Maxim Books

I saw the book Denial Is Not A River In Egypt years ago but I didn't even pick the book up. The title stuck in my head, heh I told my self if I ever saw it again I'd read the book. has a lot of slogans in the book that I've heared,But here they are in print. I'll read it again many times over.

At least that's what I tell myself. Granted, that may all be denial (not to be confused with da river in Egypt). Dis book has helped me to see da humor in life. You'd think that da author, Sandi Bachom, is the queen of de Nile, but that would make her Cleopatra. Instead, she is de master (or would that be da mistress?) of de quip, de witty remark, da funny comment--all of which I have found helpful in overcoming anxiety, anger, and depression. Humor is da best medicine for some many things; if only we could teach everybody such eternal truths.

I absolutely love this book. I keep it in my car to help remember to laugh when I am in traffic. It helps to keep me real and remember that I do not have power over people, places and situations.

This is good for people with "Short Attention Span" disorders. But, I'm probably missing the point. That's probably what it's for. I can't quite dis the quotes and don't want to, but it's frothy, kids. And yet, maybe frothy, light and somewhat easy reader-ish is what you desire. After all, they can't all be heavy handed recovery books. You read a bunch of those and you need a drink all over again! So buy it used, that's what I did, it's cheaper that way.

The author is a recovering alcoholic and the title reflects a turning point on her own journey of recovery. She had stopped drinking and, since she had hitherto equated having a good time and drinking, she was looking ahead to a rather moribund life. But she overheard someone quip, "Denial Is Not a River in Egypt" and she involuntarily found herself laughing out loud for the first time in her sobriety. This led her to start collecting similar aphorisms and finally to publishing them in the insightful book.
There are many of the aphorisms that are fairly specific to someone who is in or has been in a 12 step recovery program, but they are mostly applicable to anyone. One that has helped me a lot is: "I do not have to attend every argument I am invited to." They are grouped under some of the key headings related to recovery such as "Fear," "Denial," "Resentment" and "Acceptance." But these are all issues on the path toward wholeness period. Some of my other favorite sayings are: "Resentment is like taking poison in hopes your enemy will die;""Religion is for people who are afraid they are going to hell; spirituality is for those who have been there;" "A closed mouth gathers no foot."
And then there is one extended parable that I particularly appreciate:

"A woman is standing on a beach with her son when a giant wave picks him up and takes him out to sea. The woman frantically prays, "Dear God, if there is a God, please return my son!!!"

At this moment, the next wave rolls in and safely deposits her son near her on the shore. The woman rushes to his side, then turns and shouts up toward heaven,
"Where did his hat go?"

I hope that these "samples" will whet your appetite because this is a book crammed with "wisdom" that is superb. True laughter comes from the profound insight that is laid out in Psalm 8, where the author recognizes that utter insignificance of humans when one looks at the whole universe the Creator has fashioned and muses how amazing it is that the Creator even sees the speck that each of us is. And yet that same Creator has "crowned" us with a wondrous capacity if we only recall where it came from. "Denial..." follows in that tradition.

this was out in so many stores, glad i found it! it made a great gift!

I bought this book because I thoroughly enjoyed the author's previous book "The Way You Wear Your Hat - Sinatra and the Lost Art of Livin'". This book was much shorter, even though it could be argued that its subject is deserving of perhaps even greater coverage. The most fascinating thing I learned while reading this book is that Sinatra and Hefner did not really bond...Frank was kinda upset that Hef had all the girls. The Mansion was the one place to which Sinatra could go and NOT find it to be all about Sinatra.

I knew very little about Hef until I read this book. I still don't know as much as I would have liked. This book is much more akin to what we would find out if Hef had written a dating profile on match.com (favorite movies, favorite food, favorite drink, etc). We learn very little about his formative years, other than that Hef's first great love did not love him back (but visits him at the mansion from time to time, even to this day). The author assumes that we know that Hef is wealthy, but we never get an idea of the degree of his wealth. I know that there is a magazine and a cable network....but younger readers may not know that there was also a television show, nightclubs, and a whole history extending back into the 1950's. These are only glanced over. It would have been nice to see more homage paid to the influence of Playboy on the shifting cultural attitudes during the 1960's.

