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The Five Secrets You Must Discover Before You Die
“What brought you the greatest joy? What do you wish you had learned sooner? What ultimately mattered and what didn't?” asks Dr. John Izzo. Based on a highly acclaimed public television series, this book takes the reader on a heartwarming and profound journey to find lasting happiness. Imagine for a moment that you are about to take a foreign vacation to an exotic destination. You have saved your entire life to travel there. It is a destination with almost unlimited choices of how to spend your time and you know you will not have enough time to explore every opportunity. You are fairly certain that you will never get to take a second trip to this destination; this will be your one opportunity. Now imagine that someone informs you that there are several people in your neighborhood who have been to that country, explored every corner. Some of them enjoyed the journey and have few regrets, but others wish they could take the trip again knowing what they know now. Would you not invite them over for dinner, ask them to bring their photographs, listen to their stories, and hear their advice? This is precisely the journey explored in this book. Dr. John Izzo and his colleagues interviewed over 200 people, ages 60-106, who were identified by friends and acquaintances as “the one person they knew who had found happiness and meaning.” From town barbers to Holocaust survivors, from aboriginal chiefs to CEOs, these people had over 18,000 years of life experience between them. He asked them questions like, “What brought you the greatest joy? What do you wish you had learned sooner? What ultimately mattered and what didn't?” Here Izzo shares their stories—funny, moving, and thought-provoking—and the Five Secrets he learned from listening to them. This book will make you laugh, bring you to tears, and inspire you to discover what matters long before you die.
198 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 11, 2007
747 people are currently reading
1690 people want to read
About the author
John B. Izzo
14 books17 followersJohn Izzo is the bestselling author of six books and has advised over 500 companies across the globe on creating high engagement, purpose-driven workplaces. He has personally spoken to over one million people and his work has been featured by the likes of Fast Company, Investor’s Business Daily, CNN, Inc. Magazine, and the Wall Street Journal.
He has been a pioneer in understanding the future of workplace trends and what companies must do to succeed in the rapidly shifting world of new expectations. Twice in his career he was a pioneer both in employee engagement and corporate social responsibility (Awakening Corporate Soul, 1994) and changing employee values (Values Shift, 2002/2005). His latest books, the Five Thieves of Happiness and Purpose Revolution will be released in 2017.
He has been a pioneer in understanding the future of workplace trends and what companies must do to succeed in the rapidly shifting world of new expectations. Twice in his career he was a pioneer both in employee engagement and corporate social responsibility (Awakening Corporate Soul, 1994) and changing employee values (Values Shift, 2002/2005). His latest books, the Five Thieves of Happiness and Purpose Revolution will be released in 2017.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 217 reviews
July 16, 2008
Am enjoying this tremendously and did so to the end. i feel this is a book that I will read and re-read with increasing enjoyment every time.
December 31, 2016
เป็นหนังสือทางจิตวิญญาณที่ดีที่สุดที่ได้อ่านในปีนี้(2016) คนแปลและเรียบเรียงทำงานได้เนี้ยบมาก ภาษาสละสลวยสวยงาม อ่านได้ไหลลื่นไม่มีสะดุด
เป็นหนังสือคลาสสิคที่ทรงพลัง และคงเปลี่ยนแปลงชีวิตผู้คนอีกเป็นจำนวนมากอย่างไม่ต้องสงสัย เป็นหนังสือมรณานุสติที่เล่าเรื่องเวลากับการอยู่กับปัจจุบันขณะได้อย่างน่าทึ่ง เป็นหนังสือทรงคุณค่าและดีมากๆ แต่สิ่งที่ประทับใจคือการใช้ภาษาของคนเขียนที่ถ่ายทอดออกมาได้ดีสุดๆ ใช้ภาษาง่ายๆ แต่กินใจ
สรุปว่าเล่มนี้ชอบค่ะ ให้ 9/10 เลย
เป็นหนังสือคลาสสิคที่ทรงพลัง และคงเปลี่ยนแปลงชีวิตผู้คนอีกเป็นจำนวนมากอย่างไม่ต้องสงสัย เป็นหนังสือมรณานุสติที่เล่าเรื่องเวลากับการอยู่กับปัจจุบันขณะได้อย่างน่าทึ่ง เป็นหนังสือทรงคุณค่าและดีมากๆ แต่สิ่งที่ประทับใจคือการใช้ภาษาของคนเขียนที่ถ่ายทอดออกมาได้ดีสุดๆ ใช้ภาษาง่ายๆ แต่กินใจ
สรุปว่าเล่มนี้ชอบค่ะ ให้ 9/10 เลย
April 6, 2021
نویسنده کتاب معتقد است اکثر انسان ها در سال های پایانی عمرشان، وقتی گذشته خود را مرور می کنند در 5 نکته دیدگاه مشترکی دارند:
باید با خودمان صادق باشیم و هدفهای واقعیمان را دنبال کنیم؛
نباید جایی برای پشیمانی و تأسف خوردن باقی بگذاریم؛
عشق ورزیدن و تجربه کردن عشق را فراموش نکنیم؛
باید در لحظه زندگی کنیم؛
باید بیشتر از اینکه اهل گرفتن باشیم، دهندگی و بخشندگی را تجربه کنیم.
