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If You Live to 100, You Might as Well Be Happy: Essays on Ordinary Joy
This endearing, giftable guidebook by Korean bestseller Dr. Rhee reflects on the wisdom he’s learned during his how to forgive, persevere, and stop the rat race, plus the joys of living simply and the power of ordinary happiness. He explores his relationships with his wife, children, and grandchildren, and how to stay whole as your body naturally ages. If You’re Going to Live to 100 is a meditation on aging contently and finding peace and humor in everyday life.
208 pages, Hardcover
Published May 7, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 131 reviews
June 10, 2024
Brief: This book is called “If you live to 100, you might as well be happy” by Rhee Kun Hoo. It is a reminder to not underestimate the power of ordinary happiness. Originally, this book was recorded in Korean but his translator, as evidenced in the later chapters, took great care in ensuring that its translation from Korean to English was accessible and palatable. Although not apparent from the start, this book may be summarised as a person’s way of welcoming the most important guest of your life, death, and how to do so without falling into complete despair. It is beautiful and thought provoking in a manner which is both humbling and bitter sweet. I could not put it down!
My favourite passage “But fearing the future doesn’t help us to face it”.
NB: hot tip from the author. Celebrate milestone birthdays by booking in individual appointments throughout the year with your favourite people. In this way, you’ll get time to really get to talk and hear them. Then before you depart from them, tell them you wanted to see them for your birthday!
BS
My favourite passage “But fearing the future doesn’t help us to face it”.
NB: hot tip from the author. Celebrate milestone birthdays by booking in individual appointments throughout the year with your favourite people. In this way, you’ll get time to really get to talk and hear them. Then before you depart from them, tell them you wanted to see them for your birthday!
BS
September 4, 2024
Maybe I am not old enough to truly appreciate this book, but I thought it wasn't written in a compelling way. I found myself bored and wanting to skim. It just didn't resonate with me. It felt like too much telling and not enough showing.
May 27, 2024
Really beautiful book. We need more books like this. The intital was a bit depressing but Mr. Rhee definitely had a point. Taught me a lot and let me look at aspects of life I never did. Will truly try to apply his insights and learn from his lessons.
An amazing and very inspiring individual. Would definitely go to his talk(even though the author may think his lecture may become ramblings!).
Really respect you, thankyou for writing this amazing book!
An amazing and very inspiring individual. Would definitely go to his talk(even though the author may think his lecture may become ramblings!).
Really respect you, thankyou for writing this amazing book!
June 13, 2025
Do understand that this is not a narrative. Each chapter's title is a clue to understanding the 'argument' of the text of each, because they're not really chapters but essays.
Do not expect perfectly coherent discussion - as we age, we have conflicting feelings. For a simple example, we don't want to 'look our age' but we do want the respect accorded elders. Do not expect every bit to apply to your life. Do not expect a perfect translation.
Do enjoy. Especially if you're in your 'golden years' yourself, but also if you want to learn more about what the older people around you are going through.
And do enjoy the tidbits of South Korean history and culture. I'm certainly learning plenty.
---
Done. The essays are, after all, arranged in an attempt to be coherent, to have rationale for which comes first, next, last. No worries though whether you want read one at a time or in any order. You'll likely find different favorite bits than I did; here follow mine:
This man, this psychiatrist and father, who has experienced life under the rule of Japan, the fight for Korean independence, and then the division of South and North, nonetheless says:
"Things are tough for the younger generations in ways that are very much unlike our times.... They've experienced the extreme competition of our tumultuous modern age, which often proves dehumanizing and harmful to their self esteem. Despite all their hard work, there will be less security and financial stability for them than there was for us."
He adds, "Maybe, just maybe what they need is not a teacher but a listener."
More advice: Practice forgiveness, for your sake, not theirs. "Once you've disengaged and have more room for reflection, try to study your trauma from a new angle. When you're able to put some distance between yourself and that painful memory, you'll have more room for re-evaluation and understanding."
" A trend Korean Millennials and Gen Zs live by: sticking with the small but sure happiness they can find in their everyday lives instead of sacrificing their present in pursuit of faraway, uncertain happiness."
"There is a uniquely human ability that's unlikely to be replaced by AI. It's empathy, or EQ, broadly speaking. In our individualist society of a growing number of one-person family units, people with superior EQ will be more and more highly sought-after. But how do you improve your empathetic skills? By connecting and forming deep bonds with others."
"Even if you had known it [what you know now] then, it might not have changed a single thing." For one thing, knowing about all the things that can go wrong would have interfered with having enough courage to strive.
One bit is particularly relevant to me. "Memory problems can you leave your feeling scatter-brained... struggling to get to the point or going off track way too often." My son says I do this when we have a conversation; he can't keep up with me because I don't finish articulating each observation or query, etc., nor do I use segues or other cues. But recently a neurologist gave me a completely clean bill of health so I dunno. I guess I'll just try harder to focus, in conversation as well as in daily tasks, etc.
"If you search for and develop a wide vocabulary for your feelings, you learn to avoid getting fixated on one dominant element in the complex concoction of your feelings and falsely amplify that alone. What's more, the process of articulating how you feel might itself prove cathartic."