I look forward to the author's upcoming Johnny Carson book and hope that it takes on the same flavor as these other two. Then the "holy trinity of cool" will be complete.

From business acumen to bunny love, there is much more to know about Hefner than is seen at first glance. Part mogul, part romantic, Hefner is deftly painted in the broad strokes he deserves. The result is a deeper look at the man behind the magazine empire and a legendary icon who maintains a certain charm and innocence about what it all really means. Just the kind of insight we have come to expect from author Bill Zehme.

Hef's Little Black Book isn't some story of Playboy the magazine or the empire, a biog of Hef or anything more than really a kind of puff-piece valentine from Hef to himself. I say from Hef because he's listed as the author, though "and Bill Zehme" presumably did most of the writing, organizing, interviewing, and editing.

However, given its parameters, the book works surprisingly well. Zehme did a similar book - a better one, though - on Sinatra a few years back, and its organization by subject/theme, its adoring fifties-style prose and please-pass-on-your-wisdom-o-master tone which strangely enough worked very well on the Sinatra piece is used again here. It's sort of effective. The book is a mixture of Zehme's narrative in the above voice, quotes from Hefner mixed in, and dozens of excellent photos of all types.

Hef passes on pearls of wisdom regarding women, romance, enjoying life and games, business, sex and the like. The Bed is covered in detail, with blueprints and everything. Much of it is not especially deep or new or earthshattering. I don't know that it really touches on what makes Hef such a fascinating figure or so important a man in 20th century life. But it's not uninteresting to Hefner aficionados.

What is in fact the goods on Hef is that he managed to first define the upscale male fantasy life, and then proceeded to insert himself into the picture and live it, for fifty nonstop years of uncompromising hedonism. In doing so he became a living symbol of the sexual revolution, and in the magazine's Playboy Philosophy he defended and explained his thinking brilliantly. It could not have worked without tremendous charm, business acumen (including the knowledge of when to step down from day-to-day operating control and let more capable managers take over), and self-control exercised over himself, and he surely kept very good people watching his back.

This book doesn't tell that story. If interested, there are many out there that do; I particularily like Russell Miller's Bunny, from back in the troublesome 80s. But this book does have fantastic and rarely seen photos from the 50s, 60s and 70s which make up for a lot, and one does get a faint glimpse of an unusual man.

You have to hand it to Hef. Well into his twilight years he manages to surround himself with beautiful, nubile young women who cater to his every whim.

In "Hef's Little Black Book" little glimpses of Hef's life are shared. We learn that Millie (his first wife) cheated on him, thus opening the door for his dalliances. We discover that the gorgeous Barbie Benton broke up with him when she discovered he was double dipping with another. That movie night is a big time in Hef's life. That black silk pj's make for good outerwear etc.

If you are a diehard Hef fan you may enjoy this book. On the other hand if you want to learn more about the playmates with shocking insights into Hef such as the awful reality that he does NOT use protection read Jill Ann Spaulding's book, "Upstairs".

Overall "Hef's Little Black Book" is indeed all about Hef, and only for those who want nitty gritty details shared by Mr. Hefner about himself.

Or, you may prefer to tear out the pages that are not worthwhile; Dyer has truly written some excellent books. However, the ones you want to read are those he published in the 80's and 90's. There's a lot of sage wisdom to be found in those. But this? Please. I've written this old man off mainly because he's discarded common sense for religious nonsense, and that's really disappointing. May I share one of the bits of "insight" to be found in this book? Here: "LIVE the Ten Commandments". Say WHAT?!? Once I read that, I nearly cracked up laughing. What delusion. Having said that, there are some good things in the book, but it's not worth buying for them. Again, look to his earlier works for his best material, when he was mentally sound and sharp.

