Every Moment Matters: Savoring the Stuff of Life [Paperback]

John St.Augustine (Author), Mehmet Oz (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 8, 2010

Small slices of time go unnoticed. You go about your day, never realizing how much information missed moments contain. They are packed with lessons about living life to its fullest.

John St.Augustine can teach you how to notice these ordinary moments. Remember them. Relive them. Live in the present while creating future moments that have depth, meaning, and purpose. Through anecdotes from his own life, St.Augustine demonstrates how to turn ordinary moments into extraordinary ones.

Be still. Pay attention. Find the moments that matter.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In his latest, self-help author St. Augustine (Living an Uncommon Life: Essential Lessons from 12 Extraordinary People) examines the individual instances that have meant much to him, encouraging readers to do the same for themselves: "while the journey has been one of discipline and self-examination my life (and I suspect yours, too) is filled with moments that... taught me something, made me stop alive in my tracks, had me catch my breath." These moments are universal but predictable; one of St. Augustine's first examples is the death of his beloved dog Jake, a time of deep sadness that nevertheless made him realize the value of the companionship, unconditional love, fun, and adventure his pet provided. Another section finds him recalling a decades-old Colorado hiking trip with his friend David, on which he learned that "there is more than one way to reach the top, that it's good to have a buddy along for support, and that those who have gone before you often ... make the climb a bit more manageable." Though his ruminations tend top be wordy (bordering on mundane self-absorption), St. Augustine makes an eager guide to the importance of reflection and mindfulness.
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About the Author

John St.Augustine has been called "the new voice of America" by veteran broadcaster Bill Kurtis and "the most influential voice on radio" by bestselling author Cheryl Richardson. His syndicated one-minute vignette, Powerthoughts!, airs daily on Oprah & Friends Radio and he is the senior producer behind Dr. Mehmet Oz's, Jean Chatzky's, and Bob Greene's shows, also on Oprah & Friends Radio. His previous book is Living an Uncommon Life: Essential Lessons from 21 Extraordinary People.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Hampton Roads Publishing; First Trade edition (January 8, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1571745890
• ISBN-13: 978-1571745897
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 7.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #822,489 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars The STUFF of one man's life February 11, 2010

By L. J. Schrader

Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

The memories that the author chooses to share in EVERY MOMENT MATTERS are fairly interesting, a bit heart wrenching, a tad thought provoking and a little memorable. None of tales he recounts will change your life, but you might find them relatable.

The message to savor the stuff of life is a good one. I agree completely with some of the points he makes, but I have to say that I had already come to many of the same conclusions in my own life, so there is nothing particularly new or revolutionary in what he has written. This is certainly not a self-help book, nor is it really inspirational, but then again I don't believe it pretends to be either of these things.

Reading this book is more like experiencing a pleasant new acquaintance at a cocktail party. He has some stories to share that would keep your interest for a short while, but you probably would not walk away thinking you had met the most fascinating person, just someone who was an enjoyable storyteller.

I would not go so far as to say this was a bad or boring collection of stories, but I never felt compelled to hear the next tale. If you like hearing about other people's experiences, that is exactly what you will get. If you are imagining that you will be personally transformed by something he has portrayed, you may be disappointed.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A great wake-up call & a joy to read January 17, 2010

By Bob Gregoire

Format:Paperback

This book is a great wake-up call if it's time for you to stop going through the motions of an unexamined life. Each story reminds us that the answers to life's questions exist inside us and we can actually hear them if we'll just slow down long enough to listen! Through the safety of someone else's life experiences, I found myself riding a roller-coaster range of emotions as I experienced the highs and lows from John's life and the lessons learned from each of them. I was repeatedly reminded me of just how much impact our words and actions have on others - even complete strangers- whether we realize it or not at the time. Experiencing John's life moments alongside him was a very spiritual ride through the lifetime of a non-religious person. A joy to read!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars I am on my third read of this book it's THAT good! September 4, 2010

By J. Muench VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

It's a simple book really--literally how every moment DOES matter, life lessons and how they affect you. First time through I thought "oh these are wonderful stories" and kept thinking I should mark the page or something to go back and revisit that section a little more. Then I took it on a business trip because it was an "easy read" and I laughed, cried, and even more "connected" with me. This third time, I have put a few of his stories to the test in my own life... For example, Mr. St.Augustine talks about a dragonfly and how it was trapped in his car. Despite the dragonfly's amazing vision, and even though the windows were down, the dragonfly could not find his way out. How many times (and how long?!) do we struggle in our own lives until we let someone help us or look at the world differently? What if the way out is not really through the rear window as we (or the dragonfly) may have thought? What if there is another way we just aren't seeing? I have asked myself "am I being that dragonfly?! Hmm I think I am..."

All the stories are from his experience, personal stories meant to prompt us to find our moments that matter, to listen to our hearts, or follow that "something" that gnaws away at us that we stuff back down because we don't know what to do with it... In a strange and roundabout way it has deepened my yoga practice. Yoga asks you to pay attention and find a way to hold on and let go at the same time. But how often do we really do this in practice? How often do we find that surrendering, backing off, letting go, or NOT stuffing down that thought/emotion/problem has gotten us much farther, whether tight hamstrings or a tight mind.... It is a very empowering book, one to take to heart, stick under your pillow, carry around in your yoga bag and briefcase, and read several times--it is that joyful, entertaining, enlightening, thought-provoking... I'm sure I will read it a few more times before I let it go... Now to order a few as gifts for friends and order Mr. St.Augustine's other book too. Read more ›

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Some of it is very much worth reading! November 10, 2010

By K. Hudson VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

Quick advice:

1. Read the Forward by Dr. Oz first, that is the best forward I have ever read for a book.

2. Pick chapters that look interesting by title and read the little intro. Keep going if you are intrigued, but if you are not interested by the second page, try another chapter.

A bit more detail on that advice:

You can start reading any chapter anywhere in the book and not be lost. The author gives you all the context you need to read any chapter inside the chapter. Now, I read it in order, so I am only 99% sure of that. There is a chance that you might miss a detail or reference in a particular chapter that you would have otherwise caught.

It really took me a while to get into this book, but I was determined to read it. I ordered it thinking that my wife would read it and give me an opinion. That did not happen. I slogged through the first quarter of the book thinking that the message was okay, but I was pretty bored. Things got better in the second half, but I was still uninspired. However, it was an easy and non-offensive read, so I kept going. Then, I read the chapter No more Mr. Bad Guy. That is in the last 1/3 to 1/4 of the book, but I wish it was the chapter I read first. I found it way more interesting than reading about all the "great" things that the author had done. That chapter talks about an attitude that he had to overcome to help himself to be open to things that would ultimately bring him a better sense of peace and stability in his life.

I did not know of the author (a radio personality) or his previous book, before reading this book. Since I had no historical reference of the author, it just seemed to me that the early chapters were written with an attitude of "I am better than you...." I felt like the author was hiding mistakes or telling half the story to make himself seem better than a regular human. That lasted for me to some degress until I read the "No More Mr. Bad Guy" chapter. Then, I was able to see the author as a regular person and I felt more comfortable with his recounting of his journey. It think I would have enjoyed the book more if I had read Chapter 14 first. Read more ›