The Extraordinary UnOrdinary You: Follow Your Own Path, Discover Your Own Journey

by Simone Knego

In a world bursting with self-help advice, here's the you hold the key to an extraordinary life, and it's been within you all along.

With a refreshing departure from conventional self-help narratives, The Extraordinary UnOrdinary You by Simone Knego challenges the status quo. It isn’t about changing yourself to fit a mold—it’s about learning to see yourself differently.

When you shift your perspective, you'll recognize that you are already a force for good in the world.

By sharing the lessons she’s learned from life’s ups, downs, and laugh-out-loud moments, Simone reveals the hidden treasures within our everyday actions.

Even the smallest deeds ripple outward, and your ordinary actions are already weaving threads of change, sparking hope, and touching lives in ways you might not even realize.

The Extraordinary UnOrdinary You will inspire you to step into your own light, armed with the knowledge that you are already more than enough, and you are making a difference just by being you.

The journey to self-improvement isn't about changing who you are—it's about recognizing your inherent power to influence the world around you.

The world hungers for authenticity, and it begins with the Extraordinary UnOrdinary You.

Genres: Nonfiction

236 pages, Paperback

Published October 12, 2020

Reviews

[Aakanksha Jain · Rating 5 out of 5]

These are some of the fundamental lessons I learned from this book -

1. Try to be compassionate.
2. Creates your own reality.
3. Embraces diversity.
4. Learns to laugh at your mistakes.
5. Don't compare yourself to others.
6. Learn to grow.
7. Don't be afraid of making mistakes
8. Follow your gut feeling.
9. Acceptance is the key.
10. Connect with the community, family, and friends.

This self-help novel is worth reading, and I recommend it to everyone.

Read the detailed review here - https://www.bookscharming.com/2021/02...

[Khyati Gautam · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Extraordinary UnOrdinary You: Follow Your Own Path, Discover Your Own Journey by Simone Knego is a book that inspires you to believe in yourself. It essentially talks about how we can bring about a change in our everyday life, through simple actions. It aims to bust the myth that an ordinary person cannot change things. Instead, it advocates the fact that each of us is un-ordinary and extraordinary to cast an impact.

The Extraordinary UnOrdinary You comprises the author's personal experiences to emphasize her key points. She meticulously picked instances from her life to make us realize that one always has the power to change things. Our personal journey would be unique to each other and so, we would always have something in us to give back to the world. The author adopted three children and the story behind each of them stood out for me.

This self-help book talks about the virtue of patience and teaches us that we do handle things better, in a calm state of mind. 'When you feel that you are in a circumstance where you have no control, it's important to remind yourself that you do have control.' It further explains how each one of us is a treasure trove of stories. Once we'd sit down to listen to each other patiently, we'll get to know the unique journeys. 'Your journey may seem ordinary to you, but to someone else, the small steps you take each day can be inspiring, motivational, and life-changing for them.'

Additionally, the book has insights to offer on the power of our choices, our multidimensional perceptions, the need to put on a new pair of glasses, embracing our experiences, making the most of our everyday lives, and realizing that we all are humans, after all. We can make mistakes; we can learn from them. Deal with your bad experiences and don't stuff them down, for they'd haunt you forever.

Lastly, respect each others' diversity and remember, kindness doesn't cost you anything. And, 'You don't have to change the world, just your corner of it.' In a nutshell, this was a great start for my 2021 reading. If you're into self-help and would want to read something easy and real, pick this one!

[Baje Bookclub - Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, here are a few reasons:
- Simone shared her and her family’s life in this book so it read like an autobiography.

- She shares life lessons that can help us to work on self-love, self care and wellness.

- Listen, when I read the motherhood and family journeys that Simone and Rob made - they are my parent heros - 6 children. They have been through a lot inclusive of the adoption process but always with a positive outlook. Their commitment, love and dedication to raising wholesome, loving and compassionate children is something i strongly agree with and wish all parents did the same.

When we make a choice to bring a child/children into this world and/or our lives, we must do our very best each and every time for them while giving them the right tools to survive in a world 🌎 that has changed and continues to change.

- She shares viewpoints and how we handle life and it’s struggles, show patience, realize what’s important and just love.

- Motherhood, I can truly agree that a part of me changed when my son was born; I had a different perspective on life but as he gets older, I recognise that as I work towards raising a wonderful you man I have to also focus my well-being.

