Life Could Be Sweeter: 101 Great Ideas from Around the World for Living a More Rewarding Life [Paperback]

William Sinunu (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 10, 2005

America may be one of the most powerful and wealthy countries in the world, but our intense work ethic and stressful lifestyles take an enormous toll on our quality of life. William Sinunu realized after a close brush with death that his own exhausting, career-driven existence was preventing him from truly living, and he needed to find a way to regain the health, happiness, and balance he had known growing up abroad and had witnessed during his career as a flight attendant. In Life Could Be Sweeter, Sinunu invites us along on his fascinating journey, offering a unique glimpse into different practices and beliefs from around the world that suggest a more rewarding lifestyle may be easier to achieve than we think. These 101 beautifully written vignettes, by turns funny and poignant, explore every area of our lives, and encourage us to slow down and find a better life balance by drawing inspiration and practical advice from our neighbors around the world.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Using anecdotes culled from his peripatetic life as a flight attendant, Sinunu takes the reader around the world to glimpse how other cultures approach life in ways different from most Americans on issues ranging from raising children and maintaining good health to sexuality and acceptance of cultural differences. The author notes that his intent is not to criticize Americans but to show how other people handle problems that seem chronic here, such as obesity, stress and a high divorce rate. And Sinunu, also a licensed social worker, shows how Americans can start to apply those lessons, whether the Scandinavian notion of lagom (enough), or living with "just enough to be comfortable" rather than loaded with extras, or following a Peruvian's suggestion to forgo the chase after position and money in favor of doing work that you love. The book is a reminder that possessions, money and power aren't universal goals. While not every lesson hits home, most readers will find observations, presented in a friendly, unpreachy tone, that can have a real impact on their lives. (June)
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Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Da Capo Press (May 10, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1569243743
• ISBN-13: 978-1569243749
• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 5.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,336,180 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bite-sized changes for our fast-food culture, August 7, 2005

By 

J. Richards (Brooklyn, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Life Could Be Sweeter: 101 Great Ideas from Around the World for Living a More Rewarding Life (Paperback)

Sadly, my schedule is usually jammed from waking to sleeping - but I took some time read this fantastic gem. It was an easy read - and each reading was small and impactful, something I could do for 5 minutes here and there when I needed a boost. Better yet, the suggestions that Bill makes are small - sometimes we get wrapped up in the idea of making grandiose changes to our lives. Using some of the readings, I have been able to make small quality changes that have had a huge impact on my quality of life - giving me just enough perspective and distance from my daily chaos to be able and ready to make more.

Give it a try, one or two at a time and see if you find a way to make bigger changes in your life.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars To be read in small pieces, February 22, 2006

By 

R. R. Costas Jr. (San Francisco, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Life Could Be Sweeter: 101 Great Ideas from Around the World for Living a More Rewarding Life (Paperback)

This is a great book to read a couple of stories from each night before going to sleep and each morning before getting out of bed. The author doesn't have an agenda for or against the American way. He simply is well-traveled enough to be able to share with us the many different ways that people around the world handle our common experiences. The stories are short (2-3 pages) and easy-to-read and are usually accompanied by a nice factoid or tidbit at the end. Like any book comprised of short vignettes, this book can lose power if one tries to read a lot of stories in one sitting. There should be no rush with this book...you sip from it to get the maximum effect.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A treat to read!, June 15, 2006

By 

Blaine Greenfield "eclectic reader" (Belle Meade, NJ) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Life Could Be Sweeter: 101 Great Ideas from Around the World for Living a More Rewarding Life (Paperback)

Sometimes, a book will catch me off guard . . . such was the
case with LIFE COULD BY SWEETER
by William Sinunu . . . I had never heard of it or the author before,
but when browsing in a bookstore, its jacket caught my
attention . . . it promised "the secrets to living a happier, healthier,
more rewarding life" by learning from our neighbors around the world.

That sounded good to me . . . turns out that I was not let
down . . . this was a treat to read, and I've already enjoyed
sharing much of it with others.

Some of the advice is basic, but we need to be reminded
of it; e.g., Sinunu describes one trip he was on in this passage:

"Oh no, not at Miss Daphne's party," our hostess scolded, shaking her
finger playfully at her newfound friend. "All the watches come off baby."
Reaching toward him, she unsnapped his watch and slipped it into his
pocket, then grabbed his hands and began to dance. "Life is to enjoy,"
she reminded him. "Just laugh and let it all go. Make life a vacation."

I also liked how the author cited various research studies to support
his beliefs, such as:

* According to psychologist Thomas Spencer, Americans wear
approximately twenty percent of the clothes they own.

* According to a study examining the effect of close relationships on
health and well-being by University of Michigan psychologist Stephanie
Brown, it's better to give than receive! The study found that older adults
who do not help others are more than twice as likely to pass away as
those who do help out.

* According to Psychologist Paul Rozin, Pizza Hut personal pan pizzas
in Europe are approximately two-thirds the size of personal pan pizzas
in the United States. According to an article in the August 14, 2004
WALL STREET JOURNAL, a serving of Philadelphia Cream Cheese
marketed to U.S. consumers contains fourteen percent more calories
than the same size serving in Italy. A jar of Hellmann's Mayonnaise
purchased in the United Kingdom has half the saturated fat of the
Hellmann's sold in the United States. Kellogg's All-Bran bought in
the United States has three times the sodium as the same brand sold
in Mexico. A standard beverage bottle for sodas in Europe is about half
a pint--roughly half the amount of the standard sixteen-ounce can sold
in the United States. Perhaps it's no wonder that the United States has
the highest rate of obesity in the world.

Lastly, there were these other memorable tidbits that made this
book so interesting to me--and the perfect gift to give somebody:

* Running her hand along her chin, Rania said, "Well, I do have a few
rules that I try to remember before every purchase. I ask myself, `Do I
really need this? Do I really love it? Is it made well?' " Deep in thought,
Rania went on, "But my cardinal rule," she said, clapping her hands gently
together in front of her face, "is to always go for quality. I buy the cheapest
of the best, never the best of the cheapest. That way, I spend relatively
little on clothes, but still have a good-looking wardrobe."

* [at a party for friends] "To our friends," Martine whispered as a
single tear trickled down her cheek, "To the family we have the luxury
of choosing. Each of you is very special to us. Thank you for joining
us tonight." . . .

As Eduoard grew misty-eyed, Martine reached out and took his hands.
"Life is about cherishing and appreciating the people in our lives," she said
quietly.

* I remember rocking in the chair by his bedside, pleading with God to take
him now and end his suffering. Even if euthanasia had been legal in the
United States, could I have made the decision to end his life? I cannot
honestly say. I was so distraught at the time that I don't know if I was
in the proper state of mind to make such a momentous decision. Nor do I
know what means could be used that would guarantee no pain. What I do
know is that dying does not scare me, only the potential suffering that
precedes it. I remember wondering at the time: If we put our animals out
of their misery when they are in severe pain and there is no hope for
recovery, why not the family member we love?