Life's Greatest Lessons: 20 Things That Matter

by Hal Urban

With more than a quarter million copies sold, award-winning teacher Hal Urban outlines twenty lessons that answer timeless questions about how to make the most of your life.

Life's Greatest Lessons is a wise, wonderful book. In it, Hal Urban, a parent and an award-winning teacher, presents twenty principles that are as deeply rooted in common sense as they are in compassion. The topics, gathered from a lifetime of teaching both children and adults, span a wide range of readily understood concepts, including attitudes about money, understanding the real meaning of success and the importance of having fun. The book will help you find the best in the world, in others, and in yourself. Classic in its simplicity and enduring in its appeal, Life's Greatest Lessons helps us all rediscover that the desire to live a good life is timeless.

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction, Psychology, Philosophy, Personal Development, Personal Growth, Parenting

167 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1992

About the author

Hal Urban holds a Bachelor's and Master's degree in history, and a Doctorate in education from the University of San Francisco. He has also done post-graduate study in the psychology of peak performance at Stanford University.

For thirty-six years he was an award-winning teacher at San Carlos and Woodside High Schools and at his alma mater, the University of San Francisco.

Hal is the author of six books - all with an emphasis on good character. His first book, Life's Greatest Lessons, was selected by Writer's Digest as the Inspirational Book of the Year. For more information about his writings click on the Books page.

Since 1992 Dr. Urban has traveled more than two million miles while speaking nationally and internationally on positive character traits and their relationship to the quality of life. He has made more than a thousand presentations in forty-two states, Washington DC, and eight foreign countries. Additional information about his talks can be found on the Speaking page.

In 2005 Dr. Urban was awarded his highest honor - the Sanford N. McDonnell Lifetime Achievement Award at the Character Education Partnership National Forum.

Hal has a genuine love of life that includes several passions, chief among them are the three F's - faith, family, and friends. His other main interests and activities are physical fitness, reading, sports, travel, photography, and life-long learning.

Reviews

[MJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book for my kids years ago but I'm not sure if either of them even read it. I picked it up and just read it again (I read it years ago) and it just reminded me of some good common sense ideas. I really liked the first chapter where Hal Urban discusses how the best season of your life can be ahead of you as 90% of potential is untapped, unused, undiscovered. As I just retired 3.5 years ago, I like to read that quote as I'm trying to discover new projects and learning in my retirement years. I also enjoyed the chapter about living by choice, not by chance. We need to be aware that life is a series of choices...we can choose what we do.
The book is full of just reminders of some simple life rules that can help enrich daily life.

[Abby Magers · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’ve never been a fan of these types of books, but I had to read this one for a class I took. The whole time I was reading I kept thinking that everything said was either incredibly obvious, or incredible cliche. The whole book basically boiled down to: in order to be successful, first you need to be happy. Great. I’ll keep that in mind.

[Nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is the book to read when you feel you are loosing perspective!!

[Jordan Chowen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t say enough good things about Life’s Greatest Lessons by Hal Urban. This book truly changed my life for the better. Each of the twenty lessons hits home and offers real, actionable wisdom that you can apply daily.

Urban's writing is relatable and engaging, making it easy to connect with the material. I loved every page and found myself reflecting on my own experiences in light of his insights.

If you’re looking to expand your thinking and adopt a more positive outlook on life, I can’t recommend this book enough. It’s been a game changer for me, and I believe it can be for you too!

[Renee]

I had to read this book for a community college class in 2010 that was supposed to be about "workplace attitudes, ethics, and responsibilities" and found it to be vomitous in the way that I find all books of this nature to be.

Amazing canned phrases such as:
"Remember attitude is a choice-the most important one you'll ever make"
"Self esteem is the reputation you have with yourself"
"Remember there's no substitute for hard work"

And finally: "What's easy is to ignore god and to reject all religion with simpleminded explanations..." because calling non religious people out as lazy and simpleminded is good ol' fashion fun!