Well, tldr, I, age 62, enjoyed it and am glad I read it, but my 83 year old mother only skimmed it. She did say she took some notes though!
"Ordinary memories... bring a smile to my lips, my heart swelling with the warmth of deep joy and filling me with the strength to tackle another day." "I'm happy to wake up to another day, and to get to enjoy yet another morning in my life. I'm happy to be able to watch a show on TV, as my hearing and health are still good enough. I'm happy to be able to perform an easy task on my computer, despite my partial blindness.... Remember to keep an eye on for good memories you can make right here, right now. We can find happiness in all of the most unexpected corners of our everyday life."
Do not expect perfectly coherent discussion - as we age, we have conflicting feelings. For a simple example, we don't want to 'look our age' but we do want the respect accorded elders. Do not expect every bit to apply to your life. Do not expect a perfect translation.
Do enjoy. Especially if you're in your 'golden years' yourself, but also if you want to learn more about what the older people around you are going through.
And do enjoy the tidbits of South Korean history and culture. I'm certainly learning plenty.
---
Done. The essays are, after all, arranged in an attempt to be coherent, to have rationale for which comes first, next, last. No worries though whether you want read one at a time or in any order. You'll likely find different favorite bits than I did; here follow mine:
This man, this psychiatrist and father, who has experienced life under the rule of Japan, the fight for Korean independence, and then the division of South and North, nonetheless says:
"Things are tough for the younger generations in ways that are very much unlike our times.... They've experienced the extreme competition of our tumultuous modern age, which often proves dehumanizing and harmful to their self esteem. Despite all their hard work, there will be less security and financial stability for them than there was for us."
He adds, "Maybe, just maybe what they need is not a teacher but a listener."
More advice: Practice forgiveness, for your sake, not theirs. "Once you've disengaged and have more room for reflection, try to study your trauma from a new angle. When you're able to put some distance between yourself and that painful memory, you'll have more room for re-evaluation and understanding."
" A trend Korean Millennials and Gen Zs live by: sticking with the small but sure happiness they can find in their everyday lives instead of sacrificing their present in pursuit of faraway, uncertain happiness."
"There is a uniquely human ability that's unlikely to be replaced by AI. It's empathy, or EQ, broadly speaking. In our individualist society of a growing number of one-person family units, people with superior EQ will be more and more highly sought-after. But how do you improve your empathetic skills? By connecting and forming deep bonds with others."
"Even if you had known it [what you know now] then, it might not have changed a single thing." For one thing, knowing about all the things that can go wrong would have interfered with having enough courage to strive.
One bit is particularly relevant to me. "Memory problems can you leave your feeling scatter-brained... struggling to get to the point or going off track way too often." My son says I do this when we have a conversation; he can't keep up with me because I don't finish articulating each observation or query, etc., nor do I use segues or other cues. But recently a neurologist gave me a completely clean bill of health so I dunno. I guess I'll just try harder to focus, in conversation as well as in daily tasks, etc.
"If you search for and develop a wide vocabulary for your feelings, you learn to avoid getting fixated on one dominant element in the complex concoction of your feelings and falsely amplify that alone. What's more, the process of articulating how you feel might itself prove cathartic."
Well, tldr, I, age 62, enjoyed it and am glad I read it, but my 83 year old mother only skimmed it. She did say she took some notes though!
"Ordinary memories... bring a smile to my lips, my heart swelling with the warmth of deep joy and filling me with the strength to tackle another day." "I'm happy to wake up to another day, and to get to enjoy yet another morning in my life. I'm happy to be able to watch a show on TV, as my hearing and health are still good enough. I'm happy to be able to perform an easy task on my computer, despite my partial blindness.... Remember to keep an eye on for good memories you can make right here, right now. We can find happiness in all of the most unexpected corners of our everyday life."
August 20, 2024
The target audience seems to be 80-year-olds. Everything can be summarised as “accept your reality and always look for the positive in every situation”. Nothing groundbreaking or transformative.
March 28, 2025
Livrinho simpático com conselhos para envelhecer bem e não perder o estilo.
November 2, 2024
If You Live to 100 is by 87 year old Rhee Kun Hoo. He once went to jail for much of his 20s for his activism, protesting a totalitarian government, but even more impactful is the fact he improved the mental health system of Korea through his work as a psychiatrist and as a professor. The author has four children and several grandkids, and he lives together with them as an intergenerational family in a villa.
The audience for this book feels like it's for retirees (though there is no harm in learning from the author's wisdom), and the author reflects on the life he has lived so far, including the past thirty years living with seven chronic illnesses. He shares his life tips for aging gracefully, without forcefulness. I think for each reader would be a different takeaway message. For me, it was to live kindly, volunteer and help your community (and treat it as something ordinary) and don't let money take its reign over you, and know when to give in and listen to the younger generations.
'Not knowing begets fear, and knowledge makes you brave. It holds true for the big picture of life. The more you come to understand about life, the more prepared you become for whatever life has in store for you.'
