Inspired to make true commitment

Kept my interest throughout. Something for everyone looking to make changes in their life. Inspired to truly makes changes.

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Strong & inspiring, yet fun and easy. Loved it!

Would you consider the audio edition of The Art of Fully Living to be better than the print version?

What delighted me the most is how smooth the transitions are between the engaging storyline that anyone who's undertaking any kind of self-improvement journey can sympathize with, to the powerful truths, insights, and takeaways that are seamlessly embroidered into the plot. Tal maintains a fine balance between the two aspects which makes it such a fun & easy, yet valuable listening.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Art of Fully Living?

Since the book is about a journey of an individual, the plot revolves around Tal himself, so there's not much of a choice here :) — But if I'll try to be creative, I'll point out to the poor Peruvian farmer whose house was destroyed by a natural crisis, and rebuilt thanks to the resourcefulness of Tal and his stack of few dozens of open-hearted volunteers. Amazing.

Have you listened to any of Matt Weight’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I'm a big fan of Audible — Matt is able to tell the story in an unassuming manner, balanced pace, and throw in the right amount of emotion. I'll give him 5/5.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

I actually did — go back to the Peruvian farmer's tale. I'm personally always deeply moved by acts of human kindness. Listening to that part while running on the track I admit it brought the hint of tears to my eyes, and for a moment it was a bit hard to keep running. It's not just a way of saying, I was that much moved by it.

Any additional comments?

I'm going for a second listening and write down some notes. I've already adopted several of the powerful takeaways for own personal ongoing journey — Hoping Tal will publish more. Whatever it is, it will be on my virtual shelf. Thanks!

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Couldn't put it down

I felt like I was right there with the author throughout the book. Some of his adventures blew me away. Others left me with a feeling of inspiration to do things a little differently with my own life. It's very well-written, exciting, and inspiring. If you're looking to get a little push to start making big (or small) changes in your life, this is a great book for you.

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Wonderful!

I absolutely loved this book and wish to create a life like this! Would recommend to anyone looking to create a life traveling the globe, (possibly already having an online business that gives you the freedom) with a thirst for adventure and soul searching for a deeper sense of purpose

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Inspiring Story Full of Actionable Tips

What made the experience of listening to The Art of Fully Living the most enjoyable?

Tal's story takes you inside his mind and experiences from an ordinary life to an extraordinary one.

What other book might you compare The Art of Fully Living to and why?

It's like Napolean Hill's Think and Grow Rich, but more on the personal development side.

What does Matt Weight bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Matt does a great job telling the story with enthusiasm and even dropping in different accents when needed. This is great because Tal's story brings him all over the world.

What’s an idea from the book that you will remember?

The power of setting specific goals is key. Also we can accomplish a lot over a year or 10.

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Tal tells the truth

Tal Gur shares a story of development that everyone should be able to relate to.

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Review

The way of superior man this books just touches the surface of self improvement still a good story and what to strive to do

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An inspirational journey that makes you think

If you want to be inspired to make changes to your life, this book is for you. I loved how Tal takes us on a journey through his 10 years of change where he has a focus on one aspect of his life in each year. I loved learning about seemingly small steps he took to change one aspect of his life, that ultimately lead to big chances. This book shows that changing your life and how you want it to be all starts with you. It's honest and very personal but also has a lot of food for thought on how you can make changes in your own life. If you have ever wanted more freedom in your life and wonder how you can make it happen, you will definitely be inspired by this book!

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Proof by Example

Where does The Art of Fully Living rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Out of the hundreds of audiobooks I have listened to, this one is in a class of its own!

What did you like best about this story?

I love how the author shows clearly his learning process from living through his life and then using these learnings to take on new challenges without getting overwhelmed and giving up. This book is much more than a story but is a living example how all of us can accomplish our own goals. Although the book contains incredible valuable insights, the author never claims to be giving out the ultimate answers but only wishes to inspire each of us to believe in ourselves and our own abilities to achieve our life goals.

What insight do you think you’ll apply from The Art of Fully Living?

The greatest insight for me was how anyone can achieve their goals if they can apply common principles of focus and time management. This book has helped me reconnect with my inner confidence that I can succeed by simply believing in myself more than anything else.

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Interesting travels lead to life-changing moments

Who is Tal Gur?

About halfway through this book, I was truly struck by that question. Up to that point, I was caught up in his world travels as he globe-trotted, looking for the next soul-fulfilling adventure. And there were a lot of them.

At some point, I questioned how he was financing this journey of self-discovery.

Passive internet income.

Huh?

I’ve read about internet entrepreneurs of course, but at one point, in a very short time, Gur was able to build his business into 6-figures, a good portion of it being passive income.

After the 10 years, he wrote ‘The Art of Living Fully (1 Man. 10 Years. 100 Life Goals Around the World.)’, and turned that journey into a very successful coaching program with him as the guru of sorts.

And why not?

He wanted to conquer the Ironman. Normal mortals take a year to train. Tal? A mere 5 months. He wanted to learn English, get a high-powered job, and make lots of friends. He ‘immersed’ himself in Australian culture and made sure he became the life of the party.

But the high life had a cost and when it came time to pay up, he did. He cleared up a massive debt in a year, set up his passive internet income, and headed out into the great wild world.

Some of his goals were small, while others were outlandish. I mean, not everyone climbs Everest. They just don’t.

In some ways, I couldn’t relate to this book at all. Maybe I am stuck in the 9 to 5 corporate crush, but I need things like insurance and healthcare. I will need a pension. But, if you have a source of funds and can declutter yourself down to 2 bags, then this book is for you.

That being said, Gur did learn some valuable lessons and even if you can’t go to Medina just to take salsa lessons, there are things that might apply to your life.

He talks about less being more, and he is on to something. Consumer debt (besides mortgages) is at an all-time high. What are we spending our money on? Stuff. Not only is it cluttering our homes, but storage lockers are a booming business. But if you aren’t acquiring true heirlooms to pass along to the next generation, what are you really accumulating? Stuff that will end up in the landfill. Leaving you feeling empty and slowly destroying Mother Earth.

Gur also talks about finding your calling. After a devastating mudslide in Peru, he volunteered to help clean up debris of destroyed homes. That led him to a family who needed help rebuilding. He used his abilities to gather the resources and leveraged his charisma to help recruit volunteers. They rebuilt a house for a family. A true selfless act.

He talks about prioritizing happiness. He met someone he fell in love with and married. At first, while she supported him on his adventures, life was good. But when she wanted to settle close to her family and have the kids he had agreed to, he became depressed and, frankly, belligerent. Unwilling to compromise, he kept putting himself first. He has the right to do that, of course, but being grown up means making compromises.

Gur speaks about Givers, Seekers, and Matchers. We all know Seekers. Those who take what they can get and don’t care about anyone else. There are the Matchers – those who are Seekers or Givers, depending on the situation. Then there are Givers. And we all know them. They are often taken advantage of because of their selflessness. Yet they tend to have the most fulfilling lives.

He asks the reader to answer, “What makes you happy?” Why do we look for happiness in the wrong places? Why do we delay happiness? Will more money and power bring us happiness? Gur suggests prioritizing happiness – saying it is more important than goals or intentions.

But if you have an aging parent counting on you, or an demanding boss who controls your security and paycheque, or a professor who can determine your future, this ideal can feel fanciful. He does talk about taking a few minutes by yourself every day and I do agree with that. One hour of yoga or guided meditation may not be practical, but even 5 minutes can centre you or lower your blood pressure. This can help bring a sense of calm.

Gur has, over the years, sought out his ‘people’, his ‘tribe’. On the way, he’s become a committed growth agent. This sounds fanciful, but there are people who could benefit, at least from this book. In some ways, this book is a slick marketing tool, designed to drive you to his website and services. He says other people told him that he had to tell his story, and that was probably true, but the book is not entirely altruistic.

One more thing. Matt Weight was a very good narrator. I often forgot Gur wasn’t narrating himself. Gur’s voice was strong and pervasive, but Weight’s delivery is exceptional. There was a moment, though, when I thought he might be too good. He sounded arrogant and I wondered if it was appropriate. So I listened very carefully to the words. Weight had it perfect. It was arrogance (or hubris, or self-confidence…).

So if you enjoy hearing about a healthy, fit, attractive specimen of maleness surfing, climbing mountains, crossing the Outback, doing yoga, building houses, and running a Burning Man Camp in Israel titled “Abundance”, this is definitely the book for you.

If you are searching for an answer to the question ‘why are you here’ and are looking for helpful guidance on the path to self-actualization, this is the book for you as well.

Maybe Maslow was on to something.

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