Product Description

"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.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #25624 in Books
• Published on: 2000-10-31
• Released on: 2000-10-31
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 64 pages

Amazon.com
"I'm not particularly qualified by profession or education to give advice and counsel," confesses author Anna Quindlen, as she begins this tender little instruction book. "It's widely known in a small circle that I make a mean tomato sauce, and I know many inventive ways to hold a baby while nursing, although I haven't had the opportunity to use any of them in years."

It is precisely this commonplace form of wisdom that make readers trust and respect Quindlen. She uses her candid, heart-to-heart narrative voice along with her novel-writer descriptive skills to show readers how good we have it: "Life is made up of moments, small pieces of mica in a long stretch of glittering gray cement." Later she urges readers to "Look at the fuzz on a baby's ear. Read in the backyard with the sun on your face." The format smacks of "gift book," with an abundance of pleasing, artsy photographs. Don't be ashamed to fall for the packaging, though. This is one of those books that could remain in the living room for years or in the family for generations. --Gail Hudson

From Booklist
The beloved Newsweek columnist on how to get a life. Little as well as short. Ray Olson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Download Description
In this unusual and beautiful book, Anna Quindlen reflects on what it takes to "get a life" -- to live deeply and uniquely, rather than to exist through our 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...". Quindlen's mother died when Anna was 19, and Quindlen says her life divided, then, in half -- into Before, and After; and in this book she offers a vision of how she began to live After. "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? Beautifully designed, with evocative photographs, "A Short Guide to a Happy Life" offers guidance on how to live with awareness, and the vitality that comes from knowing how to look at the view.

Customer Reviews

"Show up. Listen. Try to Laugh."
Wow- Anna Quindlen's book "A Short Guide to a Happy Life" is a revelation. This small book may offer the appearance of brevity, but when it comes to wisdom and applicable life-altering perspectives, Ms. Quindlen offers an approach to life that is abundant with possibilities for hope and happiness. I have long been a fan of her fictional work, particularly her novels "Blessings", Black and Blue (Oprah's Book Club)" and "One True Thing: A Novel", in addition to her insightful articles in The New York Times. However, in this brief- yet abundantly wise reflection- she is able to document her quest for attaining a peaceful, enlightened existence.

Quindlen's life abruptly shifted when her mom died during her freshman year of college. Subsequently, she spent many of her formative adult years looking for a deeper meaning to her life. She spends a good portion of the book examining popular misconceptions about how to achieve a fulfilling, happy life. She questions which of our life experiences we will prioritize when we are faced with our own mortality. When that last day, last hour, last minute beckons will you be able to reflect upon a life has been busy with meaningful, enriching experiences- or a life that has simply been `busy'? Quindlen derives a simple, yet very applicable philosophy that has helped her attain an enlightened life: "Show up. Listen. Try to laugh."

Two of my favorite authors, Ariel and Shya Kane, also offer inspiring, magical examples of how to live a fulfilling, happy life in their book "Being Here: Modern Day Tales of Enlightenment." The Kanes write about how the art of listening and showing up for your life by simply becoming engaged in the `current moment of now' can transform the qualitative experience your life- in an instant. In one of my favorite passages, Ariel and Shya are working with one of their clients in a weekly workshop that they facilitate in New York City on Monday Nights. (btw- if you find yourself in NY- check it out at www.ask-inc.com - these workshops are truly life altering!) Their client, Sarah, talks about how she always finds herself in a stage of "upset" in her life. The Kanes suggest that when you find yourself complaining about life, awash in a pity party for one- pretend that you are driving a car down a one way street, apply the brakes and back out of it! There is no need to indulge, justify or rehash your misery- just put your foot on the brake of unhappiness and drive down an alternative road! It sounds simple. It sounds easy. It is. It just takes brakes and the willingness to travel down an alternative pathway.

After reading the inspirational ideas set forth by both Quindlen and the Kanes, I can see that living a magical, transformational life is both accessible and easy! All it takes is being open to the possibilities.

A GREAT graduation gift
I highly recommend this book as a graduation gift, wedding gift, and as a gift to new mothers! I love it! Every now & then I get it off the shelf and read it ALOUD to myself...it is much more powerful when read aloud. Anna Qundlen's words of wisdom put everything in perspective and get me back on track to being the mother, wife, and friend I want to be, but often lose sight of in my hectic life. It is a quick read and very inspirational.

A Simple Reminder of the Magic of Life
Anna Quindlen's charming and engaging little book is a refreshing reminder that life is short, magical and that every moment matters. In a direct and elegant way, Quindlen shares the lessons she learned during and after her mother's death. These lessons focus on embracing your life and not taking it for granted whether you're in one moment enjoying spring flowers or being of service to another human being. I was really touched by the author's honest and humble sentiment throughout the book; Quindlen manages to bypass the drama and darkness of the experience of her mother's death and offer up the richness of what she experienced as a result. Reading it felt like receiving a sweet gift from a friend.

Another book that shares profound life lessons with a similar sense of sincerity and sweetness is Being Here: Modern Day Tales of Enlightenment, by Ariel & Shya Kane. Through incredible stories and examples from real life, the Kanes share what they have discovered on their 20+ year journey as a couple about how to have life be richer and more fulfilling than you ever imagined. If you want to feel inspired, refreshed and enlivened (rather than 'worked on' or preached to), pick up both of these books and treat yourself to a truly delightful experience.