'I believe that our true legacies are not inscribed in headstones. ... The only inscriptions we actually leave behind are the good memories we create with our loved ones. If I can make someone else's life a little happier, wouldn't my life have been worthwhile? Many of us make it through each day by holding on to the happy memories we've made with our loved ones.'
'Not everyone knows what it means to work hard. By which I mean, the pleasure you get from working hard is a reward reserved exclusively for those who know who they are and have found meaningful work. ... The good news is that work is a lifelong mission. And just because you're retired doesn't mean you need to stop working. If you've so far missed out on the meaning and pleasure of work, why not start now? Find the work that's truly meaningful to you, and see what joy it brings you.'
The audience for this book feels like it's for retirees (though there is no harm in learning from the author's wisdom), and the author reflects on the life he has lived so far, including the past thirty years living with seven chronic illnesses. He shares his life tips for aging gracefully, without forcefulness. I think for each reader would be a different takeaway message. For me, it was to live kindly, volunteer and help your community (and treat it as something ordinary) and don't let money take its reign over you, and know when to give in and listen to the younger generations.
'Not knowing begets fear, and knowledge makes you brave. It holds true for the big picture of life. The more you come to understand about life, the more prepared you become for whatever life has in store for you.'
'I believe that our true legacies are not inscribed in headstones. ... The only inscriptions we actually leave behind are the good memories we create with our loved ones. If I can make someone else's life a little happier, wouldn't my life have been worthwhile? Many of us make it through each day by holding on to the happy memories we've made with our loved ones.'
'Not everyone knows what it means to work hard. By which I mean, the pleasure you get from working hard is a reward reserved exclusively for those who know who they are and have found meaningful work. ... The good news is that work is a lifelong mission. And just because you're retired doesn't mean you need to stop working. If you've so far missed out on the meaning and pleasure of work, why not start now? Find the work that's truly meaningful to you, and see what joy it brings you.'
July 13, 2024
This book is written by an 87 year old man. I was surprised how accepting and gracefully he wrote about aging and others stepping into the roles he’s toiled in for so long. It was a refreshing read!
January 26, 2025
Volledig tegen mijn gewoonte in, maar na 90 pagina’s toch maar gestopt. Geen levenswijsheden gevonden, alleen veel gestoef van een oude man over zichzelf en zijn verwezenlijkingen. Voor mij dus geen aanrader. De tweede ster is simpelweg uit beleefdheid.
July 6, 2026
This book is especially geared toward people who are a bit older, offering thoughtful reflections and practical advice on embracing aging without letting it define you. It encourages readers to hold on to a youthful mindset, even as the years pass.
I really enjoyed it and found several ideas worth taking away. That said, I think I'll appreciate it even more in a few years, when more of the topics feel personally relevant. It's definitely one I'd like to revisit down the road.
I really enjoyed it and found several ideas worth taking away. That said, I think I'll appreciate it even more in a few years, when more of the topics feel personally relevant. It's definitely one I'd like to revisit down the road.
February 24, 2025
De 87-jarige psychiater Rhee Kun Hoo deelt zijn levenslessen en die zijn mild en nuchter. Het boek geeft meteen ook een inkijkje in de Koreaanse cultuur en geeft de ouderen in onze maatschappij een waardige stem.
April 23, 2025
"La vida es un libro que deberías leer hasta la última página"
✨🙌🏼
Este es un libro que todo el mundo debería leer, lo tomé para ver como ayudaba a mis padres a tener una vida mas longeva y me encuentro con un montón de consejos para la vida desde mucho antes.
Un psiquiatra que comenta su propia experiencia y como ha enfrentado sus dificultades en la vida.
Marqué muchísimas frases, que sirven tanto para los adultos mayores como para jóvenes, y sobre todo mediana edad, para desde ya prepararse para este momento en la vida, la vejez. Se sabe que después de los 30 uno empieza a envejecer quierase o no. Asi que siento que este libro es el fantasma de las navidades futuras, osea la experiencia de este sabio autor te dice que hacer, y que no, sus propios errores son consejos. etc. etc. etc
Como para releer muchas veces, hasta aprender de verdad todo lo que dice.
Me encantó 💖🫰🏼✨
✨🙌🏼
Este es un libro que todo el mundo debería leer, lo tomé para ver como ayudaba a mis padres a tener una vida mas longeva y me encuentro con un montón de consejos para la vida desde mucho antes.
Un psiquiatra que comenta su propia experiencia y como ha enfrentado sus dificultades en la vida.
Marqué muchísimas frases, que sirven tanto para los adultos mayores como para jóvenes, y sobre todo mediana edad, para desde ya prepararse para este momento en la vida, la vejez. Se sabe que después de los 30 uno empieza a envejecer quierase o no. Asi que siento que este libro es el fantasma de las navidades futuras, osea la experiencia de este sabio autor te dice que hacer, y que no, sus propios errores son consejos. etc. etc. etc
Como para releer muchas veces, hasta aprender de verdad todo lo que dice.