I just love Wayne Dyer and this book is just another wonderful book added to my collection.
Thank You,
John Weber

This audio book is very powerful. I know it has played a dramatic part in my life... real quick, I was out one day, about to go back to a partner who was frequently drinking to much... this day, I was about to pull my hair out, ready to go into a huge tirad of blankety, blanks, and words that I can't write here...%$&*, kind of at my wits end... As he was very drunk again......

well I just got this audio program, and put it on my car recorder.... I pulled over in amazement at what I heard... I listened for over 30 minutes.... I went back to my house with another whole new prospective, one of calm, love, peace and a willingness to understand what was going on though my partners head, and to really listen to him... For me It was a 100 percent turn around a much better approach.....

I highly recommend this program to help anyone...

Mr. Dyer's book and the companion CD are a life saving for me. I was going through a difficult relationship. I read the bood and listened to the CD over and over for about 2 months, while I was driving, before sleeping, walking,& playing golf. I was able to refocus on what matter most in my life (my children and my path). As a result, I am much more at peace and much happier now. I strongly recommend to anyone who is looking for a way to find their own path to happiness.

Well, I popped in the CD and started listening to it this morning. I thought that it would be another one of Dyer's great seminars or books on CD. All it is, is Dyer saying one inspirational statement after another after another after another. At first I thought it was kind of meaningless because it's stuff that I know already, and then also started thinking that there are so many sayings on this CD that I would never remember all of them. What good is it??! I was a little disappointed.

Well, about 20 minutes into listening to it, I found myself talking back at the CD like "oh yeah, you know it..." and "that's a great saying." And I found that I was really enjoying it. I listened to all of the sayings that I could until I got to work, but here's the thing. I didn't remember all of them. BUT, I did remember the ones that I needed to remember. It's so great how it worked.

Sidestepping - This morning I asked myself "OK, what can I do to control the ego today?". I told myself that I would do my stretches and exercises before going into work (which is something that I've never done in my entire life by the way) and then do a 4 lapper today on lunch around a small pond near my work (works out to be a little over a mile). I walked outside to go to work and saw that it was raining though... uh oh... After I got to work and lunchtime came, I heard my ego telling me, "It's raining. You don't need to go walking in the rain?! You can go tomorrow. It's not even that much exercise... walking... too little work to get wet over." This is what I was telling myself. I got up, grabbed my plastic poncho and went for my walk. I was the only one out there. People were looking at me funny. I didn't care one bit! I was having a blast!

The ego isn't a bad thing though. It's there to do what it thinks is best. It's trying to keep me safe. I reassure to my ego that everything will be fine no matter what happens and what risks I take. I did that today on my walk, but what made my walk today so great were the little sayings that Dyer said on his CD. It lifted me up to a new level. I've been seeking lately and this CD really pushed me to the next level. I know that on that walk that I changed the color of my aura - permanently. I've become a higher energy person - permanently. Just because of this wonderful, wet, spiritual, and godlike walk.

Get yourself a copy of this CD. Pop it in whenever you need to Stay on the Path.

I first read an excerpt from this book when Googling for quotes. This book, by far, had the largest variety of inspirational subjects from a very wide range of persons. I knew I would be happy from what I had read on the web. Having received and begun using the book, I'm ecstatic!

Unfortunately I found quotes repeated in this book, some of the quotes seemed forced into a category, and many individuals e.g. Peace Pilgrim, were given preferential treatment due to the author's bias. Given the amount of quote resources available on the internet I am not that enthused about the purchase of this book, but I will maintain an average rating because the book did open the door for me to do additional research and find many authors I had not known before.

I sincerely appreciate this authors effort to compile such an extensive collection of quotes. Personally, I did not find that it fulfilled the implication of the title. Sometimes quantity of words does not mean quality of information. Maybe others will find more in this book than I did.