If you’re looking for a book about changing your outlook on life; if you’re looking for about about motherhood, family life and the adoption experiences; if you are looking for a book about having a diverse family and navigating life now; this is the book —> it it’s not telling you what to do, it’s telling you where to start!

[Holly (bibliophiles_bookstagram) · Rating 4 out of 5]

“𝕐𝕠𝕦 𝕒𝕣𝕖 𝕖𝕩𝕥𝕣𝕒𝕠𝕣𝕕𝕚𝕟𝕒𝕣𝕪 𝕖𝕩𝕒𝕔𝕥𝕝𝕪 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕨𝕒𝕪 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕒𝕣𝕖. 𝕐𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕛𝕠𝕦𝕣𝕟𝕖𝕪 𝕞𝕒𝕥𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕤, 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕤𝕠 𝕕𝕠 𝕪𝕠𝕦!”

ꜱɪᴍᴏɴᴇ ᴋɴᴇɢᴏ ᴅᴇʟɪᴠᴇʀꜱ ᴀ ᴍᴇꜱꜱᴀɢᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ꜱᴘᴇᴀᴋꜱ ʀɪɢʜᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ʜᴇᴀʀᴛ ᴏꜰ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏ ʜᴜᴍᴀɴ! ɪ ʜᴇᴀʀ ɪᴛ ʟᴏᴜᴅ ᴀɴᴅ ᴄʟᴇᴀʀ, ᴇꜱᴘᴇᴄɪᴀʟʟʏ ᴛʜʀᴏᴜɢʜ ᴛʜᴇ ʟᴇɴꜱ ᴏꜰ ʙᴇɪɴɢ ᴀ ᴍᴏᴛʜᴇʀ! ᴇꜱᴘᴇᴄɪᴀʟʟʏ ᴅᴜʀɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ʜᴇʀᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ɴᴏᴡ, ᴡʜᴇɴ ʟɪꜰᴇ ʜᴀꜱ ɢɪᴠᴇɴ ᴜꜱ ꜱᴏᴍᴇ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ʙɪɢɢᴇꜱᴛ ᴄʜᴀʟʟᴇɴɢᴇꜱ ᴀɴᴅ ꜱᴀᴅɴᴇꜱꜱ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ꜱᴏᴍᴇ ᴡɪʟʟ ᴇᴠᴇʀ ᴇxᴘᴇʀɪᴇɴᴄᴇ. ɪ ɴᴇᴇᴅᴇᴅ ᴛʜɪꜱ ʙᴏᴏᴋ ʀɪɢʜᴛ ɴᴏᴡ - ɪ ɴᴇᴇᴅᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴇᴍɪɴᴅᴇʀꜱ - ɪ ɴᴇᴇᴅᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ɢᴇɴᴛʟᴇ ᴡᴏʀᴅꜱ - ɪ ɴᴇᴇᴅᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ɪ’ᴍ ɴᴏᴛ ᴀʟᴏɴᴇ ɪɴ ᴛʜɪꜱ!

