A Short Guide to a Happy Life 
Anna Quindlen

Our Price: $11.50 Readers' Advantage Price: $10.93 Join Now Available for download   Format: RocketEdition ISBN: 0375506470 Publisher: Random House, Incorporated sales rank: 6,042 Other Formats: Hardcover, Glassbook

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ABOUT THIS ITEM

 From Our Editors
In this treasure of a book, Anna Quindlen, the bestselling novelist and columnist, reflects on what it takes to "get a life" -- to live deeply, true to yourself, every day.

Synopsis
In this unusual and beautiful book, Quindlen reflects on what it takes to "get a life"--to live deeply and uniquely rather than to merely get through our days. Beautifully designed with evocative photos, the handbook offers guidance on how to live with awareness. 25 photos.

From the Publisher
"Life is made of moments, small pieces of silver amidst long stretches of tedium. It would be wonderful if they came to us unsummoned, but particularly in lives as busy as the ones most of us lead now, that won't happen. We have to teach ourselves now to live, really live...to love the journey, not the destination."

In this treasure of a book, Anna Quindlen, the bestselling novelist and columnist, reflects on what it takes to "get a life"—to live deeply every day and from your own unique self, rather than merely to exist through your days. "Knowledge of our own mortality is the greatest gift God ever gives us," Quindlen writes, "because unless you know the clock is ticking, it is so easy to waste our days, our lives." Her mother died when Quindlen was nineteen: "It was the dividing line between seeing the world in black and white, and in Technicolor. The lights came on for the darkest possible reason....I learned something enduring, in a very short period of time, about life. And that was that it was glorious, and that you had no business taking it for granted." But how to live from that perspective, to fully engage in our days? In A Short Guide to a Happy Life, Quindlen guides us with an understanding that comes from knowing how to see the view, the richness in living.

What People Are Saying
This tiny Random House book was my favorite gift to give at Christmas. It is just wonderful and must be read by all the victims and paranoids on our list, as well as by those who are just down and despairing when the holidays roll around. —Liz Smith

 CUSTOMER REVIEWS - An Open Forum
Number of Reviews: 13    Average Rating:

Carol, a mother from San Diego, April 26, 2001,
Dissapointing
I like Anna Quindlen, but this book was dissapointing. I can't imagine why it's been successful other than brilliant marketing and the author's good name. Perhaps I just expected too much, but there is not much more to this little book than 'you should get a life, and appreciate it.' Over half the pages are taken up by unoriginal stock photos. If you want a little book filled with truly thought-provoking advice on living a happy life, I highly recommend 'Open Your Mind, Open Your Life' by Taro Gold.

Carmichael, a genius from Pittsburgh, February 9, 2001,
Uh....
Well, can't say I was very impressed with this book. 'Short' is perhaps the best description of it because it's short on a lot of things-- especially depth. We all know that we should try to live life to the fullest-- is this supposed to be some great secret? If you are looking for some esoteric truth, some forgotten secret, some unravelling of a great mystery, look elsewhere.

Also recommended: Castle of Wisdom gets much closer to the heart of the meaning of all things and the purpose of living.

Jeffery Davis, January 17, 2001,
Let's try again Anna!
No doubt Anna Quindlen is a gifted writer. I am one of her fans. I have enjoyed all of her writings, but... you'll be dissapointed. Quindlen gives us a nice few pages of some anecdotal mush that falls short of what you'd expect from her. I suppose my expectations were too high. Because of the size of the little book I thought it would a gem but after I finished it I was sort of dissillusioned. There is nothing there. I could have done better but, hey, I wouldn't have gotten to first base. Why you ask? Because I'm not a bestselling author. Just watch Ophra. Jeffery Davis

PJ Aklues (Aklues@yahoo.com), December 19, 2000,
Short but Happy
Simple, yet provocative. A book doesnt have to be 300 pages to make a difference. I enjoyed the common sense ideas that remind me to enjoy life to the fullest.

Also recommended: The RoMANtic's Guide - simple, yet creative ideas that will keep the bliss in your relationship.

A reviewer, avid reader, December 5, 2000,
Titled well!
Anna is ofering us a secret. It is a little secret but the most important one we can learn in this world. Mother Terresa knew and practiced the secret better than anyone.

Also recommended: THE SECOND COMING OF AGE by: Curtiss De Vedrine is also and maybe more so a book about secrets. Required reading for every human.

Read all 13 customer reviews about this title

FROM THE BOOK

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