Member Reviews
I sometimes have a difficult time with nonfiction like this, since it also feels too "you must do xyz and everything will be perfect!" This one called to me as a creative who had to stop hobbies to being "too busy", but have found myself being able to slowly reclaim that side of me. However, I don't think this book does a great job of being relatable to the "regular people"
I had not read Eve Rodsky's other work (Fair Play) but will certainly be searching it out. It took me awhile to get through this one but I really appreciated her take on Unicorn Space and finding your creativity. I've always struggled with finding time to do those things that fuel my spirit and my soul and I picked up some tips on how to make this happen.
Thanks to @netgalley and @putnambooks for my copy of Find Your Unicorn Space, and associated goodies! This book is the perfect companion to Fair Play, and needs to be read by every woman out there. I found so much inspiration from it, and found it to have easy to implement strategies for finding my own unicorn space in my world.
I received a copy of this book for a fair and honest review. I have to admit that before reading this book I had no idea what Unicorn Space was or how it could be helpful to me. I know that life is busy and there is a need to carve out time for one's creative self. When I got to the section of the 3 C's of Creativity. I had no problem with the first two Cs. But the last one called completion. That one tends to be a nemesis of mine. I am doing my best to work on that one and this book gave me some ideas on how to do that and not lose myself in the process.
Find Your Unicorn Space by Eve Rodsky is all about pursuing a passion project that inspires you and feeds your soul. The guide is written specifically for women who may have trouble asserting boundaries and time for themselves. Being a comfortable 30-something married mom of two young kids, I am the target audience for this book. I haven’t read her previous book, Fair Play, but this is a spin-off from that. In it, she mentions Unicorn Space, which amounts to being allowed time and space for a passion project that gives our lives meaning beyond our family and jobs. I love this idea and Find Your Unicorn Space is incredibly motivating as it helps you give up the guilt and consider what would truly fulfill you.
Eve Rodsky is incredibly earnest and enthusiastic and I loved her excitement as she describes the projects she and so many others have been pursuing. Rodsky is a former lawyer and presents organized structure and tenacious tips for creating our own Unicorn Space. Despite mentioning that all should be allowed to pursue Unicorn Space and introduction that aims for inclusivity, the book had a very privileged perspective. Not all will have access to time, space, and resources for their own Unicorn Project. I did however appreciate that we have to make commitments to making and protecting our own space and boundaries. I know I personally have a difficult time doing that. Rodsky has great suggestions for questions we can ask ourselves to get to the heart of what we want, conversation guidance with loved ones, and how to make time for Unicorn Space happen. The book can be a bit repetitive at times, but contains a great structured framework of information that will help many women find their Unicorn Space.
Thank you Penguin Group Putnam and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
A wonderful reflection on creativity and inclusive individuality in our modern world. A revelation for boundaries and carving out a place in the world for yourself. I would recommend to anyone feeling stuck in place or missing that creative spark due to their daily grind.
I really needed to read this book! I really like how the author tells you to make time for yourself and gives examples of how to make that time. Everyone needs to find their Unicorn Space.
Eve' Rodsky's follow up to Fair Play addresses the space and time her protocols in her first book (ideally) created for readers. She was surprised to find many women in her research were so unaccustomed to having free time, that when they did, they literally didn't know how to use it. FIND YOUR UNICORN SPACE helps you narrow down the what, why, and how to find your unicorn space and ultimately gain a greater sense of fulfillment and personal, creative identity.
I like the message of this book, but it was a bit repetitive and gimmicky. The use of unicorn feels like hopping onto a trendy word, unicorn, with no real reason. The key message of this book is women need time to explore their passions. This could be a hobby, a side hustle, or a career. The author also provides strategies women can use to negotiate the time and space to do this in their lives.
It’s a great message, but this has a significant degree of overlap with the author’s last book.
Thanks to NetGalley for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
When I first read 'Fairplay', my favorite chapter was the one about "finding your unicorn space". At that time, I remember thinking to myself, "Can I get a book on that alone?" And my wish was granted!!! I love Eve's way of looking at the daily and making it all seem a little less overwhelming. She's created space in the domestic for hope and for that I am so very grateful. What a joy to read of finding our own unicorn space. Thank you Eve Rodsky!
This just wasn’t the book for me. I was really drawn to the cover and the description but the actual reading experience just fell flat for me.
