This book turned out to be a huge surprise! I say that because I wasn't expecting it to be written so engagingly--and for it to make such a deep impact on me. It's unlike any other self-help book that I've read so far.

I could relate to quite a few of the 20 stories in this collection. I found myself nodding, saying to myself, "That's right. I do this/I should do this." This doesn't happen to me often. It's safe to say that I will be re-reading this book often. It's worth every word and there are some powerful lessons in there for us to absorb and put into practice.

The stories are structured in an interesting way: the author narrates the story first, then lists his takeaways from it, and finally asks the reader a series of questions to help him/her really think about the message in the story. The stories are deceptively simple but carry a deep, powerful and impactful message. They're also actionable--you can begin working on yourself in small ways to assimilate the learnings and see the results in real life.

My favorite stories are: The Three Steps to Success, The Grass Parable, The Chinese Farmer, The Lesson of the Archer, The Old Crocodile, The Black Dot, Are you a Carrot, an Egg or a Coffee Bean? The Cricketer shows how too much mental toughness can be detrimental. This is another amazing aspect of the book. The author isn't aggressively promoting his idea of emotional strength. Instead, he's gently guiding us towards it and explaining why moderation is key. God and the Farmer is such a tongue-in-cheek story that made me laugh out loud in the end.

I loved the overall tone of the book. Self-help books can sometimes get promotional, overly persuasive, or eager. Mental Toughness Metaphors is gentle, "let-me-show-you-how," balanced, and realistic. It's a short book that you can finish reading in a single sitting, but I'd advise you to take your time and read only a couple of stories at a time. It will help you appreciate the message better and reflect deeply on the takeaways and questions.

What are you waiting for? Go get a copy!