از این نکات قشنگ که بگذریم کتاب تدوین علمی ندارد! تحلیل محتوایی به شکل درستی انجام نشده و به نظر می رسد نویسنده نتیجه ای که در ذهن داشته را در نظر گرفته و جمع بندی ها همه به آن سو انجام شده است.
باید با خودمان صادق باشیم و هدفهای واقعیمان را دنبال کنیم؛
نباید جایی برای پشیمانی و تأسف خوردن باقی بگذاریم؛
عشق ورزیدن و تجربه کردن عشق را فراموش نکنیم؛
باید در لحظه زندگی کنیم؛
باید بیشتر از اینکه اهل گرفتن باشیم، دهندگی و بخشندگی را تجربه کنیم.
از این نکات قشنگ که بگذریم کتاب تدوین علمی ندارد! تحلیل محتوایی به شکل درستی انجام نشده و به نظر می رسد نویسنده نتیجه ای که در ذهن داشته را در نظر گرفته و جمع بندی ها همه به آن سو انجام شده است.
January 2, 2010
This book initially bored me because it went through what you could cynically call the 'typical' steps to discover true happiness. However, it took a drastic positive turn for me when it identified five very high level life mindsets to integrate in one's life to find true balance and happiness. The important issue for me was that they were mindsets, not accomplishments. Also, it provided reflection questions for each mindset that would help a person make minor adjustments to stay on the mark, instead of writing down this insanely difficult goal and stashing it somewhere. Just as you have to make tonnes of minor adjustments to drive a car, paint, write, and perform any sport, so must our outlook on life include these adjustments to maintain the way of living your life.
Something that always panicks me is that if I discover something helpful, I can only think of all the years where I didn't live with the newly discovered ephiphany, thus losing much quality of life. However, Dr. Izzo makes the somewhat obvious but difficult to accept point that you can't dwell on the past except to learn for the future.
Finally, I really appreciated the approach to death. Many people I know fear discussing death, but in fact, it's often helpful for the people left behind to know how the person who died felt about his or her life or mentality regarding death. Many of the interviewees that contributed to the book recommended to be open about the transition, which is something I agree with wholeheartedly.
Something that always panicks me is that if I discover something helpful, I can only think of all the years where I didn't live with the newly discovered ephiphany, thus losing much quality of life. However, Dr. Izzo makes the somewhat obvious but difficult to accept point that you can't dwell on the past except to learn for the future.
Finally, I really appreciated the approach to death. Many people I know fear discussing death, but in fact, it's often helpful for the people left behind to know how the person who died felt about his or her life or mentality regarding death. Many of the interviewees that contributed to the book recommended to be open about the transition, which is something I agree with wholeheartedly.
January 7, 2013
Phenomenal book on wisdom and how to become wiser. This book has changed my views on life especially after losing my grandmother recently who was my mentor.
November 1, 2013
Great book! I think I'll read it again...much wisdom for living a full and satisfying life.
April 11, 2020
Het is voor mij vrij lastig om dit boek een onderbouwde rating te geven. Aan de ene kant is de boodschap van dit boek prachtig en is het onderzoek van John Izzo zeker inspirerend. Aan de andere kant is het wel een beetje Feel Good-bagger die open deuren ingooit. Maar, misschien is échte wijsheid ook wel een open deur, maar niet een open deur waar veel mensen uit zichzelf doorheen stappen omdat het zó verdomde lastig is je eigen hart te volgen. Enfin, de positiviteit dat dit boek teweeg heeft gebracht in mij weegt vele malen zwaarder dan mij kritiek.
In dit boek worden de wijsheden die de auteur heeft verzameld tijdens diepte-interviews met meer dan 200 mensen tussen de 60 en 104 jaar samengevat in 5 'geheimen'. Het boek begint met een soort van memento mori momentje, waarin wordt gesteld dat veel mensen niet bang zijn voor de dood als ze een een zinvol leven hebben gehad. Al is de dood voor mij als 20-jarige nog vrij abstract, het herinnert worden aan mijn eigen sterfelijkheid roept toch een onbeschrijflijk gevoel in mij op. Eigenlijk zijn de gedachten over mijn eigen sterfelijkheid een constant 'conflict' tussen mijn Absurdistische rationaliteit en mijn meer idealistische emoties. Tijdens het lezen van dit boek worden toch vooral de emoties versterkt om een zinvol leven te leiden. En eigenlijk, nu ik dit zo schrijf, rationaliteit over de dood en idealisme hoeven niet eens wederzijds exclusief te zijn.
