Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

A little Chicken for the Soup-like, this book has some sweet stories in it with nice illustrations to accompany each text. The texts are very short and therefore there is not much to connect with, but if you are looking for something to pick up and read quickly to make you feel a bit warmer, this is the book for that.

Book Review 🖖🏼

How We Got By, by Shaina Feinberg, Julia Rothman
📚: 264 pages


111 people share their life experiences and stories of how they choose to get by in our modern world.


Liked:
⭐️ True stories of resilience
⭐️ The kids’ stories were so cute
⭐️ Beautiful illustrations of people
⭐️ Relatable and real


Disliked:
⚫️


Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

How We Got By is a collection of first-person short stories on how different people overcame difficult situations, This book took me a while to read, but it wasn’t a terrible read. I enjoyed the illustrations and a few stories that got my attention. Those book reminded me of Humans of New York (HONY) so if you’re a fan of HONY, I think you might enjoy this book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book via Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are my own opinions.

I really enjoyed reading these glimpses of positivity and strength in the lives of others. Thr illustrations are bright and tell a story of their own.

Lovely book.

Feinberg and Rothman are both columnists for the New York Times and over COVID worked together to create a column about how people have survived at other times. This book is the collection of columns written at that time. It covers all sorts of different experiences of losses, violence and other heartbreaks. But the key theme in each of these stories is that these people found ways to survive what happened. I think this book would’ve suited me better as a coffee table book rather than as an E-reader but overall it’s a lovely book full of hope.

Thank you NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for this ARC.

3.5 stars

How We Got By is a powerful collection of personal stories from a wide range of perspectives. The diverse voices and experiences provide for a very deep read.. There were many lines that I had to write down for myself to think back on later, which is something I haven't gotten from a book in a while. For me, I really felt the impact of this book through the artwork. Individual portraits solidified each passage and brought life to each story through the energy of the line and color work. I will definitely recommend this title.

I really enjoyed reading How We Got By. There were many stories of vastly different people that had really overcome so very difficult circumstances. It was nice to read how different people overcame their traumas or difficulties, especially as many of these people were working through their difficulties during the lock downs.

I especially enjoyed reading about people who had overcome physical disabilities as I am severely hearing impaired.

Booksellers, this is going to be a very easy book to sell to fans of Post Secret and Stories of New York. As we are quickly approaching the holiday season this would also be great to place on your holiday gift/coffee book table display. Book shoppers love to gift these types of books for the holidays!

It was a great book I like all the short stories. Everybody had something to say about their lives. Even when they have problems challenges they seem to come through okay. Title says it all because everybody has to Goodbye. Has problems adversity in their lives but they come through in a positive light. You never know what's gonna happen in life. Things can go crazy, but you can get back to being normal. If you look at the situation's in judge, it not Read activate to the situation. I like how she told the story through the person's eyes. When she gave a name, To the people in the Story It makes them come alive in the story.

A book to treasure the drawings ,portraits of the people the authors interviewed.Each person share a piece of their lives intimate stories that fascinated me.A book you can dip in and out of and enjoy each time.will be recommending.#netgalley#how we got by.

"How We Got By" by Shaina Feinberg and Julia Rothman appears to be an insightful and beautifully illustrated collection of first-person stories that explore how individuals react and evolve when faced with life-altering crises. This book, based on their New York Times column, offers a compelling glimpse into the human experience during challenging times.

The concept of presenting personal accounts accompanied by Julia Rothman's full-color illustrated portraits adds a unique and artistic dimension to the storytelling. This approach not only provides a visual connection to the individuals sharing their stories but also enhances the emotional impact of their narratives.

The range of topics covered, from money and business to relationships, family, trauma, and death, suggests a diverse and multifaceted exploration of how people navigate crises. This diversity allows readers to relate to various aspects of the human experience, making the book highly relatable and resonant.

The emphasis on shared humanity and resilience is particularly compelling. In a world often marked by divisions, "How We Got By" offers a reminder of our commonality as human beings and our capacity to endure and overcome adversity.

Overall, "How We Got By" appears to be a thought-provoking and visually engaging collection that promises to provide readers with a deeper understanding of the human spirit and the various ways people adapt and persevere when faced with life's challenges.

