A Beginner’s Guide to Breaking and Entering

by Andrew Hunter Murray
A Beginner’s Guide to Breaking and Entering cover
Good Books rating 4.22
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Waterstones
Paperback • £9.99
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  • ID: 4721
  • Added: 2025-10-21
  • Updated: 2025-10-21
  • Formats: 1
  • Reviews: 4
Reviews
goodreads.com · Unknown · 2025-10-23
great 4.00

The book is a mix of humor and heart, with a protagonist who is both endearing and flawed. It's a story about love, loss, and the complexities of human relationships.

The book is a delightful blend of humor and heart, with a protagonist who is both endearing and flawed. They loved the way the author handled the protagonist's journey, making them feel like a real person with real struggles. The story is about love, loss, and the complexities of human relationships, and it's told in a way that is both engaging and thought-provoking. They appreciated the author's ability to balance humor and heart, making the book a enjoyable read. However, they felt that some of the plot points could have been developed further, and the pacing was a bit uneven at times.

Quick quotes

    The protagonist is a lovable mess, and they can't help but root for them.

    The book is a beautiful exploration of love and loss, and the complexities of human relationships.

    The pacing is a bit uneven, and some plot points could have been developed further.

moreaboutbooks.com · Unknown · 2025-10-23
insightful 4.40

Switch by Chip Heath and Dan Heath offers a practical framework for embracing change, emphasizing the importance of directing the rational mind, motivating the emotional side, and shaping the environment to facilitate successful change.

Switch by Chip Heath and Dan Heath is a self-help book that provides a comprehensive guide to implementing change effectively. The authors use the analogy of an elephant and its rider to illustrate the dynamics of behavioral change. The rider represents the rational mind, while the elephant symbolizes the emotional side. The book emphasizes the need to direct the rider by providing clear goals, motivate the elephant by appealing to emotions, and shape the path by creating a supportive environment. This approach is applicable to both personal and professional settings, making it a valuable resource for anyone looking to make lasting changes. The book's practical advice and real-world examples make it an engaging and insightful read.

Quick quotes

    Implementing change is like riding an elephant: choose a direction, give your elephant some peanuts and stick to an easy path.

    Your inner rider is a terrific thinker and planner.

    But endless analysis of the obstacles in your way gets you nowhere; you must give the rider a clear direction to go in so he can put his planning and rational thinking to good use.

guardianbookshop.com · Unknown · 2025-05-22
enjoyed 4.00

The reviewer found the book insightful and practical, particularly in its application to motivating students and personal change. They appreciated the metaphors and case studies, though they noted some examples were familiar.

The reviewer enjoyed this book, finding it engaging and thought-provoking. They particularly liked the metaphors, such as the elephant and rider, which helped illustrate the concepts of emotional and rational selves. The book's advice on motivating students and personal change was found to be highly practical. The reviewer also appreciated the case studies, though some were familiar from other sources. They noted that the book's strategies for change are minimal yet effective, and the advice is applicable to both personal and professional contexts. The reviewer also highlighted the importance of considering cultural factors when implementing change, as seen in the example of drug use in the US military during the Vietnam war.

Quick quotes

    The elephant is our emotional selves and the rider our rational self.

    They offer the best advice I can think of — if you are seeking to make change you should see what is working and then see what you need to do to replicate that.

    The point is to find ways to see what is working and to replicate that.

theguardian.com · Unknown · 2024-04-19
practical 4.50

The book offers practical advice on implementing change, emphasizing the importance of focusing on success stories, reducing decision paralysis, and making the path to change clear. It also highlights the need to appeal to emotions and make incremental changes.

The book provides a comprehensive guide to managing change, with a focus on balancing rational and emotional aspects. It suggests identifying and focusing on successful examples, simplifying decisions, and making the change process as clear as possible. The authors also stress the importance of connecting with people's emotions and making smaller, more manageable changes. Additionally, they discuss the role of identity in change and the need to help people develop identities that align with the desired change.

Quick quotes

    Find “bright spots” of success and focus on them, instead of the negatives, to pave the way for success.

    Clarity dissolves resistance.” Find ways to make the path as clear as possible so that people aren’t being asked to think too much.

    Find the feeling.” Or, as I’ve written about often, find the emotional appeal, the “why?” behind your project.

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