Apologies, I did not get to listen to this in time. Disappointed at my tardiness, as change is a really difficult thing, and this would have been a great audiobook to listen to. I will look out for it on Amazon.

Kathryn and Ross Petras have collated in this book an alphabet of wisdom about change. Taken from a variety of writers, philosophers, musicians, scientists, entrepreneurs and others, there are quotes to inspire you, comfort you and make you smile.

While you may want to read from cover to cover initially, I liked that the quotes are grouped in themes so you can easily find the ones that are most applicable for your current situation. For example, L covers letting go, life and change, the lighter side of change, little things matter, and loss.

This would make a good gift book for someone going through a big change in their life or for reflection yourself because as the quotes tell you, change is inevitable. My favourite quotes include:

“When we are no longer able to change a situation … we are challenged to change ourselves.” - Viktor Frankl

“We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.” - Maya Angelou

“Today is only one day in all the days that will ever be. But what will happen in all the other days that ever come can depend on what you do today.” - Ernest Hemingway

“Not everything that is faced can be changed; but nothing can be changed until it is faced.” - James Baldwin

“When people are ready to, they change. They never do it before then, and sometimes they die before they get around to it. You can’t make them change if they don’t want to, just like when they do want to, you can’t stop them.” - Andy Warhol

While the layout was clean and consistent and the font made the quotes easy to read I didn’t find the creative flair I expect from gift books. I love quotes and have since I was a kid when I’d write the ones that spoke to me in notebooks. However if I’m going to buy a book of quotes I don’t want to be bored by the layout. Some pages included an illustration but when they didn’t the pages blended together.

Thank you to NetGalley and Workman Publishing Company for the opportunity to read this book.

This is a handy little book to help us deal with change by reminding us that it's natural and not all bad.

Change Happens: a Compendium of Wisdom by Kathryn Petras surprised me. I expected the author to "lecture" the reader (rather dryly) about how change is necessary and inevitable, and how, we the reader, should get on board with it, offering us her insight on how to do that.

Instead, I found myself delighted by the cleverness of the table of contents, and happier still when I realized that the book was a collection of quotes about the facets of change. Now, honestly, when is the last time you were taken with the Table of Contents? Never, right? Well, Petras surprised me by grouping the quotes into topics starting with each letter of the alphabet. For instance, A has sections on accepting and adapting; B - beauty of change * the big picture; C - challenges * chaos * control * coping * creating * curveballs; D - daring * discovering yourself * don't look back * dreaming, etc.
And could she really find topics for Q, X, Y & Z? Yes, she did!!

And with quotes (which I love), the reader gets the value of insights of great minds through the ages and current day. I bookmarked several and wrote many others in my journal.

This would be a great book to have on hand, to peruse again and again, especially if you are having difficulty with a change in your life. This book helped me realize that change often makes way for better things in my life, and should be celebrated, because it gives us new opportunities to grow, rather than feared. It would also make a great gift for any book lover.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and Workman Publishing Company for allowing me to read and review an e-ARC of this treasure in exchange for an honest review. My only regret is that they sent me a PDF file which will expire, rather than a version I could have at my hands forever!!

A lovely collection of quotes to inspire us to have an embracing and constructive attitude towards change.

Change is the one and only constant in life, making this the perfect gift for anyone! A curated book of quintessential quotes on all elements of change that will guide you and yours through life’s ever changing internal and external landscapes.

A nicely illustrated collection of quotations on change.