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Mind Platter

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Mind Platter  is a compilation of reflections on life as seen through the eyes of an educator, student, and human who experienced her early days in silence. It is written in the words of a woman who came from Lebanon to Canada at the age of 16 and experienced what it was like to have fate push her to a place where she didn't belong. It is written in the voice of every person who has felt unheard, mistreated, misjudged, or unseen. The audiobook contains over 200 reflections on topics we encounter in our everyday love, friendship, hurt, inspiration, respect, motivation, integrity, honesty, and more.  Mind Platter  is not about the words it contains, but what the listener makes of them. May this book give a voice to those who need one, be a crying shoulder for those who yearn for someone to listen, and inspire those who need a reminder of the power they have over their lives.

202 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 16, 2016

About the author

Najwa Zebian

15 books2,070 followers
Najwa Zebian is a Lebanese-Canadian author, speaker, and educator. Her passion for language was evident from a young age, as she delved into Arabic poetry and novels.

The search for a home—what Najwa describes as a place where the soul and heart feel at peace—was central to her early years. When she arrived in Canada at the age of sixteen, she felt unstable and adrift in an unfamiliar place.

Nevertheless, she completed her education, and went on to become a teacher as well as a doctoral candidate in educational leadership. Her first students, a group of young refugees, led her back to her original passion: writing. She began to heal her sixteen-year-old self by writing to heal her students.

Since self-publishing her first collection of poetry and prose in 2016, Najwa has become an inspiration to millions of people worldwide.

Najwa has become a trailblazing voice for women everywhere and was name dropped by the New York Times and CBS News among others.

Drawing on her own experiences of displacement, discrimination, and abuse, Najwa uses her words to encourage others to build a home within themselves; to live, love, and create fearlessly.

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5 stars
2,128 (43%)
4 stars
1,448 (29%)
3 stars
824 (16%)
2 stars
323 (6%)
1 star
164 (3%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 547 reviews
Profile Image for Brandice.
1,089 reviews
July 19, 2020
Mind Platter is a book filled with short expressions. I’m hesitant to call this a book of poems, as I didn’t think of poems as I read them, feeling the words “observations” or “experiences” are more appropriate.

I knew nothing about author, Najwa Zebian, and randomly stumbled upon this great book on a display table at the bookstore. The cover caught my eye, I casually skimmed the collection, and knew I had to have it.

This is a book best digested a few pages at a time, and much like any book in this genre, different pieces will be more relatable to different readers. These pieces touch on a wide range of feelings: happiness, love, truth, clarity, friendship, sadness, choices, and more.

I marked a handful of pages throughout Mind Platter, and the following, which is at the very beginning of the book, was one of my favorites:

To the heart in you, don’t be afraid to feel.
To the sun in you, don’t be afraid to shine.
To the love in you, don’t be afraid to heal.
To the ocean in you, don’t be afraid to rage.
To the silence in you, don’t be afraid to break.”
May 29, 2019
A very short compendium of shortish musings on what life is and how it can get better.

Q:
An Enigmatic Feeling             
Once you feel any kind of feeling once, it lives forever somewhere in your heart. (c)
Q:
The Nature of Life             
Imagine sitting outside in the darkness and silence of a starry night, allowing the soft heavenly breeze of the night to peacefully awaken every cell inside of you. Imagine closing your eyes and just thinking. Imagine thinking and reflecting on where you really are in your life, the purpose of what you are doing, what you want to change, keep, or just stop. Imagine coming to a resolution, changing your intentions, looking at things from a new perspective. It really does make a difference to do that. (c)
Q:
Grow Stronger             
Just as a fire gives rise to new, stronger growth in a forest, every time you burn out, you have a chance to grow even stronger. Just remember to reflect. (c)
Profile Image for Saadia  B..
192 reviews81 followers
April 17, 2021
Mind is powerful. It shapes our lives.

This book, however is not what a platter looks like. There is distortion, disconnection and haphazard as far as the thoughts are concerned. But the effort is nonetheless praise worthy because writing about mind and how it works is one of the most challenging subjects.

