The Book
The End is the Beginning…
Yes! At the end of an eventful journey, Play the Rules has now come to life also as a published book.
Now here is a little glimpse into what might expect you.
What has been said by people who read it?
Truly different…
Midwest Book Review - Reviewer's choice as book featured in the March 2021 issue of the California Bookwatch
...not only astute, but hard-hitting and funny, all at once…
...a lively read that offers comic relief and concrete observations about the process of gaining more empowerment in life.
A great book, with more wise words than I have read for a long time.
NetGallery
I found it magical, uplifting, and an antidote to fear...
...combines humor and interesting personal stories with motivating self-help ideas that are aimed at shaking up the stereotypes [of living] that are so common most people never question them.
Union Square Review
…a wild ride filled with personal stories, thoughts & ideas of famous thinkers & doers all mingled with some good all fashioned motivational self-help and a lot of humor. Reading this out-of-the-ordinary self-help book will make you question how you are approaching life and its many decisions and obstacles.
Daniela
...feeling inspired and rejuvenated by it
ReadToWrite
…filled with rules that break rules we are conditioned to follow and gives us a counterintuitive approach to things, which you will definitely find relatable and familiar!
…an amazing personal development book
LifeWithDrea
…has a unique perspective
…geared toward empowering yourself, to be daring, get out of your comfort zone and get rid of the negative self talk. Being able to relate to her self-anecdotes really connects you to the author and you are able to absorb all the lessons she has to share and apply them to where they are best suited in your life.
...a book to maybe spark your motivation or give you that little extra push to make your dreams a reality.
StrandedInChaos
...the common sense kick in the butt you need to start moving forward to where you want to be in life.
...uses her own experiences and human to help break down certain stereotypes that we are so used to living by that we don't even question them
WhyGirlsAreWeird
…If you're not into self-help books, this may be the book for you...
…an excellent book to help get you to defeat yourself to become the person you want to be!
CourtneysBookStop
The person who doesn’t let fear get in the way of their dreams, or unplanned events to ruin your day.
Through personal anecdotes and pulled-out, pointed tidbits, Dr. Armillotta empowers readers to stop doubting themselves...
A unique self-help book that put a smile on my face...
ABookwormWithWine
…a great reminder of how you can be a better human and feel confident in yourself and your abilities.
I love your sense of humor and your attitude, and I'm feeling very inspired to take control of my life by not trying to take control of it anymore!
Megan, Editor in Chief, from Turn The Page
Each of those sections is indicative of the upbeat, playful vibe of the book, and each carries the message that this will be no ordinary journey for the reader.
Play the Rules: The Book
Advocating a counter-intuitive approach to life and true to its daring nature, Play the Rules shall deliver on its promise and define its own category by offering a powerful mix between the semi-autobiographical, humor, and provocative genres.
This is a modern success story—an antidote to conventional fairy tales!
Standing by what I preach, this book provides the ultimate tips and tricks from a lawyer (myself—indeed defying the stereotype by example!) who got bored with just playing by the book and decided to write one instead.
My ultimate goal? To reach those who are looking for inspiration to dare to live (not just think) outside the box, and to chase after their dreams!
Now, the very 1st book of the Magic 3 trilogy is live.
And it is dedicated to You:
1 - Be Empowered.
And the other 2 books are in the making… Their pledges for You are:
2 - Be Whole.
3 - Be Free.
Why a Trilogy?
Well, the Magic 3 represent each a key step towards breaking free. And be (not just think!) outside the box.
I call these 3 steps Enchantments, as each shall break the “spell” cast upon us by our society, in different ways.
These 3 Enchantments frame our Trilogy. They are the building blocks of the very Play the Rules' epitome.
1 - Empowerment
P, As in: Play Your Own Rules.
Be Empowered.
This 1st Enchantment highlights our constant polarization between faith and fear. And it maps a way out applied to very practical, down-to-earth situations in our modern life.
2 - Connection
T, As in: Take A Breath.
Be Whole.
This 2nd Enchantment shows that none of us can exist in isolation. And it portrays the lifting effect of finding the "magic thread" tying us all together within the canvas of our lives.
3 - Freedom
R, As in: Reassess Your Choices.
Be Free.
This 3rd Enchantment underlines the liberating power of embracing our originality. It shows us that between any two given options… We shall pick our own (often unspoken!) “third” one - The one nobody ever “suggests” to us.
So, here you go:
P T R = Play the Rules!
What is the new "playing" element here?
