Liu shares stories from her childhood, lessons imparted by a controlling father who grew up in a Communist regime and could never express his love and pride in her. That powers one of her major breakthroughs: her desire to create “an environment in which those around me can share, grow and learn together.” Liu is frank in relating her father’s severe, authoritarian behavior, some of which could be considered abuse, and the teachings she learned for good or ill. But she is also a generous daughter, acknowledging that “My parents did the best they could, based on what they knew at the time.”

Each chapter represents a theme followed by descriptions of her father’s use (or abuse) of those attributes. She explores some painful material, describing bosses whose behavior ranges from disrespectful to racist to threatening to harassing, describing the techniques she developed to handle predators—and those she still employs in the ongoing work of healing. Chapters end with thought-provoking questions the reader can apply to their own struggles, like “How can you befriend this part of you, so you can be kinder to yourself?” This is a helpful chronicle and also a work of courage, determination, and empathy.

Takeaway: Heartening guidance for living at one’s best, derived from a life of lessons.

Comparable Titles: Ryuho Okawa’s The Unshakable Mind, Suzanne Rocha’s The Joyful New Me.

Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A-