I personally feel that a bit more of an effort would have made this book much better than what it is now.

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Profile Image for Beatrice.
1,197 reviews1,713 followers
February 25, 2018
Thank you Andrews McMeel Publishing for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Here's a piece of advice: Read this book. It's a wonderful collection of self-reflective poetry. Majority of the poems were about life lessons. Relatable and truly meaningful. Najwa Zebian is a new to me author and her words are captivating. I shall look forward on her upcoming poetry collection.
Profile Image for Lee.
1,096 reviews33 followers
February 10, 2018
Mind Platter started off strong. It was full of positive entries that were encouraging and uplifting. The poems were filled with different advice about what to do and then part of the way through that all changed.

The poems became repetitive. At one point, I had to make sure I was reading a different poem. Zebian would take the same point and repeat it over and over again in a slightly different way. There were even points that contradicted one another which made some of the points a little unclear or confusing.
Profile Image for Ian M. Pyatt.
397 reviews
May 9, 2022
A re-read in May 2022 and a reduction to 3 stars (perhaps I was to enamored with the first read?). This is not a "real" poetry book, but as listed in my first review, a collection of thoughts on a variety of topics. Some were far to long (taking an entire page), while others would fit nicely on an inspirational poster with a forest, mountain or beach photo in the background.



The "thoughts" give one lots to think about and you can see how/if each story matches your life and if changes in it need to be made for it to be better.
Profile Image for Khyati Gautam.
811 reviews209 followers
July 9, 2018
Mind Platter by Najwa Zebian came to my rescue when I needed it the most. My inquisitive mind got the right answers served in the best possible manner. The book is a compilation of short paragraphs and quotes on a variety of topics which influence our lives and living. They are nuggets of wisdom, the bunches of happiness and full of soul healing properties. Written in a lucid yet beautiful language, these evocative words of the author are amazing. They make you question yourself, they make you reflect upon yourself, they are hard to drop by in your head but trust me, once you embed them in your being, the life would seem happier. 

If you want them to see you shine, stay far away!

For me, this book shall always remain special since it helped me to sail smoothly through a rough patch of my life. My head was plagued with multiple questions, my life was a total mess, I kind of started doubting everything and everyone around me. And then it came to bring me out of the gloominess and provided me with clarity and cognizance. This is a kind of book that inspires and not dictates, it gives you lessons but not sermons. It is way out of the generic books and entirely different from its contemporaries in a way that enhances its effectiveness. It does not contain big paragraphs, hard language, complicated thoughts or ideas which are too difficult to comprehend and assimilate. There are simple pieces tied delicately to present the profound meaning of the world and our existence to us. 

I would recommend this book to everyone who is searching for something certain in the maze of uncertainty, to someone who aspires to achieve clarity, to someone who dreams to live a happy life, to someone who is willing to live and not merely exist! 
Profile Image for Nur Aimuni.
31 reviews
February 7, 2017
I'm so happy I read this book at the very first month of this year. I'm not a fan of self-help books, but this book is amazing. It leaves you with so many thoughts to reflect your life. I'm totally speechless because it contains unspoken words of my heart. Please get a copy, I guarantee you won't regret it! (Price: RM108.90)
Profile Image for Aycan.
222 reviews171 followers
February 1, 2019
      Don't tell me to follow my heart, for following my heart will burn me. Just as a butterfly's aching for light can burn its wings, my heart's aching for happiness might stop it from beating.
    


  Don't ever make a wish and leave it, because it will leave you too. If you can't do anything about it, then start with your heart. Believe that you are worth that wish coming true so that you can be worthy of it.


      Have you ever seen a thirsty ocean? Or air grasping for breath? Has it ever seemed that the sky wanted to stretch out more or that the rainbow wanted more colors? Before you ask for something, look at what you already have. Don’t ask for more than you need. Don’t let your want replace your need, because a day will come when you will lose what you need to get what you want.
    


