Leap Year by Helen Russell

Leap Year Reviews

• 
  Steve Haywood

  Leap Year is a sort of self-help memoir book, about the author's attempt to spend a year improving her life, by examining and working on a different topic each month - family, finances, relationships, work etc. This follows a similar format to the author's first book 'A Year of Living Danishly' except this time it is about self help generally rather than life and happiness living in Denmark. The author reads some academic papers, consults experts and tries out different remedies and strategies for improvement. In this book she also enlists varies friends (with amusing nicknames like Table Flipper, Head Girl, Pan Solo etc) to also try out these self help strategies and report back on their success.
  
  I bought this book because 'A Year of Living Danishly' was one of my favourite books of last year, which in part was down to the author's fun and folksy charm. There's a lot more of that this year, a bit too much if anything. It is a light and fun read, and it does have some useful ideas and nuggets of truth in them (albeit mostly common sense), however it doesn't really get much beyond the surface, never exploring in depth any of the areas it touches on. In many cases it suggests kooky ideas without getting into the issues. The chapter on money/finance was particularly poor - this could have been the high point of the book covering one of the most important issues for many people these days. Instead it limits itself to discussing how to help shop-aholicism! Very middle class 'we've got plenty of money but it is probably something we should get a handle on'.
  
  Overall though despite its flaws this is enjoyable and interesting book.
• 
  Akvile

  Gali būti, kad laiku paėmiau į rankas. Taip pat gali būti, kad neviršijau savo metinio saviugdos knygų limito. O dar gali būti ir taip, kad tikrai neblogai parašyta ir naudinga knyga sprendimų priėmimo, pokyčių ir naujų strategijų klausimais, kurioj tiesiog nėra to amerikietiško šūdo (pardon my French), kuris įprastai šitose saviugdos knygose dominuoja.
  
  Knyga parašyta tematikomis, einanti per karjerą, pinigus, šeimą, draugus, o surašyta pasakojant pirmu asmeniu per realistiškas gyvenimo istorijas ir kasdien mums pasitaikančias situacijas. Relatinau ir ne kartą, tad visai rekomenduočiau, jei kartais motyvacijos trūkumas ištikęs.
• 
  Jaclyn

  Dear Helen-
  
  I can't say that your book is life changing the way that Gretchen Rubin's The Happiness Project or Brene Brown's The Gifts of Imperfection were. But I still thoroughly enjoyed your ups and downs as you attempted to figure out how to get more comfortable with life and change. I identify so strongly with some of your challenges that the fact that you added wit and humor to them made me feel better about the world. Your way of describing things is so clever and at times, hilarious, that I couldn't help wishing I was one of your friends and you had given me a not-so-subtle moniker. Perhaps I could be something the "American who wishes she was a Brit"...I'll let you decide when somehow we stumble across each other's paths someday. A girl can dream--
  
  Love,
  Jaclyn
  
  ps. Your audiobook reader is everything. She helps make the book.
  pps. Am I allowed to say that your original title "The Year of Living Danishly" would have been closer to a five star read, but lost points for the weirdly candid details on Danish sex lives, and this one would probably be more of a 3.5, but I was so happy to listen more of your anecdotes that it gets a four? You won't read this for real, so I'm going to assume yes. Thanks for understanding.
• 
  Kate Henderson

  Really enjoyed ‘the year of living danishly’ but hated this. Didnt really feel it had a main plot point. Just felt it went on and on. Really didn’t enjoy this.
• 
  Clau CM

  Not what I was expecting at all. Nothing particularly wrong with the book just not what I wanted to read, I think the mkt might be misleading a bit. The authors personal experience is okay, reads like a journal turned into a book which was divided in themes. Not my cup of tea overall.
• 
  Lindsay Nixon

  I *loved*
  The Year of Living Danishly: My Twelve Months Unearthing the Secrets of the World's Happiest Country I've read it 4 or 5 times. I can't say that about any other memoir or non-Harry Potter book. (I'm not even sure I've read HP that many times). It helps that I love the narrator..
  
  anyway, this was a huge disappointment. I wouldn't say I "hated" it; but it seemed to drag on and on and didn't capture/entertain the way YLD did. I was so bored.
  
