Customer Reviews

Life 101: Everything We Wish We Had Learned About Life in School, but Didn't

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Three things about this book that stand out -

1. At first glance, it may seem like very deep philosophy but the authors use a writing style that makes it difficult to accept this as serious philosophy. The authors have a unique writing style where it feels like they are someone you know well that are telling you this stuff at a dinner table. Maybe, they are trying to get their points across by writing this way since the average person avoids heavy philosophy books.

2. You can open the book anywhere and start reading without losing the gist of what the authors are saying. The hundreds of topics are written in an independent way that makes it easy to read any one of them without missing anything that the authors are trying to communicate. There are plenty of proverbs, quotations and deep philosophical insights in each topic (each topic is not more than 2-3 pages long).

3. The most striking thing about the book is the way in which the authors address each and every topic. They talk about things that most of us have been taught not to discuss in public. Some of their statements sound like cliches but somehow the authors manage to keep the words in each topic interconnected and not seem out of place.

A lot of people have the attitude that they are better than this book. By writing in a simplistic way, it is possible that the authors are responsible for creating that impression in the reader's mind (this is simple and irrelevant stuff, no need to write a book about it). But this is one of the best books out there on Life. I would definitely recommend that you own a copy of this book and read it cover to cover whenever you have a few minutes to kill. It is very easy reading but fulfilling at the same time. Enjoy!

I found this book in 1991. Nothing prepared me for the life-changing power in its pages!!! This book says in plain language what every philosopher,thinker,wise man, and "guru" has said from the beginning of time. It is arranged so that you can open up to any page and get benefit. After putting the tools in this book into practice, I began to experience life in a very new and dynamic way...Reading this book was my moment of "aha!" The ultimate in New Thought and practicality...Beware though, in these pages is hidden dynamite!!! Your life will change if you work the steps..I gave 50 copies of this book away!! It works...I give it 10 stars, but they only are giving me space for 5....Get it and ENJOY!!

Life 101 changed the way I look at myself and my relatioship to my life. I have used it as a text in classes for nearly eight year with teachers and drug abuse counselors. The vast majority of my students are changed by it. True, some just don't "get it" but that is a valid and useful experience also. Some of these students have contacted me later with a whole new outlook. It just takes time. Knowing all the the author has gone through in the last few years lends even more meaning to the book. It is worth the effort to read it.

I've received a great boost of enegy and encouragement from delving into the soul of this witty writer. His dealings with omniscient human problems are easy to grasp and can be assimilated in ones own experience. If anything, you'll experience a work of true compassion laced with invaluable lessons learnt by hard earned experience. McWilliams is an authentic teacher who disseminates what he truly believes. No hypocrisy here. His sharing of his life experience reveals a strong belief in important values such as sharing, loving oneself and meditation. Money is also discussed and treated as it should be - philosophically and honestly. Obviously, beneath the veneer of this well written, work- of- art -self- help book, lies the portrayel of a true lover of humanity.

I was 13 when my brother handed it to me... wait- i think i was 13! anyways... I read it... loved it... it made life make more sense... I began to love reading quotes after reading this book. i progressed to the rest of the series... and loved all of those just as much.... Now that i am nearly 26... i have lost my first copy- the hardback... but i've bought over 20 copies for friends and family.... i recently lent my paperback copy and the rest of the series to my bf's dad who is having a midlife crisis... I am about to buy three more copies to send to new friends I've made... i alone will keep this book a best seller!

This book is structured such that on all the even pages there are a short pithy quotes that summarize the textaul body of the book on the odd pages. The book is written in the style of a manual so that you can dip into it at any point with no need to refer to material that came before.

The basic thesis of the book is if you want to enjoy life you have to place one hand on the tiller and steer yourself towards the people, places and things that you like. A way to chart your course is taken from Alan Lakein's "How to get control of time and your life", which is an excellent book. Strategies for dealing with misteps are also covered.

The author tries overtly to avoid religion, but a slight Christian undertone runs through the book, probably unintentionally because of the author's and those he quotes cutltural background.

I received this book from my ex-wife just after our divorce. At first I thought it was a crule joke. But after reading the life 101 book I realized that she could have given me A great gift.. Like the book states, Not all parts will pertain to you at this time, but it is a wonderful refference for later... I have purchased at least 15 of these books. and given them all away.. I usually buy one for myself and start rereading it when someone will say something that relates to a chapter in the book and I point it out to them and the next thing you know there goes another book... at this price it is easy to give them away... MR BILL

I have read many books, particularly self-help books, and this is top three. It may even fill the #1 slot. Whatever issues you are dealing with and whatever approach you take to looking at life, this book covers it in a way that does not offend nor patronize. It is not only sensible and inspiring at the same time(a rare find), the authors have a sense of humor that shows through at precisely the right moments. Although it has around 400 pages in the paperback version, it is very easy to get through, plus every other page contains a quote, not full text, so do not let length deter you. It deals with everything from the parts that body, mind and emotion play in your life, both separately and together, to "emergency" situations such as depression, addictions, being overweight and fear, to many major concepts of physical and mental health and happiness. It is not a book you must read from beginning to end, although it certainly would be worth your time. It IS a book that requires you to think and use if it is to help you. My suggestion would be to read it all the way through and then go back to the parts that applied to you and use the exercises.

Although it is a self help book, it does not have that feel, which makes it alot more approachable to those who do not go for the Jungian, Freudian or other abstract schools of thought that often dominate the genre.

I use to ponder on the meaning of life all the time. But no matter how much or how hard I thought about that, I couldn't come up with an answer. Everything I did seem meaningless, and I was so empty inside I thought about killing myself many times. Finally during my Jr. year in high school I hit serious-depression. I swear, it was the most painful thing anyone can ever experience. That was the time when I found this book in the library, and for the first time I started to look at life the way a humenbeing should. However, climbing out of depression was "VERY VERY VERY PAINFUL". Even now I get emotional just from thinking about the past. Iam so afraid, that one day I might visit depression again. At that time I forgotten how to talk, react or feel other people. Because my self-esteem escaped my body. Only thing left in that shell was my heart-which I found out later to be the essence of everything. It was the loneliest and darkest hours of my life. Then I found god, and he lead me to this book. Without this book I could of died. God and this book guided me through those tough times. And I hope it will continue to guide me in the future. And yes! I know the meaning of life now! Thx Life 101!

...critics of McWilliams writings decry that they are too simplistic and too broadstroking to really offer true solutions. But that is not exactly right. These books are offering solutions, if only to give the reader the confidence to live and to seek creative, positive solutions to some of the more serious problems posed to them in their real lives. The are meant to be inspirational and practical rather than some dried up clinical study with answers if you can follow these steps...actually that's the inside joke about this... This book is typical McWilliams. One page has his "don't no body bring me no bad news" examples, his easy to follow directions and text. The opposing page has a pithy quote from some hi-falootin classical philosopher or (more likely) a tv character we grew up with like Mary Richards or Fred Sanford--in fact in the age of Dr. Phil, I wonder if the McWilliams estate would be so inclined to upgrade this book for a younger generation. (...) but do yourself a favor by having hard copies of the books, too. You will want to carry them around with you a lot.