Me encantó 💖🫰🏼✨
July 12, 2024
Lernerrgend
Rhee Kun Hoo, mittlerweile selber fast 90, erzählt in seinem Lebensratgeber von seinen Tipps für ein würdevolles Altern. Seine Aussagen stehen alle dafür, das Leben auch im hohen Alter noch zu genießen. Wie das gelingen kann, geht er unterteilt in verschiedene Bereiche an. Für quasi jede seiner Aussagen nutzt er Beispiele aus seinem Leben, die seine Thesen anschaulich verdeutlichen.
Die vielen persönlichen Annekdoten machen das Buch zu einem ganz besonderen Werk, das sich super lesen lesen lässt und den Leser gleichzeitig auf fast schon freundschaftliche Weise mit in Hoos Leben nimmt. Rhee Kun Hoo schreibt niemals urteilend, sondern zeigt stets nur auf, welche positiven Effekte es z.B. hat sich nicht zu sehr auf seine Altersleiden zu konzentrieren, um stattdessen auch im Alter noch etwas Neues zu erlernen. Abseits von den Altersweisheiten geht es auch um das Aufwachsen in Südkorea zu einer schwierigen Zeit und wie sich das Land verändert hat.
Mich persönlich konnte Rhee Kun Hoo mit seinem reichen Erfahrungsschatz einige Male zum Nachdenken anregen. Auch wenn seine Tipps nicht weltverändernd sind, so helfen sie doch, sich wieder auf die wichtigen Werte zurückzubesinnen.
Rhee Kun Hoo, mittlerweile selber fast 90, erzählt in seinem Lebensratgeber von seinen Tipps für ein würdevolles Altern. Seine Aussagen stehen alle dafür, das Leben auch im hohen Alter noch zu genießen. Wie das gelingen kann, geht er unterteilt in verschiedene Bereiche an. Für quasi jede seiner Aussagen nutzt er Beispiele aus seinem Leben, die seine Thesen anschaulich verdeutlichen.
Die vielen persönlichen Annekdoten machen das Buch zu einem ganz besonderen Werk, das sich super lesen lesen lässt und den Leser gleichzeitig auf fast schon freundschaftliche Weise mit in Hoos Leben nimmt. Rhee Kun Hoo schreibt niemals urteilend, sondern zeigt stets nur auf, welche positiven Effekte es z.B. hat sich nicht zu sehr auf seine Altersleiden zu konzentrieren, um stattdessen auch im Alter noch etwas Neues zu erlernen. Abseits von den Altersweisheiten geht es auch um das Aufwachsen in Südkorea zu einer schwierigen Zeit und wie sich das Land verändert hat.
Mich persönlich konnte Rhee Kun Hoo mit seinem reichen Erfahrungsschatz einige Male zum Nachdenken anregen. Auch wenn seine Tipps nicht weltverändernd sind, so helfen sie doch, sich wieder auf die wichtigen Werte zurückzubesinnen.
April 26, 2025
O escritor não nos mostra os passos para ter uma vida mais feliz, diz-nos como acha que podemos ser mais felizes até aos 100. Fala sobre a sua experiência, como encarou a velhice e como decidiu viver a sua reforma. Conta-nos a sua história de vida de uma forma simples e direta. Não admira que este livro seja um bestseller. Abre-nos os olhos à máxima de que todos os dias, mesmo nos momentos mais monótonos, onde parece não acontecer nada, devemos aproveitar bem e apreciar o que nos rodeia.
November 3, 2024
Very quick read, felt like a list of learnings passed down from wise person to young person - I guess you could call it didactic? Some chapters more applicable than others, also very big on filial piety which I am unsure if I am on board with despite also being Asian. Anyway, quite wholesome, maybe it is my folly of youth that I take away some messages more than others.
September 26, 2025
Inspireert om naar je ouderwordende ik op een positieve manier te kijken. Ook goed om op een andere manier tegenover je ouders te staan, maar je wilt na het lezen van dit boek vooral dat zij het lezen en hier iets mee doen. Zo kan het boek ook net voor frustratie zorgen als je weet dat je ouders het niet gaan willen lezen. Het laat mij zodoende met een leeg gevoel achter.
April 15, 2026
Güney Koreli bir psikiyatrist olan Rhee Kun Hoo’dan yaşam dersleri niteliğinde son derece akıcı ve samimi duygularla yazılmış, sohbet havasında ilerleyen bir kitap. En çok Güney Kore atasözlerini ve 78 yaşında resim yapmaya başlayıp 101 yaşında ölene kadar resim yapmayı sürdüren Anna Mary Moses’in ilham verici yaşam öyküsünü sevdim.
January 18, 2025
Gelezen in het nederlands, opzich een leuk boekje met leuke verhalen/tips voor het leven, maar het grootste gedeelte is toch wel echt gericht op mensen van zo'n 15 jaar ouder dan ik, en dat is wel zonde.
July 13, 2024
Watch my review on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5l4zv...
January 17, 2025
Nuttige inzichten, anders dan de Westerse zelfhulp boeken.
July 15, 2026
If you live to 100, don't waste your time reading this😇
July 22, 2026
Dit boek is een hype, ik vond het tegenvallen. De schrijver spreekt zich redelijk vaak tegen in details, hij laat de lezer ook weinig ruimte om zelf na te denken, hij kauwt alles voor. Ergerlijk!
