14,000 Things to Be Happy about

I bought this book when it was entitled "10,000 Things to be Happy About". Just picked it off a shelf in the bookstore one day when my mom was trying to survive her experimental chemo treatments and the rest of us were struggling to cope with her impending loss. That day, this book was like a shaft of sunlight splintering a murky room. It made me remember that there are good things in life no matter what crushing sadness we were experiencing. I'd just pick up the book, open it to any page, and I'd just start reading that wonderful list of happy things. It was like a lifeline to me at times. I've since purchased it as a gift for another person going through the same experience and will be purchasing it again soon to give as a gift once more to someone experiencing their own kind of pain. Sometimes we just need to be reminded that life is still good. To the author, a simple heartfelt thank you from me.

I have purchased the original 14,000 Things to be happy about... roughly 25 times. I am addicted to this book, and am so excited to see that a new and updated version is coming out. I read this book to relax, with a highlighter in hand, and highlight the items that I find fabulous and something I want to try. Later in the week, I try to take action on at least one of the things. Result? A life of trying new things, having new experiences and seeing with new eyes. I've pre-ordered this and can't wait for the new version to come out! Regards, Shannon

I am a high school counselor and picked up this book at a workshop. It is not keenly witty or deep, but I have found that if I keep a copy on my desk, the kids pick it up and thumb through the pages. More often than not, they will find something to make them smile. It is a great conversation starter or a wonderful way to forget a problem. I give many of these little books away as graduation, off to college, going overseas, or hospitalization gifts.

My good friend knew someone who had purchased this book and thought it was cute. My dear companion bought the book and gave it to me as a gift because she knew I was not feeling very good about some things at the time. Of course, there is no cure for depression that lies within a cute little book like this one, but if there were one cute little book that could cure someone, it would be this. The book is a giant list of things that should make you happy. Some of the things are so cute you just can't help but smiling. I think that you probably won't read it cover to cover, but you'll read it a lot. But you really have to picture the images the author is mentioning to make it sink in how lucky we are to have some of the things we have. Where could we be without Scrabble or curtain calls or cereal? It's so fun to imagine all the little things we take for granted. And such a cute little book that this woman made.

I found this book at the library in early 1994 and was so enchanted by it I told the library I lost it and was going to pay for it. Instead I had our local bookshop order it for me and returned the much thumbed taxpayer's copy to the library. I love books - all kinds of books - but this is my all time favorite. It is DELIGHTFUL!! I have read it cover to cover at least 6-7 times and made many, many, more random readings. Each time I read it I highlight new passages (by now more than half the book is highlighted). I read it when I'm feeling lost and abandoned, when I'm feeling nostalgic, when I'm looking for ideas for dinner, and even when I'm already happy - this book NEVER lets me down! I also have read "The Wish List", by the same author, but I'd love another 14,000 things to be happy about - heck, it doesn't even have to be 14,000, I'll settle for 1,000 (put the bug in Barbara Ann Kipfer's ear!).