De vijf geheimen zijn niet echt verassingen, maar toch is het goed om eraan herinnert te worden dat je zelf de touwtjes in handen hebt om ze te volgen. Nou, dit zijn ze;
-Wees trouw aan jezelf (volg je hart, doe wat je zelf leuk vind en trek je niets aan van wat anderen zeggen)
-Heb nergens spijt van (Durf te doen, je hebt meer spijt van de dingen die je niet doet. Waag die stap)
-Word een liefdevol mens (Heb mensen lief, durf mensen lief te hebben en veroordeel niet. Daar word je zelf ook niet beter van)
-Leef in het nu (Gisteren is geweest, morgen is onzeker. Als je te veel blijft hangen in andere tijden, zal dat je geluk in de weg staan)
-Geef meer dan dat je neemt (Geven maakt je gelukkiger dan nemen, uiteindelijk.)
Laatste hoofdstukken gaan voornamelijk over het implementeren van de geheimen en er worden vragen gegeven die je jezelf kan stellen om te 'meten' in welke mate je je eigen leven leidt. Aanrader voor een ieder die snelle inspiratie, motivatie en levenslust wil inhaleren.
In dit boek worden de wijsheden die de auteur heeft verzameld tijdens diepte-interviews met meer dan 200 mensen tussen de 60 en 104 jaar samengevat in 5 'geheimen'. Het boek begint met een soort van memento mori momentje, waarin wordt gesteld dat veel mensen niet bang zijn voor de dood als ze een een zinvol leven hebben gehad. Al is de dood voor mij als 20-jarige nog vrij abstract, het herinnert worden aan mijn eigen sterfelijkheid roept toch een onbeschrijflijk gevoel in mij op. Eigenlijk zijn de gedachten over mijn eigen sterfelijkheid een constant 'conflict' tussen mijn Absurdistische rationaliteit en mijn meer idealistische emoties. Tijdens het lezen van dit boek worden toch vooral de emoties versterkt om een zinvol leven te leiden. En eigenlijk, nu ik dit zo schrijf, rationaliteit over de dood en idealisme hoeven niet eens wederzijds exclusief te zijn.
De vijf geheimen zijn niet echt verassingen, maar toch is het goed om eraan herinnert te worden dat je zelf de touwtjes in handen hebt om ze te volgen. Nou, dit zijn ze;
-Wees trouw aan jezelf (volg je hart, doe wat je zelf leuk vind en trek je niets aan van wat anderen zeggen)
-Heb nergens spijt van (Durf te doen, je hebt meer spijt van de dingen die je niet doet. Waag die stap)
-Word een liefdevol mens (Heb mensen lief, durf mensen lief te hebben en veroordeel niet. Daar word je zelf ook niet beter van)
-Leef in het nu (Gisteren is geweest, morgen is onzeker. Als je te veel blijft hangen in andere tijden, zal dat je geluk in de weg staan)
-Geef meer dan dat je neemt (Geven maakt je gelukkiger dan nemen, uiteindelijk.)
Laatste hoofdstukken gaan voornamelijk over het implementeren van de geheimen en er worden vragen gegeven die je jezelf kan stellen om te 'meten' in welke mate je je eigen leven leidt. Aanrader voor een ieder die snelle inspiratie, motivatie en levenslust wil inhaleren.
January 27, 2023
2023-01-27
Short but sweet book full with life lessons for everybody
Secret 1: be true to your self
Three questions to ask yourself:
1. Am I following my heart and being true to myself?
2. Is my life focused on the things that really matter to me?
3. Am I being the person I want to be in the world?
Short but sweet book full with life lessons for everybody
Secret 1: be true to your self
Three questions to ask yourself:
1. Am I following my heart and being true to myself?
2. Is my life focused on the things that really matter to me?
3. Am I being the person I want to be in the world?
February 20, 2025
จาก 15,000 ชื่อ คัดเหลือ 235 คนเพื่อสัมภาษณ์อย่างลึกซึ้งแล้วกลั่นบทเรียนล้ำค่า 5 ข้อที่มอบให้ทุกคนได้รับรู้ในวันที่ทุกอย่างยังไม่สายเกิน คุณค่าของชีวิตไม่อยู่กับระยะเวลามีแต่อยู่ที่ว่าเราใช้มันอย่างไร อยากให้เพื่อนๆ ได้อ่านเล่มนี้ครับ
April 22, 2024
کتاب پنج رازی که قبل از مرگ باید بدانید، نوشته جان ایزو نویسنده و سخنران معروف است. او در این کتاب با استفاده از داستانهای افراد مختلف سعی کرده است حقایق اصلی زندگی که در میان تمام انسانها مشترک است را جمعآوری و بیان کند.