This book has been extremely helpful to me in my search for the profound sprititual quotes. The list goes on from Socrates to Papa Ramdas. From Christian to Sufi to Hindu to Buddhist - no one is left out. From the ancient to the modern thinker, guru, guide and teacher. Some of the quotes come from people I've never heard of. Who are these people?? The quotes are listed in categories such as Cause/Effect, Mind, Meditation, Love, etc.

I've had my copy for years now and every time I come across it and start flipping through the pages I become immersed for hours. This inspiring book has thousands of thought provoking, spiritual quotations collected from all through the ages and from all over the world. I usually let friends borrow my books or I sell or give them away. I rarely keep many. But this one is never far away from me and is never going anywhere! Very much worth your money, you won't regret it. I'm certain you'll cherish yours as much as I do mine.

Delightful and insightful! I discovered these two women when I read The Delaney Sisters Having Our Say and could not wait to buy their other books!

What an experience reading about these two delightful sisters who were winners in every area of life...Back when Black people weren't accepted by most white people the one sister became a dentist of all things...Here she was Negro, a woman on top of it and going against all odds she didn't let that stop her! During the depression years they made candy and sold it at dept. stores. and survived without any kind of welfare. Never had a phone in their house. "if people wanted to talk with us they could come see us" was their motto..

The time they moved the refrigerator downstairs from an upper floor because the man they had hired kept putting them off day after day....and they were near 100 yrs old! Forget the exact age but they never let anything stop them if they needed to do it.

They did their yoga exercises and shows pictures of them. Also some simple recipes they used over the years. They never bought detergent or dishwashing liquid...made their own and the recipe is included. They even include a recipe for Rose Wine and their hot yeast rolls. The candy recipe is included also.

This book is my all-time favorite and I have ended up buying it 3 times since I am in the health care business and work with seniors and try to encourage and give them the joy and hope of this wonderful book.

The Delaney sisters' Book of Everyday Wisdom

Lovelaffs

I came across this book at a library book sale. It really wasn't anything I would normally read but the price was right and I was so pleasantly suprised at the book. I've recommented it to family, friends and my grown kids. I'm now checking out other books written about them.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The title is very fitting for this little book of wisdom. These ladies are living a full life and have alot of experiences to share that are common to all peoples of all walks of life. I continually found myself reading this book out loud to whoever was around. It is funny, contemplative, and inspiring. It's one you'll want to share with friends and family.

There's nothing quite like wisdom from someone who's older and has gone through a lot. Readers will delight in the nuggets here, as well as the humor that goes along with them.

I picked up a hardcover copy of this book on a bookstore remainder table more than 10 years ago. When I got home, I discovered it was autographed by the author!

The true delight, however, came in the reading of it. I have a large collection of books but this is by far one of my non-fiction favorites. I pull it down every couple of years and reread it just for the sheer joy of the experience.

Can't recommend it enough.

The Miracle of Language is a classic. The author explain in a simple way the history of our language. The Lederer's magical mystery tour through what we all too often take for granted: our own mother tongue.

Certainly, you will enjoy this reading.

The title of this book says the "MIRACLE OF LANGUAGE", yet there is little discussion of the origins, the psychology, the evolutionary aspects of language. Instead it is a sometimes witty treatise on English in all its glory. If he wanted to write such a book it should have been called "THE FUN OF ENGLISH" or something to that effect.

The text is HUGE and spread out - a lot like those self-help books that one can zip through in about half an hour. Some of the topics were interesting but by and large this was a tale of modern English.