*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher/author for providing me with an E-arc of this book. The following is my honest opinion*

I think it’s hard to rate this book not because the book was horrible but because I think one has to ready to read the book. These are stories of people being resilient and preserving on in hard times.

The illustrations went so well with the stories and it definitely brought life to the stories. This was the my first time reading material like this that was not in poetry format. Really enjoyed the feel or semblance of reading an article or magazine.

A beautifully illustrated book of stories from people describing how they got through difficult times in their lives. It would make the perfect gift for anyone who is struggling and looking for inspiration. There is a wide variety of stories here and a reader would surely find a number of stories they could identify with, marvel over, and/or commiserate with.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. It would make a lovely gift for someone going through hard times.

How We Got By is a heart-warming collection that offers a glimpse into the resilience of human spirit. With gorgeously illustrated portraits, this book presents a tapestry of first-person stories from everyday people who have faced life's challenges head-on.

The stories cover a wide range of topics, from money and relationships to family, trauma, and death, showcasing the depth of human experiences. While the concept may not be groundbreaking, the heartfelt narratives and shared humanity found in these pages make it a soothing and meaningful read. In a world that can be tough and unpredictable, How We Got By reminds us of our extraordinary ability to endure and emerge stronger. This book is a must-read for those seeking hope and connection amidst life's trials.

How We Got By feels like Humans of NY meet Chicken Soup for the Soul. There are stories from 111 people about how they overcame adversity. There are beautiful illustrations of each subject. It's supposed to be uplifting, but after multiple stories about the loss of a child in the first 30% of the book, it felt very, very sad.

There are stories from people who escaped war to come to the U.S. Stories of people who overcame addiction. There were some things that resonated (thinking about the lemonade comes to mind), but what else have you got? I know that's terrible to say, but I feel like it all starts to run together after a while.

This type of material has been covered wonderfully by HONY, the big difference being they use photography and How We Got By uses illustrations. I wanted to love this book, but it felt like more of the same without being as good.

My thanks to Andrews McMeel Publishing and NeGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for a copy of How We Got By.

"When your world is upended, how do you react? Who do you become? New York Times columnists, illustrator Julia Rothman and writer Shaina Feinberg, seek answers to these questions and more in this gorgeously illustrated collection of sometimes heartbreaking, always illuminating first-person stories"

For fans of Humans of New York, this book is for you! This book has gorgeous portraits and shares stories of our common humanity. It's quite enjoyable to go through as well--flip to a random page and read a story or two. A small way to bring something good in your day!

The lockdown years were difficult for us. We often lost hope, hearing of all the stories of losses around us.

This book does not say we have to put our chin up and push on. No.

It instead gives us stories of people who went through unimaginable hardships - deaths, divorces, illness, abuse, loss of money, loss of identity... And yet, these people lived. One day at a time, one minute at a time, they pulled through their difficult time. They found something that helped or were buoyed by the thought of a new search.

If you go into this book looking for positivity, you might not find it right away. It will not tell you "Everything will be alright! Live for the moment!" Instead, it will tell you to do what you do best and do it consistently. Sometimes, the best we can do is just be alive and that is okay.

The illustrations, painted by one of the authors, were excellent. They captured the emotions of the speaker in a way a photograph cannot. I was left looking at the illustrations long after the story had ended.

5 stars for this excellent book. It is worthy of nothing less.

Thanks to Netgalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for the ARC.

If you love stories or insights from other people, this book would truly make your day like it did mine-it kinda reminded me of humans of New York- a page I used to follow on Facebook with insights from people on their life experiences.
The illustrations are an added bonus and they complement the stories herein.
Thanks Netgalley for the eARC.

I really like the construction of this book. I was able to pick it up, read a story and two and get back to it when I was feeling like it. It comes with a lot of compassion and human determination to try to make things better for ourselves and others. The concept of the book isn't overly innovative and I think the content like that would thrive as a weekly blog post, but it was a pleasant experience to learn about those lives and struggles. I think the times where books like that would sell passed, but we need more soothing content as our lives don't get any easier

A collection of real stories about impactful situations that changed the lives of their owners for the better, some very short and the others ten paragraphs. Beautiful and touching, and the graphics are very splendid. You should not read it all at once, that might bore you, read it on parts, so it is more enjoyable and useful.