هدف او آگاه کردن مردم به فرصت گرانبهایی است که در اختیار دارند، یعنی زندگی.
جان ایزو معتقد است همه ما نیاز داریم تا زندگی پرسعادت و شادی را داشته باشیم. برای رسیدن به این هدف فقط کافیست پنج راز مهم را دریابیم و آنها را به کار ببندیم. برای مثال صادق بودن با خود، رازی است که هر انسان موفق و شادی به آن پایبند است.
هدف او آگاه کردن مردم به فرصت گرانبهایی است که در اختیار دارند، یعنی زندگی.
جان ایزو معتقد است همه ما نیاز داریم تا زندگی پرسعادت و شادی را داشته باشیم. برای رسیدن به این هدف فقط کافیست پنج راز مهم را دریابیم و آنها را به کار ببندیم. برای مثال صادق بودن با خود، رازی است که هر انسان موفق و شادی به آن پایبند است.
May 28, 2022
We have heard these wisdoms so many times by our elders and in youtube videos, and yet we keep ignoring them.
November 2, 2014
What does a happy life, a life well lived, look like? That is the question this author sets out to research. This book is a description of what he learned from interviewing over 200 people ages 60 to 106. Each person had been identified by friends and family as “the one person they knew who had found happiness and meaning.” It turns out there are concepts that these happy people all have in common, leading to the author’s life secrets. And the best news is that anyone, of any age, can start practicing these life secrets and improve their quality of life. It’s never too late. The most important thing is not when we find these secrets but that we do find and practice them.
People seek joy and a deep sense of contentment. People also want to find meaning to their life, something that answers why they were here and what they left behind. These answers are as varied as we are as individuals.
This author not only reveals the secrets, with complete descriptions of each, but also gives practical tips on how to incorporate these philosophies into your everyday life. Then you’ll reap benefits of happiness and meaning that are noticeable to yourself and to those around you. You will be designing the happiness and meaning in your life. Some of what you’ll read is a reminder of what you know. Some of what you’ll read, you’ll recognize that you do. For me the highlights of the book are the excerpts from the interviews the book is based on. I was drawn to their interview conversations like a magnet. What interesting people. Their joie de vivre is vivid. That doesn’t mean their lives have been easy or without tragedy. It’s been their years of experience that taught them the lessons they now share.
John Izzo is one of North America’s most prominent voices on finding more purpose in life and work. This book was the basis for a five-hour Biography and PBS Television series. A bestseller, it was named the best self-help book of 2008 by the Independent Book Publishers Association.
The five secrets that will change your life and your outlook on life are: be true to yourself; leave no regrets; become love; live the moment; give more than you take. This book will define these secrets and describe how to take the steps to design these into your life. It’s never too early to hear this message, and it’s never too late. The author quotes a Chinese proverb in this regard, “the best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago, but the second best time is today.”
Thereby hangs a tale . . . .
People seek joy and a deep sense of contentment. People also want to find meaning to their life, something that answers why they were here and what they left behind. These answers are as varied as we are as individuals.
This author not only reveals the secrets, with complete descriptions of each, but also gives practical tips on how to incorporate these philosophies into your everyday life. Then you’ll reap benefits of happiness and meaning that are noticeable to yourself and to those around you. You will be designing the happiness and meaning in your life. Some of what you’ll read is a reminder of what you know. Some of what you’ll read, you’ll recognize that you do. For me the highlights of the book are the excerpts from the interviews the book is based on. I was drawn to their interview conversations like a magnet. What interesting people. Their joie de vivre is vivid. That doesn’t mean their lives have been easy or without tragedy. It’s been their years of experience that taught them the lessons they now share.
John Izzo is one of North America’s most prominent voices on finding more purpose in life and work. This book was the basis for a five-hour Biography and PBS Television series. A bestseller, it was named the best self-help book of 2008 by the Independent Book Publishers Association.
The five secrets that will change your life and your outlook on life are: be true to yourself; leave no regrets; become love; live the moment; give more than you take. This book will define these secrets and describe how to take the steps to design these into your life. It’s never too early to hear this message, and it’s never too late. The author quotes a Chinese proverb in this regard, “the best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago, but the second best time is today.”
Thereby hangs a tale . . . .