De algemene levenswijsheid: zoek je geluk in kleine dingen, geef niet op, koester wat echt belangrijk is, die kloppen als een bus. Maar wie weet dit nou niet?
Het leest gemakkelijk, dus ik heb het uitgekregen. Maar het is geen boek dat je in 1 ruk uitleest. En de schrijver lijkt toch ook wel best ingenomen met zichzelf...
De algemene levenswijsheid: zoek je geluk in kleine dingen, geef niet op, koester wat echt belangrijk is, die kloppen als een bus. Maar wie weet dit nou niet?
Het leest gemakkelijk, dus ik heb het uitgekregen. Maar het is geen boek dat je in 1 ruk uitleest. En de schrijver lijkt toch ook wel best ingenomen met zichzelf...
August 30, 2025
Ik heb er ook 100 jaar over gedaan 😅
May 9, 2026
Dit boek is een verzameling van anekdotes, het mist de drijfkracht van een echte roman. Het advies van Rhee Kun Hoo is ook nogal universeel: leef authentiek, maak je niet nodeloos druk, draag zorg voor je relaties, spreek uit wat je echt voelt en waardeer het alledaagse geluk. Niets wat we niet eerder hebben gehoord. Wat Als je toch honderd wordt, kun je net zo goed gelukkig zijn voor mij toch interessant maakt, is dat de auteur, een hoogbejaarde Koreaanse man uit academische kringen, in een totaal andere wereld leeft dan ik. Zijn taxi-verhalen vind ik de beste passages.
June 23, 2024
In Würde älter werden
Mit 43 Jahren stehe ich wohl über meiner Lebensmitte aber auch nur, wenn es mein Schicksal gnädig mit mir meint. Ich habe grosse Mühe damit zu akzeptieren, dass man sein Schicksal nicht ändern kann. Niemand weiss wie lange das eigene Leben dauern und wann die Gesundheit bröckeln wird.
Ich liebe mein Leben und meine Familie und habe gerade deswegen viele Verlustängste. Ich bin aus diesem Grund immer wieder auf der Suche nach Büchern, die mir helfen meine Gedanken einigermassen in den Griff zu kriegen und das Positive in den Fokus zu rücken.
Dieses Buch gefällt mir sehr gut und ist zu einem Lieblingsbuch geworden - ich mag alles daran. Der Autor schreibt einfach und verständlich in einer angenehmen und schönen Sprache, die den richtigen Ton trifft. Rhee Kun Hoo, fast neunzig Jahre alt, fasst die wichtigsten Prinzipien für ein glückliches und würdevolles Altern gut zusammen und macht einem Mut. Ich werde mich dank seinen Zeilen in Zukunft wohl nicht mehr so allein fühlen, denn ich kann das Buch in meine Hände nehmen und mir den Inhalt immer wieder zu Gemüte führen. Ich bin sicher, dass ich das machen werde.
Ich mag die Gestaltung und die Farbgebung dieses Buches. Die Schildkröte als Symbol ist sehr passend und stimmig für mich. Die Kapitellängen sind genau richtig, um immer wieder einzelne Teile zu lesen.
Mit 43 Jahren stehe ich wohl über meiner Lebensmitte aber auch nur, wenn es mein Schicksal gnädig mit mir meint. Ich habe grosse Mühe damit zu akzeptieren, dass man sein Schicksal nicht ändern kann. Niemand weiss wie lange das eigene Leben dauern und wann die Gesundheit bröckeln wird.
Ich liebe mein Leben und meine Familie und habe gerade deswegen viele Verlustängste. Ich bin aus diesem Grund immer wieder auf der Suche nach Büchern, die mir helfen meine Gedanken einigermassen in den Griff zu kriegen und das Positive in den Fokus zu rücken.
Dieses Buch gefällt mir sehr gut und ist zu einem Lieblingsbuch geworden - ich mag alles daran. Der Autor schreibt einfach und verständlich in einer angenehmen und schönen Sprache, die den richtigen Ton trifft. Rhee Kun Hoo, fast neunzig Jahre alt, fasst die wichtigsten Prinzipien für ein glückliches und würdevolles Altern gut zusammen und macht einem Mut. Ich werde mich dank seinen Zeilen in Zukunft wohl nicht mehr so allein fühlen, denn ich kann das Buch in meine Hände nehmen und mir den Inhalt immer wieder zu Gemüte führen. Ich bin sicher, dass ich das machen werde.
Ich mag die Gestaltung und die Farbgebung dieses Buches. Die Schildkröte als Symbol ist sehr passend und stimmig für mich. Die Kapitellängen sind genau richtig, um immer wieder einzelne Teile zu lesen.
December 23, 2024
Read section by section then would let it sit. The bits not translated from Korean made me wish I knew the language, and I am always grateful for words from elders I do not know. Feel akin to much of what he wrote save for having and being with children. Substitute dogs, and then yes.
Loved this:
"While I was having a hard time at medical school, I found the spiritual companions of my life--mountains."
Loved this:
"While I was having a hard time at medical school, I found the spiritual companions of my life--mountains."
December 11, 2025
It started interesting. By Chapter 4 I was thinking that it was actually quite miserable despite I think it was supposed to be cheery-ish? I didn't finish it.
