Own It: The Secret to Life

by Diane Von Furstenberg

“ Own It is a must-have survival guide that you can come back to time and again for immediate inspiration from the heart and soul of the trailblazing business leader and creative genius that is DVF!” —Whitney Wolfe Herd, CEO and Founder of Bumble "Many books describe paths to success, but only Own It helps us to find our own. My friend Diane von Furstenberg gives us the biggest faith in our uniqueness." —Gloria Steinem, writer, activist and feminist organizer​ Diane von Furstenberg, entrepreneur and philanthropist, presents her words to live by. In an easy-to-navigate A - Z dictionary format, designed to be browsed or as read a whole, Own It offers readers Diane’s well-earned wisdom for enjoying both personal and professional growth at any age. The words included in this book are ones that have been key to DVF attaining self-awareness and realization, the fuel for all her accomplishments personally and professionally. Own It is an A - Z dictionary of life-enhancing vocabulary that is the basis of her accessible and empowering philosophy. It is a true manifesto, a compilation of words that together will empower you to attain the satisfaction and serenity you have always wanted. "The secret of life,” DVF says, is to “Own our imperfections. Own our vulnerability; it becomes our strength. Whatever the challenge is, own it. Owning it is the first step to everything.”

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction, Audiobook, Philosophy, Memoir, Fashion, Personal Growth

168 pages, Paperback

Published March 8, 2021

About the author

Diane von Fürstenberg (born Diane Simone Michelle Halfin) is a fashion designer best known for her hallmark wrap dress.

Reviews

[Sara · Rating 1 out of 5]

I saw this on Instagram and thought "interesting." I liked the sprinkling of personality but didn't realize it truly was a dictionary. I was expecting more short stories and tidbits from life
--

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Words. A - Awareness full presence and consciousness. B - Beauty nothing has been more sort after. C - Children I have five children including my grandchildren. D - Dreams which we have in our sleep are in the hands of our subconscious. E - Empathy is the ability to feel share and understand other people's emotions. F - Females are the ones who produce the eggs, give life and nurture. G - Good is God with two os. H - Health is freedom and needs attention care and love. I - Intuition is a feeling that comes freely without reasoning. J - Joy is the explosion of happiness and pleasure. K - Knowledge our knowledge is the library inside us. L - Light is magical and it changes everything, adds dimension detail perspective and beauty. M - Mirror has always offered a way to find myself and to own my truth. N - Nature is the source of life of energy and of beauty. O - Own it is about responsibility accepting reality and dealing with the truth. P - Popularity is the state of being liked admired followed or desired by many. Q - Question is curiosity intelligence and humility. R - Routine is discipline habit and comfort. S - Summer tastes and smells like a ripe delicious peach. T - Time measures everything and cannot be retained. U - Unity is being in harmony and agreeing. V - Visionary is being able to imagine the future and materialize it. W - Woman we all look at the woman across the room with admiration, at work in a public place at a party and she looks so composed secure confident, but it is important to know and remember that to her each one of us is the woman across the room. X - X Factor is a quality a special value that can impact and change any given situation. Y - Yes is an expression for positivity decision and action.

[Sharon :) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a surprise hit. I just finished listening and immediately ordered the book. Very motivating and I cant wait to use it to stay motivated 🙌🏽🙌🏽

[Jesica · Rating 1 out of 5]

Meant to sit on a table and not be read. It’s not a book, it’s barely a dictionary because her “definitions” of many words I read were watered down to the point of not making sense. I love her and am so disappointed she put this out into the world at a time when people are hungry for depth and meaning and connection. This ain’t that.

[Anas Alrowaili · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book that we can live without for sure.

The idea was promising the implementation is lacking a lot it felt like someone is reading through dictionary which has nothing to do with the title of the book and when the words are there they are so forced and out of place!!!

1.5 out of 10

[Gregg · Rating 1 out of 5]

Terrible. I read this because it was free. It is a grade school acrostic. This is a waste of time. You would gain more by just looking up quotes with no theme or theory behind them.

[Ericka Clou · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a short book with the alphabet inspiring a number of meditations by the fashion designer. It's pleasant and thoughtful and makes for the sort of book you might gift a college freshman. But even for this limited purpose, I'd recommend Arianna Huffington's book Thrive instead (that one is a real 5-star).

[Rachel (ray.readsandlistens) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The overall style of the book wasn’t my favorite in how it was laid out BUT it had some REALLY THOUGHTFUL pieces that were like big hidden gems.

