Rating: 
Summary: Quick read but great message
Review: Ok I've got to admit I originally bought this book as a stocking stuffer from a friend. When it arrived I couldn't help but read it first. Yes I was finished in about 10-15 minutes but when I super stressed I often pick it up and read it again. Yes, I did selfishly keep it for myself instead of giving it to my friend. This little book which is definitely short on pages is jammed with message. It's quite the book for introspection.
Rating: 
Summary: rehashed information, very short book
Review: The advice in this book is old stuff. Quindlen writes about living in the moment, feeling happiness, finding the positive in your life, and appreciating what you have because it may be our last day on earth type of stuff. There was not one original "lesson" here. I have read this and heard it on TV shows over and over. There is nothing new here. There are little stories intended to illustrate the point and to expand on how Quindlen arrived at her advice. The lessons are not "deep" either. There were no stories that were remarkable and the worst was the story of the homeless man loving his life because he gets to sit on a pier and appreciate the view of the sea. The title states this is a short guide: take that literally. Not only is the size of the page very small but there are many photos that take up a whole page and there are wide margins and lots of white space on each page. The entire book took me less than 10 minutes to read and I am not a speed-reader. The photographs don't bear any relation to the text at all and I couldn't figure out the logic of why these were chosen for the book. The subjects of the photos vary greatly in subject matter: lighthouses and seashores, people, etc. I think the photos could have been better chosen to somehow relate to what was being written about. Perhaps this advice would be new to someone such as a high school graduate or for someone who has not yet realized that life is short and to enjoy the moment. I bet this was written as a little gift book to be given to teenagers or young adults, perhaps by an adult who feels the younger person wouldn't listen to their advice so better to convey it through an easy and fast read! If you are a mother of young children in search of reminders to live life to the fullest and appreciate your children and your life now then I recommend "Mitten Strings for God". Another great book was written by a father to his 16 year old son with life advice is "Letters of a Businessman to His Son" which has great advice for both genders but makes a great gift book for high school graduates. Anything by Robert Fulghum also is fast and easy reading full of lessons about life.
Rating: 
Summary: Nice sentiments, but very trite
Review: This is a very short book that you can read in 15 minutes. It has a lot of nice thoughts, but almost no originality. It repeats oft-heard sayings (e.g., Noone on their deathbed ever says I wish I ever spent more time at the office). Worth reading if you like this sort of thing.
Rating:
Summary: Huge Disappointment!
Review: Once upon a time Anna Quindlen was one of my favorite writers. The young Anna would be ashamed of what the old Anna has written here... The end of the book describes an encounter that the young Anna had with a homeless man she interviewed at Coney Island. She asked him why he didn't get himself to a shelter, and he replied that he'd rather stay on his bench and enjoy the view - - the message being that we should all do the same. Anna, however, rarely did that in her younger years... A short guide to a happy life should include the things that gave Ms. Quindlen her greatest happiness: getting an education, having a dream, pursuing that dream through very dedicated hard work, and then realizing that dream...
Rating: 
Summary: Joyful
Review: What I like about this book, is that one don't have to read the whole book in one sitting..... I could read it in my lunch breaks and still get something out of it. As in Creating Extraordinary Joy by Chris Alexander, I got a lot out of it. In Creating Extraordinary Joy, Chris Alexander show us how we can bring out the joy within ourselves.
Rating:
Summary: A Short Guide to A Happy Life
Review: Wonderful!! Very enlightening, I keep it by my bedside to read every so often. It's a little book with big print--quick to read, helps when you are feeling a little down on life.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing
Review: I have always liked Anna Quindlen's writing, but this book was truly disappointing. There is not much more to this tiny book than "you should get a life, and appreciate it." Over half the pages are unoriginal stock photos (and black and white at that). If you want a little book filled with truly thought-provoking advice on living a happy life, I highly recommend "Open Your Mind, Open Your Life" by Taro Gold.
Rating:
Summary: Most wonderful book I've read in a long time
Review: I loved this book. It only takes 15 minutes to read and you can feel transformed in this short of time. I've read it twice so far. Shared it with everyone who will listen and promise to from now on "show up, listen and try to laugh". What more can any of us do in this lifetime to make a difference.
Rating:
Summary: A little shining gem!
Review: This little gem of a book is indeed, a very quick read, but the insightful quotes will leave you feeling uplifted and recharged! The written contents were originally written as a commemorative speech, so those looking for "more" in whatever capacity, will not find it. I found the book to be insightful words of wisdom for graduating seniors, entering the reality of the "real world", yet Quindlen speaks of what is truly "real" as compared to what is forced upon us as real at that tender young and impressionable age. Quindlen speaks of "getting a life. A real life, a full life..." "Learn to be happy. And, think of life as a terminal illness, because, if you do, you will live it with joy and passion, as it ought to be lived." I believe that her words have more relevant meaning today, after what we, as a country, have been though recently. As John Lennon said, "Life is what happens to you while you are busy making other plans." This books speaks to one's heart and the things that are truly important, meaningful and heart-felt, when all else fails. The wonderful quotes are too numerous to mention, but well worth the effort of writing your favorites ones down and hanging them up to remind you to live your life with meaning, depth and joy. I loved this simple, yet remarkably profound book. It is a gem, very much wanting to be shared with those that you love!
Rating:
Summary: A Big Disappointment
Review: I picked this little book up as an impulse purchase - - it was on display by the cashier at my local bookstore. The title of the book and the reputation of the author, who I have enjoyed reading in the past, told me that this should be a good read. What it is is a quick read - - had I seen it anywhere else in the bookstore I would have read the whole thing in about 5 minutes and saved myself the money. It is ostensibly 50 pages, but one can see how the publisher struggled to get there - - the text is double spaced and the over half of the pages consist of stock black and white photos that are arguably unrelated to Ms. Quindlen's pitifully short essay. The essay itself consists mostly of trite, well-worn stock platitudes, such as "get a life", "life is short", "life is a journey, not a destination", "no one on their deathbed ever wished they spent more time at the office", "if you win the rat race you're still a rat", etc. I expected much more from the award-winning columnist - - I feel that she is ripping us off with this one. Perhaps her many years of wealth and privelege have made her a bit complacent - - and perhaps somewhat greedy. I'm hoping to find the receipt for this purchase so that I can get my money back. Read it in the bookstore if you're curious, but save your money for something else.
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