March 21, 2013
John Izzo interviewed over 200 people, aged 60 to 106 years, each of which was recommended by friends and acquaintances as "the person who has known happiness and fpund his purpose." In these pages, the author shares their stories funny, moving and triggers for reflection, and the five secrets he learned from these conversations. The book will bring a smile on your, will make you tear and will inspire you to discover what really matters in life.
May 13, 2019
No soy fan del título, porque me da lata cuando les da por hablar de "secretos" y etcétera. Me parece exclusivo, aunque la existencia del libro mismo confirma que no lo es. Pero también me pareció muy bonito, muy enternecedor, muy inteligente, muy claro, y con muy buenas ideas.
Me gustó mucho.
Me gustó mucho.
July 26, 2024
De titel van dit boek klinkt misschien wel een beetje fatalistisch, maar de inhoud is dat helemaal niet! Het gaf me hoop! Vanaf vandaag probeer ik mijn leven te leven vanuit het perspectief van een 'oude vrouw in een schommelstoel op de veranda'.
December 3, 2020
ชอบหลายอย่างในหนังสือเล่มนี้เลย ข้อคิดจากผู้อาวุโสนี่มันก็น่าเอากลับมาใช้ รู้สึกอยากกลับบ้านไปนั่งคุยกับญาติผู้ใหญ่แบบนี้
January 18, 2023
such a great and profound book. highly recommend.
February 17, 2024
Be kinder. Be more attentive. Be love. Quick easy read with a beautiful message and thought-provoking questions to apply to your everyday life.
November 11, 2021
This is one of the top 10 or top 5 significant books I have read this year. Everyone needs copy. I have bought 7 copies to give away already and will likely buy more. The title explains it all. Brilliant. 200 elders interviewed. 5 Secrets. The book is short. Also realistic suggestions to implement the secrets. Loved this book.
September 2, 2021
Sitting down with some elders who are really wise, and learning about their secrets (about life, not the juicy gossips!) is the idea of this book. It started as a TV series first and became a book in 2008.
The author found 200+ elders in the US and Canada, who were recommended and introduced to him as “having lived most of their lives already and had found happiness and meaning.” The author asked them to share something important about living.
The book explains the methodology he used (no scientific data, statistics, or selection factors), the 5 secrets about life, the questions to reflect on weekly about those secrets, his suggestions of how to apply them in reality and the same set of interview questions (so we can go interview the elders we know).
We all know that getting older does not mean getting wiser. However, the author declares that those well-lived elders who he talked to all discovered and live these common five life secrets. And he would like us, the readers, to reflect on our own lives and begin to discover in a deeper way our own path to fulfilment and wisdom. He says we do not have to wait until we are old to become wise and surely we don’t want to discover them just before the moment of death!
Well, the book is easy to read and full of cliches as I anticipated. In summary: stop judging the life you have lived and get on with the life you may still live. Whatever mistakes you have made and no matter how many regrets litter in the past, begin to live the secrets now and simply live them more deeply.
Anyway, there are still good notes to share:
- Our time is limited and must be used wisely. The things we choose to focus on and put our energy into will ultimately define our lives.
- Wisdom is the ability to discern what matters and what does not matter.
- What matters to fulfilling and purposeful day-to-day experience? A day-to-day contentment and joy that create the experience of “good tired” is called happiness. “Meaning” is about connection to something outside ourselves, is about not being alone.
- To be true to myself is to explore more deeply what makes me unique, to be the person I want to be, to live with intention, to follow my heart, to focus on the things that really matter to me, and to do work that suits my deepest interests.
- Two keys to following your heart: having the discipline to listen and the courage to follow. Set time aside to ask important questions and begin to let go of things that were not important.
- To conquer fear is the beginning of wisdom. — Bertrand Russel
- The bitterness tears shed over graves are for words left unsaid and deeds left undone — Harriet Beecher Stowe
- To leave no regrets we must live with courage, moving toward what we want rather than away from what we fear. Make a basic choice as to whether we will live in fear or focus on what we want.
- What we call “mistakes” often turn out to be the moments of greatest learning. Take chances. The greatest fear at the end of life is that you played it safe and did not make any mistake at all. Not that you take more physical risks but more risks of the heart and the risk to truly reach out for what you want in your life.
- Begin by imagining the highest possible good that could occur by taking the risk. Then imagine the worst possible thing that could happen and ask if I could handle the worst things. Many of us live our lives in quite the opposite way: when faced with a risk, we imagine the worst things that could happen and hold these thoughts in front of us.
- Make sure we try for the things we want in our lives, because we are unlikely to regret trying and failing.
What often determines our happiness in life is the step we take after a setback. To love after we have been hurt or lost. To try even after we have failed or being rejected.
