Life Could Be Sweeter: 101 Great Ideas from Around the World for Living a More Rewarding Life

by William Sinunu

America may be one of the most powerful and wealthy countries in the world, but our intense work ethic and stressful lifestyles take an enormous toll on our quality of life. William Sinunu realized after a close brush with death that his own exhausting, career-driven existence was preventing him from truly living, and he needed to find a way to regain the health, happiness, and balance he had known growing up abroad and had witnessed during his career as a flight attendant. In Life Could Be Sweeter, Sinunu invites us along on his fascinating journey, offering a unique glimpse into different practices and beliefs from around the world that suggest a more rewarding lifestyle may be easier to achieve than we think. These 101 beautifully written vignettes, by turns funny and poignant, explore every area of our lives, and encourage us to slow down and find a better life balance by drawing inspiration and practical advice from our neighbors around the world.

Genres: Nonfiction

224 pages, Paperback

First published May 10, 2005

Reviews

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice collection of anecdotes from around the world with a moral to each story about how to simplify, slow down and spice up your life. Written by a flight attendant turned social worker, this book is very much in tune with the trend toward buying less stuff and appreciating people, not things, that is happening right now. I found reinforcement for ideas I already embrace and some new ones to put into practice.

A simpler wardrobe means more room in your closet and less time making decisions about what to wear every morning. Less clutter means less time tidying up around the house and more time to hang out with friends or read, or both! A generous attitude toward entertaining makes for memorable experiences and strong relationships. And many more messages that seem ordinary in other countries but somehow have either been lost or go against the grain of consumerism and the press for material success that seem to define American life more and more.

The stories are not limited to issues of materialism: he also touches on how other cultures value time and cultivate health, relationships and community. An easy read and a pleasure to put into practice.

[Relyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

8/29/08
This is a little self-helpish book. The advice comes in tiny nuggets of wisdom disguised as stories. Liking it very much so far.

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Well, not so much. At the end of every essay, Sinunu had a little factiod that did nothing so much as point out why the Europeans are so far superior to the Americans. ICK! I finally just quit reading.

[April · Rating 2 out of 5]

yeah, yeah. i get it. it's good to be worldly. i think i already knew that?

[Lana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! It was well written and captivating. The stories were short and easy to get through but featured places all over the world that you would want to learn more about. It gave me some ideas of places to visit and things to do. Overall I think this is a book I would recommend to my friends and family as well as read again myself.

[Caitlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one. I'm a huge believer in learning from others, especially other cultures, because our culture is just one small piece of a very large picture, and wow was this book eye opening. The author, a former flight attendant, and his friends have traveled all over the world and had wonderful little bits of advice and observations to share. Some are silly but some are profound. And the way this book was put together - in small chapters no more than a page or two - made it a quick and entertaining read. Highly recommend. It'll make you want to travel the world.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

Found on the bookshelf in the condo...a motivational feel-good book.

[Rachel Crawford · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks Antoinette! Gotta get this back to you.

[Katelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

one of my favorite books of all time. Such simple lifestyle changes that could make life sweeter! :)