[Stevie Ada · Rating 1 out of 5]

Was interested in the format of this book (creating a dictionary of words is an endlessly fascinating way of potentially reinventing and refocusing our vision on how we build language/communication). I found "Own It: The Secret to Life" to be completely simple in a way that was vapid, repetitive, regurgitated, and uninspired. While owning it is important, I would have appreciated if Diane Von Furstenberg could have owned the process of writing this book with more intentionality and depth. A reminder that not all ideas are meant to be published as a book and might be better as a PDF circulated among close friends.

[Brad McKeehan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not really what I was hoping for. Some helpful little tidbits here and there, but overall the format the information was presented in was not conducive to communicate the importance of owning who you are, your story, and circumstances. Would probably be better as a Ted Talk, and there’s nothing wrong with that.

[Anupama · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh

[Colleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love her. She is fabulous. Fun book.

[Evelyne · Rating 4 out of 5]

For anyone who likes words 👍

[Abbey Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

This felt like reading a dictionary. I would’ve preferred each chapter focus on one of two words in depth and elaborate more on those two words. From the little amount of time she spent going into detail with her life, she seems to be an interesting lady, she could’ve stood to add more personal anecdotes. I liked the overall messages the book conveyed, it just felt really jumpy because we didn’t stay on one topic very long at all.

[Unreliable Narration · Rating 3 out of 5]

The ABCs of life, according to Von Furstenberg, who I'm sure, continues to live life to the fullest.

[SunCee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simple read (audible), reminding you of the simplicity of life and how to live it. A nice book to start the year.

[Anastasiya M · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'll start off by saying that this wasn't an enjoyable audiobook to listen to due to the narrator's voice. I just struggled to get into it.

Most of the time it felt like I was listening to someone reading from a dictionary instead of giving advice on how to grab life by the balls and start winning. I struggled to find depth, a connection, and an overall meaning. It was annoyingly repetitive, and this could've served better in an article form.

Thank goodness it was free and I apologize to those who paid for a non-life-changing audiobook.

Read more here: https://sincerelyyoursannie.wordpress...

[Rosemarie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute, short, and very unique read!

I was surprised to learn that Diane Von Furstenberg has written many books. This is my first book of hers and it was very different. Life lessons in dictionary form!

I also like words. I liked the words that she chose and what she had to say about each one. She seems interesting and relatable and I would consider reading her other books in the future to learn more about her.

[Tony Creech · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good thoughts - short book, will re-read. Not mind blowing but done good thoughts on being “in charge “ of your own life abs taking responsibility.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy, quick, uplifting.

[Dana Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this easy listen that had great tidbits for life!

[kayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Didn’t love it. I wish there would have been more content. She was very upfront with that at the beginning though. This was a “dictionary type” not a memoir.

Good concepts didn’t enjoy layout.

[Cindi Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Insightful with new clarity to living life and owning our lives.

[Raul Valdez · Rating 2 out of 5]

Diane von Furstenberg’s Own It: The Secret to Life promises to be an empowering manifesto, offering life lessons and reflections from one of the most iconic figures in fashion and business. However, despite its potential, the book falls short in execution, leaving much to be desired for readers seeking depth or meaningful engagement.

The primary issue with Own It is its format. The book is structured more like a dictionary, with single words or phrases followed by brief definitions or musings from von Furstenberg. While this approach might work for quick inspiration, it often comes across as fragmented and superficial. Instead of cohesive narratives or detailed insights, readers are given snippets that feel more like motivational soundbites than genuine wisdom. For a book that purports to help readers “own it,” it lacks the depth and structure needed to truly resonate.

The writing feels rushed and lazy, as if the author leaned heavily on her name and legacy to carry the book rather than crafting a thoughtful or innovative message. Words are loosely defined in a manner that often feels redundant or obvious, leaving readers wondering if they’re gaining any new perspective. The format sacrifices substance for style, making the book feel more like an incomplete thought experiment than a fully realized guide.

Moreover, the lack of storytelling is a missed opportunity. Diane von Furstenberg’s life and career are undoubtedly fascinating, and anecdotes or reflections from her experiences would have provided much-needed substance. Instead, the book skims the surface, leaving readers with a collection of platitudes that fail to inspire or challenge.

Conclusion

While Own It may appeal to die-hard fans of Diane von Furstenberg looking for a quick, light read, it ultimately feels like a missed opportunity. The dictionary-style format, combined with shallow definitions and a lack of narrative coherence, makes it feel hastily written and underwhelming. For those seeking a more engaging or impactful self-help book, this one might not be worth the investment.

[Kevin McDaniel · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'll admit, I got an audiobook copy of this book because it was a free offering. What a relief because I would have felt cheated. Promoted as a "must-have survival guide" comes across as pretty deceptive.