- It is not just the receiving of love that matters. The secret to happiness and purpose is also to be a loving person. If you cannot get love, you can always become love itself. Become love rather than seek love and it starts by acting with love toward our own self.
- Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy. — Thich Nhat Hanh
- Living in the moment means to not focus on the past or the future, but experience each moment with gratitude and purpose fully. Do not judge our lives but to enjoy more by recognising that we have the powers in each moment to choose contentment and happiness.
- Nothing should be seen as simply something to “get through” and no day should be wasted as though it was unimportant.
- The thoughts that we indulge in ultimately shape us. We have the power to shape our thoughts as they are all in our head only. Each day we can train our mind not to be obsess with regret for the past, nor to worry for tomorrow, but to be in this present moment.
- What really matters in life is what you would leave behind that something’s different because you have been here. We have a great deal of control over what we give, much more than what we get. “I left the campsite better than I found it.”
- Two great tasks of a human life: to find ourselves and to lose ourselves. See that we are connected to something much larger, something there had a life before us and will have a life after us. The loss of the self is an entity of great significance. We can lose ourselves in this larger story. Giving connects us to something larger.
- Living wisely is the antidote to the fear of death. When we realise that we are part of a much larger story, our death becomes something we can accept with grace.
- Humans are at the top of the spiral, but this does not make us the most important, only the most vulnerable. We are dependent on all other living things, not more important than them. — White Standing Buffalo
- Wisdom is knowing what to do next; virtue is doing it. — David Starr Jordan
- We become what we pay attention to. The more we hold something in our awareness, the more likely we are to move towards that thing.
- Play more. Give back. Love what you do and do what you love.
- Seek to learn from the past, enjoy the present, and make way for a better future.
- Love yourself and the rest will follow. Do not be ruled by fear.
- Don’t take yourself seriously; don’t get trapped by the ideas in your head; they are not the same as the reality.
- Eat healthy, be physically active, invest your energy in making wherever you are a more just and happy community.
- Live your passion and be of service to others.
- Play hard, be a good sport and have fun. Throw yourself into it, be honest, a player and don’t take life or yourself too seriously. I’d rather win than lose, but playing the game is what matters.
- Have as much fun, joy and pleasure as you can while causing no harm to others.
- Pay your bills. Don’t make money your goal; manage your money. Choose a job that you are going to enjoy because you are going to spend a lot of time doing it.
The author found 200+ elders in the US and Canada, who were recommended and introduced to him as “having lived most of their lives already and had found happiness and meaning.” The author asked them to share something important about living.
The book explains the methodology he used (no scientific data, statistics, or selection factors), the 5 secrets about life, the questions to reflect on weekly about those secrets, his suggestions of how to apply them in reality and the same set of interview questions (so we can go interview the elders we know).
We all know that getting older does not mean getting wiser. However, the author declares that those well-lived elders who he talked to all discovered and live these common five life secrets. And he would like us, the readers, to reflect on our own lives and begin to discover in a deeper way our own path to fulfilment and wisdom. He says we do not have to wait until we are old to become wise and surely we don’t want to discover them just before the moment of death!
Well, the book is easy to read and full of cliches as I anticipated. In summary: stop judging the life you have lived and get on with the life you may still live. Whatever mistakes you have made and no matter how many regrets litter in the past, begin to live the secrets now and simply live them more deeply.
Anyway, there are still good notes to share:
- Our time is limited and must be used wisely. The things we choose to focus on and put our energy into will ultimately define our lives.
- Wisdom is the ability to discern what matters and what does not matter.
- What matters to fulfilling and purposeful day-to-day experience? A day-to-day contentment and joy that create the experience of “good tired” is called happiness. “Meaning” is about connection to something outside ourselves, is about not being alone.
- To be true to myself is to explore more deeply what makes me unique, to be the person I want to be, to live with intention, to follow my heart, to focus on the things that really matter to me, and to do work that suits my deepest interests.
- Two keys to following your heart: having the discipline to listen and the courage to follow. Set time aside to ask important questions and begin to let go of things that were not important.
- To conquer fear is the beginning of wisdom. — Bertrand Russel
- The bitterness tears shed over graves are for words left unsaid and deeds left undone — Harriet Beecher Stowe
- To leave no regrets we must live with courage, moving toward what we want rather than away from what we fear. Make a basic choice as to whether we will live in fear or focus on what we want.
- What we call “mistakes” often turn out to be the moments of greatest learning. Take chances. The greatest fear at the end of life is that you played it safe and did not make any mistake at all. Not that you take more physical risks but more risks of the heart and the risk to truly reach out for what you want in your life.
- Begin by imagining the highest possible good that could occur by taking the risk. Then imagine the worst possible thing that could happen and ask if I could handle the worst things. Many of us live our lives in quite the opposite way: when faced with a risk, we imagine the worst things that could happen and hold these thoughts in front of us.
