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Life is a Brief Opportunity for Joy
This book is a guide for discovering joy, the simple pleasure of living each day. I am a psychotherapist, with an office in New York City. As I work with patients and listen to their stories, I search for themes that define the human condition. These themes have melded into a philosophy centered upon living with joy... No book can substitute for the process of psychotherapy. But I hope these ideas will introduce you to the work of selfdiscovery at the heart of that experience. -from the introduction to Life is a Brief Opportunity for Joy
154 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 22, 2010
37 people are currently reading
1583 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
April 21, 2014
It is not often that I come away from a book believing I learned something new about life. This is one of those remarkable books.
As its wonderful title suggests, the driving theme of the book is how to find joy in life. Unlike many books of its kind, the author does not offer instant fixes or faddish solutions. Nor does the author sugarcoat the difficulties of life.
Instead the author helps show the reader how to "take steps" towards joy. A great strength of the book is that the author explains to the reader how the mind works. He draws on everything from evolutionary psychology to Freud to Buddhist philosophy.
Another strength of the book is that he conveys complex principles through stories that are intriguing and insightful. You will recognize yourself and others in the stories. The stories explain rather than lecture, too.
There is a lot of truth in this book. I've found myself rereading sections of it every few days. The book will give you hope and guidance in life. I highly recommend it.
As its wonderful title suggests, the driving theme of the book is how to find joy in life. Unlike many books of its kind, the author does not offer instant fixes or faddish solutions. Nor does the author sugarcoat the difficulties of life.
Instead the author helps show the reader how to "take steps" towards joy. A great strength of the book is that the author explains to the reader how the mind works. He draws on everything from evolutionary psychology to Freud to Buddhist philosophy.
Another strength of the book is that he conveys complex principles through stories that are intriguing and insightful. You will recognize yourself and others in the stories. The stories explain rather than lecture, too.
There is a lot of truth in this book. I've found myself rereading sections of it every few days. The book will give you hope and guidance in life. I highly recommend it.
December 28, 2015
I first bought this book when I was an associate in a big law when I heard that the author was a former big law associate who escaped and I wanted to get some courage/motivation to do the same. That was over 2 years ago and I managed to read a few chapters here and there but didn't get to finish it because I was working all the time! Now that I am out of big law and working for a more manageable (and much happier) job, I finally had the time to ready this cover cover to cover. And I loved it! It's a simple and short book but contains lots of useful insights and advice. It's easy to gloss over them if you are reading them too fast. If you are going to read this book, I recommend reading just a chapter or two per day to allow some time to let the concepts sink in. I really enjoyed reading this book and reflecting on my own life.
October 19, 2025
This book has officially made it into my top three favorites of all time.
Here’s why:
It offers incredibly deep insights into the patterns of behavior that shape every aspect of human life. The author manages to articulate some of the most personal and authentic emotions I’ve been experiencing—making me feel deeply seen and validated.
Reading it felt like having an unfiltered, honest, and at times uncomfortable conversation with a therapist about my childhood and adult life.
The chapter on Reparenting especially resonated with me—learning to become the parent your inner child needed can truly transform and heal so much within us.
No other book has helped me understand myself so clearly.
Absolutely incredible. I know I’ll keep returning to it whenever I need to make sense of my own thoughts and emotions.
Here’s why:
It offers incredibly deep insights into the patterns of behavior that shape every aspect of human life. The author manages to articulate some of the most personal and authentic emotions I’ve been experiencing—making me feel deeply seen and validated.
Reading it felt like having an unfiltered, honest, and at times uncomfortable conversation with a therapist about my childhood and adult life.
The chapter on Reparenting especially resonated with me—learning to become the parent your inner child needed can truly transform and heal so much within us.
No other book has helped me understand myself so clearly.
Absolutely incredible. I know I’ll keep returning to it whenever I need to make sense of my own thoughts and emotions.
March 19, 2013
This book was a pleasant surprise - a tightly written simple outline of how to approach many oh-so-common everyday mental health problems ... or as the epilogue put it (and I paraphrase) a quick refresher course on how to not be "stuck." I don't know if I'd pretend if the ideas in it are groundbreaking and original - but neither does the author. He lays the concepts forward in a terse, yet flowing prose, with an excellent layout and outline, including dalliances into poignant, as well as downright ascerbic and funny anecdotes.
If anyone suffers, as I do, from the "world treating you as a therapist" syndrome, and you're so overwhelmed with it that it's getting you down too - step back from the situation, lay down your boundaries, and if that person is receptive to getting help on their own terms (which, for me, is a must boundary I have to lay down) and asks you for guidance, I think this may not be a bad book to kick their way.
