Share <Embed>

Buy New

$8.68

List Price: $15.00
Save: $6.32 (42%)

Temporarily out of stock.
Order now and we'll deliver when available. Details

Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Gift-wrap available.

Turn on 1-Click ordering for this browser

This item ships to France. Learn more

Select delivery location

Buy Used

$7.49

FREE Shipping on orders over $25.

Select delivery location

Used: Like New | Details

Sold by PGZ products

Fulfilled by Amazon

Turn on 1-Click ordering for this browser

Added to

Unable to add item to List. Please try again.

Other Sellers on Amazon

Add to Cart

$6.75

Sold by: mediastoday

Add to Cart

$11.55
& FREE Shipping on eligible orders. Details

Sold by: BadBishop5647

Add to Cart

$7.50
+ $20.59 shipping

Sold by: Light7777

Have one to sell? Sell on Amazon

Flip to back Flip to front

Listen Playing... Paused You're listening to a sample of the Audible audio edition.
Learn more

See all 2 images

A Short Guide to a Happy Life Hardcover – October 31, 2000

by Anna Quindlen (Author)

244 customer reviews

See all 8 formats and editions Hide other formats and editions

Price

New from

Used from

Kindle

"Please retry"

$7.45

—

Hardcover

"Please retry"

$8.68

$2.33

$0.25

Unbound, Import

"Please retry"

—

$389.05

Audible Audiobook, Unabridged

"Please retry"

$0.00

Free with your Audible trial

From the New York Times bestselling author of Alternate Side, Anna Quindlen’s classic reflection on a meaningful life makes a perfect gift for any occasion.

“Life is made of moments, small pieces of silver amidst long stretches of tedium. It would be wonderful if they came to us unsummoned, but particularly in lives as busy as the ones most of us lead now, that won’t happen. We have to teach ourselves now to live, really live . . . to love the journey, not the destination.”

In this treasure of a book, Anna Quindlen, the bestselling novelist and columnist, reflects on what it takes to “get a life”—to live deeply every day and from your own unique self, rather than merely to exist through your days. “Knowledge of our own mortality is the greatest gift God ever gives us,” Quindlen writes, “because unless you know the clock is ticking, it is so easy to waste our days, our lives.” Her mother died when Quindlen was nineteen: “It was the dividing line between seeing the world in black and white, and in Technicolor. The lights came on for the darkest possible reason. . . . I learned something enduring, in a very short period of time, about life. And that was that it was glorious, and that you had no business taking it for granted.” But how to live from that perspective, to fully engage in our days? In A Short Guide to a Happy Life, Quindlen guides us with an understanding that comes from knowing how to see the view, the richness in living.

Frequently bought together

Total price: $27.13

One of these items ships sooner than the other. Show details

Buy the selected items together

This item:A Short Guide to a Happy Life by Anna Quindlen Hardcover $8.68
Temporarily out of stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
FREE Shipping on orders over $25. Details
Being Perfect by Anna Quindlen Hardcover $8.77
In Stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
FREE Shipping on orders over $25. Details
Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake: A Memoir of a Woman's Life by Anna Quindlen Paperback $9.68
In Stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
FREE Shipping on orders over $25. Details

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

"I'm not particularly qualified by profession or education to give advice and counsel," confesses author Anna Quindlen, as she begins this tender little instruction book. "It's widely known in a small circle that I make a mean tomato sauce, and I know many inventive ways to hold a baby while nursing, although I haven't had the opportunity to use any of them in years."

It is precisely this commonplace form of wisdom that make readers trust and respect Quindlen. She uses her candid, heart-to-heart narrative voice along with her novel-writer descriptive skills to show readers how good we have it: "Life is made up of moments, small pieces of mica in a long stretch of glittering gray cement." Later she urges readers to "Look at the fuzz on a baby's ear. Read in the backyard with the sun on your face." The format smacks of "gift book," with an abundance of pleasing, artsy photographs. Don't be ashamed to fall for the packaging, though. This is one of those books that could remain in the living room for years or in the family for generations. --Gail Hudson

From Booklist

The beloved Newsweek columnist on how to get a life. Little as well as short. Ray Olson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product details

Hardcover: 64 pages
Publisher: Random House; 1 edition (October 31, 2000)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0375504613
ISBN-13: 978-0375504617
Product Dimensions: 5 x 0.4 x 7.2 inches
Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 244 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,292 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #14 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Philosophy > Ethics & Morality
- #51 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Mental Health > Happiness
- #84 in Books > Self-Help > Motivational

Would you like to tell us about a lower price?
If you are a seller for this product, would you like to suggest updates through seller support?