  After struggling for months trying to read it or get into it, I finally decided to abandon it and ask for my audio credit back which I RARELY do. Maybe once a year.
  
  It could also be that I'm over "self-help" books especially books written by bloggers, gurus, etc.
  
  I haven't read "Girl Was Your Face" and absolutely never will, but could see if you like that, you might like this. It's not quite to the level of Brene Brown (who I do love; her work is honest, introspective, and polished) I'm not often a fan of Gretchen's work (the happiness project lady) but think this book might work for people who really like her or like the 'concept' of her work but need a different voice/perspective.
  
  Living Danishly is a great audio!
• 
  Alyce Hunt

  This was EXACTLY what I needed. I've had a few big changes in my life recently, and when I think back I can feel my hands starting to shake and my heart starting to pound as I wonder if I've made mistakes.
  This book is more than a self-help book, because instead of giving you specific steps to take or routines to follow, Helen tries lots of different things to tackle a range of issues, meaning you can pick and choose which pieces will personally help you.
  She's also absolutely hilarious: it's been a while since a book has made me laugh out loud as frequently as Leap Year!
• 
  Annie

  I give this book 3.5 stars. The author's first book was focused and entertaining - why are the Danish so happy? This second book is just an attempt to replicate that approach. It lacks the focus and usefulness. It touches on a variety of areas, like relationships, work, friendship, health, and financial well being. The author also recruited some friends to participate in experimenting with different methods for improving happiness in these areas (as if to add more content to the book). It's just a shallow delve into happiness.
• 
  Broccolise

  Being a big fan of Russells’ writing style, this was again a lovely read. Funny and useful at the same time. I read this at the beginning of the year, which is perfect to get motivated for your own leap year!
  I also looove the small list of takeaways at the end of each chapter !
• 
  Mia

  2 stars - new commitment: leaving books I don't get on with unfinished (deeply unsatisfying but life is too short) Only got this cos it was A POUND in WATERSTONES when their idea of a reduction is usually like 10p but probably would have been better spent on a greggs sausage roll after all. Just found the tone a bit (a lot) annoying and I feel like it's aimed at a 'mid life crisis' stage audience which I've yet to look forward to
• 
  Damaskcat

  This is part memoir, part self help book. The author knew she needed to change her life but as she does her best to hide from change - like many of us - she has to overcome this fear before she can sort out her problems. She decides to set herself the task of making changes over the period of a year. With the help of friends - who are willing to act as guinea pigs - and experts on various aspects of life she works through the various facets of her life that she wants to change.
  
  The book covers all aspects of life - friends, relationships, money, career, health, mind etc. The author consults a variety of experts with mixed results. She tries out all the various therapies and self help techniques and chronicles the results with self deprecating humour. I found the humour a little irritating by the end of the book - but that is a personal reaction and many people will enjoy it. As well as reading the book I also listened to the audio version - which I did find irritating. The narrator was good, but this sort of writing does not seem to come over very well when it is spoken.
  
  The main reason I found it irritating is that the author often uses the '/' between words and when you have listened to this being vocalised as 'slash' about ten times each half hour it starts to have the effect on the nerves of squeaky chalk. That said the book is good and because it covers a variety of self help techniques it would be a good book to read if you are seeking to make changes in your life but don't know where to start. If you're looking to work on certain aspects of your life you could just read the relevant chapters.
  
  There are plenty of notes on the text and plenty of books mentioned in the text itself which you might want to read to follow up on particular topics which arouse your interest. Overall this is a useful book for those who want to try and work out which self help technique works for them
  
  
• 
  Kirsten

  I really enjoyed The Year of Living Danishly and this follow up (of sorts) is more of Russell's engaging wry style as she investigates all manner of change. From career to relationships to health to finance to home to the mind, this is self improvement taken to the next level.
  
  As in her previous book Russell seeks out expert opinion (and there's an expert for absolutely everything) and I have to say I did find this a little tiresome by the end but I enjoyed how she adapted and adopted these bits of advice into her own life (and the lives of her family and friends).
  