  Don't break a bird's wings and then tell it to fly. Don't break a heart and then tell it to love. Don't break a soul and then tell it to be happy. Don't see the worst in a person and expect them to see the best in you. Don't judge people and expect them to stand by your side. Don't play with fire and expect to stay perfectly safe. Life is about giving and taking. You cannot expect to give bad and receive good. You cannot expect to give good and receive bad.


      I can show you the moon, but I can't make you feel its beauty or appreciate its light. I can show you the pathways that you can take, but I can't make you walk down them. I can extend my hand to help you, but I can't make you hold it back. I can tell you the truth, but I can't make you believe it. I can tell you how I feel, but I can't make you care.
    


  Once you master yourself, impossible will no longer stand in the way of your dreams.
Profile Image for Gabs.
234 reviews191 followers
June 16, 2021
5/5 ★★★★★

“Giving up is not easy, but holding on is definitely harder.”

Everyone should read this book at some point in their life. It was beautiful! Five well-deserved stars 🥳

Mind Platter left me more than satisfied and with a feeling of fulfillment when finishing it. I wouldn't call it a collection of poems because they feel more like thoughts and reflections, but they are completely worth it.

“Even if what we deserve comes easily, we let it go. Sometimes we don't even notice it because sometimes, no matter how bright the light may be, we don't notice its existence until the darkness comes.”

I wanted to take my time to read this and taste each of the words. It was a very special and even magical reading. I feel like we could all relate to at least some of the fragments... this— this was just perfect.

Highly recommended!
Profile Image for RiRi💌 (catching up).
185 reviews141 followers
January 14, 2024
“Don't point out people's mistakes unless you're willing to tell them how to fix them. Criticism can break the strongest of souls, and advice can build the weakest of spirits. Your words can be healing, or they can be sickening. Let them heal. Let them inspire. Let them be the crying shoulder that your shoulder cannot be.“

WOWW
Profile Image for J.L. Todd.
Author 3 books23 followers
May 8, 2019
*DNF. The format is making it very hard to focus and absorb the poems. Sometimes it feels like she is trying too hard to be deep
Profile Image for The Escapist Reader.
192 reviews13 followers
August 12, 2020
3 out of 5 stars

Originally I hadn't planned to write a review of "Mind Platter", but around the halfway point I took down some notes I'd like to share. First of all, I have certain qualms on whether this is actually considered poetry. When I attempted to ask my sister, who is very knowledgeable when it comes to this genre, about it, I was told that my view of poetry might be rather narrow. That may well be the case, but for my part, I feel like I should point this out. The writing style is more or less a block of often dry prose. The entries in this book read like pieces of advice or affirmations, sort of like in a self-help book. Now, this genre is not exactly my favourite, but this book was quite pleasant and the advice felt genuine and honestly helpful. My second "issue" with the book is that in certain passages, the tone was rather preachy rather than inspirational, but not to the extent of becoming overbearing.
So, there you have it, a short impromptu review of "Mind Platter". Maybe it wasn't for me 100%, but I found it interesting.

Happy reading!
Profile Image for Chanel.
323 reviews19 followers
March 28, 2018
I received this book as an ARC on NetGalley.

I originally requested this title because it was labeled as a collection of poetry. After having read it, though, I feel that calling these pieces daily meditations is much more accurate.

Many of the pieces, themes, and advice align what I am reading in Melody Beattie’s book Journey to the Heart. They are introspective, full of self-inquiry and examination, and inspire self growth. The advice given within some of the pieces corresponds with the teachings of many eastern yogic principles. I appreciated them for these qualities, though they lacked the poetic depth, language, and elements that I look for in poetry.