Be the first video

Your name here

Important information

Ingredients

Example Ingredients

Directions

Example Directions

Customer reviews

Write a customer review

See all 244 customer reviews

Read reviews that mention

Top customer reviews

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

Moniva

A nice reflection that life is made up of moments that cannot be made up, rewound, to make the most of life

September 14, 2016

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

This is an excellent little book. I got it as a gift for another, but quickly read it, and loved it. There are nice photos in it, for reflection, and the thoughts and musings are worthwhile. As she quotes Pail Tsongas No one on his deathbed ever said, I wish I had spent more time on my business. This book is an admonishment, though a light one, to remember to live each moment, to realize each moment, as the gift that it is, and that moments are just that, momentary. Here and then gone. Don't waste them. But said in a way that is charming and poignant, painted in reflection with the lovely photos which punctuate the book.

4 people found this helpful

Helpful

Not Helpful

Comment

annmiller57

Do not purchase on Kindle

May 30, 2015

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

This might be a fine little gift book. I made the mistake of purchasing on my Kindle and what a mistake it was! Amazon, if you are going to offer this book in the Kindle library, at least list the number of pages (less than 30) and a better description. Or post the most helpful Kindle reviews first. Lesson learned on my part.

8 people found this helpful

Helpful

Not Helpful

Comment

Joel L. Gandelman

You'll feel GOOD (and feel OVERCHARGED)

September 19, 2001

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

Anna Quindlen's A Short Guide to a Happy Life has a WONDEFUL message: Get a life. She means a full life, where it's fully understood that the "clock" is ticking. Live and appreciate the beauties of the present...now..rather than having to be jarred into this realization.
"One day you were walking around worryng about whether you had anything to wear to a party and reminding yourself to buy Kitty Litter or toilet paper," she writes. "And then you were in the shower lathering up, or you were lying on a doctor's table or the phone rang. And your world suddenly divided, as my world did many years ago. It divided into 'before' and 'after.'"
The problem is this: that quote is a decent part of the book.
This book is shockingly short. It's almost like an expanded newspaper column (if you're a fast reader it'll take 5 to 10 minutes to read this). And as thin as it is, some whole pages (in some cases two whole pages) are covered with beautiful photos. So as good as the MESSAGE is -- it IS a good one and wonderfully expressed -- this book can DISAPPOINT because it is shockingly thin in content, even for a thin small book. If you're after a good, QUICK pick-me-up that you can read quickly when times look bleak of you think you're losing yours sense of prorities, this is for you. If you expect a content-heavy book that's more than an expanded newspaper column it is not.

5 people found this helpful

Helpful

Not Helpful

Comment

Jack Springhill

Puts life into perspective.

June 17, 2018

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

Fabulous words of advice for people of all ages. I think this book should be a graduation gift for every college graduate.

One person found this helpful

Comment

January 21, 2018

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

Anna Quindlen's gem of a book is a perfect gift for a graduate or a good friend. She gives wonderful life advice accompanied by excellent photos.

One person found this helpful

Comment

March 23, 2018

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

This should not be ordered as an e-book. wish I had known it was only 50 pages long before I paid 9 dollars for it. 15 minutes of reading not worth the money

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Not Helpful

Comment

Kimberly OC

Everyone Should Read This Book

August 10, 2013

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

And yes I am an Anna Quindlen fan, but even if you don't like her or her politics, this book is just awesome. The advice is simple and practical. It makes me feel like I am having a very good cup of hazelnut coffee with cream and talking to my best friend. And then reflecting on the conversation on the drive home. Of course the Kindle delivery was instant as always, but Ms.Quindlen delivery? Sheer perfection.