ᴡᴇ ᴀʟʟ ꜰᴇᴇʟ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴡᴇ ᴀʀᴇɴ’ᴛ ᴅᴏɪɴɢ ᴇɴᴏᴜɢʜ! ᴡᴇ ᴀʟʟ ꜰᴇᴇʟ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴇ ꜰᴀɪʟ ᴀɴᴅ ᴡᴏɴᴅᴇʀ ᴡɪʟʟ ᴡᴇ ᴇᴠᴇʀ ᴅᴏ ᴛʜɪɴɢꜱ ʀɪɢʜᴛ? ʙᴜᴛ ꜰʀɪᴇɴᴅꜱ, ᴏᴜʀ ᴊᴏᴜʀɴᴇʏ ᴍᴀᴛᴛᴇʀꜱ! ᴛʜʀᴏᴜɢʜ ʜᴇʀ ᴏᴡɴ ʟɪꜰᴇ ᴄʜᴀʟʟᴇɴɢᴇꜱ ᴏꜰ ʀᴀɪꜱɪɴɢ ᴄʜɪʟᴅʀᴇɴ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ᴠᴀʀɪᴏᴜꜱ ᴄᴜʟᴛᴜʀᴇꜱ, ʙᴇɪɴɢ ᴀ ᴍᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴡʜᴏ ʜᴀꜱ ᴇxᴘᴇʀɪᴇɴᴄᴇᴅ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴍᴀɴʏ ᴏꜰ ᴜꜱ ʜᴀᴠᴇ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ꜱᴛᴏʀɪᴇꜱ ᴏꜰ ᴘᴇʀꜱᴇᴠᴇʀᴀɴᴄᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅɪꜰꜰɪᴄᴜʟᴛɪᴇꜱ, ꜱʜᴇ ʀᴇᴍɪɴᴅꜱ ᴜꜱ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ᴊᴏʏ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ʙʟᴇꜱꜱɪɴɢꜱ ᴡᴇ ᴅᴏ ʜᴀᴠᴇ! ꜱʜᴇ ʀᴇᴍɪɴᴅꜱ ᴜꜱ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜʀᴏᴜɢʜ ɪᴛ ᴀʟʟ, ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴏɴᴇ ʜᴀꜱ ꜱᴛᴏʀɪᴇꜱ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴍᴀᴛᴛᴇʀ, ᴀɴᴅ ɴᴏ ᴏɴᴇ ꜱᴛᴏʀʏ ɪꜱ ɢʀᴇᴀᴛᴇʀ ᴛʜᴀɴ ᴀɴᴏᴛʜᴇʀ’ꜱ!

“ᴍʏ ᴊᴏᴜʀɴᴇʏ ɪꜱ ᴍɪɴᴇ, ᴀɴᴅ ɪ ᴀᴍ ʟɪᴠɪɴɢ ɪᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴏɴʟʏ ᴡᴀʏ ɪ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ʜᴏᴡ - ᴍʏ ᴡᴀʏ, ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜꜱᴇ ɪ ᴏɴʟʏ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ʜᴏᴡ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ᴍᴇ. ʏᴏᴜ ʙᴇ ʏᴏᴜ - ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴏɴ’ᴛ ᴡᴏʀʀʏ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ʜᴏᴡ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴘᴇᴏᴘʟᴇ ᴀʀᴇ ᴅᴏɪɴɢ ɪᴛ. ᴡᴇ ɴᴇᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ʟᴇᴀʀɴ ᴛᴏ ᴏᴡɴ ᴏᴜʀ ᴏᴡɴ ꜱᴛᴏʀʏ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ᴘʀᴏᴜᴅ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ᴊᴏᴜʀɴᴇʏ ᴡᴇ’ʀᴇ ᴏɴ.”

[Joelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finishing this book I feel uplifted, hopeful for the future, more confident in myself, courageous even and purely inspired. Simone Knego wrote a book that speaks to the depths of my heart. I do not think it is possible to close this book and not be inspired by what Knego wrote for all of us to read.

Knego shares an abundance of stories and lessons that have lead her to where she is today. The path and journey she has taken personally. Some might say that these stories are the proof of how everything she says is wrong, that she is extraordinary and no one can compare. But that isn't even close to the message she has put together here. Knego took her VERY OWN path to where she is today, one that NO ONE ELSE can take and she has done amazing things. She shares personal examples, hilarious ones even, that show us that we to have amazing things happening in our own lives, we too can do amazing things.

I am very different from Simone Knego in many ways, but deep down we have two things in common: the desire to be good, and the desire to do good. And other readers will have this in common as well. Because of this common ground, we can all take Knego's lessons and choose our own path and journey to undertake. If we choose to be good and take the opportunities placed before us we really will come to discover just how extraordinary our lives are. In doing so, we can help others discover the extraordinary pieces of their own lives. The Extraordinary UnOrdinary You is an excellent, inspiring book that will help you find the courage to choose your own path and live it to its fullest because there is so much good in our lives if we just open our eyes.

* I received a complimentary copy from the publishers, publicists, and/or author(s) via BookSirens. A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.

[Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Review

A powerfully written book, author Simone Knego does an excellent job of connecting with readers on a personal level by sharing her own life and experiences that people can relate to. For so many people there is this need to find people who appear to be living truly extraordinary lives and emulate them, but what the author showcases here is that by being our best, most authentic selves we are able to achieve change and growth we want and the impact we hope to have on the world around us, whether it is on a large scale or simply by inspiring the people we love the most.