You might be asking yourself: Aren’t there already enough self-help books out there?
Exactly. In fact, there are way too many!
But most seem to come prepackaged with the invariable “preaching” tone, occasionally bordering to condescension. As if the author would speak down to its readers from a “higher pulpit” of self-declared enlightenment - Invariably, after making it through the usual struggle of ordeals before.
The result are books that are either way too “serious” or too “spiritual”, or both. So either hard to digest or to comprehend all together. They call upon the "unconditional faith" of a devotee, rather than the logic or natural intuition of more inquisitive minds...
And that's where the eye roll invariably comes unbidden... Sorry.
How to pick the ONE for you?
So here you go. You need to wait no more…
Play the Rules is the self-help book for people who hate self-help books.
Of course, nobody is reinventing the wheel here.
Have you noticed how our greatest "epiphanies" are often the most obvious and self-explanatory realisations? That is exactly why they are so powerful. Because they resonate with us to a deeper, primordial level. These "truths" are inside us all along. But we may only "see" them clearly, when somebody happen to turn the right switcher on... Duh!
But the "devil lies in the details"... And what marks this blog, and the upcoming book, as most distinctive is that it is vowed to be:
- Inspirational, but pragmatic: No transcendent mumbo jumbo or “high pulpit” approach, I promise! In fact, in the first place, the self-therapeutic benefits have been while writing for me, being compelled to put my own messy thoughts in order… And I am not particularly more clever now than I was before! Just more outspoken about the same, occasionally outrageous thoughts...
- Provocative and humorous: The irony will not be lost on you. Because this is a book written by a lawyer who got tired of “playing by the book” and decided to write one instead… Walking my talk indeed - And breaking the stereotypes by example!
- Not what you would expect: the book’s mission is to challenge the “invisible” rules, the norms and patterns that we follow in our every-day life, conditioning our behaviour, without us even noticing it… It shall unveil the “unspoken” choices that are unfolding in our day-to-day lives.
But please, do not just take my word for it… You should always make up your own mind.
The self-help book for people who hate self-help books.
The only question now is: Are you ready to be surprised?
Expect the Unexpected.
This will be no ordinary story.
Because you are no ordinary reader.
You are in the Play the Rules Club!
The title itself unveils an intended a pun.
You could see it as meaning "Play _by_ the Rule" - by mentally filling the "gap", as well as its exact opposite, by reading in between the lines.
Both interpretations can be valid ones, just depending on the viewpoint.
And who says there must be "one" truth anyway?
The unconventional choice of words in "Play the Rules" is no hazard, but intended to stay "open".
It is a "playful provocation" to our fixation with "unmovable beliefs".
Change is much more promising after all!
And you can let your own interpretation evolve with you.
By putting some of the most common stereotypes (mercilessly!) to the test, Play the Rules will shed light upon the unseen alternatives in the choices we are facing every day – the “third” option nobody talks about, whenever presented with an equation.
In Play the Rules, the end-game is to reach those who are looking for inspiration to dare living (not just thinking) outside the box – And then go chase their dreams. Hands on!
With Play the Rules, you will get a no-nonsense, humorous glimpse into our everyday messy lives, always full or surprises, where the only constant is the unexpected.
Are you now ready to embark on your journey?
My role?
By outlining the 33 next “playing rules” - shamelessly aimed at shaking up our most common and unquestioned stereotypes, I will expose an arsenal of fun, autobiographical anecdotes.
Because these are not "just made-up stories". These are all episodes of "real-life", personally cherry-picked from my own most revealing encounters and “urban adventures” - Somewhere in between business travels and pure enjoyment...
What’s in it for you?
Well, each new turn (of page and of life!) offers a unique chance to stop, rethink your next move... And reinvent yourself.
Because each story directly calls upon the often unaccounted for "player" within you: The rightful "Champion", your "true self", awaiting to rise - And take back the pilot seat of your life.
Here the Champion is not the usual, annoyingly perfect character, endowed with unattainable superpowers.
The Champion is one's own "faulty" alter-ego…
Except that one day, upon waking up, she/he decided it was time to kick some asses - Lol.
So, may the daring "rule player" inside you awake!
Step in - Write your own story.
This is your chance.
Keep up!
Wanna be first to know when the next book of the Play the Rules' Trilogy is launched?
Consider it done already!
It will only be my pleasure to give you the "VIP treatment".
You shall get tipped off the moment it happens.
Keep up - Be in the Team.
