A Short Guide to a Happy Life
by Anna Quindlen
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Book Reviews of A Short Guide to a Happy Life
Book Review: An Ode to Life
Summary: 4 Stars
Anna Quindlen's book reads like a poem. It is fluid and sweet and beautiful to look at. You can read it aloud, and over and over, carry it everywhere, and dream between pages of people and places that you love and have loved. It is a little Ode to Life, reminding us of the beauty that surrounds us and inviting us to learn to appreciate it, celebrate it, and share it, in each moment of now.There is another book dealing with the theme of "living in the moment" that has touched me very much called Working on Yourself Doesn't Work by Ariel and Shya Kane. If you are interested in learning, as Ms. Quindlen says, "to love the journey, not the destination" check out the Kane's book also. It has introduced me to the concept of living in the moment, and it may have some keys for you too.
Book Review: OK, but read her essay collections first
Summary: 3 Stars
This seems like a quick effort to sell another book by Anna Quindlen ... and a worthy try. But if you want vintage Quindlen, read her essay collections. This smacks of quick-fix, self help stuff, and makes the reader feel cheated. Reading this one, I feel is if I've been sent on the same tour downriver with the rest of the light-weight gift-book readers out there ... I am disappointed to think Anna would try to sell me a little more snake oil from the proverbial New Age bandwagon ... This is OK -- but -- there are other, deeper things to pick up if you want to know the real secrets of a happy life. Too bad it's not really this simple. If you're still into old Quindlen stuff, and haven't managed to find something new, this might be OK with you. But maybe it's time to move on...Book Review: A Short Guide to Getting Shortchanged
Summary: 1 Stars
If you've read Ms. Quindlen's columns, heard her speak, or know of her boilerplate commencement address, this booklet is not worth the money. While I've often enjoyed and admired her writing, and did hear her speak in college, this item is a real disappointment. I made the mistake of buying it impulsively at the checkout counter, and feel foolish for having done so. She's attained a status as someone who is trustworthy, and wouldn't necessarily stoop to a cheap marketing ploy to cash in on something like this "guide." It's a two minute read, spread out over a deceptively thicker booklet, with a lot of silly b/w photos unrelated to the work. Mea culpa for succumbing to the counter display, and I can't blame anyone for making a buck, but it won't happen again.Book Review: A Short Guide to Getting Shortchanged
Summary: 1 Stars
If you've read Ms. Quindlen's columns, heard her speak, or know of her boilerplate commencement address, this booklet is not worth the money. While I've often enjoyed and admired her writing, and did hear her speak in college, this item is a real disappointment. I made the mistake of buying it impulsively at the checkout counter, and feel foolish for having done so. She's attained a status as someone who is trustworthy, and wouldn't necessarily stoop to a cheap marketing ploy to cash in on something like this "guide." It's a two minute read, spread out over a deceptively thicker booklet, with a lot of silly b/w photos unrelated to the work. Mea culpa for succumbing to the counter display, and I can't blame anyone for making a buck, but it won't happen again.Book Review: A little treasure, filled with the wisdom of life!
Summary: 4 Stars
This little book of Anne Quindlen's is just so full of life wisdom that it can for sure help one think about life and death, and to think about how to live one's life to the fullest.You may not be able to get anything from this book if you just read through it in a couple of minutes (which I believe you really can) and then put it down forever. But if you try to slow down and savour the book bit by bit, and most important of all, stop and *think* what the author really wants to bring out through her sharing with us her own experience, then, I am sure your reading of this book will be very rewarding.
The only thing that keeps me from giving this book 5 stars is that I find this little book really a bit too little. If only she can write a bit more for us...