This serious book about our language,English, the lingua franca of the world, afforded me more laughs than many a so-called comic book. Lederer is truly a master of English, a magister and advocate. I have several other books by him, and have enjoyed each one tremendously. I always have great trouble setting The Miracle of Language down once I open it. I'm always tempted to go through it once more in one sitting. As a writer, editor, and teacher, I refer to it constantly. Now, if only I knew how to get in touch with Lederer ---

Although Richard Lederer may be best known for his delightful word play, he is also an eminent authority on English. In _The Miracle of Language_ he writes somewhat more seriously about this language that he loves, inspiring in us a deeper appreciation of our system of communication that we often take for granted.

The chapter titled "In Praise of English" makes us grateful that ours is a language that puts so many words at our disposal -- remarkable for their sheer number as well as for their variety. Because English has so freely adopted words from other languages, we often have many choices about how we will express an idea -- whether we will use short words derived from Anglo-Saxon, for example, or more luxurious words derived from French.

Although Lederer's subject matter is serious, his style never becomes ponderous. His short chapters and lively prose keep the reader engaged. And occasionally he cannot resist playing, as in the chapter titled "The Case for Short Words," where for four paragraphs he restricts himself to one-syllable words.

Of special interest are the chapters about literary giants -- William Shakespeare, Samuel Johnson, Lewis Carroll, Mark Twain, Emily Dickinson, T. S. Eliot, and George Orwell -- and the contributions they have made not only to our literature but also to our language. For example, Shakespeare is credited with the first use of over 1,700 words, nearly eight percent of the different words that he used in his writing. In addition, his plays include many phrases that have become titles of novels and many others that have been repeated so often that they have become clichés.

Lederer also includes many inspiring quotations about English and entries from the ground-breaking dictionaries of Samuel Johnson and Ambrose Bierce. (Can you imagine undertaking the formidable task of writing the first comprehensive dictionary of the English language?)

Lederer champions letter writing, poetry writing, libraries, reading, the effective use of English. Particularly poignant is the example of mistranslation of one word that led to the dropping of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Lederer fondly portrays English as a thriving, evolving entity. By instilling appreciation for the legacy we have received, he inspires us to safeguard its future.

This book was purchased as a gift for a Speech and Drama college student.
These kids really enjoy the wit Shakespeare wrote. Knowing which insult to use for appropriate moments is a blast for them!

Wayne Hill and Cynthia Ottchen have compiled a very useful list of insults from the works of the Master Bard himself!

The book begins with Part I providing a list of ready to use insulting names for the act of "name-calling." Part II examines Shakespeare's major plays and the insulting lines therefrom. Part III ends the book with a list of Ready Insults For Particular Occasions.

Trust me, upon purchase and use of this text, when the content is memorized, you will never be at a loss for words again! Commendable work. Outstanding. Five stars.

Example: "You foul-mouthed and caluminous knave; you rabble of vile confederates, and herd of boils and plagues, etc."

Based on the premise that "people NEED insults," Hill and Ottchen here offer a catalogue of every insult the immortal bard ever published. It must have been a tedious collection process, but the work was well worth it; as anyone even the slightest bit familiar with Shakespeare would expect, here in this isolated form his insults reveal themselves as powerful, picturesque, and scathing. The language and the diversity of emotion and expression will not fail to impress you.

My one quibble with the collection is that is seems rudderless in its organization. If we are intended to use the language as our own, why does most of the book consist of a list of insults organized by PLAY (which is hard to use, and a bit tedious to read unless you are treating the book as a concordance for the play itself) rather than by type of insult or applicability? (The final section offers this, but it is VERY short). In terms of content and concept, though, this book makes for a great addition to a classroom, resource collection, letter-writing desktop, or to the Shakeseare-lover's coffee table -- a good gift for the scholar or bibliophile.

This is a fabulous little book that every high school English teacher should have in their arsenal. When the jock in the back row groans when you ask him to read aloud from Hamlet, call him a burly-boned clown. When the popular kid in the front row claims to have forgotten to read the assigned pages from Macbeth, call him Triton of the minnows. Okay, maybe don't, but using it to help you find the curses and insults within the texts, and therefore to help you point them out to your students, will definitely make Shakespeare more fun for them.

