Collected in this beautiful leather-bound edition are all 1,350 entries from the three volumes of Live and Learn and Pass It On. Often humorous, always genuine, the observations found in this special edition will certainly cause you to smile or add to your enlightenment. So read, enjoy - and pass it on.
H. Jackson Brown, Jr. was an American author best-known for his book Life's Little Instruction Book which was a New York Times bestseller. Before becoming famous as a writer, Brown acted as a creative director of an advertising agency in Nashville, Tennessee. It was simple words of wisdom gathered from other people and his own experiences that made him a best-selling author.
Brown first published A Father's Book of Wisdom, which was quickly followed by P.S. I Love You, a collection of sayings and observations from his father and mother. Both were very popular and led to Life's Little Instruction Book, which was originally written as a going-away present for his college-bound son, Adam. This book contained 511 reminders about "how to live a happy and rewarding life" and became a phenomenal best-seller worldwide. It has logged more than two years on the New York Times best-seller list, including more than a year at the number one spot. Life's Little Instruction Book was the first book to ever occupy the number one spot on the New York Times best-seller list in both paperback and hardback formats simultaneously. Live and Learn and Pass It On followed and also became a New York Times best-seller.
Brown's books have been translated into 35 languages and have sold millions of copies worldwide. They have spawned calendars, posters, apparel items, daily journals, greeting cards, audiocassettes, screensavers and even fortune cookies. Brown is also said to receive thousands of letters from readers all over the world. Their content ranges from the simple, "I enjoyed your book and I read a page or two every night before I go to bed" to the humbling "your book convinced our family to adopt a special needs child."
Remarking on his books, Jackson has said, "Most of us know what we need to do to make our lives more fulfilled and useful, but sometimes we forget. My little books are gentle reminders of those simple things which, if done well and in a spirit of love, can significantly change our lives."
I looked through some of this book at my brother-in-law's house, and decided to order it. You see so many books of quotations that are so-so, but from what I'd read, it seemed like this collection was a step above the norm. The quotes come from everyday people, and it's a collection of what you may call folk wisdom, perhaps something along the lines of Everything I Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten. I like this book better. I didn't dare mention my interest to my brother-in-law while I was visiting, because he and his wife are the kind of people that would just say, "Oh, take it, we're done with it".
Brown started writing down truths he learned in life, and then began collecting them from friends, and eventually from people writing in. The edition I have, the 6th, is from 2007. My favorites, some of which are given below, tend to be either those that really ring true to me upon some reflection about my own experiences, or those that are already sort of key mottos for me.
They all begin with the preamble "I've learned that ...
... most of the things I worry about never happen. Age 64
... my mother is always happy to see me. Age 44
... to experience the wonder of life through the eyes of a child is the most rewarding feeling in the world. Age 30
... the simple things are often the most satisfying. Age 63
... encouragement from a good teacher can turn a student's life around. Age 44
... good health is true wealth. Age 77
... any place I haven't visited offers the same potential for adventure and excitement as any other. Age 45
... a happy marriage multiplies joys and divides grief. Age 79
... not to waste time worrying about the things I can't change. Age 72
... my husband's encouragement can make me do things I thought I couldn't. Age 32
... if you pray for your enemies, you will stop hating them. Age 39
... a smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks. Age 17
... when I feel down, nothing picks me up like hearing my mom say, 'I'm proud of you'. Age 22
... my grown children remember and treasure the things we did rather than the things we bought. Age 65
... being a teenager is as hard on your parents as it is on you. Age 13
... happiness is not how much you have but your capacity to enjoy what you have. Age 44
... it's easy to be critical of things you've never experienced. Age 51
... when the duties of being a teacher overwhelm me, my students almost always brighten my day in some small way. Age 39
... it's the teacher and not the subject that makes a class interesting. Age 23
... because my parents believe in me, I believe in me. Age 23"
Loved reading the quotes by people of all ages. Some of MY favorites:
I’ve learned that old women can get away with anything. I’ve learned that regrets over yesterday and fears over tomorrow are twin thieves that rob us of the moment. I’ve learned that a time comes when you would love to have your grown children young again, just for a day. I’ve learned that old age is not a defeat but a victory, not a punishment but a triumph. I’ve learned that you will never see a U-haul trailer behind a hearse. I’ve learned that an afternoon in my garden is better than a therapist. I’ve learned that no matter their ages, you never stop wanting to keep a protective arm around your children. I’ve learned that grandchildren, no matter their age, are always hungry when they go to grandma’s house.