[Thao-Nguyen Nguyen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice and easy to read book. I wish I had read it earlier in high school. It would be a perfect reference book for my writing class and literature.

[Aulia Esa · Rating 5 out of 5]

✅️ Inspirational Book of the Year

𝒦𝑒𝓈𝒶𝓃 𝑀𝑒𝓂𝒷𝒶𝒸𝒶

Membaca buku ini seperti diingatkan tentang hal penting dalam kehidupan yang tidak boleh ditinggalkan. Seperti, berlaku baik, apakah arti kesuksesan yang kamu tahu sudah benar ? dan 18 pelajaran lainnya.

"Saya mendengar...dan saya lupa
Saya melihat....dan saya ingat
Saya melakukan...dan saya mengerti."

Ada lebih dari 15 penanda halaman yang diperlukan, seperti semua yang dijelaskan penulis itu penting.

💕 Bab yang paling aku suka adalah bab 19 "Kehidupan Lebih Mudah Ketika Kita Mengetahui Apa yang Penting", bab yang singkat sekaligus merangkum bab-bab sebelumnya.

Sunggguh buku yang tak lekang oleh Zaman.

Penulis juga memberikan contoh dari diri sendiri, teman dekat, hingga tokoh genius dan terkenal seperti Albert Schweitzer, Einstein, Abraham Lincoln serta Benjamin Franklin.

Highly Recommended buat kalian yang ingin tahu dasar pelajaran hidup yang tidak semua diajarkan di sekolah.

[Yoric · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short and lovely book.
The life's philosophy exposed here is alike with Jim Rohn's. And it is so good to read.
The author's style is both clear and concise.
Every quote are also worth it.

The opening quote for example: "Life is a succession of lessons which must be lived to be understood." (Ralph Waldo Emerson)

[Kalanit Knackstedt]

This text is definitely worth reading.

[Ali Benson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy read but put me into a reading rut. BUT I got it from a little free library at Benson park last summer across the street from CKRI, so obviously had to finish it. Cooper I’m finally starting your book next !!!!

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good reminder about all the important things in life, and on how to be successful. I particularly appreciated the structure of this book and all the context/examples the author provided.
Would recommend!

[KC · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book offers some good advice about how to form a healthy philosophy on life. The gist of the advice is: be proactive, positive, don't let circumstances get you down, and be the master of your own destiny. It does acknowledge the areas in which we are helpless, and stresses the importance of a positive attitude in spite of negative circumstances.

The author draws heavily on his own life experiences as an athlete, father, and educator to deliver his message, and gives a personal touch to the advice he hands out.

A good, thoughtful read, although perhaps not quite as life-changing for me as the author might have hoped.

[Negar Safari · Rating 5 out of 5]

می توانم به جرئت بگویم این کتاب یکی از موثرترین و بهترین کتاب هایی بوده که در زمینه روانشناسی خوانده ام...و حتی برای مرتبه ی سوم و چهارم به سراغ مطالبش میروم. ترجمه این کتاب را آقای مهدی قراچه داغی انجام داده و نشر آسیم منتشر کرده .
بیست درسی که شما باید در زندگی آنها را به کار گیرید تا از زندگی بیشتر لذت ببرید
این کتاب درباره ی خوبی هاست...خوبی های زندگی، خوبی های مردم و از همه مهم تر خوبی هایی که در شما وجود دارد

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Dad gave this book to every member of our family one Christmas and I have been so touched by so many of it's truths. One of my favorite bathroom books! :)

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book to start the year with. I enjoyed it, but felt overwhelmed at times by all the quotes. I felt like I should be writing most of them down and sticking them to my fridge or mirror.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really more of a common sense book than very inspirational. I thought it was meant to have more of a Christian/Biblical slant but it was very neutral. Good thoughts but nothing hugely mind blowing.

