Life Lessons: Insights from 77 Years of Living: Stories, Reflections, and Answers to Life's Most Pressing Questions and Answers

by Sally Alter

174 pages, Paperback

Published February 25, 2025

About the author

Sally Alter has written seven fiction and nonfiction books. She has written extensively about bipolar disorder and has a new novella called Shards of Glass.

Sally was born in England, but currently resides in Texas. She’s written four books on bipolar disorder – “How to Live with Bipolar," “Bipolar 1 Disorder Rescue Plan,” "37 Symptoms of Bipolar Depression," and "The Bipolar Guide," a book on loneliness, “A Practical Guide to Overcoming Loneliness,” a book called “We Never Did Mornings,” (poetry) and a novella called "Shards of Glass".

Her credentials include: being the past editor of Illuminations—Schreiner University's International e-journal. Her poetry has been widely published in Illuminations, The Muse, The Texas Poetry Calendar, Houston Poetry Anthology, Austin International Poetry Anthology, The Kerrville Daily Times and The Hill Country Community Journal.

http://sallyalter.com

Reviews

[The Bourbon-Sipping Bibliophile · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sally Alter's "Life Lessons" is a warm and inviting book that feels less like a structured self-help manual and more like a heartfelt conversation with a wise and experienced friend, offering a comforting and relatable guide to navigating life's inevitable complexities. At 77, Alter opens her "table of wisdom" to readers, sharing the hard-earned insights gleaned from a life rich in experiences – both joyful and challenging. This book distinguishes itself by focusing on personal reflection and practical, experience-based advice, presented in an accessible and conversational style that feels both genuine and deeply human.

"Life Lessons" is structured as a dialogue, where Sally Alter addresses some of life's most pressing questions, those that resonate across generations and experiences. Drawing upon her 77 years, she delves into topics such as embracing loneliness, nurturing long-term relationships, navigating depression, cultivating self-love, strengthening spirituality, building confidence, healing from trauma, and managing feelings of being misunderstood. The book promises not just answers, but a shared journey of reflection, offering solace, strength, and clarity to readers seeking guidance and understanding in their own lives.

Recommended for individuals seeking gentle, experience-based guidance on navigating life's challenges. It is particularly well-suited for readers who appreciate conversational self-help, those drawn to personal stories and reflections, and anyone seeking a comforting and relatable voice to help them find strength and clarity in their own journeys. Readers seeking deeply academic or clinically focused self-help might find it less suited to their needs, but for those wanting accessible wisdom and a sense of connection, "Life Lessons" is a valuable read.

A warm, wise, and genuinely helpful book that earns a solid 4 out of 5 stars for its authentic voice, practical guidance, and comforting approach to life's enduring questions.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Christine Weald · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first I thought this would be entertaining and comical, but immediately realised it was a story of a severely traumatized person coming to terms living on her own. Although it could have been depressing to continue to read, the author’s determination to seek happiness shone through.

It was an interesting style but not one I would search for again.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.