Rating: 
Summary: A Less than Effective Rewrite of The Precious Present
Review: The Precious Present by Dr. Johnson was a particularly effective book published in 1984 presenting a series of meditative thoughts to keep one appropriately focused on the moment. The only thing I didn't like about the book was the overuse of Capitals in the key meditations. That overuse made the meditations seem to scream at me rather than whisper ("Be In The Present" versus "Be in the present"). In The Present, Dr. Johnson has taken The Precious Present and packaged more of a story around the simple tale of an older man helping a younger one to recapture the joy of losing oneself in what one is doing . . . while keeping the choice of one's current perspective in focus. The gift wrapping around the earlier story is to see how one can tell this tale to someone else . . . and help them learn about how to share it with other people. I felt a little like I was reading instructions for how to create a network marketing company for Dr. Johnson's story. Inexplicably, Dr. Johnson still uses CAPITALS too much for his meditations . . . and has added BOLDING to make the SHOUTING of his text even stronger. I graded the book down one star for moving away from its simple, quiet potential nature. I recommend you read The Precious Present rather than The Present to learn these important lessons: Be in the present; learn from the past to do things differently in the present; and envision a better future and act now to create it. Like many of the fable books, this one has an enormous price per page. I suggest you read it at the library rather than purchasing the book. It won't take you long. How can you do something you love now that will build a better future for you and those you love?
Rating: 
Summary: Classic Johnson
Review: The Present is a classic example of Spencer's writing style that typically portrays a main character facing some sort of dilemma and finding solace and/or information from those around him. In this book, a young man seeks to find the answers to achieving success and happiness in his personal and business life. The book reads like a novel and succeeds in delivering a simple message of learning from the past, living for today, and planning for the future. In The Present, Johnson extols his readers to live for today by focusing on what is "right now," and responding to what is "important now." He encourages readers to learn from the past by analyzing past events, learning from your mistakes, and making changes to prevent recurrence of mistakes. Finally, he asks readers to visualize an idealistic future, constructing plans to make this future happen, and implementing the plan to secure it. This is an enjoyable little book, which you can read in a single setting. I highly recommend it as a personal motivation type book.
Rating:
Summary: Today, now is every day Happiness
Review: This fairy tale of Spencer Johnson, made me admire this guy for his easy way to express deep and trascendental mysteries of life.
I loved the book because in a very simple, fast and didactic way I got all the points in which I should work every day in order to enjoy the life that I have, to find the beauty of what I have in my hands.
He anticipates to my questions about past and future.
What do I do with my past? Is easy to say:..." learn from it", oh yeah.. but why we use this redundant phrase?
He made me noticed that it is because we want our future to be better!! So he connects the 3 threats (past-present-future) and conviced me to maintain my attention in this moment, live with a purpose,and plan my future. The name "The Present" refers to the gift we give to our selves, i.e. the opportunity to discover that now, in this present moment we are already happy and complete, if I don't feel it is because my attention is not here and now. I strongly believe that either the author has read tons of information about the topic, or he has experienced this "enlightment" already! Great little book!
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