God Never Blinks: 50 Lessons for Life's Little Detours [Large Print] [Paperback]

Regina Brett (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 13, 2010

Already an internet phenomenon, these wise and insightful lessons by popular newspaper columnist and Pulitzer Prize finalist Regina Brett will make you see the possibilities in your life in a whole new way.

When Regina Brett turned 50, she wrote a column on the 50 lessons life had taught her. She reflected on all she had learned through becoming a single parent, looking for love in all the wrong places, working on her relationship with God, battling cancer and making peace with a difficult childhood. It became one of the most popular columns ever published in the newspaper, and since then the 50 lessons have been emailed to hundreds of thousands of people.
Brett now takes the 50 lessons and expounds on them in essays that are deeply personal. From "Don't take yourself too seriously-Nobody else does" to "Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift," these lessons will strike a chord with anyone who has ever gone through tough times--and haven't we all?

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

On turning 50, Cleveland Plain Dealer columnist Brett wrote her most popular piece ever, containing the cancer survivor and single mom's most important life lessons. Here she expands and expounds on that column, incorporating other essays penned over her 14 years as an opinion columnist, to make a rousing inspirational collection. Most of her pieces-dedicated to substantive but familiar ideas like "Overprepare, then go with the flow," "Stay put in the day you are in," and "God loves you because of who God is"-are short, sweet, and frequently resonant (if at times overly simple). Complimenting her own experience with anecdotes from friends and others, as well as poems, prayers, psalms and excerpts from treasured books, Brett employs a veteran writer's knack for keen observation and thorough self-knowledge, delivering hard-earned wisdom with deceptive ease.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"Regina Brett's book, God Never Blinks, provides practical insights that can change the world."

--Deepak Chopra, Author, The Ultimate Happiness Prescription

"Regina Brett is a gifted observer of the experiences that shape who we are, and her lessons unfold with buoyancy, humor and a courageous honesty. She has given us a beautifully written roadmap for life."

-- Jeffrey Zaslow, coauthor of The Last Lecture

"I intend to give my 82-year-old dad a copy of God Never Blinks. I will also buy one for a 16-year-old friend. This wise, compassionate and honest book is a blueprint for living a happy, fulfilling life. Its lessons are timeless--and timely."

--Thrity Umrigar, author of The Space Between Us

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing; Lrg edition (April 13, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446566829
• ISBN-13: 978-0446566827
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (167 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #981,893 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 34 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Our troubled times need more books like this April 7, 2010

By L. C Glover VINE™ VOICE

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

Summary:
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This is collection of life stories and observations by Regina Brett -- cancer survivor, columnist, single mother (not ex-single mother). She provides 50 good pieces of advice backed by actual life events to help make the point for the reader. Current trends in US society could benefit from the lessons in this book. Regina takes a spiritual view of life and self to help the reader have a more centered life.

The spiritual elements come from Christianity and eastern religions -- "zen meets do the right thing to help someone else". The book is strongly geared toward women.

Format:
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The format is 50 chapters each about 4 to 5 pages long. The chapters are self-contained mini-fables/stories based on real life events.

Writing:
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The writing is eloquent yet very approachable. She has a nice conversational tone; as if you were talking to a close friend.

Content:
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You will find at least 75% of the chapters helpful to you at any given time. Each time you are having doubts about something in life; you should take a look at the chapter titles to see what you are missing in life. I really liked "Don't audit life. Show up and make the msot of now" and "Breathe. It calms the mind". Everyone has different challenges on any given day; try to realize this and do the best you can by enjoying life and sharing it with loved ones.

The content is not super deep or innovative but it is accurate. A friendly reminder to not take everything so seriously and just enjoy life is a good thing...especially in these trying times.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Simple is beautiful May 5, 2010

By Soar

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

This book presents 50 life lessons that the author brings forth through experiences, revelations, and emotions. The writing is open, honest, and heartfelt. As I read through the book, I resonated with several of the stories, was touched by many, and did not (at this time) identify with some of the stories. My approach was reading one or maybe two lessons and setting the book down. My suggestion... read and absorb the experiences, take away what you need, and leave the rest.

The lessons are simple, very easy and digestible reading. I've seen some reviews scoff at the simplicity and complain about the lack of cookbook-like steps on how the readers should fix their life. This author does not presume to know how to fix someone else's life. She relates in a brutally open and honest fashion her experiences, her feelings, and what she took from them. We, you, all of us are so different, and so much the same... we hurt, we react, we need... so much. There isn't a book to fix that (well, for some the bible fills that space). This book, this experience is a sharing of life and, if you walk with this author through hers, perhaps you can take some of her insights and apply them into your life. It is that simple... and that beautiful.

Take away what you need, leave the rest.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars powerful! January 10, 2011

By jeanie

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

God Never Blinks is a wonderful book! I loved it so much, I bought copies for all the women in my life.