Laugh and Learn with These Life LessonsInsights from a veteran psychologist: Dr. David Levy is a media consultant who has appeared on over 70 television and radio broadcasts, from CNN to National Geographic, to provide psychological perspectives on current events. His previous works have been published internationally, many of them becoming bestsellers. In this book, Levy approaches readers on a … bestsellers. In this book, Levy approaches readers on a more personal level but carries the same expertise that he’s shared with viewers and listeners worldwide.
Valuable life lessons: Levy’s book takes a different approach than others in the self-help genre. Rather than being instructional, Levy shares bits of wisdom through telling his own stories. In other words, he offers life lessons without lecturing or preaching. Written in a style that is engaging and humorous, readers will find relatable truths in Levy’s uplifting stories and wise advice.
A journey to wisdom: The path to living a smarter lifestyle is not always smooth. Levy encourages readers to embrace all the feelings his book may bring out as they read his stories, from laughing to wincing, and learning along the way. Discover the power of positive thinking as Levy shares a lifetime journey of personal reflections, growth, and wisdom.
Dive into Dr. David Levy’s latest book, Life Is a 4-Letter Word, and find…
- 40 autobiographical essays, each one containing a relatable and applicable life lesson
- A unique source of both humor and inspiration that reassures readers that life is good
- A self-help book for men and women from a published professional in psychology
If books such as You are a Badass, The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F—, Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff, and Sometimes You Win—Sometimes You Learn have interested you, then Life Is a 4-Letter Word should be your next read!
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Well, David Levy has made me a liar.
I’m constantly asked if I re-read books, and the answer is no. I am one of those people who just never get the same “feels” as I did the very first time I read something, and so re-reading is just useless to me. Until now. Life Is A 4-Letter Word is now the book that I want to carry around with me constantly, have on my person at every moment of every day, and re-read the brilliant advice given in such relatable stories. {SIGH}
David wrote this awesome book of essays based on little life lessons he experienced on his own, with a unique file of “sticky notes” he collected on the way. These stories are all true experiences that David kindly shares in just a few paragraphs that give eye opening advice that each and every one of us can savor in our own way. There is not one story here we all can’t relate to, and probably come back with a comparable story of our own.
Each story is short and simple, and the entire book can be read in one sitting, I finished it in 2 hours. (Probably could have been done in less but heaven forbid I can read without being disturbed).
I laughed (The Marvels of Cynicism).
I cried (The Nature of Attachment).
I totally got pissed off (Testing the Limits), ~oh David that car, oh my heart, I just can’t believe how stupid that was, If you only knew how much I love my little red convertible, I felt your pain, really I think I FELT it!
I totally related (Empathetic Failure) ~I swear my ex-therapist came from the same school yours did.
I felt the pressure of change (The Prozac Dilemma)
And in the end I realized that my flawed perfectionism is nothing to worry about (Perfectly Flawed).
And thats just a few of the things I took away from reading it.
I will read this book constantly. I will buy copies of it and have it laying around my house, I will give it as gifts to my friends. There is no better way to change your thinking until you read a book where someone else shows you all their own personal flaws and then points out after the fact what the “bright side” was. This was magnificent. Such a treasure. 5 stars and a highly highly recommend. Probably the best written ‘self-help’ and ‘advice’ book I have ever read.
Also check out David’s website, he has personal photos that correlate to a lot of the stories. (Yes, they really are all true). I am sharing a few of my favorites here.
I just would like to thank Dr. David A. Levy, Suzanne Leopold of Suzy Approved Book Tours, and Mango Publishing (#partner) for the gifted copy of this book for my unbiased and honest opinion for review.
It all began at the doctor’s office, when author David Levy was only 6 years old, trying to talk his way out of an injection from Nurse Gabe. The LIFE LESSON he quickly learned from that experience was summed up in three words from a Nike slogan, ‘Just Do It’ or when you have to face the inevitable, it’s best to just get it over with.
This book is a compilation of anecdotes, and life experiences in which author Levy had collected over the past sixty years. The book was an easy read, and could probably be read quickly in a span of an hour or less. However, this book is one best read slowly over a course of a few days while savoring and pondering on the stories.
This is a great book I recommend that would also make for amazing gifts to friends and families of all ages.
