How to Get a Life, Vol. 1: Empowering Wisdom for the Heart and Soul

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Summary: Simplified wisdom for everyone
Review: "How to Get a Life" is a simple format with a powerful message: anyone can have a life. Each individual chapter is presented by a different contributor and expresses the life views and philosophies of some of the most famous, wise and fascinating people in history. I especially enjoyed the pieces on Joseph Campbell, Oprah Winfrey and Leo Buscaglia. Although not a history lesson, I learned more than I ever knew about Confucious and the Dalai Lama. This would make a wonderful gift for anyone, but especially a friend, relative or co-worker at a crossroads in their life. I found it stimulating, motivating and thought-provoking and am recommending the book to everyone.

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Summary: How eminent men and women achieved
Review: A few years ago, Dan McBrayer and I were sitting in his office, discussing a project on which we might collaborate. During our conversation, both of us admitted to a deep and abiding love of books. We shared a penchant for biographies, books that addressed spirituality, and those that offered authentic advice on living (often called "self-help"). Our first impulse was to collaborate on a biography, but we eventually concluded that a biography might be too long and dry. We were more interested in drawing out lessons from a life than elaborating upon the details of childhood. Rather than recounting a life's worth of circumstances and events, we decided that it would be far more interesting to try to determine how greatness was achieved. If the attitudes and habits that enabled great achievements could be identified, then perhaps others could decide to adopt similar dispositions in the pursuit of their goals.
Secondly, we wondered if some common traits for greatness could be found among an eclectic assortment of persons-both famous and relatively obscure. For a moment, we considered adopting a "How to Get a Life for Dummies" approach, but we rejected that tact because we decided it could be construed by some readers as condescending. Emerson, who wrote that "God is in every man [and woman]," certainly would not condone calling the "divine human being" a dummy.
To insure accuracy and authenticity, we asked experts and biographers to write about individuals whose work and lives they knew intimately. In addition to providing a concise biographical sketch, writers were asked to address the "between the lines" issues of beliefs and thoughts. In short, we asked writers to interpret the lives of eminent individuals in plain language, while adhering to a strict code of authenticity and accuracy that could withstand the scrutiny of the most draconian scholar. We wanted chapters that possessed the veracity of a biography, but also shared some practical features of a good self-help book.
Our conversations led to subsequent years of work and the birth of How to Get a Life. How to Get a Life: Empowering Wisdom for the Heart and Soul features chapters on Mother Teresa, Buddha, Jesus, the Dalai Lama and eleven other eminent individuals. The book is fascinating, unique, and offers a wealth of insight on the art of living.

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Summary: Great book
Review: As a teacher of adolescents, I read this book in order to give my students wisdom. I soon realized that I wished that I had read this book when I was younger. It is a wonderful compilations of information about how some of the greatest people have lived their lives and ways that we can learn from the best. This is a great book for learners of all ages. I was so excited about the book that I suggested it for "book club". They loved it. It was interesting that all of us got something different from the book. Thank you Baines and McBrayer.

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Summary: Inspiration for every day life
Review: How great to read a book that is about the inspiring instead of the infamous. The people choosen are from all walks of life, thus there is someone whose life will empower each one of us to 'get a life'.

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Summary: Inspiration for every day life
Review: How great to read a book that is about the inspiring instead of the infamous. The people choosen are from all walks of life, thus there is someone whose life will empower each one of us to 'get a life'.

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Summary: Great Read!
Review: How To Get A Life is a great read! Each of the 15 chapters provides thought-provoking words of wisdom from some pretty awe-inspiring people. It includes inspiration from some of the leaders of the world's greatest religions and guidance from people who have overcome adversity. It provides biographical information on each person and a synopsis of what their advice might be "When the Road Is Smooth," "When the Road Gets Rocky," and "When You Encounter a Dragon in the Middle of the Road." At the end of each chapter there is a place for "Notes," which I used to help reinforce the wisdom I gleaned from that person. Inspiration and motivation are central to these 15 life stories.

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Summary: "How To Get A Life"
Review: I found "How To Get A Life" to be informative as well as interesting. Being written by so many authors gives a unique insight and perspective on the philosophies of these renowed figures from ancient times to the present. I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in getting a life or improving the one they already have.

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Summary: Great book
Review: I really enjoyed reading this book. The 15 essays had great messages that can be applied to your own life. I'm looking forward to the second round of books! Thanks Dr. McBrayer :)!

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Summary: Review of How to Get a Life
Review: This book is great. I liked the format. Each chapter provides insight into the thinking of a person who is a survior or a doer, or both! The life stories of Joseph Campbell, Jane Goodall, Mother Teresa, and many others, some famous-some not, was fascinating. But even more interesting was seeing the will of others in overcoming life's struggles. I have encountered a few "dragons in the middle of the road" of life. While each is a trial, the experience makes one a richer person. As a social worker, I will refer clients to this book.

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Summary: A really great read
Review: This book was a great book for anyone who wants to live a more fulfilling and self-guided life. The articles were a great way to take advice from all different kinds of people who did great things. I couldn't stop highligting!