time and eating better, the way this book addresses these matters leaves a number of concerns and questions unaddressed and unanswered.
Date Submitted: October 19, 2022
“Can change really be this easy? It can. Box Lunch Lifestyle is a winner because it presents all its bigger-picture thinking through smaller-picture windows. Readers are given a clear and unobstructed chance of effecting the kind of change they value in both their lives and the world at large. Nobody is too busy for lunch. And nobody is too busy for this book.”
“Cheryl Johnson has found the solution to what ails us—and it’s right before our eyes: Lunch. And not just any lunch—an intentional and meaningful pause in the middle of the day to fortify our body and soul. In her captivating book, she shows why a simple midday lunch break can be the catalyst for a life of satisfaction and purpose. So, slow down. Stop multitasking. And savor this remarkable work.”
“I am tired of feeling vaguely guilty that I haven’t been able to successfully excise carbs from my diet or implement other drastic eliminations that even the most ardent enthusiasts seem unable to sustain. In contrast to the unattainable Totally New Me, Box Lunch Lifestyle introduces a graceful and exciting prospect: that a very small, utterly common, humble little practice might change your life in meaningful ways: give your lunch a little more attention. Cheryl Johnson isn’t promising total transformation, just something a little bit better—not only for your waistline or personal life, but for the world. Definitely not your usual self-help book. I was deeply engaged and inspired by this gem of a book.”
“Box Lunch Lifestyle should be your first stop when you're finally ready to tackle whatever you've been putting off for years—and don't know where to begin.”
“A practical guide to help us reach toward the beautiful, kind, and remarkable world we all want to live in by tapping the hidden power of midday meals to deepen connection, wellbeing, and ease.”
“Big dreams become reality one small step at a time. One of the best small steps you can take is to reclaim your lunch break. In this clever book, Cheryl shows just how to turn the mid-day meal into both a respite and a launch pad for achieving great things.”
“Cheryl gives us hope that life doesn't have to be a grind. This book includes simple techniques to feel nourished, vital, and even joyful in your everyday life.”
“In this remarkably simple yet powerful book, Cheryl shares a practical approach to setting aside time to become the best You. In an accelerating world where we often are subject to relentless agendas and the needs of others, her advice for reclaiming a better lunch can set you on a path toward a healthier and more fulfilled work life—and to pursue those ‘Second-Place Dreams’ that may have been forgotten along the way.”
“While breakfast is often referred to as ‘the most important meal of the day,’ in her terrific and eye-opening new book, Box Lunch Lifestyle, Chief Lunch Strategist Cheryl Johnson shows us how by having a ‘better lunch’ we can have a ‘better life.’ How? Simply by taking 30 minutes in the middle of our day to ‘win back the life we deserve.’ Whether working in an office or working from home, Cheryl teaches us how to think outside the (lunch) box, and gives the old expression, ‘Let’s do lunch’ a whole new meaning. Filled with informative and inspirational storytelling, examples, resources, and advice, Box Lunch Lifestyle teaches us the importance of using our lunch break not only to recharge and refresh, but to rejuvenate, reinspire, and reinvent ourselves.”
