January book review: 'Shifting Forward'

When Inkberry Books gave me a copy of Carrie Jane Knowles' new book, I knew I was in for a treat, but I didn't know that I was also in for a surprise. Her upcoming book "Shifting Forward," which will be released May 2022, is a nonfiction collection of essays from her Psychology Today column of the same name.

A short read at just over 100 pages, Knowles reflects on life after 70, during COVID and, while none of her insights are "revolutionary," the way she writes about them is fresh and fun. There is one essay about living in the moment as seen through her water aerobics class.

There in the pool, surrounded by her peers, Knowles was treading water when she looked up and saw the lifeguard. She saw more than someone simply sitting there. He was present, totally focused on his task, guarding life. Knowles posits that in that moment, he was truly "guarding life" in the sense that he was fully engaged, and I think that's a really beautiful way to reframe "living in the moment."

That is what I enjoyed most about this collection: the writing style. Knowles is warm, relatable and engaging. When she shares an anecdote, it's ripe with detail, and when she shares a life hack, it feels like you're learning from a favorite aunt or grandparent. It's obvious that Knowles put a lot of thought into each of these essays, which is refreshing. Too many times, "life lesson" articles have a somewhat preachy tone to them. Instead, Knowles writes about life using her own as a lens through which to discuss the idea and then almost invites the reader to reflect in turn.

That's not to say that all of the reflections are "life lessons." As the subtitle of the original blog says, these are "a wanderer's musings." Each essay has a similar tone, but each is unique.

Take, for example, her essay about losing one's last nerve. In it, she describes a customer service call to AT&T. Not only does she give us an abridged play by play, but she also gives us a peek into her writing process. Turns out, she started drafting that very article during the call, demonstrating that it's funny where we find inspiration.

And there's a piece in which she discusses her first in-person author event since the vaccine roll outs. On one hand, it's a straightforward observation of COVID life. But on the other hand, it's a vulnerable and caring piece that voices the concerns many people have about the so-called "new normal."

All of these observations, reflections, and essays are so honest that it bolsters Knowles' credibility as a writer while making the material extremely enjoyable to read.

On a logistical note, I also liked that the collection was broken up into sections titled "Part One: It's All About Living With Purpose," and "Part Two: First Love Yourself," which gave the book a really nice sense of organization.

The other advantage to this is that if you're looking for a certain type of reflection, you don't have to flip through the entire book. Likewise, if you don't feel like re-reading thoughts on a topi (I'm sure we're all tired of COVID articles), you can skip them. It's easy to focus on something else. Top things I liked-the writing style, the organization and the mix of anecdotes and personal perspectives.

If you're in Niwot mid-May this year when the book is on the shelves, definitely stop by Inkberry to pick up a copy. It's a quick read that's so real and engaging, and you're sure to enjoy it.

Happy Reading!