The book that I am about to review is very interesting. A chapter for a day… and it continues until you reach the end of a year, 365 days. Isn’t that interesting (and also exciting)? Written by David Niven, a bestselling author who has authored many other books that make your life easier and happy, the complete title (also extended by the subtitle) of the book is – The Simple Secrets for Becoming Healthy, Wealthy, and Wise: What Scientists Have Learned and How You Can Use It. That’s huge… and the book has 416 pages and each day, added as an individual title, covers a page in the book. So, how’s the book? Is it useful? Is it important? Should you get this one?

As the complete title of the book suggests, the book makes it say for the common readers to learn, understand and (if they want) apply the findings of scientists, social scientists, psychologists and other thought-leaders that would make the lives easier, comfortable, happy, progressive, positive and thoughtful. The very good thing about the book is that you get to know the source of a finding at the end of the page on which it is being discussed. At the end of the book, you get complete details about the research papers or books that published findings mentioned and suggested in the book. So, the author, David Niven, is not making his own arguments without any basis. He is using the findings that are scientifically proven and accepted by scholars.

Well, by default, most of the readers should start the book right from the beginning and it is, also, a universally accepted practice and also a useful one. However, I will not quote many references from the book. Instead, I will just mention three dates that I think will excite you enough to realise how wonderfully the author has collected, researched, analysed and picked his ideas to share in the book. Let’s begin with April 14. David says the readers to turn their TVs off. He has a point, backed by solid research (1998). He writes it beautifully:

“Television is the creamy filling that distracts us from the substance of our lives. Do not let television become the default organizer of your time.”

Do you agree with David here? He explains his stand with other details and facts in this one-page chapter. You can read further if you want to convince yourself more. However, we can all agree that the TV has played an important role in our life as an entertainer, but, lately, the role has changed from just an entertainer to too many things… propaganda, agenda, biased media, politics and so on… can you still cope with all?

Jumping to October 21, you will find the author suggesting the best for a relationship. Supporting one’s partner should be the basic duty of a person. The author frames it in clear style:

“If you believe that your partner supports you—supports who you are, supports what you are, supports what you want and need—your relationship is built on solid ground. Give support and demand support in your relationship, and everything else will be easier and better.”

The idea and proposition are backed by research and you will find the source at the end of the chapter, like usual. Let’s quote from one more chapter before I conclude the review of this book by giving you my opinion on the book and its use in your general life.

On the page that covers March 29, David advises his readers on money matters. He tells that money, though it cannot buy happiness, can certainly buy stress… money is not everything!

“Steve’s message to clients is to focus on what is truly important to them while monitoring their spending impulses. “We try to fill up holes in our lives by spending money on them,” Steve says. “There’s no point trying to fill the holes in your life with money, because you can keep pouring cash in them and you will never fill them.”

Well, I do like the style of this book. It’s simple and effective. You can read any random page at any hour of your day. You cannot necessarily finish the book in one go and keep it alive with you… finish it gradually and discuss the suggestions you find interesting with your friends and family. The book is not only interesting and useful but also very provoking as it can allow you some hours of discussions with your close ones. Isn’t that beautiful for an author to achieve?

Get a copy of this wonderful book right now and see what you are missing and how small changes in your life or even smaller adaptations can make you a healthy, wealthy and wise person… You can get a copy of this book from Amazon India in Kindle or paperback format by clicking the link below:

Buy the book from Amazon India – click here

By Amit for Indian Book Critics