What Would You Do If You Ran the World? Everyday Ideas from Women Who Want to Make the World a Better Place

by: Shelly Rachanow

Published by: Conari Press

Reviewed by Connie Anderson

This book has a simple message: What can we do to make this world a better place. It’s all about the possibilities and turning them into reality.

Rachanow has divided her book into these “if I ran the world” sections:

What would you do for …

— Yourself?

— Your loved ones?

— The community?

— The world?

They certainly are in the right order because if you cannot or do not do for yourself, you cannot do for others. Reminds me of the popular coffee cup inscription: If mama ain’t happy, nobody is happy!

Each section has:

1) 10 things you can do for …

2) Several stories about women’s lives

3) Some appropriate quotes

4) “Ideas in action”

5) “Pledges” you can sign

6) What do you want to do for yourself–followed by a page to list them all.

We get to enjoy stories of mothers doing for daughters, and vice versa; of friends doing for friends; and people doing for the community and the world.

My favorite part was the “My Opinion Rocks Pledge” that you sign. The ideas in the pledge are so important that every woman needs them. Basically:

·Don’t let others (even with good intentions) convince you to do what’s not good for you.

·Stop listening to people who think your choices are (negative words)

·Don’t let others force you to do something that you know you won’t like

·Remember that you always have the smartest opinions around.

If women don’t believe from Day 1 that their opinions count, they will never take a stand, leave a bad choice or get out of a toxic job.

The “10 Things” list you can do for yourself and the other one about doing for loved ones are worth the price of the book. Women know how to be friends. Listening is a one of the best ways to show you love someone.

The book also lists excellent Web sites for you to learn more.

— Girlfriends Café http://www.GirlfriendsCafe.com where you can chat, share and help others.

— Be Jane http://www.BeJane.com to learn how to fix things in your house.

— Heart Health http://www.GoRedforWomen.org – every year 500,000 women die from cardiovascular disease.

Armchair Interviews says: Get this book for yourself and the women in your life.