I would suggest this book as a daily reader; take one piece at a time and fully dive into it. Use each piece as a mirror into the self and see what these pieces can help to uncover.
Profile Image for Yuthika.
597 reviews43 followers
June 12, 2020
I appreciate that this was self-reflective poetry, but it was too full of platitudes for my taste. Reminded me of Coelho, and that was not good. I tried to enjoy it, I really did. But I found myself skimming through, impatiently. Unfortunately, this was not for me. Maybe some other day.
Profile Image for jaclyn p.
12 reviews2 followers
July 4, 2016
i call this book my "pick me up" book. so many great entries! her writing is truly from the heart <3
Profile Image for Sarah.
50 reviews15 followers
November 1, 2016
Love it! Talk about life, not only love or heartbreak.
Profile Image for Joanna Marie.
270 reviews7 followers
November 6, 2016
encouraging and bold. reading someone's perspective of life makes me ponder about how do i really perceive life. and it's a refreshing thought actually.
Profile Image for Guttu.
181 reviews37 followers
June 16, 2020
Actual rating 4.5/5

I took a break of a week from my reading spree to stop and think about what I am going to read next. I have decided to read some romance in next few weeks which will also include books from Chetan bhagat, Durjoy dutta, Cecilia Ahern etc.. To begin with, I picked up a long pending book by Najwa Zebian.

I was impressed with her first book, Nectar of pain, so there were high expectations and boy oh boy.. She delivers. The emotion the you feel when someone feels what you feel and puts it in exactly the right amount of words, not more not less, is delightful. Every chapter in this book is my heart pouring out its feelings for everyone to read. At the end of the book, I felt immense satisfaction and also felt like I have found my soul mate in the form of Najwa.

This is really good book which I feel no one should miss. If you want know and feel what my heart wants to say, read this one.
Profile Image for Prajna Lund.
40 reviews
June 8, 2020
“To the heart in you, don’t be affraid to feel .
To the sun in you , don’t be afraid to shine.
To the love in you , don’t be afraid to heal .
To the ocean in you , don’t be afraid to rage .
To the silence in you, don’t be afraid to break. “
Encouraging and Bold . Beautiful and inspring but little too repetitive . But keeping in mind that this was her first publication i must say she is beyond talented. The book is the guide on art of living .it gives philosophy of improving oneself , developing mental strength and advancing in lifestyle through various principles . The words of author are amazing . They make you question yourself . They make you reflect upon yourself . The author is trying to convey some kind of positivity . It’s like she wanted the readers to feel human again.
When we don’t get what we want we quickly assume that we don’t deserve it or bcz we are not worthy enough to get it . But have you ever thought that it could be because it doesn’t deserve you or because it not worthy of you? The truth is that we always give ourselves less credit than we deserve . Start giving credit to yourself bcz no one will do that for you. And because at the end of the day , no one will walk your journey for you . You have to do that .
At the end of the day , no one will dream for you , you have to do that .
I must say Najwa zebian is a living proof that no matter what a person goes through you can rise and shine higher and higher . I am very thankful for the positivity energy that comes out of it .
Profile Image for 雲 天山.
313 reviews16 followers
November 23, 2016
I have a mixed feeling about this. While I really like this book at some points, I also found a lot of cons to consider.
Pros:
1. I'm quite new to the outline: one page per chapter for one topic in a quite short paragraph. I like it. It's creative.
2. I can relate to some of the topics very well.
3. I love the positivity that the author tried to convey. It's like she wanted the readers to feel human again.

Cons:
1. Well, while some topics are very clear and easy to understand, there are others that are too vague and very difficult to relate to.
2. One topic per page is very not convenient when each page can talk about a completely opposite thing than the previous or the next. It's like, you hardly got one idea sinked in but then you were to move on to another whole new idea.
3. The author has a tendency to be repetitive. It kinda turned me off when she said the same exact thing just several pages apart! It's the very same thing, written in the same exact way, word by word. The only difference was only the title. I don't need repetition, especially not in that way! It's such a shame that they're actually beautiful words.
4. This repetitive style also happens in sentence level. I could see the author is quite fond of using a word or a phrase in one sentence and repeat it again in the next. For instance, the forbidding "Don't", the questioning "Have you" or "Would you", "sometimes" this "sometimes" that, "do" this "do" this that, I "choose" this I "choose" that, etc.
5. Some topics gave off a very contradictory feeling to others. The author might suggest one particular thing for us to do and gave advice to do its complete opposite several pages later. Some other topics gave off the "easier said than done" feeling. To swallow them whole was out of question for me.