June 26, 2026
"Life is a story that deserves to be read until the very last page. No one knows what the universe has in store for us. Happiness can be found in the most unexpected corners of everyday life."
Some books arrive in our lives exactly when we need them. I believe this was one of them.
I did not read If You Live to 100, You Might As Well Be Happy by Rhee Kun Hoo quickly. It was a book to be sipped slowly, one chapter at a time, allowing its reflections to settle in my mind.
I am at a stage of life that often leaves me restless. Time seems to have accelerated beyond measure. Retirement, once a distant concept, is slowly approaching. I find myself confronting the uncomfortable realization that I am no longer young and wondering what lies ahead. When a friend handed me this book after reading it herself, she must have sensed that I needed its wisdom.
Rhee Kun Hoo, one of South Korea's most respected psychiatrists, writes about aging, self-acceptance, gratitude, relationships, and the possibility of finding peace in later life. Drawing on both his professional experience and his own remarkably eventful life, he offers neither miracle solutions nor inspirational slogans. Instead, he shares something far more valuable: perspective.
One of the concepts that resonated most deeply with me is jung-gyeon, which he describes as the ability to see things as they truly are and to see ourselves as we truly are. Aging, he argues, requires precisely this kind of honesty. We must learn to acknowledge our limitations without bitterness and our emotions without shame. "Old age is not a punishment," he reminds us.
Again and again, the author returns to the importance of self-knowledge. "For a balanced existence, we must first know who we are," he writes. Meaningful work, fulfillment, even the ability to step aside gracefully when the time comes, all begin with understanding ourselves.
Among the many passages I underlined, one in particular stayed with me:
"The only truth is that your life has truly been your own choice. If you learn to accept it, you will be able to navigate toward tomorrow. Try to be proud of it."
Simple words, perhaps. Yet they carry remarkable power.
Another aspect I particularly enjoyed was the glimpse the book offers into Korean culture and modern Korean history. I have long been fascinated by Korea's transformation over the past century, and Rhee's personal memories provide a valuable perspective on a society that has changed dramatically while retaining strong ties to its traditions and values.
Does this book reveal some extraordinary secret that will transform aging into a joyful art? Not really. What it offers instead are small doses of wisdom, gentle observations and lessons drawn from a lifetime spent both living and listening to others.
And perhaps that is exactly why it works.
At a time when I find myself looking back as much as forward, this book offered neither false comfort nor easy answers. What it offered was something rarer: a compassionate reminder that every stage of life brings its own gifts and challenges and that happiness may still be waiting for us in places we have not yet thought to look.
Some books arrive in our lives exactly when we need them. I believe this was one of them.
I did not read If You Live to 100, You Might As Well Be Happy by Rhee Kun Hoo quickly. It was a book to be sipped slowly, one chapter at a time, allowing its reflections to settle in my mind.
I am at a stage of life that often leaves me restless. Time seems to have accelerated beyond measure. Retirement, once a distant concept, is slowly approaching. I find myself confronting the uncomfortable realization that I am no longer young and wondering what lies ahead. When a friend handed me this book after reading it herself, she must have sensed that I needed its wisdom.
Rhee Kun Hoo, one of South Korea's most respected psychiatrists, writes about aging, self-acceptance, gratitude, relationships, and the possibility of finding peace in later life. Drawing on both his professional experience and his own remarkably eventful life, he offers neither miracle solutions nor inspirational slogans. Instead, he shares something far more valuable: perspective.
One of the concepts that resonated most deeply with me is jung-gyeon, which he describes as the ability to see things as they truly are and to see ourselves as we truly are. Aging, he argues, requires precisely this kind of honesty. We must learn to acknowledge our limitations without bitterness and our emotions without shame. "Old age is not a punishment," he reminds us.
Again and again, the author returns to the importance of self-knowledge. "For a balanced existence, we must first know who we are," he writes. Meaningful work, fulfillment, even the ability to step aside gracefully when the time comes, all begin with understanding ourselves.
Among the many passages I underlined, one in particular stayed with me:
"The only truth is that your life has truly been your own choice. If you learn to accept it, you will be able to navigate toward tomorrow. Try to be proud of it."
Simple words, perhaps. Yet they carry remarkable power.
Another aspect I particularly enjoyed was the glimpse the book offers into Korean culture and modern Korean history. I have long been fascinated by Korea's transformation over the past century, and Rhee's personal memories provide a valuable perspective on a society that has changed dramatically while retaining strong ties to its traditions and values.
Does this book reveal some extraordinary secret that will transform aging into a joyful art? Not really. What it offers instead are small doses of wisdom, gentle observations and lessons drawn from a lifetime spent both living and listening to others.
And perhaps that is exactly why it works.
At a time when I find myself looking back as much as forward, this book offered neither false comfort nor easy answers. What it offered was something rarer: a compassionate reminder that every stage of life brings its own gifts and challenges and that happiness may still be waiting for us in places we have not yet thought to look.