  Lots of food for thought here (and I'm very appreciative of the introduction to Justin Trudeau's baby balancing trick!) and I'll certainly be revisiting and trying out some of Russell's suggestions in my own life. A perfect new year read.
  
  
  
• 
  Andy Klein

  The bloom is off the rose. I’m sad that I had to give this book 2 stars as I absolutely loved the prequel and as I find the author to be amusing and engaging. But this one felt formulaic as opposed to organic. It was if she put together 20 essays on millennial self help and improvement to form a book. And no essay had even close to the depth necessary to be helpful or particularly informative. Insert sad emoticon here.
• 
  Jessica Shelley

  I loved Helen Russell's book on living Danishly! So as soon as I saw Leap Year in my local library, I grabbed it like Golem and devoured it. It was an entertaining and super interesting/insightful read. I loved learning about the idea of Kaizen (essentially the philosophy that small changes lead to big changes) and the different layers of our brain (how the flight or fight response, located in the midbrain, can shut down the other parts of our brain (reptilian/cortex) and this causes our amygdala to flare up with fear. Especially prominent when making changes and doing something outside of our comfort zone. As Russell puts it 'you can't look at cute cat videos, when your body thinks it's being chased by a sabre-tooth tiger.' And I think that's a pretty accurate way to describe anxiety.
  
  By becoming more aware of how our brain and body works, I was able to create a sort of healthy distance between myself and my diagnosed anxiety. It gave me a new perspective on how to view it. That in times of change, stress, and unknowing, it was just my old ancestral instincts kicking in, completely unaware of our modern day generation and situations. (And still trying to catch up!) My body was just, in essence, trying to protect itself. In that thought, I feel a little more soothed.
  
  Yet again, Russell's research and experimentation have opened my eyes, to new ideas and concepts that I cannot wait to try and implement into my own life!
• 
  Tama

  Leap Year was in many ways the sequel to Living Danishly. In Living Danishly, Russel chronicles her first year in Denmark after her husband lands his dream job at Lego. He therefore is referred to as Lego Man. In Leap Year, the Russels are deciding about possibly returning to England to be closer to family and friends. Russell finds that the decision is not as easy as she thought. A big part of her angst is that she is again facing change. She then, in her witty style of writing, explores multiple factors related to change and change theory. Through the book she interweaves personal experiences with current trends and research. The book is packed with her research on the subject and her various interviews with authorities in the field. I am perplexed as to how she seems to pick up the phone and call experts across Europe and the US. But I do acknowledge that she talks to many professors who may enjoy the notoriety of being mentioned in one of her books. I am curious about how she decides what to include and what not to include. She does include some fringe movements in the current book and the doubt experts may cast upon their methods. An enjoyable read and it was fun to catch up with her family and her wonderfully named friends who serve as her experimental subjects.
• 
  Dominic Carlin

  Don't tell anyone, he writes in yet another public review, but young adult novels aren't my only not-so-guilty pleasures. I kind of enjoy life improvement books too. 👀
  
  I kind of hated this at first. Every person in her life had a stupid nickname. (You're a public figure, Helen; it's not going to take much effort to find out your husband Lego Man's real name, you tit.) The books contained all the tropes you'd expect too. Seneca, hygge, meditation and our good pal Marie Kondo to name just 4 of them. Most grating of all, the narrative style really, really annoyed me.
  
  The narrative format ultimately became the book's greatest strength though. Getting annoyed led to me skimming past all my boredom, only reading chapters and sections that interested me. And then to my shame I started laughing and I started laughing a fair bit. So I went back and read at least one of the chapters I'd initially skipped.
  
  So how can I be too harsh? A book that halfway through I was preparing to give 1 star became a 2 star when I'd finished. And a guilt-induced 3 star when writing the review and realising just how many times I'd chuckled.
  
  OH WELL.
  