I thought this was going to have definitions of the various terms used by Shakespeare, but it only has lists and lists of insults. I admit many of the terms are somewhat straightforward, but I really was trying to find something that would "educate" me about how the insults came about and perhaps their meaning at that time. If you are looking for lists of insults, however, this is the book for you.

This book came to my rescue when I was in dire need of the perfect quote about how music, especially rock music, impacts us in a spiritual way. From John Cage to John Lennon, Hart covers a gamut of iconic musicians' and philosophers' insights regarding sound's powerful influence on humanity. He adds some of his own personal observations as well, making this book a "must have" for anyone interested in the magical way music touches our hearts and souls.

I really must admit that I enjoy reading Mickey Hart's works. They are very philosophical, showing how music and spirituality are connected together throughout time. In this book, he mixes his own thoughts and ideas with a variety of quotes about music and some nice clip art of music, dancing, instruments and musicians. The quotes are grouped together through chapters of related concepts, such as spirituality, the cosmos and society and span almost every source from traditional Chinese, Greek and Islamic traditions to Jerry Garcia, Ice-T, Bob Marley, Miles Davis, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Peter Gabriel and John Updike. Interesting figures such as Nietzsche, Tolstoy, Plato, Confucious, Einstein, Ishaq ibn Ibrahim, Rumi, Mircea Eliade, Ruth Inge-Heinz, Ayatollah Khomeini, Martin Luther, Inayat Khan, Mencious, Karl Marx and many more are quoted too.

This isn't really deep reading, but it is very interesting and thought-provoking nonetheless. Every single quote will make you rethink the way you listen to music and what exactly it means to you. I think that any music fan should at least glance this book over.

One of my most favorite albums that I have ever listened to is Mickey Hart's CD entitled "Spirit into Sound", with its collection of nature-evoking drum and woodwind music. So when I saw that this book was available, too, I was expecting something about the music on the album and the ideas that went behind its creation. Instead I was disappointed to find instead a set of quotes about music that don't relate to the album. It is, however, a really good source of quotes about music, including some really surprising ones. If you want inspirational words concerning music, this is the place to find them.

For those of us who have often contemplated the meaning and magic called "music", Mick's book will certainly unlock the mysteries and shed light on this universal power that has permeated all cultures since time began. This is an incredible compilation of insights spoken by the masters and common man who have lived, loved and graced the world with music over the centuries. A great read; simple, humorous, reflective and motivating. I recommend this book to people of all ages -- musicians and non-musicians alike. And particularly children who in their youth will benefit from understanding that music is the pulse of life, critical to the soul, and as necessary as food, water and air.

It is hard to put into words how deeply music affects our spirit... and long documentary books on music don't seem to cut it, at a feeling level. This book is a choice collection of various quotes and "takes" on music and the music experience. As someone for whom playing music (and listening to others play music) is a profound part of my life.....giving me joy, keeping my energy stress-free, sharing with friends...this book is a huge validation of all the beautiful things music does for us! It's one of those books you can flip to any part of, and lift your day just by reading a page or two. Leave it out for your visiting friends! It's a great gift idea for any music lover.

Every quote listed in this book comes from people who were over 70 years old at the time, so they know of whence they speak. This is a light read, but a truly enjoyable one. Turn to any page, and read sagacious advice on a variety of subjects, from well-known figures ranging from Julia Child to Golda Meir, and everywhere in between. This is a book that will be returned to again and again for its wit and wisdom. And, as we age, the words become more true to life. Age does not necessarily equal wisdom, but in the case of this collection, it certainly applies.

