Give It Up!: My Year of Learning to Live Better with Less

Mary Carlomagno is witty, smart and honest about her "city girl" vices and what happens when she lets them go. I really enjoyed her sense of humor and the lessons she learned from "living better with less." I recommend this book to anyone interested in a different take on self-help, and a simple blueprint for changing your daily life. I think Mary's strongest message is that when you clear out the unnecessary habits and vices from your life (and we all have them), you make room for a much simpler and more fulfilled daily existence. What a great message for our over-scheduled, media-saturated, super-sized-everything world.

I enjoyed this book as a gentle (non-preachy) response to living in our current do more/be more culture. A fellow city dweller, I could relate to a lot of the experiences the author describes and appreciate the difficulty in sticking to her resolutions in the face of adversity. The author did a great job of sharing the humor that resulted from her change of ways. I found the less-is-more message refreshing and inspiring. As a past member of a book club I recommend this book to other books clubs as it's sure to prompt rousing discussions!

Give It Up is the perfect gift for both you and your best friend - you'll need to talk about whether or not you could give up drink, chocolate, or your cell phone with someone.... someone who will appreciate deprivation driven mood swings as well as the self-enlightenment that follows. Mary's journey is one you'll want to chat about and if you too were a child in the 70's, which meant a teenager in the 80's, the cultural references must be relived with someone who was there as it is just too embarrassing to think of the height of your hair alone. Lastly, please be forewarned, this book will make you Laugh Out Loud, even if you are on a very quiet bus.

Mary offers a new and fresh perspective at this time of year when a 365-day resolution seems daunting. Try one on, a month at a time. With her candid and often sassy voice, she shares her triumphs and pitfalls. A delightful gift to anyone facing a "monumental" birthday or looking to make some changes and kickstart their life. You'll enjoy the time you spend in Mary's company!

A terrific book by someone who has waged the battle of hype and accumulation, yet realized there's more clarity and virtue on the side of less-is-more. This year-long odyssey of personal review is the backbone of "Give It Up!", and throughout the process, the author shows her grit and genuine commitment to finding out what's truly valuable. Plenty of "me-too" flashes accompany the author's insights, which makes you realize that maybe, just maybe, this journey along the road less accessoried is the right path.