Some of the quotes by children are very endearing. They make you laugh at the innocence and the honesty.
أهداني والدي هذا الكتاب قبل 3 او 4 سنوات تقريباً، يقول المؤلف في المقدمة: في يوم ميلادي الـ51 احضرت ورقة و كتبت فيها ما علمتني اياه الحياة، ثم اصبحت عادة أطبقها في كل يوم أحد، حيث يزورني صديقي ثم أقرأ عليه ما تعلمته مؤخراً مهما كان عميقاً أو تافهاً، أعجبته الفكرة و أصبح هو الاخر يكتب ما تعلمه مع الايام، و هكذا اتسعت الدائرة حتى تحولت الى مقابلات ميدانية مع الطلاب و الموظفين و المتقاعدين من فئات عمرية مختلفة نأخذ منهم جملة أو جملتين على الأكثر فيها شيئاً جديداً
تجدون في الكتاب تجارب رائعة فيها الكثير من المشاعر و الحكمة و البراءة و الحزن و السعادة .. الكتاب باللغة الانجليزية بالمناسبة =)
The "Live and Learn and Pass It On" set of books include multiple volumes of "life teachings" as collected and compiled over a number of years. These anonymous nuggets of wisdom range from the profound and thoughtful to the humorous and entertaining. The latest publication contains the "Complete" compilation of 3 volumes of knowledge. The author/editor gathered hundreds and thousands of comments from children, teens, young adults, middle aged adults and elderly adults.
Each statement begins with the phrase "I have learned that..." and includes some life lesson that each individual has learned. I loved the wide variety of bits of learning ranging from how to get along with family members, how to keep an eye on finances and when not to ask your parents to give you something.
I found myself nodding knowingly to some bits of advice and remembering when I learned that lesson myself (for example, learning the difference between a "bulb" and a "clove" of garlic). I laughed at some of the simple observations of children. And I made mental notes of some of the observations of those older and more knowledgable than myself.
The book has a lot of fun simple anectdotes and thoughts. It can certainly be read cover-to-cover and provide some good smiles and learneing but it can also make for a nice "coffee table" book to sit on the counter and just pick up and turn to a random page.
The only real complaint I can voice would be that I would have liked to have seen some sort of organization. While it was fun to just read all these random bits of learning, I think it might be valuable to have the quotes chunked up by subject so that perhaps I could turn to the book as a reference for quick quotes or advice on some particular point I'm working on. One possible help for this would be an Index listing topics and then just doing a general page number reference.
Still, it's a fun book and brought a lot of smiles and grins.
This was pretty straight forward. Just simple lessons people have learned and passed on. But as I inherited this book from my grandfather, I tended to find much of him in some of the lessons. His bookmark, which I can't bring myself to remove, was on a picture of a cat in a sink with the lesson, "I've learned that it doesn't make any difference whether or not you name your cat. He never comes when called anyway. -Age 31" Every line in the book starts with "I've learned..." and goes on to say what that person has learned. This is most definitely not the type of book I would have chosen for myself, but some of these lessons stuck with me. I'm glad I saw it on his shelf. As the title says, I've learned from this book and intend to pass it on to another family member. Maybe we'll be a lucky enough family that it actually makes it to every member.
I really liked it! I gave me a laugh :) The ones from little kids made me smile extra big haha and the ones from older pepole taught me a thing or two I feel like writing to the author Fun little read, a recommend it to anyone :)
A fun little gift I did enjoy reading some of the quotes but this collection was a bit repetitive and would probably be best read in the individual volumes instead of a collection like this.