The author does a great job of imparting some truly memorable lessons to the reader, from realizing we’re all human and therefore apt to make mistakes or second guess ourselves at moments in our lives, to realizing that every single one of us has our own journey to undertake, which speaks to individuality and how unique and yes, extraordinary, we all are.

The Verdict

Thought-provoking, inspiring and relatable, author Simone Knego’s “The Extraordinary UnOrdinary You” is the perfect non-fiction, self-help read. With 2020 coming to close and so much chaos and upheaval ruling our lives, the need for inspiration and hope has never been higher, and through the author’s book readers are left with that sense of hope. Giving readers the power to find their own power and ability to inspire others around them, this is the book to read in the closing month of the year, so be sure to grab your copy today!

[Jamie Cha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advanced review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily. I like self help books. Even though I am single and childless, I am a big advocate for adoption (my nieces are adopted, I have volunteered at orphanages in Tijuana and a supporter of Together We Rise).

It is challenging to write a self help book. This self help book tells us to embrace our mistakes and our authentic self. It is a real book that tells us we can change by accepting challenges. It gives simple but real advice.

Sometimes I am a slow reader. I finished this book in a little over 24 hours. I was so interested in the authors stories and journey. She wrote about her real and scary challenges. I felt like I really got to see her and her families journey.

It's a great book to read as we begin a new year. It is inspiring and accepting. It gives good advice on accepting ourselves, speaking kindly out when things aren't right, and about diversity and anti semitism and racism.

I can't wait to read the authors next book. I encourage everyone to read this book, so they can live their best life.

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

At a high level, this book is about being yourself, your best possible self, and not trying to be someone else. I enjoyed the reinforcement that this book was for me since I was already on a journey to learn mindfulness and meditation before reading it. Learning to be patient, making good choices, and never stop moving forward even if it is hard are realistic concepts that we all could improve on. This was written from the author's perspective and experiences, but is broad enough that it does not come across as a memoir of any kind, just with examples that help explain the concepts. Very nicely done.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Extraordinary Unordinary You, a motivational memoir from Simone Knego, a wife and mother of six children; three biological and three international adoptees. It's also encouragement for anyone wanting to live the life they seek. This inspiring, heartfelt, and honest story takes you on Simone's amazing journey along with her family, and how they came together. Living in gratitude, with compassion for each other as well as the inevitable ups and downs in life, respect for one another, dignity, truth, and most especially, love, you'll find Simone Knego is an amazing woman, and so is her family.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting partial memoir and partial inspirational book. Knego takes parts of her life and uses them to illustrate the important things in life that we sometimes lose track of. I enjoyed the overall messaging but the writing style wasn’t really for me.

It reads as a flow of consciousness style of writing which, while interesting, was difficult to follow. I kept waiting for some kind of explanation as to the inspirational points that Knego was talking about but you don’t really see it until the appendix at the end.

Received from Voracious Readers in exchange for an honest review.

[Kim Schocket · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extraordinary book, Simone! I laughed and cried throughout. Your story is open, honest, vulnerable and at times all too relatable. Thanks for sharing your inspiring journey. I know it will make a difference for all those who read it. More importantly for me - this book has me really thinking & examining how I treat others and what I do to make positive change in my small corner of the world. Just think - if everyone took the time to do that - oh how beautiful that world would be! Bravo!! Great book!

[Fred Fanning · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very uplifting and informative book. The author explains through her real-life examples of how ordinary people accomplish extraordinary things. The story is a good read that I enjoyed. The author uses her real-life experiences, which made a real difference to me. The author's enthusiasm left me thinking I could do similar things myself.

[Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book, but it reads like a laundry list of all the great things this author has done by adopting kids internationally and teaching both her adopted and biological kids to live by Jewish values. While she does briefly acknowledge the privileges she has from her whiteness and wealth near the end, it's too little too late. It's easy to say that everyone is extraordinary and unordinary from a place of immense privilege, and she doesn't do enough to go beyond simply advising others to be better and do better.

The book was fun and well written, and I enjoyed reading the stories of the author and her family. But I wouldn't read it again or recommend it to others.

[Jas · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This is a very self-discovery book, very different from the ones I've read before, it doesn't imply to make drastic changes right away but to implement them in your everyday life. not very complicated and I loved the personal level that the author gets in the book, I will definitely purchase a physical copy of the book.