Living the Good Life: Simple Principles for Strength, Balance, and Inner Beauty [Paperback]

Ruth McGinnis (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 2001

The personal trainer for Amy Grant uses her experience to provide practical, doable steps to the discovery of greater fitness, nutrition, balance, emotional well-being, and spiritual depth.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Do you want to be healthier, less stressed, and more energized?

Would you like diet and exercise advice you can actually follow? Living the Good Life will help you claim what seems elusive: an abundant life where you feel good, look better, and possess the vitality to achieve your dreams with deliberation and grace.

Certified wellness instructor and Juilliard musician Ruth McGinnis comes alongside as your own personal trainer to strengthen your mind, body, and spirit. She shows you how to manage the challenge of our fractured, frenzied times and exercise your power of choice in simple ways that will change-and lengthen-your life.

"Every day you make small choices that add up . . . powerfully," Ruth encourages. Take time to discover her incredible secrets to a simpler, healthier lifestyle-and begin Living the Good Life today.

"Sound advice on achieving inner and outer beauty without using trendy diets, fad fitness, or empty self-help theories. Ruth's approach gives us hope that we can achieve peace and balance in our hectic schedules." -Shelley Breen, recording artist with Point of Grace

"Reflects simplicity, common sense, resonating with a quest for health more than a search for the perfect body." -Kenneth Cooper, M.D., M.P.H., author of Aerobics and Faith-Based Fitness

"Living the Good Life is about changing your life, and becoming the person you always believed you could be, but were too overwhelmed to seek." -Kathy Mattea, country music recording artist

About the Author

Ruth McGinnis travels with artists like Amy Grant as an accomplished musician, and on her own as a motivational speaker and writer, a corporate wellness teacher, consultant, and personal physical trainer. Her work has been featured and referenced in magazines from Today's Christian Woman to Self and Vogue. McGinnis and her husband live in Nashville, Tennessee.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Revell (August 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0800757823
• ISBN-13: 978-0800757823
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,812,071 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gentle, practical & easy to follow, August 13, 2006

By 

dSavannah George-Jones (rural Arkansas) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Living the Good Life: Simple Principles for Strength, Balance, and Inner Beauty (Paperback)

I met Ruth McGinnis back in 2001, when I received a copy of this book and her companion CD, "Songs for the Good Life." I've listened to the CD many times since then - the music is lovely! - but... I never did get around to fully reading the book. I had the usual excuses: I don't like self-help books. I don't need help. I don't have time. I'd flip through, read a bit here and there, and put it back down.

Thankfully, finally, I have read the entire book. I have begun doing the exercises recommended, and begun the slow process of improving my health through healthy eating. I have already been doing some of the other things recommended, such as looking for underlying causes of health issues and stress to address them.

The book is very well written, with simple, practical tips, interspersed with stories of her own life and that of her family - most especially her grandparents. A very sweet part of the book is two wedding photos - that of her grandparents on their wedding day, and that of Ruth and her husband John, on their wedding day - Ruth attired in the dress her grandmother made and wore.

Ruth shares her own struggle and process of making her way to health and happiness. She's very real and honest, and you can relate to what she has gone through. Although the book is faith-based, and Ruth mentions God quite a bit, it is never preachy or judgmental.

In person, Ruth is gracious and gentle and kind - she clearly lives by the concepts she presents in the book, and just as clearly wrote the book as a way to help others.

The only way the book could be improved is if Ruth had provided a handy-pull out "cheat sheet" with the top-line concepts, such as the list of exercises, the food recommendations and the other tips, that could be posted on the fridge, or in the bathroom, or bedroom, where it would be a quick reference guide. It would also be great if Ruth created a wellness journal as a companion.

Otherwise, highly recommended!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Motivating and Practical, November 26, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Living the Good Life: Simple Principles for Strength, Balance, and Inner Beauty (Paperback)

This is the first wellness book I've read that does an exemplary job in addressing the whole person. This book helped me not only with a common-sense, practical, do-able approach to diet and exercise, but also with developing a healthier approach to balancing life in general. McGinnis is also inspiring and motivating in her delivery of the material. Ready to get your life in order? Buy this book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars MUST READ, November 4, 2001

By 

susan crumpton (nashville, tn United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Living the Good Life: Simple Principles for Strength, Balance, and Inner Beauty (Paperback)

THIS IS A BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN BOOK, OFFERING HOPE AND SENSIBLE SUGGESTIONS IN A TROUBLED WORLD. I FELT GUIDED TOWARD A LIFE OF INNER PEACE AND BALANCE. A MUST READ FOR ANYONE!