How to Change Your Entire Life By Doing Absolutely Nothing: 10 Do-Nothing Relaxation Exercises to Calm You Down Quickly So You Can Speed Forward Faster [Hardcover]

Karen Salmansohn (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 31, 2002

How would you like to change your entire life? By doing absolutely nothing? This book is the ultimate self-help guide for lazy-busy people. Those who regularly follow the do-nothing relaxation exercises found in the book will experience a surge of energy, power, clarity, and speed! They will also be the beneficiaries of the most sought-after exercise result: wait loss! Wait loss in getting the career you want! Wait loss in getting the love you want! Wait loss in getting whatever the heck you want! HOW TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE instructs readers to do nothing in a mindful way. For instance, they can do nothing while drinking their coffee (don't talk or think about problems) or do nothing when they should be doing their laundry (concentrate on the clean smell of the clothes). Readers of this book will discover a cheery, paradoxical life principle: sometimes the shortest distance between two points can be travelled by doing nothing at all.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this cheeky little gift book, the self-proclaimed inventor of multitasking reveals how certain "do-nothing" moments helped her to live more fully in the present and uncover vaster reserves of "power, energy, clarity, speed than she ever thought possible." Invoking the serenity prayer, the Pareter Principle ("successful results come from 20% of your actions"), the Buddhist concept of mindfulness and her own idea of "hocus focused energy magic," Salmansohn (How to be Happy, Dammit) argues that paying attention to positive stimuli instead of negative thoughts can be life-changing. One Do-Nothing Exercise, for instance, encourages readers to focus on the pleasure of showering: "I now multitask in washing away my stress and anxieties, by doing nothing but concentrating on the concentration of water spritzing down on me." She briefly cites unnamed studies that show doing nothing has physical and emotional benefits, including lowering blood pressure and stress and increasing energy levels. With references to "old Jung" and "that Blake dude" (as in William), not to mention an apparent inability to resist puns, Salmansohn can be a little too chirpy and flip. And, with an average of well under 40 words per page (some pages have only one), some cynics might suggest that "How to Write a Book by Doing Absolutely Nothing" is a better title. Still, this is a cute, speedy read that even the most harried of multitaskers could find the time to peruse, and its basic message-that we should stop and smell the roses-is a timeless one.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Karen Salmansohn is the author of many bestselling books including How to Be Happy, Dammit and How to Succeed in Business Without a Penis, plus the writer/illustrator of the 'tween series Alexandra Rambles On. She's also the founder of Glee Industries, an image consulting and book packaging firm.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 112 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster (December 31, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743244729
• ISBN-13: 978-0743244725
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #888,482 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

KAREN SALMANSOHN is a best-selling author and motivational speaker with 25 published books, including Good Karma in a Box; The 8-Minute Guts Builder; Even God Is Single, So Stop Giving Me a Hard Time; and the best-selling How to Change Your Entire Life by Doing Absolutely Nothing. She lives in New York City.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Salmansohn does it again !!, January 1, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: How to Change Your Entire Life By Doing Absolutely Nothing: 10 Do-Nothing Relaxation Exercises to Calm You Down Quickly So You Can Speed Forward Faster (Hardcover)

I'm a big fan of author Karen Salmansohn. I love her previous books, 'How To Be Happy, Dammit' especially -- all of them are entertaining or helpful or both. In this new book, she explains her own idea of "hocus focused energy magic," -- paying attention to positive stimuli instead of negative thoughts as a self-help strategy. (One of her Do-Nothing Exercises, for instance, encourages you to focus on the simple, physical pleasure of showering.) I find these suggestions not only humorous, but also actually useful as a philosophy or psychology of life. Dealing with negative thoughts is a huge challenge that requires multiple tools -- and both humor and "doing nothing" or doing a little routine thing 'mindfully' are helpful. My favorite psychology book on this subject is 'The Positive Power of Negative Thinking' by Dr. Julie Norem. More approaches and perspectives offer increased possibilities for what will help any given person on any given day. Individuals differ and so do our daily moods. It is certainly true that no one size fits all of us. So as part of one's 'tool bag' for dealing with negativity, I recommend 'How to Change Your Entire Life By Doing Absolutely Nothing' by Karen Salmansohn.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely Fabulous!!, May 2, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: How to Change Your Entire Life By Doing Absolutely Nothing: 10 Do-Nothing Relaxation Exercises to Calm You Down Quickly So You Can Speed Forward Faster (Hardcover)

This book is a quick read and reread. The authour mixes up the presentation of the book. It is simple and basic, easy to understand and do. The author not only tells you why doing nothing works but tells you how to do it. Alot of books I have read leave that part out. The author doesn't speak down to you either.

I bought another copy for a friend and am considering future purchases for other friends. Well worth the money. I have also purchased 2 of her other books after having read them in the bookstore.

Good luck doing nothing.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WOW! Buy this book NOW!, June 6, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: How to Change Your Entire Life By Doing Absolutely Nothing: 10 Do-Nothing Relaxation Exercises to Calm You Down Quickly So You Can Speed Forward Faster (Hardcover)

I've always been interested in meditation and mindfulness. This book was a great tool to get me motivated to practice mindfulness/meditation on a daily basis...and it was easy to read and understand...explaining the benefits for mind, body, spirit...and giving realistic exercises to incorporate easily into your life! I recommend this book not only as a self purchase ...but as a great gift to give a friend who's been complaining about being stressed out. It's terrific!