FIND YOUR UNICORN SPACE by Eve Rodsky is another interesting self-help text designed to help readers "Reclaim Your Creative Life in a Too-Busy World." Encased in the beautiful cover are a dozen chapters, divided into three sections: Time for a Reset, the Rules of Permission, and Cultivate the 3C's of Creativity (curiosity, connectivity, and completion). Rodsky pushes readers to embrace life's storms by "dancing in the rain," or "the active and open pursuit of self-expression in any form, ... an activity that you lose yourself in." She bases her arguments on research (a Bibliography is provided) and contends that this activity is "essential and fundamental to your physical, emotional, and mental health as a whole person." Pause for a moment and think about applying that to the upcoming course selection process for our students. Do they have time in a very structured school day to carve out the Unicorn Space of which Rodsky writes? Her text and numerous examples are actually geared more to young adults, particularly to young women and young parents with so many competing claims for their time in roles as partner, parent, and professional (whether for pay or as a caregiver). Throughout Rodsky provides personal exercises – a series of questions (e.g., Who had I always imagined myself becoming?) and pop quizzes that should be very helpful to her adult readers and could possibly be modified for adolescents. Take some time to pursue this book and, as Rodsky would advocate, to think about giving yourself permission to reclaim, discover and nurture creativity.
{thank you to @putnambooks for my #gifted review copy}
As a big personal development reader, I have learned so much about boundaries during the last few years, including that idea that to say yes to the things we really want, it also requires saying NO to things as well.
My reading choices tend to be quite seasonal and this time of year, I am drawn towards books that have us looking at ourselves a bit more introspectively..
And it just so happens that one of my very favorite people, @everodsky, published a book the very last week of the 2021, one in which I have been also anticipating since it’s conception...#FindYourUnicornSpace
My love for her 2019 book #FairPlay runs deep, and it has made a huge difference in the day to day lives within our family unit. One of the things I love the most about Eve Rodsky is that she is so real but also no nonsense. Your family and friends can't read your mind, and ultimately, making something happen requires ongoing prioritization and communication and yes, boundaries!
If you have seen someone off chasing their dreams (or just trying something new!) It's most likely happening because they put a plan into place to make it happen. We can do anything, but not everything, right? And this is where the unicorn space comes in.
“This personal time--what Rodsky calls Unicorn Space, what makes us interesting--isn't just a luxury, she explains….Find Your Unicorn Space teaches anyone how to create time in their already-busy life to tap into their unique expression of creativity, and find purpose that will allow them to live a happier, more fulfilled life."
I could go on and on about Eve Rodsky's life changing work but instead, I think you should just check out this book and see how it can inspire you as well!
Find You Unicorn Space is something I absolutely love and believe in. Rodsky is definitely on to something when she discusses how women need to find time for themselves to allow for their own growth and enjoyment. She helps her readers define the difference between self care and self growth, and why unicorn space is so important for the modern women of today. If you are a woman feeling like there's something missing in your life, give this book a read and let Rodsky help you find your unicorn space!
I really liked the premise of the book - there was such great tangible advice for those looking to find their unicorn space. I really liked that Eve provided tangible phrases to incorporate into your relationships to make sure you are creating time for yourself. I do feel like this book is geared more toward women than men, so keep that in mind if you're looking to read this.
This was a great book to read as we head into a new year to make sure you're making time for yourself and creativity. I'm going to try and carve out my own unicorn space in 2022.
Unicorn Space by @everodsky
A book about finding your creative outlet and forging time to pursue your dreams and interests. This novel is so relevant in a time when self care is more important than ever. Insightful and full of exercises to help reflect and structure your Unicorn Space
As the stay-at-home mom of a couple of young kids, the idea of having any structured time to myself is pretty laughable. Sure, I read and write reviews, but I do that in a shared space where I’m lucky to not get interrupted every two minutes. The thought of being able to actually do something creative for more than five minutes at a time sounds like, well, about as real as a magical unicorn. So while I felt like this book was aimed directly at my demographic, there were also some parts that didn’t work as well for me.
“[A] creative life is not a nice-to-have but a must-have. It is essential to our sense of self, our physical and mental well-being, the health of our partnerships, and our ability to model what a full and meaningful life looks like to our children, our friends and colleagues, and our communities.”
