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Smile
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How can something as simple as a smile be so deceptively complex? That’s the mystery and magic explored in Smile: The Astonishing Powers of a Simple Act. From the broad beaming grin of a toddler to the oily smirk of a used car salesman, smiles convey an enormous range of emotions, from joyously happy to nervous or sad. Grins also have radically varied meanings in different
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The book Smile by Ron Gutman, is a short nonfiction read about the “astonishing powers of a simple act”- smiling. Overall the book was satisfactory; I wouldn’t say that it was wonderful, but it was not a terrible book either. In this short novel, Gutman combines personal experiences from his world travel, and extensive research to support his idea that a simple smile can change your life. I thoroughly enjoyed reading his experiences from other countries. It was interesting to see what smiling me
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:)
Worthy premise and documentation, but weakened by poor editing and coherency.
Smiles come and go everyday. Often times the simple act of smiling is not considered to have monumental impacts on the lives of people smiling as well as people being smiled at. Author, Ron Gutman challenges this thought in his book, “Smile: The Astonishing Powers of a Simple Act.” Gutman explores the power of a simple smile through personal anecdotes, appeal to logic, and surprising statistics.
Gutman opens strongly with an unexpected story of his own experience on a bus in Africa. He embarked ...more
Gutman opens strongly with an unexpected story of his own experience on a bus in Africa. He embarked ...more
"For example, the Islamic prophet Muhammad taught his followers that even a smile is real charity: “Your smile for your brother is charity” (Fiqh-us-Sunnah, Vol. 3, No. 98). Important to both Christianity and Judaism, the Book of Proverbs teaches that “a friendly smile makes you happy, and goodnews makes you strong” (Proverbs 15:30)."
This is a good book in the sense that it is very well rounded and gives you a good picture of what a smile entails. However, there was very poor editing and also s ...more
This is a good book in the sense that it is very well rounded and gives you a good picture of what a smile entails. However, there was very poor editing and also s ...more
This very slim book (more like an essay) is the same as the author’s TED talk about smiling. (Here it is) He discusses his own travel and how smiles were useful way for him to connect with other people when he didn’t share their language. He touches on science and how smiles are related to brain chemistry and how we feel. He makes lots of aimless, feel-good statements about the world and humanity. This isn’t an in-depth scientific tome, though, just a lighthearted expression of what smiles mean
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Even if you ignore the lousy and repetetive pase of the book, or the pedestrian language, the book fails to impress. The book is a dreary read which can be summarised in one page. The only key takeaway from the book are the 10-12 research studies quoted in the book.
Average writing and narration by the author leaves me wondering in this often directionless book. The only positive is that it is a small book, and hence I only wasted an hour or so on it.
Skip this one, let me summarise it for you in ...more
Average writing and narration by the author leaves me wondering in this often directionless book. The only positive is that it is a small book, and hence I only wasted an hour or so on it.
Skip this one, let me summarise it for you in ...more
I️ already was aware of much of the research discussed in this short book/essay but it was a nice read that made me feel happy on a windy afternoon. I️ think the power of smiling is true when genuine, a sympathetic smile goes a long way. Just never tell someone to smile.
A few good insights but I think the book could have been a lot shorter as there was a lot of repetitive points.
Nice to read but nothing life changing
What does it say about me that I like the Kindle short about lying much better. This didn't have anything too interesting or too novel to interest me. I agree with what the author says, but just not as interesting on the philosophical ethics of lying.
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Once past the cheesing intro, the research was fun and interesting. I especially loved the parts on the differences of smiles in different cultures. Asian emoticons have taken on a whole new light! ^_^
Interesting research on the power of something as simple as a smile. My takeaway? Smile the second you wake up
just awesome. his arguments are convincing. i love the opening quote by Mother Theresa with her picture
Apr 28, 2013
Anthony
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Everybody!
Recommended to Anthony by:
TED
Very interesting to learn the positive and powerful effects of smiling...
Long winded and repetitive. But inspiring enough :)
Just simply amazing
Aftur er það innihaldið frekar en snilldarleg skrif sem fær stjörnur hjá mér.
Short read and inspiring!
It makes me rethink the old rule for teachers of never smiling before Christmas!
Eh.
It's short. Perhaps that's why I liked it for a weekend. But I didn't think it particularly interesting or insightful. Go figure.
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I felt that the book was more about the author's travels. The more I read the more bored I became, so I stopped reading it.
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A great perspective from something so simple. A lite read and a powerful reminder of what a simple smile can do...
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“Some people are too tired to give you a smile. Give them one of yours, as none needs a smile so much as he who has no more to give.”
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9 likes
“The British researchers found that it takes a lot of money to beat out the most rewarding smiles we see. In the case of this study, it took up to 16,000 pounds sterling in cash to generate the same level of brain stimulation as one smile! This”
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