I don’t read a lot of non-fiction books. I find that they often can’t hold my attention well. But, once in while, I come across one that is written well, and in a way that instantly grips me. Levy’s Life Is A 4 Letter Word did that for me, and it kept me hooked til the end!
This little book is broken down into 40 life lessons, all written with humor and conviction and inspiration. Each one had me chuckling, each one had me ready for the next one. Levy’s essays are wonderfully written in a way that they truly capture the reader’s soul.
No matter if you are a fiction lover, or a non-fiction lover, this little book is for you. It’s a fast read. Each essay will leave you thinking about your life, having you smiling and embracing life with a new outlook. I highly recommend this to all. With Valentine’s Day, Easter, and more coming up, this would make a wonderful gift for those you love. Well done, Levy! I look forward to more.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Publisher and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.*
Life is a 4-letter word, It was an interesting book. I liked it because he was reflecting back on his life and when you do that, you learn and grow from your experiences. y.
I hope this book becomes a best seller because learning from your past is what will shape your future, but as I was reading this, the back of my mind kept saying, if I had a book like this when I was younger, it would have made me realize other people have struggles, have embarrassing moments or have made mistakes and wouldn’t have beat myself up over and over. As the author said, life lessons and that is what our experiences are, just life lessons that we will make it through and move us along in life. There are a few that years later I could laugh about but at the time I thought it would ruin my life.
I received an ARC from NetGalley for an honest review. This book is going to mean different things to different people, I think depending on the stage you are in life. Young people are struggling today and this book would be a good book for them to read and reread. It shows us that what we are dealing with is just a life lesson and we can use it to become who we are meant to be tomorrow. It will also show them that everyone has life lessons, embarrassing moments, but you can overcome them. and in a few years, you may even look back and laugh.
David A. Levy, Author of “Life is a 4 Letter Word Laughing and Learning Through 40 Life Lessons” has written a thought-provoking, witty, and intriguing self-help and a nonfiction book. I love that the author doesn’t “preach” to the readers, but through short anecdotal “essays”, he shares the outcomes that he has experienced which can be helpful to others. I found some of the essays delightful with humor. The author has an easy-going style of writing which is very relatable.
For example in the essay, “The Attachment” the author writes that he remembers as a young boy that his father had three baby ducklings in their garage, named “Huey, Dewey, and Louie” and they provided shelter, and food. When the ducklings got older, it was time to take them to the lake where other ducks were. The problem with duckling or baby chicks is they get very attached to who they first see, and it was difficult getting them to stay. This reminds me of hatching baby chicks in our Kindergarten classrooms. We did this for the first few years, and the children loved watching the baby chicks hatch. I assumed they were going to a farm, and then I realized you can’t assume anything. It seems in New York City, the chicks have to be inoculated, and were going to be picked up and brought to the zoo as food for the snakes. The other Kindergarten teacher and I took them home and found the chicks homes on local farms in the country. I know there is a cycle of life, but we sort of intervened and did this our way. That was the last year we incubated chicks. Of course, the author has a lesson for his essay, which prompted me to share my experience.
There are many fun essays and “lessons” that all of us can relate to. I would highly recommend this enjoyable thought-provoking book for those readers who enjoy self-help books with humor.
Dr. Levy’s collection of stories showcases his well-honed, multi-faceted skills as a storyteller, educator, psychologist, and entertainer. His own passion as a lifelong learner and eagerness to help others understand the ways of the world shines through his lively style of writing. This book is brilliant, insightful, humorous, and touching all at once. Readers will delight at the relatable snapshots of people, relationships, and events and find wonderful treasures of expertly distilled learning points embedded within.
– Dr. Judy Ho, board certified clinical and forensic neuropsychologist, tenured associate professor, and author of “Stop Self-Sabotage”
An incredibly pleasant and insightful read! The kind of book I would recommend to everyone. Regardless of who you are, where you are from, or how old you are, you will find something that you connect to within this book. Each chapter is filled with valuable life lessons that I have found myself reflecting on often. Dr. Levy’s writing is witty yet profoundly moving in many ways. The life lessons I related to most: “The journey can be more satisfying than the destination,” “Sometimes a tie is really a win,” and last but certainly not least, “perfectionism is flawed.”