The book is divided into three parts. The first deals a lot with how the author came up with the idea of unicorn space and why it’s important. While I found some of this interesting, at times it felt a bit repetitious and, honestly, I just wanted to get to the meat of it. The second part is about how to find time and space to pursue your own unicorn space, whether that’s negotiating with a partner or with your own guilt. The author doesn’t shy away from the fact that she’s a white cishet woman, and while she made a point of including a diverse range of viewpoints and situations, this part still read very middle-class and white. It still feels like the default is a female reader with a male partner who has to convince him to take up the slack. I assume a lot of this is influenced by the author’s previous book (which I haven’t read) which dealt with the unequal division of housework and childcare in your typical cishet partnership. The third part was more of what I actually expected from this book, in that it’s an explanation of how to figure out what your unicorn space is and how to connect with others while doing it. I liked the various anecdotes of how people figured out their unicorn spaces (and what they were) but there was also a lot of rehashing of situations with uncooperative partners.
“Creativity redefined as Unicorn Space is the active and open pursuit of self-expression in any form, built on value-based curiosity and purposeful sharing of this pursuit with the world.”
I really liked the concept of “unicorn space.” First off, it’s not something that you’re doing to get paid. Secondly, it’s a creative pursuit that benefits you, not your partner, kids, or any other random family members. Third, you need to share it, whether that’s just with a group of friends or with the world at large. It’s not a hobby, it’s more of finding meaning for your life – and from there comes happiness and, hopefully, a better world. It sounds a bit lofty, but it’s hard to argue that people having an identity outside of work or child-raising would make them happier, and there’s several points from the book that I intend to at least attempt to implement in my life, like setting up solitary time for both myself and my spouse. However, not all of it worked. It’s not that I found the information unhelpful, but rather that the author’s tone was a bit too “rah-rah go girl!!!” for me. There’s something called the “Slay It Forward share” (basically passing on your expertise and love of your unicorn space) and while I find the idea commendable (though not particularly revolutionary), the cringey name is just one example of the type of non-ironic cheerleading throughout the book. There’s a lot of assumptions that the reader is financially secure and has a partner that’s willing (and able) to compromise, and the author is relentlessly cheerful about how to work out miscommunications with partners.
Overall, while I’m more than ever convinced about the importance of prioritizing creativity in my life, that overall message felt like it would work best for a narrow segment of the population. So if you’re an overworked mom who’s looking for something outside of being a spouse, worker, and mother, this book might give you the impetus to expand your creative horizons.
I received an advance review copy of this book from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I loved Fair Play and was excited to see a new book going further with some of the ideas addressed there. In Find Your Unicorn Space, Rodsky takes the reader through the why's of having a creative outlet and has exercises to consider your values and other ways to help arrive at what a good creative outlet/unicorn space is for you individually. I really enjoyed these exercises/questions/quizzes as they got me thinking in specific ways. Other parts of the book I enjoyed were all the personal stories and examples from her friends and research interviews she conducted. I highlighted a lot of quotes and good advice. I think my main takeaway came near the end of the book, regarding perfectionism (staying purposely vague so as not to give away the message). I would recommend this as a good read to start the new year or for someone wanting to find or reconnect with a creative/curiosity pursuit.
This is a great New Years read. It will get you up and off the metaphorical couch. I am not a huge self-help book person. I’ve probably said this before but I read to forget about my problems and self-help books just make me think more about them. Ha!
The author uses the term Unicorn Space to describe time a person spends developing their individual interests and how that benefits their overall health and happiness. The book goes through a lot of research to show how beneficial it is for everyone to have this and then maps out strategies for implementation.
I plowed through this in like three days. That is unusual for me to get through a non-audiobook that fast. I was more motivated than usual because this book really resonates with me. I have four kids ages 18, 15, 8, and 4. I have been a stay-at-home-mom for most of that time. I wouldn’t change that for anything. I have loved it. However, with the gaps in their ages I have had little ones for soooooooo long. Enter Covid. Where I was already tired and burnt out then instantly everything got a lot harder. I am more than ready to open up different chapters of life to supplement what I have been doing for what seems like an eternity.
I have been reviewing books for a few years now and I think this is the beginning of my Unicorn Space. I have a next step on how to expand what I am already doing and will hopefully add some more facets to my life over this next year.
Thanks to @netgalley and @penguinrandomhouse for an advanced copy of this.
I wanted to love this book, but it just sort of fell flat for me. I was hoping for more inspiration, but couldn't connect with the author, particularly where much of it was tailored to 'young moms.' Just because it wasn't for me doesn't mean it's a bad book by any means. I feel that some of my library's patrons will absolutely connect and feel empowered, so I've purchased a couple of copies for the branch. Thank you for the opportunity to read it early.