- Make sure we try for the things we want in our lives, because we are unlikely to regret trying and failing.
What often determines our happiness in life is the step we take after a setback. To love after we have been hurt or lost. To try even after we have failed or being rejected.
- It is not just the receiving of love that matters. The secret to happiness and purpose is also to be a loving person. If you cannot get love, you can always become love itself. Become love rather than seek love and it starts by acting with love toward our own self.
- Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy. — Thich Nhat Hanh
- Living in the moment means to not focus on the past or the future, but experience each moment with gratitude and purpose fully. Do not judge our lives but to enjoy more by recognising that we have the powers in each moment to choose contentment and happiness.
- Nothing should be seen as simply something to “get through” and no day should be wasted as though it was unimportant.
- The thoughts that we indulge in ultimately shape us. We have the power to shape our thoughts as they are all in our head only. Each day we can train our mind not to be obsess with regret for the past, nor to worry for tomorrow, but to be in this present moment.
- What really matters in life is what you would leave behind that something’s different because you have been here. We have a great deal of control over what we give, much more than what we get. “I left the campsite better than I found it.”
- Two great tasks of a human life: to find ourselves and to lose ourselves. See that we are connected to something much larger, something there had a life before us and will have a life after us. The loss of the self is an entity of great significance. We can lose ourselves in this larger story. Giving connects us to something larger.
- Living wisely is the antidote to the fear of death. When we realise that we are part of a much larger story, our death becomes something we can accept with grace.
- Humans are at the top of the spiral, but this does not make us the most important, only the most vulnerable. We are dependent on all other living things, not more important than them. — White Standing Buffalo
- Wisdom is knowing what to do next; virtue is doing it. — David Starr Jordan
- We become what we pay attention to. The more we hold something in our awareness, the more likely we are to move towards that thing.
- Play more. Give back. Love what you do and do what you love.
- Seek to learn from the past, enjoy the present, and make way for a better future.
- Love yourself and the rest will follow. Do not be ruled by fear.
- Don’t take yourself seriously; don’t get trapped by the ideas in your head; they are not the same as the reality.
- Eat healthy, be physically active, invest your energy in making wherever you are a more just and happy community.
- Live your passion and be of service to others.
- Play hard, be a good sport and have fun. Throw yourself into it, be honest, a player and don’t take life or yourself too seriously. I’d rather win than lose, but playing the game is what matters.
- Have as much fun, joy and pleasure as you can while causing no harm to others.
- Pay your bills. Don’t make money your goal; manage your money. Choose a job that you are going to enjoy because you are going to spend a lot of time doing it.
November 5, 2015
เป็นหนังสืออีกเล่มที่ควรค้นพบก่อนตาย ในหนังสือเล่มนี้มีแง่คิดที่ดีมากมาย สิ่งหนึ่งที่หนังสือได้แยกไว้ชัดเจนระหว่าง "ความรู้" กับ "ปัญญา" ว่าสิ่งที่เราควรค้นหาคือปัญญา และการพบปัญญาจะทำให้เราพบความหมายของชีวิตได้ ความลับทั้ง 5 ข้อที่หนังสือได้กล่าวมีความเกี่ยวพันด้านจิตวิญญาณของศาสนาหรือสิ่งที่แต่ละคนศรัทธาด้วย แต่เหนือสิ่งอื่นใดผู้เขียนได้ย้ำเสมอให้เราใคร่ครวญของสิ่งที่เป็นเป้าหมายในชีวิตและอยู่กับมันทุกวัน เพราะเมื่อถึงวันหนึ่งที่เราแก่ตัวลง สิ่งที่เรากลัวที่สุดไม่ใช่ความตาย หากแต่เป็นสิ่งที่เราไม่กล้าที่จะทำ(ไม่กล้าเสี่ยง)หรือทำไม่เต็มที่ในขณะที่เรามีชีวิตอยู่ และเวลาเป็นสิ่งที่ไม่เคยหวนคืน
สิ่งหนึ่งที่ชอบคือนักเขียนได้ทำการสัมภาษณ์คนที่ผ่านโลกมามากและมีความสุขเป็นจำนวน 235 คน (คัดเลือกจากผู้ได้รับเสนอชื่อกว่า 18,000 คน) คำถามประกอบไปด้วย 14 ข้อ แต่ข้อที่ชวนคิดทั้งในฐานะผู้ถามและผู้ตอบ นั่นคือ "อะไรทำให้คุณรู้สึกถึงความหมายและจุดหมายในชีวิตได้มากที่สุด ทำไมการที่คุณมีชีวิตอยู่จึงสำคัญนัก"
คำพูดและประสบการณ์ของที่มีความสุขเหล่านี้ที่เล่ามาล้วนเป็นสิ่งมีค่าให้กับคนรุ่นหลังได้เดินตาม และเก็บเป็นปัญญาเพื่อนำไปใช้และส่งต่อเป็นมรดกทางปัญญาสืบไป