June 20, 2024
Alleen al de bijzonder en nieuwsgierig makende titel weet mijn interesse naar de inhoud van het boek te wekken. Ik ben dol op non-fictie boeken rondom persoonlijke ontwikkeling en aangezien mijn streven is om 108 te worden en natuurlijk zo gelukkig mogelijk door het leven te gaan, ben ik erg benieuwd naar de inzichten en kennis van Rhee Kun Hoo.
Wat is de kracht van doodgewoon geluk? Rhee Kun Hoo vertelt het in zijn persoonlijke verhaal. Rhee Kun Hoo is inmiddels een gepensioneerde psychiater en vertelt over vergeving, spijt hebben en het altijd maar willen en blijven doorgaan, het plezier van een simpel en eenvoudig leven en de kracht die schuilt in gewoon geluk. Tijdens zijn eigen leven deed Rhee Kun Hoo een onuitputtelijke bron op van opmerkelijke ervaringen die hij als psychiater, humanist, activist, oorlogsoverlevende, echtgenoot, vader en grootvader heeft meegemaakt. Rhee Kun Hoo's inzichten bieden wijsheid, troost en mooie inzichten.
Wat een helder, persoonlijk en inspirerend levensverhaal van Rhee Kun Hoo. Hij weet door middel van verschillende gebeurtenissen, momenten en situaties van zijn leven een prachtige verzameling aan levenslessen aan je te bieden die uiteenlopen van het zien van liefde en goedheid, kwetsbaarheid, troost, steun, vergeving en de kracht van een simpel, eenvoudig en gelukkig leven.
Het boek is opgedeeld in vijf delen:
1) De keiharde waarheid over ouder worden
2) Zorg ervoor dat je nergens spijt van hebt
3) Het geheim van 'nog lang en gelukkig'
4) Het voordeel van ouder worden
5) Hoe je vandaag nog kan beginnen met 'nog lang en gelukkig'
Deze delen zijn weer onderverdeeld in vijf verschillende hoofdstukken rondom dit deel. Wat me direct opvalt en waarmee dit boek van Rhee Kun Hoo anders is dan de meeste andere non-fictie boeken rondom persoonlijke ontwikkeling en levenslessen. Rhee Kun Hoo deelt de levenslessen, wijsheid en inzichten vanuit zijn eigen persoonlijke verhaal. Het is hierdoor een verhaal wat eigenlijk als het ware leest als een biografie. Het is alsof je luisteraar bent van de persoonlijke, kwetsbare en openhartige verhalen over het leven van Rhee Kun Hoo. Het is mooi dat de verhalen heel uiteenlopend zijn. Zo deelt hij heel persoonlijke verhalen over zijn vaderschap en grootouderschap, maar deelt hij ook ervaringen over zijn tijd als activist en zelfs het strafblad dat hij hierdoor opliep.
Doordat hij het vertelt als zijn eigen verhalen, ga je gemakkelijk mee met Rhee Kun Hoo en neem je zijn levensinzichten, kennis en wijsheden gemakkelijk tot je. Daarnaast bevat het boek echt een aantal persoonlijke verhalen die me zonder twijfel altijd zullen bijblijven, want er zitten echt wat pareltjes tussen.
Als je honderd wordt, kun je net zo goed gelukkig zijn is een persoonlijk, openhartig en helder verhaal van Rhee Kun Hoo over zijn eigen leven en de levenslessen, wijsheden en inzichten die hij door de jaren heen opdeed. Hij vertelt openhartig over de fouten die hij maakte en hij durft zich kwetsbaar op te stellen. Hierdoor komt het verhaal echt bij je binnen en weet Rhee Kun Hoo je te raken. Daarbij bieden zijn verhalen zonder twijfel ook hoop, troost, steun, motivatie en geluk.
Wat is de kracht van doodgewoon geluk? Rhee Kun Hoo vertelt het in zijn persoonlijke verhaal. Rhee Kun Hoo is inmiddels een gepensioneerde psychiater en vertelt over vergeving, spijt hebben en het altijd maar willen en blijven doorgaan, het plezier van een simpel en eenvoudig leven en de kracht die schuilt in gewoon geluk. Tijdens zijn eigen leven deed Rhee Kun Hoo een onuitputtelijke bron op van opmerkelijke ervaringen die hij als psychiater, humanist, activist, oorlogsoverlevende, echtgenoot, vader en grootvader heeft meegemaakt. Rhee Kun Hoo's inzichten bieden wijsheid, troost en mooie inzichten.
Wat een helder, persoonlijk en inspirerend levensverhaal van Rhee Kun Hoo. Hij weet door middel van verschillende gebeurtenissen, momenten en situaties van zijn leven een prachtige verzameling aan levenslessen aan je te bieden die uiteenlopen van het zien van liefde en goedheid, kwetsbaarheid, troost, steun, vergeving en de kracht van een simpel, eenvoudig en gelukkig leven.
