The Joy of Living by Barry Shore ~ a Review

by MK French

Barry Shore is the self-proclaimed Ambassador of Joy and has a new book with the idea of helping others beat stress and learn to live better. He certainly knows how stressful life can be, opening his book with the story of how he suddenly was paralyzed in 2004 when his peripheral nervous system shut down. He sought to find meaning in his life, and since then has worked to help others.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

May 2021; Indie; ebook

Starting with his own story, Barry explains how much of stress can be mediated by outlook. In its milder forms, stress can help lead people to be alert and adapt to situations. Chronic stress, on the other hand, has multiple physical ramifications and leads to the exhaustion that most of us are dealing with. (We don't have to point out all of 2020 do we? I don't think so.) Barry uses a lot of acronyms that he develops, and the entire book is sprinkled with them. This gives the text a very distinctive voice, as it's told as if transcribed from a conversation Barry would have with you.

Part 2 is where Barry really lays out his strategies for defeating stress. The workbook gives room to write down your responses for each of his eleven steps. They seem straightforward, such as tracking the words you use or being mindful of the blessings in your life, but how often do we actually take time to enumerate them? Being kind and mindful doesn't automatically mean that you have to be taken advantage of. It means not letting the negatives of the situation dominate your perception of it, the people involved, or the world around you. Let's face it, that's incredibly hard to do, and it helps perpetuate the stresses in our lives and contributes to the mental and physical fatigue we carry.

We can all use a reminder to take care of ourselves, our families, and the world around us, one little bit at a time. We make our own joy, and incorporating these strategies will get us there.

Buy The Joy of Living at Amazon

Born and raised in New York City, M.K. French started writing stories when very young, dreaming of different worlds and places to visit. She always had an interest in folklore, fairy tales, and the macabre, which has definitely influenced her work. She currently lives in the Midwest with her husband, three young children, and a golden retriever.

Get even more book news in your inbox, sign up today! Girl Who Reads is an Amazon advertising affiliate; a small commission is earned when purchases are made at Amazon using any Amazon links on this site. Thank you for supporting Girl Who Reads.