A serious subject presented in a humorous manner.Easily read, hilarious and thought provoking. It will keep you in 'stitches'. M.Phyllis HIll

This is a great book, not as funny as Age Sucks maybe, but it's not meant to be. In fact, I think they're good companions. "Cheese" is a much broader, wiser book, with many thoughtful things to ponder. Yes, some things made me laugh, but other things touched my heart and really made me think. The subtitle is wisdom of the elders and that's exactly right -- and this book is exactly right. Thank you, Ross and Kathryn.

Nice little package -- filled with thoughts about growig older from those who know best. Makes you think.

While this is not a mega-sized collection of quotes (just one quote per page) it IS an amazing selection of time-tested wisdom, humor, and experience. I collect quotations; and this book was an outstanding resource from that standpoint, since the preponderant majority of the quotes were "keepers." I have collected 20,000+ in a personal database over more than a decade (an odd hobby, some would say, but I guess I'm pretty easily amused). While a few of the quotes familiar to me, most were fresh and original, and the preponderant majority were "keepers." But you don't have to be a quotation collector to enjoy this book; if you're looking for inspiration, "words to live by," (from folks who have "been there,done that"), or if you just enjoy reading books that give you something to think about and more than a few chuckles along the way, I believe you will thoroughly enjoy it.

An inspiring book written by an amazing author. Ok, so he is my dad, but he didn't pay me to say any of this stuff:)

A book like this should be mandatory reading for everyone. Particularly people who represent other people's interests for a living, such as World Leaders, Presidents, Kings, etc., would find it absolutely useful; a kind of constant tool, a compass that keeps them on the right track once and again. This is a book that shows not only Franklin's wit and wisdom, but also his vulnerability, that wonderful human quality, thus making it enchanting and insightful. Buy this book, learn and practice these principles, and enjoy the new breath of fresh air you'll experience in your life.

Great book on Benjamin Franklin's life. This book will make you a better person. Read it and digest it.

I saw this book one day when I was browsing Franklin Covey planners in the mall. It had been awhile since I read something not business related so I thought I'd give this a shot. I'll be honest when I tell you I enjoy a good read but this book took me about one year to read from beginning to end. The first few chapters weren't too bad but then it got into a section about a debate between two philosophers on the definition of virtue and why one should practice a virtuous life. I've never read anything that mentally straining in my life (my degree is in Mechanical Engineering BTW). I enjoy the arts but that one section took me about a month before I could fully digest what the philosophers were saying in the span of less than 2 pages. This one section proved so enlightening that my head hurt for about 2 days after I had a chance to chew on the content. If you had any doubts that the founding forefathers of this great nation were anything but geniuses, this should dispell any and all myths. I must say that I even had to break out the dictionary for some of the diction used in this book in that it was definitely not your everyday conversational english. If you enjoy mental challenges of a higher level and your mastery of the English language is proficient enough to understand the fine nuances of sentence structure and double, sometimes triple meanings, I would recommend this book. If you're looking for something a little more entertaining and easier on the mind, then definitely look somewhere else. But I will admit, when I did finally complete this book one year later, I actually felt a major sense of accomplishment. I guess that makes me just a little more virtuous?

When you look at the cover and the preface, the book may appear to be written by Benjamin Franklin, but that is somewhat misleading. Sure, the essence of the book comes from the writings of B.F., but the editor of the book has also done a great job of putting a collection of writings by Franklin into an excellent structure.

Twelve virtues are identified answering key questions about the source of happiness, how to attain it, and many other important aspects of life. Each virtue is supported by B.F.'s writings. I especially liked the summaries at the end of each chapter that would emphasize the essential points of the corresponding virtue.

This is a very accessible book, and a great companion for anyone who thinks life should be more than pursuing selfish goals and satisfying petty pleasures.

Perhaps, this work is more useful in understanding B.F.'s wisdom than his autobiography, which is another great classic.

I was slightly confused as to why the book was presented to be merely a book by B.F., given that the editor has contributed quite a bit in terms of organization and explanations. Perhaps to improve the sales?

In any event, this is a great work that, I bet, will improve the perspective of anyone who reads it actively.