If anyone suffers, as I do, from the "world treating you as a therapist" syndrome, and you're so overwhelmed with it that it's getting you down too - step back from the situation, lay down your boundaries, and if that person is receptive to getting help on their own terms (which, for me, is a must boundary I have to lay down) and asks you for guidance, I think this may not be a bad book to kick their way.
November 25, 2013
I stumbled across Will Meyerhofer's book on law school, and found the sample chapter hilarious and insightful (even though I've never considered law school). That led me to this title, which seemed more applicable to my life, so I snapped it up...
I always check out the new, bestselling releases in psychology from the library, and most are disappointing.
But this is a hidden gem, and *ought* to be a bestseller. Simple, short, and sweet, yet deep.
I always check out the new, bestselling releases in psychology from the library, and most are disappointing.
But this is a hidden gem, and *ought* to be a bestseller. Simple, short, and sweet, yet deep.
September 1, 2014
Accurate and succinct
Mr. Meyerhofer's words are truthful and poignant. He summarizes the faults of the average man and concludes with a definable solution by refining the notion of the timeless panacea for the soul: Love.
For the truth-seekers.
Mr. Meyerhofer's words are truthful and poignant. He summarizes the faults of the average man and concludes with a definable solution by refining the notion of the timeless panacea for the soul: Love.
For the truth-seekers.
January 12, 2014
I appreciate the pithiness of this book. It contains some good insights on living more authentically, parenting, re-parenting, and codependence.
March 16, 2016
Thoughtfully provoking with truths that you probably know already. And if you don't then you'll feel (as I did at points) that you're finally catching up.
December 19, 2025
Oh man, I said I was going to take my time reading this, but I just couldn’t stop! To know that all the information and stories that he shares, comes from a mix of personal experience with his patients and his own knowledge, makes it even better.
I definitely felt like there were a lot of reality checks in this book lol. I wouldn’t have thought about any of them by myself. So in that sense, the book really expanded my way of thinking. And it feels so relieving. To have questions answered that i’ve been thinking about my entire life. And to have this knowledge now, that I did not have before. The examples are also super easy to digest and don’t require a bigger vocabulary. I sometimes struggle with this while reading english books as a non-english speaker lmao.
Overall a quick read that contained a lot of wisdom. Those kind of books really are the best imo! By far, my favorite self-help book. Really useful, and I can’t wait to eventually come back to it again at times where I need some guidance!
It’s also really tempting to recommend this book to all my friends haha. My boyfriend has already started reading, so I can’t wait to talk to him about it after he’s done 😊.
I definitely felt like there were a lot of reality checks in this book lol. I wouldn’t have thought about any of them by myself. So in that sense, the book really expanded my way of thinking. And it feels so relieving. To have questions answered that i’ve been thinking about my entire life. And to have this knowledge now, that I did not have before. The examples are also super easy to digest and don’t require a bigger vocabulary. I sometimes struggle with this while reading english books as a non-english speaker lmao.
Overall a quick read that contained a lot of wisdom. Those kind of books really are the best imo! By far, my favorite self-help book. Really useful, and I can’t wait to eventually come back to it again at times where I need some guidance!
It’s also really tempting to recommend this book to all my friends haha. My boyfriend has already started reading, so I can’t wait to talk to him about it after he’s done 😊.
July 22, 2019
I like this book about relationships and parenting ... It was filled with compassion and wisdom. My favorite quote was about self care ... “People tend to take their lead not from how you treat them, but from how you treat yourself. If you ignore yourself, they will ignore you, too”.
August 12, 2025
whew, that was a read. literally a READ. TW: depression, abuse, anxiety & s*icide. this book was great with a lot of context and explanation. it definitely got me reflecting and unpacking. however, i didn’t like the portion covering depression and s*icide. it felt insensitive and reductionist.
November 7, 2025
I haven’t read a non-fiction book in a while, but I’ve always loved reading about psychotherapy. This book is actually so good if you’re trying to learn how to rewire your brain into thinking positively about your negative experience and shift your perspective on your own life :-)
January 6, 2026
More so a former therapist giving his personal thoughts on psychology and what contributes to joy rather than a comprehensive body of knowledge on the topic. There are some good points but not the best book
July 10, 2025
When I say I love this book I mean it. So many great quotes. So many good stories. So many raw tales. I’m a sucker for reading books written by therapists and this one is in my top 3.
August 28, 2025
Everyone needs to read this and take notes
September 12, 2025
2.8 - “meh” in 159 pages. nothing novel and disappointingly nothing comforting either. had the usual tone of self-help books that tend to oversimplify everything 🫥
December 29, 2025
Years of therapy in a little book. Loved his life breakdown of playing working and loving. How you “parent yourself” as an adult really matters no matter how your childhood was. Only three stars just because I don’t like self-help books.
May 4, 2012
Reads like a poem...weird. Not like his other book at all.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews