Live Life Aggressively! What Self Help Gurus Should Be Telling You

by Mike Mahler

Live Life Aggressively! What Self-Help Gurus Should Be Telling You is a much different take on the self-help genre. This book is a slap in the face! It will force the reader out of his or her comfort zone, and will move the reader to remember what he or she needs to know to move forward with purpose. It is about taking charge of your life, and striving for greatness, rather than accepting mediocrity, or a life of quiet desperation. This is what it means to live life aggressively! It means to live with strong purpose and resolve. This book covers areas that few have the courage to talk about, and that is the problem. It is the white elephant in the room that everyone wants to ignore. Instead of confronting this problem, most people waste time watching nonsense like reality television and texting all day long. Self-help books are so focused on making you feel good about yourself, that they fail to help you be honest with yourself. Without brutal honesty you will never move forward. Without a strong sense of purpose, and passion, you will never persevere through the inevitable plethora of hard times that are coming your way in life. People need to accept that they will suffer in order to lead a fulfilling life and that the suffering should be embraced rather than avoided. Embrace the suffering and avoid procrastination the true destroyer of hopes and dreams. This book’s focus is to induce real/lasting change and that comes as result of being aggressively honest with yourself, using pressure to your advantage, running toward risk rather than away from it and having a clear vision of what you want and what you are willing to sacrifice to get it. Some of the unique topics covered in this book the importance of hormone optimization for well-being and achieving goals, why the real battles in life are within, the necessity of negative thinking, what really makes people happy, and why people should avoid being attached to the results of actions. 50% of profit from book sales will be going to two fantastic organizations. Lifequest Transitions a great organization that helps wounded warriors and the Nevada SCPA an excellent organization that helps abandoned animals find new homes.

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction, Personal Development, Fitness

262 pages, Paperback

First published August 10, 2011

Reviews

[Orbs n Rings · Rating 5 out of 5]

Serious advice for the independent thinker.

When I agreed to review "Live Life Aggressively," I had no idea who Mike Mahler was, as it is with most of my book reviews. I figured he was just another self-help author, wanting to share what has worked for him. Maybe, I had already heard some of it before, as is usually is the case, maybe not. My first surprise was how up-front Mahler was immediately at the start of the book. Something you tend not to get from a self-help author, as these authors usually tip toe their way around with their advice, as if trying not to upset the reader. God forbid they tell the reader the truth. Why should they, when most people don't want to believe, or even act upon the truth, they rather read a fairy tale, or something new, even if the advice is impossible for them to ever achieve. Mahler points out from the start, that he may go over somethings you may have already heard before and this is not a self-help book. He also details his own life and how he, himself, has not achieved nirvana in his own life and knows he never will. Mahler has worked very hard at what he does, and that is why he is where he is today. But that wasn't always the case. You see he also had the 9-5 boring job, working for another, which he dreaded. But what is different about Mahler? Mahler went for his dreams, although he felt somewhat pushed at the time, it did not come easy and he did not immediately have success. One of the lessons he points out in his book, is in regards to running your own business. Mahler explains, how it is OK to lay back and relax for a little while, but sedation for to long can ruin everything you have worked for. I tend to agree, and know that all to well. As someone who left a full-time job for different reasons, but to also feel that freedom of being my own boss. Some of us just don't do well working for others, and Mahler has proudly stated that fact. I am right there with him when it comes to that. I also know, I work harder now than I have ever worked in my life. Being your own boss is no easy way out, you don't get rich and it takes tons of discipline. But it can be achieved, and Mahler gives you tips on how to get started and maybe even stick to it, if you listen long enough. What grabbed my interest the most in his book, is the chapter on hormones and DHEA. I have been through some similar issues as a child, as Mahler shares in his book. As a female, hormone imbalance is an even bigger issue, and has been since my early teens. Mahler has triggered an interest in me to pursue that issue and learn more about hormone inbalance. When an author gets you to want to learn more about a topic, I consider them well worth reading. When they talk as if they have all the answers, that's when I lose interest. As Mahler points out, one main reason people do not go for their dreams, is due to acquiring a comfort level and staying in it. Why leave a well paying job, when it pays your bills, even if you are miserable everyday you go to work. Mahler is straight forward and gives you the facts, its up to you if you want to believe them. Are you one of those people who is always looking for new advice and never acts upon any of it. Then this book is not for you, unless you change your bad habits. This advice is not a get rich, instant gratification and happy ending book. If that's what you are looking for, then don't bother wasting your time reading, you might need that extra time to search for other self-help advice.

[Amy L. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to LOVE this book, so I feel a little let down by it. It was hard for me to get at the message sometimes, as he's in dire need of an editor. My English major instincts had me mentally reaching for a red pen far too often; I got distracted.

It was more interesting and engaging to me when Mahler referenced spiritual works and teachings. His own personal anecdotes felt a little self-aggrandizing to me, and sometimes a little preachy or judgmental.

