Book: 52 Small Changes: One Year to a Happier, Healthier You

Author: Brett Blumenthal

This book is a book of action making a person work on creating a happier life for themselves in a daily way.  The author, Brett Blumenthal wanted to write book that was other than diet and exercise and provide her readers with a way to create healthy and manageable life.  I greatly enjoyed this book as it helped me each day of the year and it gave me something I needed to do on a daily basis.  I would say this book is great New Year’s resolution book to start with or starting anew and changing one’s life at any time of the year.  Blumenthal’s three basic rules of her 52 week plan is:

1.      “One Big Change Takes Many Small Changes

2.      Extremes Don’t Work

3.      Small Changes Feed Our Need to Succeed.” Blumenthal, 52 Small Changes.

I read this book several years ago and I found it to be absolutely amazing and inspirational.  This book was exactly what I needed at that time.  This book merges several different ideals such as psychology, biology along with quantum physics, eastern and western philosophies.  All of the life lessons helped me out heavily and made me think about my life more including my relationships with my family, friends, my work friends, and myself.  This book helped to improve my moods and made my days brighter and more enjoyable.  The author didn’t approach these principles like other self-help writers and gurus.  She approached these principles in a raw and straight to the point method.  The author also used common sense practices such as, “not taking advice from people who don’t have careers, or relationship advice from people who don’t have relationships.” However, I don’t agree with what she said as there are some people who can “teach better than they can do.” I believe there are exceptions to some of these things and depends on the circumstances and backgrounds.  The book is inexpensive and it was a quick read. I liked the graphics in the book and it was enjoyable to read.  I know these days self-help books get a bad rap but there are some great self-help books out there such as this book.  I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a little guidance in their lives and have a desire to learn and grow.  This book changed the way I saw things and has provided me with a much brighter future.

Reference:  http://www.amazon.com/How-Happy-Dammit-Spiritual-Happiness/dp/1587611198/ref=cm_cr-mr-title

Book: How to Win Friends & Influence People - The First and Still the Best - Book of Its Kind-To Lead You to Success

Author: Dale Carnegie

Link:  http://www.amazon.com/How-Win-Friends-Influence-People/dp/0671027034/

Read more about Book: How to Win Friends & Influence People

Hurry Less, Worry Less at Christmastime: Having the Holiday Season You Long For by Judy Christie is one the most popular self-help holidays books around and it is the perfect book to give as a gift for the holidays.  This book focuses on helping busy people to learn how to celebrate the holidays more joyfully and peacefully during the holiday season, especially between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day.  This includes the Christian celebrations of Epiphany.  The author provided a plethora of ideas on how to best celebrate the holiday season and reduce overall stress levels. I learned that we should be more peaceful and grasp overall thankfulness.  A thankful attitude and outlook is the best way to go.  This type of attitude is contagious and will transfer to others easily.  If you're no longer panicking, anxiety-filled, stressed out and instead more at peace then many others will take that on too and use it in their own lives. 

In my family we do not stress out about the holidays and have limited the amount of time spend on shopping for gifts.  For most gifts we will instead choose gift cards as a gift for close friends to their favorite stores.  We don't send out Christmas cards anymore and we don't receive them much anymore except from family.  Instead we call and talk with family and close friends and that has a deeper meaning than the card.   I would recommend this book to others in search for finding their own personal joy and peace during the holiday season.