Title: Dare to Reinvent Yourself! I Did.
Author: Bob Sicina
Publisher: BlueInk Media Solutions
ISBN: 978-1967279913
Pages: 222
Genre: Nonfiction / Self Help / Memoir
Reviewer: Samantha Reed
Pacific Book Review
While some people may appear to stay the same for most of their lives, most people go through several moments when something about them seems to change. Whether because of external circumstances like being fired from a job or falling in love with someone unexpectedly, or internal choices, like taking up a new hobby or learning a new language, many things can lead someone to change their life. These changes are a form of reinvention, or the process of redefining who a person is.
Reinvention is the cornerstone of author Bob Sicina’s Dare to Reinvent Yourself! I Did. The book follows the author’s life story and the moments which redefined him along the way. From the author’s early years and upbringing in the small town of Florida, New York, to the chance to move abroad for work and live in countries like Brazil, the book offers not a manual or educational tool, but more of an insightful glance into how the author’s life showcases the ways in which reinvention is possible at any stage in a person’s life.
The author does an excellent job of writing in a way that feels conversational and engaging, allowing the reader to feel immersed in the author’s life and their experiences with ease. The honesty and authenticity for which the author writes allows the stories from his life to feel tangible and heartfelt to the reader as the book progresses, and the pacing of the book gives the feeling of a full life well lived, and the way this plays into the concept of reinvention was perfect as it highlighted how each experience and moment in a person’s life can serve as a moment of reinvention, as people in general tend to grow and evolve several times throughout their lives.
Readers who enjoy nonfiction books, especially those written like a memoir and self-help motivational guide, will thoroughly enjoy this book. The chapter features the author’s 10th reinvention when they moved with their family to São Paulo, where they had to take on a guard service for protection and participated in dancing competitions during Carnival. These small moments completely changed the author’s life and marked a momentous time, showing how a simple choice to take a job could affect not only the author’s family but also who they are as a person. This book articulates and explores these moments with honest detail. His story reminds readers that it is never too late to pursue new possibilities, challenge old assumptions, and become the person they were meant to be. A motivating read for anyone standing at a crossroads and wondering, “What comes next?”
