Life Is Not Fair...: And Everything Else They Forget to Teach in School [Paperback]

Bill Bernard (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 2004

This is the one book that can end your adolescent's angst and show the world as it really works. Written in a clear voice that tells teenagers what the mean world is really about, Life is Not Fair... explains what they need to know and do to become happy, successful and mature adults.

It explores complex issues without any mumbo jumbo, and teaches teenagers how to think about relationships, family, friends, sex, drugs, money, taxes, spin, timing and luck. Life is Not Fair... also encourages the reader to consider their place in the world, and how they can have more fun, make more money and be lucky by simply learning to think better.

In brief, it is not what to think, but how to think, which makes this book unique and valuable. This is a book that parents can share with their children, and it includes the voices of young people who talk about the challenges and problems they face.

Chapters include:
--There are no "free" lunches
--Life's a bitch, then you die
--Don't believe your own BS
--Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life, son!

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 9 Up–In this gritty, no-nonsense guide, Bernard presents 10 "rules" to clue readers in to some of life's realities. He says in his introduction that this book is intended to be read aloud by teens and their parents. The sections cover territory such as "Life's a bitch, then you die! How to See the Big Picture"; "Don't fight the last war! How to Find Your Place in the World"; and "Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life, son! How to Keep Your Head Clear." Also covered are topics such as budgeting, cliques, and relationships. Questions to encourage discussion between teens and their parents appear at the end of each chapter, and relevant vignettes are sprinkled throughout. Although the text is written tongue in cheek, some readers may find Bernard's aggressive style and gun analogies a bit off-putting. He often paints a bleak picture of the "real" world and his matter-of-fact viewpoint can seem somewhat harsh.–Lori Matthews, Loyola School, New York
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From the Back Cover

“Who are you talking to? Me?” “You bet we are!”

Written in a clear voice that shows how the world really works, Life is Not Fair… explains what to do to become happy, successful and mature adults. It explores complex issues like relationships, drugs, money, spin, and much more.

“A needed book, and right on track!”
-Bhagavan Das, author, teacher and subject of the
groundbreaking Be Here, Now!

Life is Not Fair… shows how to have more fun, make more money and be lucky, plus it includes the real-life voices of young people who talk about the challenges and problems they face.

“This book was brilliantly written, and easily captures my small teenage brain. It’s also entirely informative about your life after parents are no longer babysitting you! It was easy to read, flowed through my ears and stuck!”
-Ian Sanders, teenager, surfer and lead guitarist
of the acclaimed Gemtones

“Comprehensive, interesting and relevant”
-Arthur Kornhaber, MD, author of The Grandparent Guide

“Good Grief, I wish someone had told me about this stuff when I was in high school!”
-Peter Robbins, original voice of Charlie Brown, child actor and radio personality

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 14 and up
  
• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Sourcebooks (August 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1402202792
• ISBN-13: 978-1402202797
• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 5.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,390,592 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars Much better if you don't have real problems but are a whiner, October 18, 2009

By 

Maria Beadnell "gotlips" (NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Life Is Not Fair...: And Everything Else They Forget to Teach in School (Paperback)

There's a lot of good advice here, but Chapter 8, Blood is Thicker Than Water, weakens the whole package.

The teens who need this book the most are not the ones with family members on whom they can rely. "When the chips are down, your family will be the only ones you can count on. This is the big Fact of Life!..."

No, it's not.

For some, for many, it is. For the ones who need encouragement the most, it is not. Victims of incest, drug addicted or alcohol dependent families, those readers will feel even less valuable than they did before after reading this.

And since this book is supposed to be the realistic look at life, it is a huge omission to not acknowledge that many teens cannot count on their families.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing!, July 8, 2006

By 

Jane Meyer "Loser in blue jeans" (Woodstock, GA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Life Is Not Fair...: And Everything Else They Forget to Teach in School (Paperback)

This book is phenomonal! Everything kind of clicked with me from page 1. By page 30, my whole perspective on life was changed! Everything made sence. I love this book.