Reviews - A Don't Sweat the Small Stuff Treasury: A Special Selection for Mothers

254 reviews for:

A Don't Sweat the Small Stuff Treasury: A Special Selection for Mothers

4 stars mainly for the content but the author’s tone can be a little condescending at times… (he lives in California after all)

Many of the points made in this book are things you likely already know but forget to implement in your day to day life. So this is a book that you should keep on your bedside table to leaf through a couple of chapters a week (each chapter or point is less than two pages).

The chapter that I implemented in my life immediately after reading it was related to being a better listener when having a conversation with someone. The point was you should take a breath after (you think) someone has finished talking. This gives them the chance to continue talking if necessary and it gives you a chance to listen and respond to what they are saying, rather than just blurting out whatever you planned to say.

akmarge13's review against another edition

4.0

As with most books that try to give you 100 different tips or pieces of advice, this one gets repetitive. However, the book really did make me reevaluate some of my behavior and my negative thoughts. I would definitely recommend the book for anyone who loves to get a little perspective every once in a while.

astoryexplorer's review against another edition

4.0

As a person who has seemingly got more anxious as I got older due to life. This book helped remind me that the little things that I held on to are really small in comparison to my life. This will help you keep perspective and be a gentler person in general if you're willing to let the small things go.

lewis_kuhlman's review against another edition

4.0

informative inspiring reflective relaxing slow-paced

sadiq_khan's review against another edition

3.0

inspiring reflective medium-paced

cnewquist's review against another edition

4.0

I remember a time when I had no interest in self-help books at all. I'm pretty sure this was the first one I ever read. At the time--my mid-20s--I probably deluded myself into thinking that it wasn't *really* self-help, and more of a way to "be more chill" or something. Fifteen-ish years later after I first read it, I still think this book holds up, even if the culture has evolved in ways that may date some of the passages a bit.

Anyway, that first time around, thesuggestion that really stuck with me was "Will this [the small thing I'm sweating] matter in a year?" It still find to be an effective way to change my perspective.

Now that I'm middle aged, the chapter that hit home was: "When you die, your [inbox/to-do list] won't be empty." So much of my life the last dozen years or so has been productivity driven. Making lists, crossing things off, making new lists, crossing things off, rinse, repeat. I have notebooks full of these expired lists and I have a notebook now that has my list(s) in some stage of completion. I will likely always make lists, but one day a list with undone tasks will remain and someone close to me will have tie up the loose ends. So it will go with everyone.

The book is filled with these down-to-earth suggestions that virtually anyone can practice. The chapters are short and it's simply written. A person who's curious about self-help books but never actually read one could burn through this one with very little risk. I have to imagine that people who *are* into self-help books have probably already read it.

One of the other chapters that also struck a chord was: "Remember, in 100 years, all new people." Maybe I'm wrong, but my hunch is those folks will still find some wisdom in "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff."