What a Difference a Year Makes: How Life's Unexpected Setbacks Can Lead to Unexpected Joy (Hardcover)

~ Robert Guiney (Author) "ON A CRISP winter evening in February, I came home from a weekend trip to Arizona hoping to find my wife..." (more)
Key Phrases: Dee Dee, New York, Uncle Big Red (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Guiney, a.k.a. "Bachelor Bob" from the ABC reality television show The Bachelorette, divulges how in one calendar year he experienced both the highest of highs and lowest of lows in this sentimental month by month account. The "pseudo-celebrity" hopes to inspire readers with his rebound from the personal setbacks (his divorce, which his then-wife announced with a Dear John post-it note, and his battle with his weight) that dogged him only a few months before he was chosen as one of 15 bachelors for The Bachelorette, and later as the star of ABC's latest season of The Bachelor. However, as he makes pains to emphasize (in lackluster, straightforward prose), his success would never have been possible without the hard knocks (and paradoxical liberation) of divorce. In his sketch of this turbulent year, he shares his precious memories of family and friends, and their over-simple axioms for life, like Grandpa Guiney's advice that "doing anything at all is better than doing nothing," and his mother's mantra that "the brightest star shines even brighter when it takes other stars along with it." Fans who first appreciated his self-deprecating humor on The Bachelorette and those interested in the behind-the-scenes dirt on the Animal House bonhomie at the eligible bachelors' pad (although either out of tact or media shrewdness, Guiney trashes no one) will enjoy this hastily drawn self-portrait.
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Product Description

The next star of ABC's The Bachelor, and the funny guy who stole America's heart on The Bachelorette shares hard-earned advice and wisdom on how life's unexpected setbacks can lead to unexpected joy.

One Thanksgiving weekend Bob Guiney came home to find a white Post-it(tm) note from his wife informing him that she wanted a divorce. On top of his broken heart, he suffered a series of physical injuries, gained forty pounds, and fell into a deep depression. For the first time in his life, he found himself at rock bottom, unsure of how to pick up the pieces.

What a Difference a Year Makes looks, month-by-month, at a devastating year and the wise words and lessons drawn from uncles, aunts, parents, and his best friend: Grandma. "On paper," he writes, "I looked like a failure-no football career, no music career, and a divorce. But actually I'm doing better than I ever have in my life."

With the honesty and humor that have made Bob America's favorite bachelor, he explores the simple but valuable life lessons that helped him return to vitality and optimism. The result is a witty and warm book that will touch and inspire anyone who has ever suffered a broken heart.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: Tarcher (November 10, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1585423017
• ISBN-13: 978-1585423019
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #956,258 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars 0 stars for this loser and his book, February 3, 2004

By A Customer

This book was a joke. Bob is a joke. Why this guy deserves a book deal is beyond me. He doesn't have anything new to say than any other person would who went through the same situation. So his ex-wife grew a brain and dumped this self-centered loser. The guy never should've been on the Bachelor either. He is light years from ever committing to a woman. He knew that and still went on the show. Now nobody respects him after what he did to Estella and the viewers. The guy needs to grow up. Plus, this guy's 15 minutes have been up a long time ago. Somebody should let him know and spare us from seeing his mug and ego anymore. Go back to Michigan and stay there, Bob. You ain't a star. Ain't gonna be one. Don't waste your money or time on this book.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars What a joke, February 19, 2004

By A Customer

He has no right to be famous and write a book. He was nice guy who turned out to be such a fraud and womanizer. What a disgrace and waste of air time on ABC The Bacherlor!

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Why I read it, I do not know, March 18, 2004

By A Customer

Waste of time. A friend had this book and I picked it up and glanced through the book. It was a quick read that had nothing new or intelligent to say. I saw the Bachelor. Bob had nothing to offer a good woman then and has nothing to offer a reader now.