Customer Reviews

The Magic of Groundhog Day: Transform Your Life Day by Day

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book is MUCH more than just another self-help book providing unoriginal advice that makes us feel good but does little to change our attitudes and behaviors. This book tackles the complex issue of change in a way we can all relate to, understand and apply to our daily lives. It's deeply philosophical, but also entirely practical.

I was one of the many fortunate graduate students at Oxford University that had the pleasure of taking classes with Mr. Hannam during the time he taught there. He was, by far, the best instructor I had at Oxford. Throughout his courses on Organizational Behavior, Environmental Leadership and other issues, Paul was able to get to the heart of any problem, rather than just focusing on the symptoms of that problem - as most academics and environmental scholars tend to do.

"The Magic of Groundhog Day" is no different. In this book, Paul transforms what for most of us is just a classic comedy with Bill Murray into an amazing metaphor about personal change. His advice is not only appropriate for changing our personal lives, but is essential if we are to change our relationship with our communities and with the natural environment.

Even as GDP has gone up in America and other industrialized countries, mental health indicators are on a steady decline. The richest countries are suffering from more depression, stress, anxiety and overall unhappiness than ever before. Indeed, our unsustainable focus on unconstrained economic growth has converted the global ecosystem into a commodity and has led to cultural homogenization, manic consumerism, isolating affluence, hyper-individualism and human alienation.

Paul's book helps those of us interested in breaking out of the drudgery of contemporary consumer culture and our unhealthy routines do so by focusing and appreciating the things that truly matter: time, security, mental health and authentic happiness.

Anyone who is interested in improving their own lives and, for that matter, life on this planet, should read this book.

This book is a very easy read, but its simplicity is its beauty. Using the movie, Groundhog Day, as it's metaphor for change, Paul Hannam, gives us straightforward strategies for taking a step back, recognizing the patterns that keep us stuck, and creating new patterns of behavior that help us develop as people and find real happiness and true love in our lives.

It's an inspirational read and it's strategies are within the reach of just about everyone. That's the amazing part of Groundhog Day!

Although I usually don't read self help books, I loved this book and am very glad I read it. I would recommend it to everyone. Not only is it fascinating and eye opening, but life changing. Paul gives you very useful and easy to follow advice. It made me see the movie Ground Hog Day in a whole new light - how could I have missed so much when I saw it before?

The Magic of Groundhog Day made me think about how I live my life: am I making the most of every day? If you can say yes, you are a rare person. I needed a nudge...and I got it from The Magic of Groundhog Day. Without being preachy, Paul Hannam forced me to focus on my own personal reality. He has a gift, he cuts through all the static of everyday life and focuses on what's important. The book is a quick read and worth every penny.

Paul Hannam brings out the depth that I had not seen in this movie. What I used to see as a light little comedy has become an instruction manual for living a full and rewarding life. I am now leading group discussions about this great film and seeing lives and communities transformed in a positive way. I am constantly asking myself whether or not I am being the "old Phil" or the "new Phil" in various life situations. That alone has provided me with greater clarity and understanding of who I aspire to be in life.

I loved the movie Groundhog Day and thought this would be a different type of motivational/self-help book.

Unfortunately, it offers just the same "live in the now" advice that, while true, can be found elsewhere in a more entertaining fashion. Among those places is the movie itself. You would be better off spending a couple hours watching the film again, even if, like me, you'd be watching it for the 20th time or so.

This is a slim book, with a lot of padding.

This book had a lot going for it. The author made several interesting points and had many valuable insights into living a better life. I liked the way he tied the movie Groundhog Day (one of my top five movies) into the book. He also had many insights into the movie that I found enlightening.
Given all this, this book could have been a five-star book. However, I found the book repetitive and wordy. It was not as bad as your typical self-help book, but the author spread 80 to 90 pages of material over 182 pages. I found myself scanning sections of this book, something that is usually anathema to me. This book could have used a longer gestation period and/or a better editing.
My other complaint with the book was that the author decided to tack on a final 21-page chapter attempting to tie the book in with his pet cause, the environment. The chapter had a very tenuous connection at best with the rest of the book, lacked any real insight, and was not going to convince anyone who was did not already share his opinions. It was completely out of place. Where was this book's editor?
If you are looking for better books on a similar subject, I recommend The Happiness Hypothesis: Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom, Stumbling on Happiness, and possibly Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me): Why We Justify Foolish Beliefs, Bad Decisions, and Hurtful Acts and Origin of Wealth: Evolution, Complexity, and the Radical Remaking of Economics

This book has an interesting premise especially for those of us who liked Groundhog Day, the movie. Take the lessons learned by the main character, Phil the self-absorbed, obnoxious TV weatherman, and make them into a self-help book. Phil is forced to relive the same day over and over again until he finally reforms his egocentric ways. This is the ultimate do-over.

Unfortunately, a potentially charming idea becomes over done and rather creepy. Instead of using the idea as a springboard to his own more interesting take on the subject, the author continually refers back to the movie as if mining for some great insight. It is, after all, just a movie.

In general, this book is just a rehash of common self-help themes: love for others, gratitude, facing reality, yada, yada, yada. There is nothing new here. As with Phil, the author needs to take this idea and think about it more and come up with something more inspired.

Two stars for the idea only.

If you, too, have watched the movie Ground Hog Day with delight over and over again, you have to read this book! In an easily approachable way, Hannam explores precisely what it is about the main character in this film that compels us to resonate so much with him and his situation. He then proceeds to identify the same things about ourselves that we can change to experience the true magic of Ground Hog Day in our every day lives. This little gem is not your ordinary self-help book, it is guaranteed to make you look at your life through a different lens. That's what it did for me!