[Kristin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short, sweet, and positive. Nothing I haven't heard before, but not bad advice either.

[Sandee Lammers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book of living a good life. Some things should be common sense. Sad we don't teach kids this things in school.

[Ahsan Butt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have translated this book from English into Urdu for Darul Shaoor Publishers, Lahore, Pakistan. The title of Urdu translation is Zindagi Ke 20 Azeem Sabaq زندگی کے بیس عظیم سبق.

[Don Gubler · Rating 2 out of 5]

Don't we already all know this?

[Ken The Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like many Goodread reviewers, I bought this book years ago for it's provocative title, immediately placed it on the bookshelf, made an attempt or two at starting it over the years, but essentially let it collect dust for way too long. Finally, during a roadtrip around the Pac Northwest, I brought this along, and I'm so glad that I did. Hal's common sense approach to how to get the most out of life can be written off as common sense, but on the other hand, these are some of the best precepts to a successful, happy life. Highly recommended... The earlier you read this in life, the better a life you might have! My favorite quote: "Goals are dreams with deadlines". My second-favorite quote: "Self-discipline puts us in charge of the pain and the gain"

[Francesco Granati · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a cute little book that my Dad gave me as a gift in 2003. This is my third dance with it since then. The pieces of advice you find in here remain classic and sort of trivial too. By the third time I read this, I can skim over the majority of it as it is written in a very simple and yet clear way.
Very comparable to Ethan Hawke's Rules of Knight, this book provides 20 "rules" by which to live a good, honorable and respectable life. Definitely a book I would love my future kids to read at some point in their lives.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's everything I dreaded it would be...life is hard and not always fair; there's no substitute for hard work; you have to give up something to get something; "attitude is far more important than intelligence, education, special talent, or luck". Oh, and about 15 other good lessons all of which I need pounded into my head.

[Lawrence · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

This was a great book and definitely worth 5 stars. One great point made is "We’re free to choose our character—the type of persons we become. We can allow ourselves to be molded by others and our environment, or we can commit ourselves to self-development. We can become less than we’re capable of, or we can become all that we’re capable of."

[Ares Reva · Rating 3 out of 5]

Buku ini adalah buku yang paling lama aku selesaikan. 20 pelajaran hidup yang berharga di dalam buku ini sepertinya bisa diringkas menjadi 5 pelajaran hidup. Bukunya terlalu bertele tele. Banyak unsur dalam buku ini diulang beberapa kali.
Mangkannya, aku lama menyelesaikannya karena diksinya sama. Terlalu bertele-tele.
So igive this book for 3.5

[Annika · Rating 4 out of 5]

I honestly didn’t hate it, I have more drive to get my life together. I like how we explain goals as more specific dreams. Or a dream with a deadline and a plan. This book basically says everything parents do. I liked how he explained what an attitude was. It’s how you talk to yourself, which might seem obvious to some, but it helped me.

[Bhavani Shankar · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nothing new. Twenty things are too many, in the last chapter he cites the life of someone who molded his life with six things. Then he goes on to say there is one essential thing. The reason I gave it two stars is because I did learn something.

[Lexi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely learned a lot from this book! I appreciated that the author didn't act like a know-it-all and was quick to admit that he's not perfect. I tagged this book motivational, because I like to keep a sense of humor. If you want to get the joke, read the book.

[Cynthia Glanzberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was gifted this book by my grandmother and it seemed like it would be exactly what it was. Great little stories of morals, insights, and common sense lessons. Was a very quick read, but something I see myself coming back to every few years.

[Adil albalushi · Rating 3 out of 5]

كتاب الدروس الكبرى في الحياة يعتمد على فصول قصيرة، كل فصل يقدّم مبدأ حياتيًا واحدًا مدعومًا باقتباس ملهم. أسلوبه بسيط وسلس، ويركّز على القيم الأساسية مثل الاختيار، العادات، العمل الجاد، إدارة الوقت، واحترام الذات