I started listening to the audiobook when I arrived at the gym this morning. It didn't take long for me to realize I was listening to the author's personal dictionary of her favorite words. The loose premise that these words will help us own it, or be commanding leaders of our own lives fell flat. Occasionally, the author would begin with an anecdote that had promise, but she just couldn't follow through with any conclusions that adequately connected to the supposed purpose of the book.

More than I few time I hoped that she would tell more stories about her mother; that felt like where the compelling story should be, but her stories never took the shape they deserved. I blame the author's editors.

The redeeming quality here is that I was able to complete the entire audiobook in one Saturday-morning workout session. I kept going hoping I would find enough little tidbits of wisdom to make the listening more worthwhile. At the conclusion, I believe there are a few good moments--her definition of orange being one passage that had big potential--but overall the results never met the potential.

As I am noticing what day it is, I realize that the choice to listen to this audiobook today was a big joke. April fools to me, indeed.

[Felicia B. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Audible Freebie
Spoilers because I suggest you do not read.

I'm sorry but this was the most surprisingly dumb thing I've ever read. The author is a talented, strong, interesting woman and I believe could have shared some really good anecdotes and life lessons, but instead she intentionally scrapped that version of this book for this.
Imagine a self help book ghost written by AI or a 5th grader given the writing prompt "make a dictionary of moderately inspirational imagery".
Some of my favorite entries were
"Feet. I like my legs but I love my feet. Our feet keep us grounded"
"Blood. It's is within us. It can also mean family"
"Orange. It is red and yellow mixed together. It is the color of sunsets and autumn"
"Quiet. Sometimes staying quiet speaks louder"
"Zigzag. A line that moves left and right at sharp angles. Just like life"

I'm paraphrasing but not a lot. When there are anecdotes relating to DvF I was left wishing for more of it. When it was literally a dictionary with a sentence or 2 to describe some basic b platitude, I was hanging on only to hear how useless the next word was going to be.

Truly surprising how useless and uninteresting this was. She could have (probably has) done much better.

[Carla Daza · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of words and what they mean to DVF, a lot of it was cursory, aside from the words attributed to anecdotes. For example, “Voyage, the French word for journey,” and one additional repetitive sentence, despite having already included the word journey itself. Or, “Purple is what blue does to red. It is a color we either love or hate,” and that’s it! No meaning or depth to the word, so how does that add to “the secret of life”? I also didn’t like that the synonyms she added to relate the words to each other weren’t thorough, including not relating obviously related terms, or even not reciprocating their relation to each other. As someone who loves organizing and categorization, I noticed. Another editing oversight, some of the graphics were too close to the binding of my book to be legible. Overall, I learned about what DVF believes in: truth, independence, and compassion.

[Arbaaz Allybux · Rating 1 out of 5]

My god—I couldn’t finish this book. I barely got past the letter A, and that alone was a struggle. Own It is structured as a kind of A-to-Z of empowerment, but it ends up feeling like a stretched-out Instagram caption, not a meaningful read. It’s as if someone had a random idea (“Hey, what if confidence was alphabetical?”), scribbled down some half-baked thoughts, and rushed it off to print with a famous name slapped on the cover.

There’s no real depth, no cohesion, and certainly no substance to hold it up as a “book.” It reads more like a personal branding exercise than something meant to inspire or help readers. Honestly, it felt like a quick cash-in on the empowerment trend rather than a thoughtful, helpful piece of writing.

This might work as a coffee table flick-through for quotes—but as a serious read? Absolutely not. Very poor. I DNF’d and have no regrets.

[Tommy Piowaty · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is not a book. It is a dictionary. But! Her definitions are a lot like gold panning. There are some good nuggets in there. This is very much a dictionary. Though I went through each word and took some sweet notes - I am rating it low because it is not a story and it is not a traditional book. But as a dictionary it is by far my favorite haha.

I will say I am interested in the life of Diane Von Furstenberg. After doing the master class of Anna Wintour - I was amazed at her work ethic and ability to work with the business mindset she had. I’m curious about the rise of DFV and how much Diane got there.

[Allan Schaufuss · Rating 3 out of 5]

I saw it at Louisiana today and picked it up without too much hesitation. I liked how it presented itself on the menu. A dessert I felt like enjoying. And I did enjoy it. The concept was good and some of the ingredients were great. All in all it was a delightful bite, but only a bite, and could have been better. Honestly I was a bit disappointed. The overall concept of the interpreted dictionary I liked, the focus on Own It, I liked, but it did come off as a bit half-baked, sweet on the surface but too bland underneath.