  
• 
  Diana

  In a similar vein of
  The Happiness Project: Or Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean My Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle, and Generally Have More Fun or
  Loving My Actual Life: An Experiment in Relishing What's Right in Front of Me, of trying to make changes to your personal life, one part at a time, over the course of a year (ish). This had a lot of science and talking to experts about different aspects. I probably could have gotten more out of it if I wasn't somewhat speed reading before it was due back at the library. But definitely some worth while bits. I sat and ate my scone this morning without reading or listening or scrolling my phone! And I enjoyed it greatly.
• 
  Jude Grindvoll

  Her treatment of change theory models (which the book was supposedly about) was pretty flimsy which was very disappointing. For example, she identified one of the differences between men and women in the work place was that men are less likely to suffer from imposter syndrome and therefore put themselves forward for senior positions, but rather than exploring why women develop imposter syndrome in the first place or how they can overcome it she offers some fairly flimsy advice - boost your confidence by posing as Wonder Woman for a few seconds... seriously?
  
  Sadly that was pretty much the tone of the whole book. No area was given the weight and depth of research and thought it deserved. She was also very disparaging of her husband throughout which just made me cringe (literally rolling her eyes at him at one point - who does that to their spouse?!) so this was a DNF for me. I stopped at around 75%.
• 
  Eglė Martinkevičiutė

  Prisipažinsiu - nesitikėjau tokio įdomaus ir įtraukiančio skaitinio. Buvau nusiteikusi, kad tai gali būti kažkas panašaus į tas motyvacines gyvenimo knygas, kurios iš tolo rėkia banalumu. Čia buvo visiškai priešingai! Knyga ne psichologinė, ne mokslinė - tiesiog pripildyta kasdienybe ir tuom, kas tą kasdienybę (o ir mus pačius) paverčia įdomesniais, tobulėjančiais ir vietoje nesėdinčiais asmenimis.
  Perskaičius šią knygą, supratau, kaip labai žaviuosi Helen Russell. Ir esu jai dėkinga jž suteiktą įkvėpimą ir gerą nuotaiką. Pamatysit, knyga tikrai padeda pradėti veikti ir judėti pirmyn. Ir visai ne nuobodžiai ar banaliai.
• 
  Nicolene Murdoch

  Audio book narrated by Lucy Price-Lewis.
  
  I really enjoyed this book. I like the down to earth writing style and the author's sense of humour. Maybe because I can identify with her so much living in a foreign country and learning to make home wherever you are, rather than the place where you grew up. She's got her Lego Man, and I have my Running Man, so home can pretty much be anywhere. The content is nothing groundbreaking, I've been exposed to most of the theories and ideas before, but a great reminder not to clutter and to be open to change. I'm definitely going to read her book "The year of living Danishly".
  
  AND a great playlist at the end of the book.
• 
  Jevgenia Uusväli

  I loved this book and I love Helen Russel. As an expat I found Russels adventures in foreign country insightful and at the same time funny.
  
  In this book the author tries to make small changes in various areas of life. But unlike regular self heap book where it said how to do, here Russel shares her ups and downs down the road.
  
  And huge thank you for amazing version of audio book. I just loved the narrators voice and style.
  
  
  Some ideas I take with me:
  - #nofancyfilter Capturing not only pretty moments in life, but also difficult ones.
  - taking regular time for intense worrying to free the mind for the rest of the day
  -
• 
  Em

  I went into this book with very high hopes because I thoroughly enjoyed "The Year of Living Danishly" and raved about it with friends. However, this one didn't pull me in, and I was unable to finish it. I may try it again or try an audio version. I'm not sure what's missing, but this book seemed less vulnerable as if the author had more to lose than in TYOLD. This book didn't pull me in the way her first book did.
• 
  Jill Lamond

  A light skip around various change theories. This book was an enjoyable read and I think I will have a go at some of the techniques. I have been power posing and meditating a bit but the suggestion of starting a workshop with some freestyle dancing to get the creative juices flowing at work didn’t go down well #toobritishfordance
• 
  Louise Donegan

  Enjoyable and inspiring without being too earnest or “self-helpy”, with some good little tricks and tips and tidbits. I didn’t enjoy this quite as much as The Year of Living Danishly but I do enjoy Helen Russell’s tone of voice and reading her books feels like meeting up with one of your best old friends.