Don't Sweat the Small Stuff: P. S. It's All Small Stuff

by Michael R. Mantell

Who knew that a self-help book about releasing negative thoughts in order to achieve happiness could prove its worth by testing its author after it was published? When Michael R. Mantell, PhD, released his book Don’t Sweat the Small P. S. It’s ALL Small Stuff in 1988, it rocked the self-help world, and the audio version won the highly coveted Publishers Weekly Best Audio Award in the self-help category.

So when, a few years later, Dr. Mantell saw a book with the same title prominently displayed at a bookstore, he was happily surprised—but then, he saw a different author’s name on the newly designed cover. What did Dr. Mantell do? He took his own advice and chose to view this positively, celebrating the fact that more people were being reached with the advice he knew changed lives.

Now celebrating its twenty-fifth anniversary, the original Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff offers up-to-date tools that can enhance your life today. You have the power to choose how you feel, how you react, and how you deal with your circumstances. Replace your negative and fearful thoughts with positive and hopeful thinking—and start the journey toward the happy life you’ve always wanted.

Genres: Nonfiction, Personal Development, Self Help

318 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 1, 1988

Reviews

[Caffeinated Weka · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is quite a strange book and not to be confused by another self-help book with a very similar title. (This is referenced in the book and apparently the author is completely fine with the other author's success using a near-identical title.) There is very little mention of sweating the small stuff at all, let alone strategies to deal with it. The introductory section is a random collection of self-help columns before the five main sections of the book begin and the content becomes better organised. The format of short chapters makes it easy to dip in and out of, although there are numerous contradictions and some of the contexts haven't aged well since it was first written.

[Lisa Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great little read

[{erika} · Rating 3 out of 5]

Had a lot of generic and generalized advice so some was annoying or trite. There were some good things here however and it was very brief. I liked the assertion that if you are focused on the value or opinion others assign to you, you are saying and relinquishing that you don't value your own feelings more than theirs and that they are superior to you and creating your truth. that's an accurate way to look at it! I also liked the bit encouraging people to treat all the people you meet and are with each day as if it was their last, rather than just how you would want to be treated. There was a lot in here about child rearing and anger management and anxiety and stress that was also interesting too. We don't get a do over in life (so true) and so some of these concepts are important to always emphasize.

[Brandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I checked this out from the library a few years back. For the 3 weeks that I had it, I think I listened to it about 3 times. I wanted to absorb every morsel of info the author was providing for a less stressful life. I am looking to purchase this now so I can listen to it every year, it will probably be a good reminder to slow down and pick my battles.

[Julie MacKay · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book wasn't all that great. There are some helpful tips in it, but it is more geared for married couples with children, rather that people of all ages and marital statuses. It was only a short audiobook, so I bore with it and finished it, but didn't really like it much.

[A. Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing too deep, but it's nice to have a reminder.