Conclusion:
I don't hate this book. I can't hate this book. I am very thankful for all the positive energy that comes out of it and the creativity it's wrapped up with. But there are several things that hinder me to like this book wholly and I hope it's understandable.
Profile Image for eng.soleen Masood.
102 reviews25 followers
August 6, 2017
One of the most amazing books that I ever read.. And I was in need to read such a book now .Helped me very much to heal a little in somethings.Full of positive, hope, love,peace humanity,and everything good ,I love how she talked about loving yourself and I started to apply some new rules to care about myself .
In love with Najwa Zebian and her personality
Profile Image for Mai Mohamed.
Author 1 book287 followers
July 27, 2022
الغلاف مش لطيف اوي
مقدرتش اكمله للاسف، محستش أنه شعر خالص هو مجرد خواطر، من وجهة نظري كلام انشاء فيه نبرة وعظ وضحية محبتهوش خالص للاسف 🙏
اعتقد مش هقرأ ل نجوى تاني مع اني كنت متحمسه جدا لكتابتها 😔
Profile Image for Eva Luna.
314 reviews25 followers
August 21, 2016
This book is so powerful, empowering... The author remainders me, Kahlil Gibran (The prophet; which is my favorite book ever)... Anyways, this author writes in a similar style... you aren't reading a classic poem, but its content tells you otherwise.

However, this is one of those book that you read one page daily and have to analyze what you're reading, because the author makes you question about everything! About your deepest secrets, fears, feelings, thoughts, even your own point of view.

Ones of my favorites is titled: It's not you. So here it's:

  - It's not you

When you don't get what you want, you quickly assume that it's because you don't deserve it or because you are not worthy enough to get it. But have you ever thought that it could be because it doesn't deserve you or because it is not worthy of you? The truth is that we always give ourselves less credit than we deserve. And sometimes, many times, we live in denial of what we really deserve, so we settle for what is less. There is a power much higher than us, much wiser than us, that is willing to crush our feelings sometimes so it can open our eyes to the strength that we have inside and to the reality of what we truly deserve.


"Mind Platter - Najwa Zebian"
Profile Image for TJ.
143 reviews3 followers
May 22, 2019
I picked this up as a sort of a pick-me-up during the most difficult moment in my life. While there are gems to be found here, most of the passages felt redundant, if not contradictory. In one passage, the author expresses that silence isn’t a language and then about 20 or so pages later she states that silence is a universal language.
The format is a little off-putting. It would have been helpful if there were different sections. I think with self-help being the sole topic of this book, dividing the book into sections would have been inconsequential.
Also, I feel like the book didn’t go through the normal editing process. While there were some wisdom in this book, when I got towards the end I couldn’t help but feel like I’ve already read that particular text earlier in the book.
The author did impart some very beautiful thoughts, but for the most part I did feel like she paraphrased some teachings and words from philosophers/famous people.
In all, I was mesmerized with the first 50 pages. After that, it felt like an effort to finish this book.
Profile Image for Pooja  Banga.
823 reviews93 followers
December 14, 2018
This book was totally inspirational .
It is very easy to read and understand this piece of work.
If you consider yourself a considerate person who has been wronged by others, then, trust me, there are people just like you. You just are not seeing them, and that makes you just like those who are hurting you. You have negative people in your life? People who praise those who make them feel like garbage and then make you feel like garbage? People who refuse to support you when you need it most? So tell me this, why are you keeping them in your life? There comes a point when you need to eliminate some people from your life, not because you don't believe in their goodness or because you don't think that there is a chance for them to change, but because they do not appreciate you to begin with, and they never did.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 547 reviews

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