สิ่งหนึ่งที่ชอบคือนักเขียนได้ทำการสัมภาษณ์คนที่ผ่านโลกมามากและมีความสุขเป็นจำนวน 235 คน (คัดเลือกจากผู้ได้รับเสนอชื่อกว่า 18,000 คน) คำถามประกอบไปด้วย 14 ข้อ แต่ข้อที่ชวนคิดทั้งในฐานะผู้ถามและผู้ตอบ นั่นคือ "อะไรทำให้คุณรู้สึกถึงความหมายและจุดหมายในชีวิตได้มากที่สุด ทำไมการที่คุณมีชีวิตอยู่จึงสำคัญนัก"
คำพูดและประสบการณ์ของที่มีความสุขเหล่านี้ที่เล่ามาล้วนเป็นสิ่งมีค่าให้กับคนรุ่นหลังได้เดินตาม และเก็บเป็นปัญญาเพื่อนำไปใช้และส่งต่อเป็นมรดกทางปัญญาสืบไป
July 7, 2021
I thought the idea was an amazing one and still do, but I wish the book featured more of the people he interviewed and less of his own voice. Most of the information is common sense and a feel a lot of the language could be eliminated for a more condensed book or to offer more room for the stories of those he interviewed.
July 17, 2018
No big surprises for me, the self-help book queen. I learned much the same from Don Miguel Ruiz and Eckhart Tolle, to name but a few. Always good to read another take on the perspectives of living for today, being present and grateful, doing one’s best without regret...etc. I liked his strategy for changing habits of a lifetime. And the stories, especially that they were often from Canadians. I also liked that he emphasized the value of being a wise elder (not all old people are wise) and being proud of the role of passing knowledge to the young. I am happy to be an elder now, and I don’t fear death. Anyone who does should read this book.
May 8, 2008
This is a book worth sticking with even if you don't particularly gel with the author's style. It examines the results of many hundreds of interviews with people over 60 whose peers/family rated them as happy with how their long lives had been.
Izzo then identifies 5 themes that are common to these stories and suggests how we might incorporate them into our lives. Like many of these things I guess there is nothing completely new here but seeing it in this way is very valuable and illuminating, especially as it comes from research with people who have figured it out.
Izzo then identifies 5 themes that are common to these stories and suggests how we might incorporate them into our lives. Like many of these things I guess there is nothing completely new here but seeing it in this way is very valuable and illuminating, especially as it comes from research with people who have figured it out.
March 9, 2017
Fairly standard advice we've been hearing all our lives. Like any other advice, it's power depends on you acting on it. Here are the five secrets, in case you want to save your money.
1 - be true to yourself. Follow your own heart, path, dreams.
2 - leave no regrets. You won't regret doing things, but you will regret NOT doing things.
3 - become love. Be (or become) a loving person.
4 - live the moment. Be grateful for each day/moment.
5 - give more than you take. Serve the larger community and future generations.
1 - be true to yourself. Follow your own heart, path, dreams.
2 - leave no regrets. You won't regret doing things, but you will regret NOT doing things.
3 - become love. Be (or become) a loving person.
4 - live the moment. Be grateful for each day/moment.
5 - give more than you take. Serve the larger community and future generations.
August 29, 2019
The ideas mentioned in the book are not entirely new, especially to those who've read a lot of self-help books. We all've heard about them. However, it makes me realise how very important they are. So important that the elderly choose to pass them on to us. This book can definitely improve your life if you put all the secrets into action.
October 11, 2014
Ce livre m'a donné l'impression d'avoir une "vieille âme". Ces conseils de 230 personnes âgées qui ont trouvé le bonheur, résumés en 5 "perles", j'ai le sentiment de les avoir déjà intégrés à ma vie. Je dois être sur la bonne voie! :)
August 8, 2012
olmeden once yapmamiz gereken bilmem kac sey kitaplariyla ilk defa bu kitapla tanistim ve onda da bitirdim. bazi kitaplar bir sey katmasa da okumasi eglencelidir ve en azindan kitap okunan vaktin hos gecmesini saglar, bu kitap ise ne bir sey veriyor ne de eglenceli.
April 1, 2014
Izzo interviewed 200 people,ages 60 to 106, and asked them about the secret to a happy life. The "five secrets" are predictable, but the stories covered are insightful, moving, and thought-provoking.
April 11, 2013
really well done. enjoyed it.
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