Living Loving and Learning (Paperback)

~ (Author) "I'm overwhelmed at the pleasure of being introduced by someone who knows how to pronounce my name..." (more)
Key Phrases: nondirective counselor, love class, Los Angeles, United States, Jackie Onassis (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

LIVING, LOVING AND LEARNING is a delightful collection of Dr. Buscaglia's informative and amusing lectures, which were delivered worldwide between 1970 and 1981. This inspirational treasure is for all those eager to accept the challenge of life and to profit from the wonder of love.

From the Publisher

I first received the hardcover in the summer of 1982 as a going-away present from a dear,
dear friend who knew how much I'd enjoyed Buscaglia's work, having read some of his earlier
books and seen his appearances on public television. It was quite the sentimental token to
take along as I embarked on what turned out to be a three-year adventure in Italy. A lot of
my first year there was very lonely, and Buscaglia's warm, soothing words were a comfort
to me in my most homesick times and gave me hope. More than merely a gift from a
good friend, the book itself became a friend that I could turn to again and again.

Weeks after returning to the States, in December 1985, I attended a performance of Lily
Tomlin's Broadway show, and during the intermission, I noticed a man who could only have
been Leo Buscaglia chatting animatedly with a woman a few rows ahead. My heart raced; my
mind debated. After all, wasn't he there to enjoy himself as much as I was? Yet I had to meet
the man whose work had touched me so. I mustered all my courage and approached him. "I'm
sorry to interrupt, but are you Leo Buscaglia?" He smiled warmly as he nodded. I blanked on
what to say next. Finally, thinking of what I considered to be his trademark, I blurted,
"Could I have a hug?" It was a magical moment. The man was so loving and genuine that I knew I'd done the right thing in going up to him--plus, it was the most heartfelt hug I've ever received in my life. That really cemented the book's meaning for me.

Laurie Kahn, Associate Managing Editor

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 264 pages
• Publisher: Ballantine Books; 1st Ballantine edition (October 12, 1985)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0449901815
• ISBN-13: 978-0449901816
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 5.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (53 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #47,875 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars It saved my life., December 3, 2004

By	D. Steendahl "SeattleChic" (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I was 17, depressed, and alone waiting for a song to come on MTV so that I could get enough guts to slit my wrists. When the song didn't come on the t.v. after hours of waiting, I went up to my room and tore everything apart. Posters came off the walls, blankets were ripped off the beds, curtains were pulled off their rods. My room was a complete disaster. After my intense cry, I looked up and the ONLY thing left on a bookshelf was this book. Out of pure curiosity I picked it up and read a few pages. At first I thought the book was a joke but yet I didn't put it down. I tried doing a few of the exercises in the book - what did I have to lose - I was going to off myself anyways. The next morning I looked in the mirror and said outloud that I love myself. I laughed and it was the first time I had laughed in months.

This is a true account of how this book 'saved my life'. What if the book had fallen like everything else in my fit of frustration? What if that book wasn't in my room at all that day? Who knows. What I do know is that working through the exercises in the book and following the author's advice, I was able to come out of my adolescent depression and evolve into a happy, well-adjusted adult and I will be forever grateful to Mr. Buscaglia.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Reading it again and again since 1984, June 4, 2000

By	Sunil Govinnage (PERTH Australia) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I first learnt about Dr Leo Buscaglia and his works in May 1984 when I received the wonderful gift of the book, `Living, Loving and Learning' from my then boss and life-time mentor Fred Davis while working in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Although I studied and grew up in a culture which had given me some knowledge into all three concepts covered in the book, I found it to be a useful resource kit. I have read the book so many times since 1984 and still reading it again and again.

In May 1984, I was young, strong, irrational and did not fully grasp the value of love and or human relations but I thought I knew about living and learning. I received the book just three months before our daughter was born and realised the important of `love' as a `behaviour modifier'. Ever since, I have learnt many other things from this book as well from other sources. Dr Buscaglia writes about love and the importance of giving as well as receiving this unexplainable desire from the time of our birth to death. Now I know that life is nothing but a journey of seeking, giving and rejection of love.

A few months ago our daughter was very down, apparently due to the pains of growing up. Perhaps I would have been a major party in that process. May be she had peer pressure which she didn't want to communicate with me. Perhaps she thought that I was not listening to her needs (and I still do that mistake)!. When she was very down, I approached and `tactfully demanded' her (like many parents do) to read the book. I even highlighted the section that she should read. A few days later she returned the book and said: "Dad, this book has a lot of what you always talk about!". She smiled and thanked me. It was a very precious moment in my life. Then only I realised how much I have unconsciously acquired Dr Buscaglia's wisdom over the years despite still making mistakes as an adult as well as a parent.

Now, getting closer to my mid-life, after having travelled round the world, up-rooted myself and my family from our country of origin, receiving and perhaps not receiving enough love as a behaviour modifier, I still read the book because I am still growing up.

I am at a point in my life where love and affection as Dr Buscaglia defined in this book are much needed for my further growth and development. Now I am learning the need to care, respect and love everyone I live and work with, meet, talk or write sometimes even seeing them at all! Dr Buscaglia cites a good example in this book where he had not cared enough for a student who he thought was learning well in one of his undergraduate classes. He assumed that he was communicating well with this student because she sat in front of him, smiled when he emphasised something and took down notes carefully. He writes: "Then one day she stopped coming... and I kept looking for her... Finally, I checked with the Dean...and she said, `Haven't you heard?'" Dr Buscaglia learnt that the student had killed herself by jumping off a cliff. He writes: "It bothers me still and I thought to myself--what are we doing stuffing facts at people and forgetting that they are people, that they are human beings?"

This book is not about stuffing facts or giving us just citations from psychology or sociology books. He shares the wisdom he has gathered from several sources on `Living, Loving and Learning'. This book is a guide to help us to be good human beings. For those who only want to read new world stuff may think that this book is a bit of an old fashion or just a basic one. Yes, it is a basic guide for us to be good human beings.

That's why I am still reading this book 16 years after receiving it from my mentor. That's why I am still sharing the knowledge I gained from it with those who are closer to my heart wherever they live. Because I had the gift of receiving books, I always returned the same to those I love very much. Recently, I gave a gift of books to a person that I have never met because of that person's loving qualities and wisdom shared with me despite my colour, creed, race and age! Now I regret that I could not include this book in my gift pack.

For me this book is still a one sure way of `Living, Loving and Learning'.

Just read it!

Sunil Govinnage

June 2000

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Leo Buscaglia Continually Delivers Insight Into Love, October 30, 2004

By	Julie Jordan Scott "Writer, Life Coach - Owne... (Bakersfield, CA United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

I just discovered Leo Buscaglia and it has been like
looking in the mirror and seeing someone just like
me looking back - I don't mean physically, I mean
in his heart and sould and my heart and soul.

I come to this review with that energy - a whole
hearted belief in the wisdom of Buscaglia's words,
vision. It is my wholehearted desire that these
messages and similar messages continue to grow.

This book is a compilation of transcripts of many
talks given by Dr. Buscaglia. In reading the words,
you will feel as if he is addressing you personally.

You will laugh (and cry) at his stories, be challenged
by his insights and be inspired by his presence
on the written page.

One of my favorite chapters is "Teach Life" - where
in his true form, he shares about his love for
Valentine's Day, his most informative role models
and how the truth of a sacred Sufi story still
rings true in today's world.

The chapter "Bridges, Not Barriers" is also excellent
and rang so familiar, it was as if Buscaglia was
walking around in my brain... and since he is no
longer on the physical plane... well, you just never
know! *wink*

One of quotes from the book is found on page 73:

"Knowledge is not wisdom! Learning alone is not
wisdom. Wisdom is the application of knowledge and
facts. Wisdom is realizing you know nothing. Wisdom
is saying, "My mind is open. Wherever I am, I am just
beginning. There is more to be realized by a hundred
fold than what I know". That is the
beginning of wisdom.

This is a book you will be glad you own. You can
literally open to any page and find a gold nugget.

Buscaglia simply delivers love over and over
and over again.