Picture of Me: Who I Am in 221 Questions

I LOVE THESE TYPE OF PROJECTS REGARDING MY LIFE. I AM AN AVID SCRAPBOOKER, AND USING THESE BOOKS AS AN EXTENSION OF MY SCRAPBOOKING IS THRILLING. I HAVE FILLED OUT SEVERAL TYPES OF BOOKS ABOUT MY CHILDHOOD,ETC. THIS PARTICULAR BOOK IS REALLY GOOD BECAUSE EACH QUESTION IS SHORT AND TO THE POINT. I DID NOT LIKE QUESTIONS LIKE AM I HETERO OR HOMO. I DON'T THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT UNLESS A PERSON WANTS TO MAKE IT IMPORTANT. I HAVE A SON AND I WANT HIM TO KNOW WHO I HAVE BEEN AND WHO I AM AT THE PRESENT. I HAVE DONE LISTOGRAPHY OF MY LIFE IN MUSIC, A MOTHER'S LEGACY TO HER CHILD, MY CHILDHOOD FROM A TO Z, A SPIRITUAL JOURNEY OF MY LIFE AND I HAVE ALSO SCRAPBOOKED MY LIFE USING ALL TYPES OF PHOTOGRAPHS OF MYSELF---STARTING WITH MY BABY PICTURES ( I AM 55 YEARS OF AGE AND I HAVE COMPLETED BIG SCRAPBOOKS FOR EVERY DECADE OF MY LIFE). I BEGAN DOING JOURNALS ON MYSELF FOR MY THEN LITTLE BOY THIRTY YEARS AGO BECAUSE AFTER LOSING MY FATHER, I REALIZED THAT I REALLY DID NOT KNOW TOO MUCH ABOUT MY FATHER'S GROWING UP YEARS OR WHAT HIS REAL FEELINGS WERE ABOUT. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I DON'T WANT MY SON OR MY FUTURE DESCENDENTS TO WONDER ABOUT ME. THIS BOOK IS WONDERFUL BECAUSE IT ASK A LOT OF QUESTIONS THAT YOU CAN JUST CHECK OFF. THE PAGES ARE THAT SHINY PAPER BUT I USED A PLAIN OLD BALL POINT PEN (GEL PENS DON'T WORK BECAUSE THEY BLEED AND SMUDGE ON THIS TYPE OF PAPER); MY BALL POINT PEN DID NOT SMUDGE LIKE ONE REVIEWER STATED. SHE ALSO STATED THAT YOU COULD SEE THROUGH EACH PAGE WHATEVER WAS WRITTEN. I HAD NO SUCH PROBLEM BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT SUPPOSE TO PRESS YOUR PEN INTO THE PAPER, PICTURES, ETC. JUST GLIDE YOUR PEN AND IT WILL WORK OUT JUST FINE. THIS BOOK IS A NICE HARDCOVER AND IT HAS LESS THAN NINETY PAGES WHICH IS GOOD BECAUSE I HAVE FILLED OUT BOOKS THAT HAVE HAD AS MANY AS TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY FULL PAGES. I REALLY ENJOYED FILLING OUT THIS BOOK SO FAR (I'M ON PAGE 36) BECAUSE BEING A PERSON THAT LOVES TO WRITE, I SOMETIMES GET CARRIED AWAY IN A GOOD WAY. BUT THIS BOOK ONLY ALLOWS ME TO ANSWER A QUESTION IN A COUPLE OF LINES. I ALSO LIKE THE PAGES THAT HAVE A FRAME WHERE YOU CAN PASTE A PICTURE IN IT. EVERYONE SHOULD JOURNAL THEIR LIVES, AND THIS BOOK IS A GOOD START AND REMEMBERING GOOD THINGS ABOUT YOUR LIFE CAN BE THERAPEUTIC. I OWN A VINTAGE TRUNK AND EVERYTHING ABOUT ME IS IN THERE. I CAN NOW ADD THIS LITTLE BOOK WHEN I HAVE FINISHED. ORDER THIS BOOK AND YOU WON'T BE SORRY. IT MAY START YOU ON THE ROAD TO DOCUMENTING YOUR LIFE IN WORDS AND PICTURES FOR YOUR FAMILY. WHENEVER I BUY THESE TYPE OF BOOKS, I BUY ONE FOR MY 75 YEAR OLD MOTHER, AND SHE FILLS IT OUT WHEN SHE CAN. I HAVE A NICE HISTORY OF HER LIFE IN HER OWN WORDS AND IN HER OWN HANDWRITING.

As long as I can remember, my dad's always kept a journal. He expressed as he's getting older, finding topics can be difficult, and as he gets older, I realize since he had me so late in life, there's a good chance my future children will not have the opportunity to know a great man who had two careers he retired from (military officer and teacher), lived on three different continents, and has had a fascinating life and philosophy. The questions range from silly matters like favorite pizza toppings to matters as serious as personal values - Giving a gift like this to someone is as valuable to the receiver as it is to the giver. I made him promise to give the book back when he's done.The questions are all plain and simply worded; it reads so easily this could even be a fun gift for a kid in sixth grade; there are parts where the reader is asked to paste a photo or draw things like his/her family, his/her home, etc. Unlike similar books, the book asks no lewd questions, ie, "Would you have sex with a dog?", although it does ask opinions on things like belief in God and whether or not being gay is biological or a "choice." However, it is not phrased in such a way where I think most people I know, liberal or conservative, would find offensive.Although there are 221 questions, some are true/false, some involve drawing (as I mentioned before), some are sorts of quizzes, and some are essay, so it wouldn't be intimidating for someone who isn't a natural writer, although it's a good gift for a little practice. I imagine if one devoted five minutes to working on this book a couple times a week, the book would probably be finished in three or four months for someone who's a slow writer like myself.My dad enjoyed this book so much, I purchased one for my best friend since she has three children and five grandchildren who would enjoy a snapshot into their mother's life, and I purchased Book of Us: A Journal of Your Love Story in 150 Questions, by the same authors, for my sister-in-law and brother. (The latter is also an excellent gift for the couple who has "everything.")These are great gifts for anyone, and a meaningful gift to be shared and enjoyed later; I am considering getting two or three for random birthday gifts. It encourages kids to write and enjoy the process, gives a snapshot into the lives of middle aged folks, and stimulates senior minds. It can be a secret haven for those who want to confess their private thoughts, or it can be a book that generations to come can know some intimate and fun details of a family member. Overall, a fantastic gift that can be for a loved one or a cheap little "secret Santa" office gift. I'll definitely purchase more of these in the future.

This book asks some very deep thinking questions. Also asks for pictures, drawing or sketches. Save it for years and pass it down or read yourself. Very interesting idea.

Be Warned!!!! All the pages are GLOSSY. The book is super small, about the size of two coasters. The inside details are nice but the glossy pages ruin it for me.

love it so fun

Pages are glossy, so not fun to write in.And I'm really not impressed with the questions...I wish I didn't spend my money on this.

I brought this book with out checking to see if if it was English or American based.... oops on my part (it's American and I'm English). Questions are okay I guess, but a quite a few don't have that 'spark', in other words, they're a bit dull. Good for if you want your future self to see what was up or if you want to leave a basic record for you're friends or family when you finally kick the bucket.Aside from that, maybe branch out politics wise e.g. What new ideas have you heard about that you'd like to see your country experiement (or something like that)? Something thought provoking but not generically tied with the politics of only one country?Other than that, there isn't anything wrong with it.