Praise for If I’d Known Then

The Boston Globe (June 1, 2008):

"Self-help is definitely an eyes-front kind of reading - you want to look where you're going rather than keep your focus on where you've been. But this month, there are some intriguing new books that prove that the past can actually be the prologue to a more satisfying and happier future.

Looking at your life in hindsight can make you realize just how far you've come. In "If I'd Known Then," edited by Ellyn Spragins, 35 successful women pen intimate, thoughtful letters to the girls they once were, putting their previous angst, doubts, and even failures into brilliant perspective. Part of a series of "If I'd Known Then" books, this volume, targeted at young women, offers a boost of hope that today's turmoil can foster tomorrow's growth, success, and happiness. From actress Jessica Alba and author Hope Edelman to champion skater Sasha Cohen, these women reflect on how adults can be wrong, why it's important to give up control, and how risk can be paramount to a rewarding life.

Is the writing any good? Well, only from the writers in the bunch. What's important here are the honest self-reflection and the reaching out from one generation to another. Younger women will be inspired by the advice, but women of all ages will love the fascinating insights into some truly remarkable lives. The message that past pain can lead to astounding triumphs and a little self-compassion goes a very, very long way."

Publishers Weekly (March 24, 2008):

“Spragins’s ingenious book is the rare self-help volume that young women would elect to read and decidedly enjoy. The author profiles 35 highly accomplished women and asks them to write a letter of counsel or encouragement addressed to their younger selves. The result is a collection of life directives that are highly personal and disarmingly honest. The contributors—who include actress Jessica Alba, activist Zainab Salbi and comic book artist Ariel Schrag—are stars in their own right, but their letters reveal that even winners have problems—the same fears, concerns and shortcomings as anyone else. And in many cases they are still struggling—which raises the question: how wise can women in their 20s and 30s (no matter how accomplished) be? Very, it turns out. These artists, athletes and entrepreneurs compassionately address bad relationships, bullies, eating disorders and crises of faith without ever sounding jaded or condescending. This book offers sound advice and is highly recommended for women just starting out.”