Operation Troy: The Reinvention of You by Christina Namakorn

Whether you’re lost and desperate or comfortably on track in life, anyone can enjoy “reinvention,” as described in Operation Troy: The Reinvention of You, an enthusiastic self-help manual by Australian author and professional mentor, Christina Namakorn.

Using the language of war (Troy, ammunition, mission) is purposeful for Namakorn, who states: we may all sometimes find ourselves at war with ourselves, and are all potential leaders and soldiers in that battle. There are four stages of reinvention: Acceptance, Forgiveness, Improvement, and Enjoyment.

The author suggests missions to accomplish reinvention: Alpha (Me-time), Beta (exploring topics of personal interest), Gamma (examining beliefs), Delta (personal wishes), Epsilon (admitting your own truth), Digamma (acknowledging/changing habits), Zeta (measuring progress) and Eta (finding purpose). Elements for success in these missions include nutrition, exercise, and positive habits like meditation and yoga.

Namakorn’s writing style is engagingly upbeat, and there is true value to her bullet-pointed plans for personal improvement, which are well-defined and easy to follow. However, there are some deficits in the overall organization. Nearly fifty percent of this short guide comprises planning sheets and blank pages, all set up for readers’ notes, whereas passages with substantive advice might have served her purpose better.

That said, the content she does provide is detailed and useful – there should just be more of it. Given Namakorn’s spirited eagerness to help, which balances the military theme well, Operation Troy should light a fire even for those who might be reluctant to get started with a self-help regimen.