Don't Sweat the Small Stuff...and It's All Small Stuff: Simple Ways to Keep the Little Things from Taking Over Your Life
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Consumer Rating: 
By: Richard Carlson
Format: Paperback
From: Mobius
Pub. Date: January 1998
From: Mobius
Pub. Date: January 1998
Product Details:
Catalog: Book
Release Date: 1998-02-05
Media: Paperback
Number Of Pages: 272
Ean: 9780340708019
Isbn: 0340708018
Catalog: Book
Release Date: 1998-02-05
Media: Paperback
Number Of Pages: 272
Ean: 9780340708019
Isbn: 0340708018
ABOUT THE BOOK
EDITORIAL REVIEW
Got a stress case in your life? Of course you do: "Without question, many of us have mastered the neurotic art of spending much of our lives worrying about a variety of things all at once." Carlson's cheerful book aims to make us stop and smell--if not roses--whatever is sitting in front of our noses. Don't Sweat the Small Stuff... offers 100 meditations designed to make you appreciate being alive, keep your emotions (especially anger and dissatisfaction) in proper perspective, and cherish other people as the unique miracles they are. It's an owner's manual of the heart, and if you follow the directions, you will be a happier, more harmonious person. Like Stairmasters, oat bran and other things that are good for you, the meditations take discipline. Even so, some of the strategies are kind of fun: "Imagine the people in your life as tiny infants and as 100-year-old adults." The trouble is, once you start, it's hard to stop. --Amazon.com
USER REVIEWS
"I've always wanted to be serene, and after reading this book - over a decade ago - I took the first big step towards that goal: I realised that, instead of being annoyed at people who did things I disliked, I could feel compassion towards them.
This lesson has served me well through and has helped me to grow up. I am very sorry to learn of the author's early death, and agree that his life helps to underpin the lessons his book teaches."
~ Written on 2008-03-14
This lesson has served me well through and has helped me to grow up. I am very sorry to learn of the author's early death, and agree that his life helps to underpin the lessons his book teaches."
~ Written on 2008-03-14
"This little book has changed my life. I have owned it for over 4 years, and re-read it from time to time. It keeps me focused, calm, and helps me cope with the huge amounts of stress I am under. A true gem!"
~ Written on 2008-02-15
~ Written on 2008-02-15
"This is an excellent self help book - for me, at any rate. it gives you 'permission' to NOT be assertive about everything. As someone who has been told to be more assertive, i found it demonstrates how being assertive about everything results in bad feeling for yourself and others, increased stress and lack of humour and calmness in life. There are many people in life who would do well to read it - sometimes less is more!
I agree that we shouldn't be complacent or have people walk all over us - but so often people have too great a sense of their own importance and seem to get upset by the fact that people don't always get as worked up about things as they do.
Was also very sad to hear that the author died tragically young."
~ Written on 2007-08-02
I agree that we shouldn't be complacent or have people walk all over us - but so often people have too great a sense of their own importance and seem to get upset by the fact that people don't always get as worked up about things as they do.
Was also very sad to hear that the author died tragically young."
~ Written on 2007-08-02
"I have just found out that Richard Carlson sadly died on Wednesday 13th December from a cardiac arrest.
His books, especially his new one "Don't Get Scrooged" have had a profound effect on me. I am not religious myself but through his works I have been able to tap into my own personal sprituality.
His passing is incredibly sad news but I hope it will emphasise his true message of "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff", because life really is too short.
I recommend this and all his books to anyone wanting accessible spirtual advice.It is a terrible shame that Richard will not be able to put the wonderful advice he gives about the hoilday season into practice this Christmas."
~ Written on 2006-12-15
His books, especially his new one "Don't Get Scrooged" have had a profound effect on me. I am not religious myself but through his works I have been able to tap into my own personal sprituality.
His passing is incredibly sad news but I hope it will emphasise his true message of "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff", because life really is too short.
I recommend this and all his books to anyone wanting accessible spirtual advice.It is a terrible shame that Richard will not be able to put the wonderful advice he gives about the hoilday season into practice this Christmas."
~ Written on 2006-12-15
"This book is very good for helping people feel happier about themselves, particularly those with very busy lives where they are dashing about constantly and spend most of their time worrying. Much of the advice is very good: the advice on being more patient in conversations, adopting less aggressive approaches, not getting worked up over relatively trivial issues, and living in the present moment, are all sound and tend to help people to lead more contented lives.
My favourite section was the section on "when you die, your in-basket won't be empty". There is a lot of truth in this argument, and it's something that is often forgotten in the hustle-bustle of everyday life. Living life as if the purpose is to get all of the work "finished" and empty your in-basket is not generally a good plan for avoiding stress, as Richard Carlson explains very well.
However, there is one flaw in the book, in that some of the advice is contradictory, e.g. advising to listen to other people's problems, but then advising not to get involved with other people's problems.
Another issue, not just with this book but with many such self-help books, is that while the advice on letting go, being laid back and accepting is good for keeping oneself contented, it can promote complacency, which isn't necessarily a good thing. It is certainly better to accept that life isn't fair and that injustices happen, than to get worked up over injustices, but what we don't see enough of in the world is people taking constructive action to try and reduce the extent of the injustices. Life isn't fair; that doesn't mean it isn't possible to make it fairer than it currently is.
Indeed, it's not uncommon for people who accept an injustice as a fact of life, as part of avoiding "sweating the small stuff", to become very defensive of the injustice when someone suggests that it may be addressable.
The other main drawback of this laid-back accepting attitude is that sometimes it enables people to walk all over you.
However, despite the above criticisms, people with very busy lives, and/or who are worriers, are likely to benefit significantly from this book. That said, I found The Power Of Now by Echart Tolle to be more useful."
~ Written on 2006-06-02
My favourite section was the section on "when you die, your in-basket won't be empty". There is a lot of truth in this argument, and it's something that is often forgotten in the hustle-bustle of everyday life. Living life as if the purpose is to get all of the work "finished" and empty your in-basket is not generally a good plan for avoiding stress, as Richard Carlson explains very well.
However, there is one flaw in the book, in that some of the advice is contradictory, e.g. advising to listen to other people's problems, but then advising not to get involved with other people's problems.
Another issue, not just with this book but with many such self-help books, is that while the advice on letting go, being laid back and accepting is good for keeping oneself contented, it can promote complacency, which isn't necessarily a good thing. It is certainly better to accept that life isn't fair and that injustices happen, than to get worked up over injustices, but what we don't see enough of in the world is people taking constructive action to try and reduce the extent of the injustices. Life isn't fair; that doesn't mean it isn't possible to make it fairer than it currently is.
Indeed, it's not uncommon for people who accept an injustice as a fact of life, as part of avoiding "sweating the small stuff", to become very defensive of the injustice when someone suggests that it may be addressable.
The other main drawback of this laid-back accepting attitude is that sometimes it enables people to walk all over you.
However, despite the above criticisms, people with very busy lives, and/or who are worriers, are likely to benefit significantly from this book. That said, I found The Power Of Now by Echart Tolle to be more useful."
~ Written on 2006-06-02