Still, there were some helpful nuggets like recognizing the difference between seeking pleasure (which is temporary and usually a distraction technique) and seeking gratification (which is gained from use of one's strengths and skills, providing a sense of a job well done). Knowing what you're going after and why can help you be more tactical and deliberate in everyday life.

The other important, revelatory nugget for me was that it's important to set goals, and to go all out to achieve them, but it's OK if you don't achieve them... the real reward is who you become in the process. It's a take on the Buddhist not-being-attached-to-results thing that helped me wrap my brain around the concept as something I could put into practice.

The content wasn't presented as clearly as the no-nonsense title implies, so I didn't come away with an action plan or simple-to-implement steps, but I did realize some things along the way, even though I had occasional issues with how the message was delivered, so overall it's not a wasted experience, but not the game changer it's sold as.

[Dave Bolton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good thinking, average writing, and bad proofreading.

Mike Mahler has strong dedication to his beliefs (including vegetarianism), and "aggressive" thinking about how we should approach life. I came to his site through using kettlebells a lot over the last two years.

This book is a collection of reedited blog posts (as far as I can tell). While there are references throughout, they're pretty light, and a lot of the support for his ideas are from anecdotes (with some of the same anecdotes repeated several times). Anyway, even with this opinionated but non-rigorous approach, it's a decent read, and quite quick too.

Also, the Kindle version is appalingly formatted.

[Nola · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some chapters are more hard-hitting than others. My faves: "Is having a positive attitude overrated" & "The timing is never perfect". Yes, there are typos but with this book is more about the author's potent message than his literary prowess.

[Federico Tewes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mike Mahler hits a Home Run!

This book goes against conventional wisdom every time. The arguments are clearly reasoned and explained with great examples.

This is a book for people afraid of taking risks in their lives. Mahler compares people who constantly research before taking action, and why this approach leads to an unfulfilling life. —- Fear of failure will never yield and hard earned lessons. Mahler proposes a mixture between intense research and take action. Whenever you need new information, go back to repeating the cycle of intense research and taking action with this new knowledge.

Finished the book quickly because it is engaging, and I found myself frequently underlining important lessons.

[Maurizio Troilo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un grande libro sull'equilibrio fra bene e male, felicita' e dolore, light side e dark side.
Mike Mahler e' diretto ed onesto ed offre un approccio semplice ma efficace alla ricerca della felicita' ed al perseguimento delle proprie passioni, mettendo subito in chiaro quali sara' il prezzo da pagare per cercare di vivere realmente la propria vita.
Una filosofia che si discosta molto dai soliti libri di "automiglioramento" incentrati sul "pensare positivo" a tutti i costi e sul vedere sempre il lato bello delle cose, anche nel dolore e nella mediocrita', facendo finta che tutto vada bene ed abbracciando una felicita' fittizia basata sul mentire a se stessi.
Mike Mahler e' un istruttore di fitness, esperto di kettlebell, giramondo, vegan da piu' di 10 anni, studioso delle religioni e grande fan della scena punk hardcore americana.

[Greg · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is exactly what it says it is. How's that for a change? This book offers a serious reality check to anyone who wants to change their lives for the better whether it is through getting in shape, starting a successful business, or whatever.

I wish this book had some better proofreading before publication as some others have mentioned, but the ideas are exactly what I felt I needed to hear. I expect I will be going back to this book from time to time as well as some of the books in the bibliography to renew my motivation and resolve as I try to accomplish my goals.

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

A slightly different approach to success and written in a more confrontational style, which is not a bad thing.

I did feel it was a bit preachy and also contradicted itself a bit, by dismissing positive thinking but also discussing the important of being happy... I would recommend it to most people interested in success to get this viewpoint and I have made a note of some of the recommended books to read later.

[Jaroslav Tuček · Rating 1 out of 5]

Just terrible, I wasn't able to finish the text and that's quite rare for me.

Probably the best part of the book is the title - which, cleverly chosen, seems to promise either novel content or fresh delivery. Sadly, the book has neither. It is a rambling rehash of the standard self-help advice, poorly written, with tendencies to self-aggrandizement. My advice - stay away.

[Shawn Stone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Avoiding sugar coated aphorisms and motivational cliches, strength coach Mahler serves up a philosophy designed to kick you in the ass to take action on achieving the life you want to lead. A refreshing read in the otherwise glutted self-improvement genre.

[Mario · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is what I call "The Whole Package".

[Zuriah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thought provoking and easy to read
Definitely a book that makes you question yourself

[Anne · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have read worse but I don't know when

[Hard Knocks 101 · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author pushes you to be honest with yourself and look at things how they really are before you can go about fixing them.

[Ramón Nogueras Pérez · Rating 2 out of 5]

Le doy 2 en vez de 1 porque la bibliografía del final y el primer artículo de todos son excelentes. El resto es perfectamente prescindible y olvidable.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Living aggressively, or becoming a better person... Call it what you may, it's always good to remind oneself of these principles.