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: 7.3 x 5.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #995,774 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 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 (Manchester, NH) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Every Moment Matters: Savoring the Stuff of Life (Paperback)

(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.

1 of 1 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 (Lowell, MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Every Moment Matters: Savoring the Stuff of Life (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!

3.0 out of 5 stars Good book for beginners, January 19, 2011

By 

Carol Toscano (New York City) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Every Moment Matters: Savoring the Stuff of Life (Paperback)

(What's this?)

This is an uplifting, though not very exciting book. By uplifting, I mean inspiring as the author takes you on a bit of a journey to give himself an attitude adjustment in order to transcend some life issues. There was a tone of preachiness in the initial chapters of the book which got better later on, though I still felt, in some areas, that the author seemed above it all. The forward by Dr. Oz is helpful and validating so don't skip it.

There are chapters in this book that are more helpful than others. I found myself skipping around in places when some of the earlier chapters couldn't hold my attention or where the author irritated me. I didn't feel obligated to read the chapters that weren't helpful or interesting.

The good news about this book is it's another voice in an ever growing trend toward changing your thoughts and feelings and how that can help change circumstances in your life. You may learn something from this author if you are taking first steps toward change in your life but the real masters - the people you should be listening to - are Louise Hay, Wayne Dyer and Maryann Williamson, amongst other pioneers of the subject matter. Do a little research and you won't be disappointed.

Good beginner volume on the topic, but don't stop with this book, keep going. Find the voices that help you.