Life Could Be Sweeter: 101 Great Ideas from Around the World for Living a More Rewarding Life

Using anecdotes culled from his peripatetic life as a flight attendant, Sinunu takes the reader around the world to glimpse how other cultures approach life in ways different from most Americans on issues ranging from raising children and maintaining good health to sexuality and acceptance of cultural differences. The author notes that his intent is not to criticize Americans but to show how other people handle problems that seem chronic here, such as obesity, stress and a high divorce rate. And Sinunu, also a licensed social worker, shows how Americans can start to apply those lessons, whether the Scandinavian notion of lagom (enough), or living with "just enough to be comfortable" rather than loaded with extras, or following a Peruvian's suggestion to forgo the chase after position and money in favor of doing work that you love. The book is a reminder that possessions, money and power aren't universal goals. While not every lesson hits home, most readers will find observations, presented in a friendly, unpreachy tone, that can have a real impact on their lives. (June)