This is the perfect book to pick up right now. Dr. Levy puts things into perspective and gives a story to back each up.
An important lesson I’m still dealing with daily – Empty Threats are Worse Than None At All. This one is challenging for parents of kids of all ages.
Short but interesting lesson – Some Gaps Can Never Be Bridged. Levy discusses a girlfriend from years back who was Southern Fundamentalist Christian and he was Jewish. I’m sure you already know what probably didn’t work out.
Fake it Till You Make It took on an interesting meaning when you read this clip for Levy’s past! Brilliant!
These are just a few of the many lessons that Levy brings to light. We can all learn something from at least one of these lessons.
When I signed up for a book tour to read this book in exchange for my honest opinion, I could have never anticipated where the world would be right now. And, as such, this story of anecdotes and life lessons took on a new meaning. It gave me a positive focus and realistic outlook when I really needed one.
This small book packs a powerful punch. With its short chapters, it could have been a quick read, but I found myself going through it slowly and thinking about each lesson. A few of my favorites were “Beware the Illusion of Choice”, “Every Decision Involves Trade-offs”, and “Perfectionism is Flawed”. Both Levy’s anecdotes and lessons resonated with me on these chapters.
I highly recommend this book filled with insights from a psychologist. I think it would benefit everyone, especially now. I know I will be revisiting it.
Welcome to Whimsical Wednesday my Fellow Book Dragons! Our Gem is perfect for a beautiful Spring evening. It is a deep blue on first look, but this hold it in your claw and it does something I have not seen in years, it changes color with your mood. This is the Gem of Original Mood Ring. Not those knock off things you see in the store, but the very first one, bestowed upon King Solomon centuries ago, right before he began to write Proverbs. This is Gem Maker Dr. David A. Levy’s “Life is a 4 Letter Word: Laughing and Learning Through 40 Life Lessons”.
Dr. Levy is now a Psychologist, but at one time was involved in theater and entertainment. He learned these life lessons from both of these careers. He is now in his 60’s and decided to share them with all of us. Sometimes the lessons are found in humor and sometimes in despair, but there is always something to take away.
He tells the little lessons as stories first, then gives the proverb or adage on a single sheet at the end, so if One wanted, One could take the sheet out and put it where it would be of most use. I liked that about this book. He really made it useable. It is small and compact so it can go anywhere with the reader. The lessons are brief, never more than 2 or 3 pages long. This book is built for a society on the go.
I think my favorite was “The Journey can be more satisfying than the Destination”. I’ve learned that as I have grown older. 555 years old, and I learned that at about age 333. He talks about when he was a child and couldn’t wait to get somewhere, the destination, the “it”, whatever it was just couldn’t come soon enough. But as we grow older, the waiting, the anticipation is fun in and of itself. Of course the fact that this story involved the great Chuck Berry did not hurt. I do love a good Chuck Berry hit, who doesn’t?
So, I do recommend this book, especially if you have been feeling down of late or if you know someone who has. These little bits and pieces of wisdom are not going to solve all your problems or end the drudgeries of mankind, but they definitely might make your life a bit easier.
Until tomorrow, I remain, your humble Book Dragon.. Oh and don’t forget to check out my daily question! The month of April is a 12 item goodie basket! I’ll be revealing another goodie in the basket tomorrow!
Drakon T. Longwitten
I received a copy of this book from #mangopublishing as part of #suzyapprovedbooktours. My opinions are solely my own.
I really enjoyed Life is a 4-Letter Word.
The writing style of a series of 40 short essays makes for a easy, fun , albeit inspiring read.
The chapters all held a positive theme with a “moral of the story” that was written in language that was easy to understand.
This book is one that I will go back to time and time again as it is timeless in the positivity that we all need in our lives.
Dr. Levy has created a book of anecdotes and humorous stories to help us get through our day. Everyone has experiences like those in book, but David Levy tells the stories in an engaging, entertaining way. As an educator and psychologist, he really makes the reader feel connected to the tales, and this is a heartwarming, uplifting tome to give you a little bit of humor and connection to the world.
David Levy’s warm, funny, and wise reflections on his life’s journey offers both comfort and hard-won advice for readers looking to improve their own lives.