Het boek is opgedeeld in vijf delen:
1) De keiharde waarheid over ouder worden
2) Zorg ervoor dat je nergens spijt van hebt
3) Het geheim van 'nog lang en gelukkig'
4) Het voordeel van ouder worden
5) Hoe je vandaag nog kan beginnen met 'nog lang en gelukkig'
Deze delen zijn weer onderverdeeld in vijf verschillende hoofdstukken rondom dit deel. Wat me direct opvalt en waarmee dit boek van Rhee Kun Hoo anders is dan de meeste andere non-fictie boeken rondom persoonlijke ontwikkeling en levenslessen. Rhee Kun Hoo deelt de levenslessen, wijsheid en inzichten vanuit zijn eigen persoonlijke verhaal. Het is hierdoor een verhaal wat eigenlijk als het ware leest als een biografie. Het is alsof je luisteraar bent van de persoonlijke, kwetsbare en openhartige verhalen over het leven van Rhee Kun Hoo. Het is mooi dat de verhalen heel uiteenlopend zijn. Zo deelt hij heel persoonlijke verhalen over zijn vaderschap en grootouderschap, maar deelt hij ook ervaringen over zijn tijd als activist en zelfs het strafblad dat hij hierdoor opliep.
Doordat hij het vertelt als zijn eigen verhalen, ga je gemakkelijk mee met Rhee Kun Hoo en neem je zijn levensinzichten, kennis en wijsheden gemakkelijk tot je. Daarnaast bevat het boek echt een aantal persoonlijke verhalen die me zonder twijfel altijd zullen bijblijven, want er zitten echt wat pareltjes tussen.
Als je honderd wordt, kun je net zo goed gelukkig zijn is een persoonlijk, openhartig en helder verhaal van Rhee Kun Hoo over zijn eigen leven en de levenslessen, wijsheden en inzichten die hij door de jaren heen opdeed. Hij vertelt openhartig over de fouten die hij maakte en hij durft zich kwetsbaar op te stellen. Hierdoor komt het verhaal echt bij je binnen en weet Rhee Kun Hoo je te raken. Daarbij bieden zijn verhalen zonder twijfel ook hoop, troost, steun, motivatie en geluk.
May 31, 2025
Throughout my reading this book, it feels like a grandfather was talking to me, and giving me beautiful advices to live a meaningful life. Sitting with a kind heart, a gesture of an old man who simply wants you to slow down, breathe, and remember what it means to be human.
This book contains 5 parts that truly talks about a reflection of the author, as he's reaching 90 years of life, he is delightful to share his insights on what he had been through in life. He was facing hard times such as war, poverty when his family's business was down and imprisonment for pro-democracy activism and with that, he offers wisdom and words of encouragement on embracing the aging process. We are all getting old, right?
My favorite part from this book when he discusses about HAPPINESS. He highlights the value of finding contentment in simple, daily experiences, suggesting that true happiness often lies in the mundane rather than in extraordinary achievements. But it doesn't mean that he denies big achievements that we should celebrate and be proud of. He tries to bring the idea of appreciating small things that we often take it for granted such as a warm cup of coffee, watching the rain fall outside the window, browsing the books at the bookstores and many more.
Many of us are taught to believe we’ll only be happy after we succeed. For example, getting a job, buying a house, reaching certain milestones. Yes, it is true, it's a happiness. But, that doesn't mean that we couldn't be happy if we couldn't reach at certain point of life.
"You don’t have to wait for happiness. It’s already here—if you stop and notice".
"Don’t wait for the perfect moment. Happiness is already around you—in the little things you do every day."
This concept is especially comforting in a world that glorifies busyness and achievement. He gives us permission to slow down and find peace in being enough, just as we are.
So, if you are tired and hustle between works and responsibilities, and you feel pressured to keep up, inhale...exhale...and grab this book. It offers a breath of fresh air. If you love Tuesdays With Morrie, I promise you will love this book as well. Such an honest advices given and soulful reflection about life.
This book contains 5 parts that truly talks about a reflection of the author, as he's reaching 90 years of life, he is delightful to share his insights on what he had been through in life. He was facing hard times such as war, poverty when his family's business was down and imprisonment for pro-democracy activism and with that, he offers wisdom and words of encouragement on embracing the aging process. We are all getting old, right?
My favorite part from this book when he discusses about HAPPINESS. He highlights the value of finding contentment in simple, daily experiences, suggesting that true happiness often lies in the mundane rather than in extraordinary achievements. But it doesn't mean that he denies big achievements that we should celebrate and be proud of. He tries to bring the idea of appreciating small things that we often take it for granted such as a warm cup of coffee, watching the rain fall outside the window, browsing the books at the bookstores and many more.
Many of us are taught to believe we’ll only be happy after we succeed. For example, getting a job, buying a house, reaching certain milestones. Yes, it is true, it's a happiness. But, that doesn't mean that we couldn't be happy if we couldn't reach at certain point of life.
"You don’t have to wait for happiness. It’s already here—if you stop and notice".
"Don’t wait for the perfect moment. Happiness is already around you—in the little things you do every day."
This concept is especially comforting in a world that glorifies busyness and achievement. He gives us permission to slow down and find peace in being enough, just as we are.
So, if you are tired and hustle between works and responsibilities, and you feel pressured to keep up, inhale...exhale...and grab this book. It offers a breath of fresh air. If you love Tuesdays With Morrie, I promise you will love this book as well. Such an honest advices given and soulful reflection about life.
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