Jim Donovan didn’t set out to be a book author, he just wanted to pass along much of the distilled wisdom he had collected or discovered in his own life, much the way he passed it along through his speaking career. He set out to put a few words down on paper, and then added stories that illustrated the point, and the next thing he knew he had a book, and the book moved people and helped them make their lives better. The goal of Handbook to a Happier Life is that everyone rewrite their own life story by making small changes each day that make them happier, more content, and help them achieve their life dreams. Don’t make big changes, he suggests, just start slowly and move bit-by-bit toward your goal, and you’ll reach it.
Jim Donovan is the author of several international best-selling self- help books, including, "Handbook to a Happier Life," "What are you waiting for? It's Your Life," and "happy@work - 60 Simple Ways to Stay Engaged and Be Successful," an inspiring motivational speaker and business consultant.
This book is like a greatest hits collection for recent self-help topics. The author admits--not out of embarrassment, but because that is actually the purpose of the book--that the book is a summary and simplification of concepts and strategies that have worked for him, combined in a format to make it quick, easy, and relatively painless tool for us to use to improve our lives.
It's basically a collection of friendly reminders--Charity, remember to meditate. (Smile.) Charity, remember to write down all your goals and review them from time to time. (Smile.) Charity, remember to always do your best and take action to meet your goals, but not worry so much about controlling every aspect of your life. (Smile.)
I don't want to be too hard on this book, because my stepdad recommended it to me and it's relatively pleasant to read. I've been reading a lot of Buddhist books on compassion and letting go, which I really like; this is more along the self-help, self-improvement line whereas Buddhism is more along the letting-go-of-self line, so it has been a nice counterbalance to that.
Overall the author doesn't say anything new, but I guess buying and reading this one little book is better than buying and reading the numerous books and cds and seminar materials he summarized so pleasantly. Especially if you already know most of it anyway.