4 people found this helpful

Helpful

Not Helpful

Comment

nwm

At best this is an inspirational blog post without substance and ...

March 25, 2017

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

No idea how she got this published as a book. At best this is an inspirational blog post without substance and a collection of photographs.

3 people found this helpful

Helpful

Not Helpful

Comment

Most recent customer reviews

ELIZABETH

Wonderful little book

Sweet real life book that every woman can relate to. A quick read Makes a wonderful just because I was thinking of you gift!

Published 1 month ago

T. Michaels

This is Quindlen's finest work, a short book in simple terms about ...

Over the course of many years, I've purchased this little gem as I keep giving my copies away. This is Quindlen's finest work, a short book in simple terms about what really...Read more

Published 1 month ago

Mary B.

Five Stars

love this book

Published 3 months ago

Five Stars

Wonderful short book - highly recommend

Published 3 months ago

Barb

Five Stars

A good reminder of the good things in life !

Published 5 months ago

JJ Writer

A series of cliches

Only 50 pages long, most of which are full-page photos. The "book" consists of a series of clichés about life. Nothing practical.Read more

Published 8 months ago

Leslie A. Robinson

A lovely little book full of good advice.

I gave it to my son for his birthday. A lovely little book full of good advice.

Published 11 months ago

Rebecca

Three Stars

I was disappointed on how short this was... Just expected far more, especially for the price.

Published 11 months ago

ODonnells Boox

Im sorry author...

I never leave book reviews, this is my first and so bummed its not a positive comment. I was excited to plow through this piece but left feeling "blah".Read more

Published 1 year ago

Mrs. Darcy

I love this book

I love this book. I love the fact that I can read it in one sitting because this is a book that I read over and over at different stages of my life. It's a great book for all ages.

Published 1 year ago

Set up an Amazon Giveaway

Amazon Giveaway allows you to run promotional giveaways in order to create buzz, reward your audience, and attract new followers and customers. Learn more about Amazon Giveaway

This item: A Short Guide to a Happy Life

Set up a giveaway

Customers who bought this item also bought

Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1

This shopping feature will continue to load items. In order to navigate out of this carousel please use your heading shortcut key to navigate to the next or previous heading.

Anna Quindlen

65

Hardcover
$8.77
Anna Quindlen

658

Paperback
$9.68
Anna Quindlen

133

Hardcover
$9.89
Anna Quindlen

244

Hardcover
$13.85
Anna Quindlen

2,422

Paperback
$8.26
Anna Quindlen

289

Paperback
$9.12

Pages with related products. See and discover other items: happy books, bee happy, applied ethics

Buy New

$8.68

Turn on 1-Click ordering for this browser

Buy Used

$7.49

Turn on 1-Click ordering for this browser

Other Sellers on Amazon

A Short Guide to a Happy Life Hardcover – October 31, 2000

Frequently bought together

What other items do customers buy after viewing this item?

Sponsored products related to this item (What's this?)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

From Booklist

Product details

Related Video Shorts (0)

Be the first video

Important information

Ingredients

Directions

Sponsored products related to this item (What's this?)

Customer reviews

Read reviews that mention

Top customer reviews

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

Most recent customer reviews

Set up an Amazon Giveaway

Customers who bought this item also bought

Buy New $8.68

Turn on 1-Click ordering for this browser

Buy Used $7.49

Turn on 1-Click ordering for this browser

Sorry, there was a problem.

Sorry, there was a problem.

Other Sellers on Amazon

A Short Guide to a Happy Life Hardcover – October 31, 2000

Frequently bought together

What other items do customers buy after viewing this item?

Sponsored products related to this item (What's this?)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

From Booklist

Product details

Related Video Shorts (0)

Be the first video

Important information

Ingredients

Directions

Sponsored products related to this item (What's this?)

Customer reviews

Read reviews that mention

Top customer reviews

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

Most recent customer reviews

Set up an Amazon Giveaway

Customers who bought this item also bought

Buy New

$8.68

Buy Used

$7.49