The Pursuit of Happyness by Chris Gardner

I liked this book, however it is very different than the movie. This was a suggested book for my book club. The book covers Chris Gardner's life from birth to his early fifties. He had an extremely rough childhood being constantly afraid for his mother who was beaten, sometimes nearly to death, by his stepfather. Still, his mother was a very strong woman and a great role model for him and made it known to him that he could be anything he wanted.

It was interesting reading about his life. He really did overcome a lot in his life. Though I think the movie makes him out to be a better man than he is. Not that he is a terrible person, but he made a lot of mistakes in his life that helped him become homeless. Just like anybody would have. The impressive thing is that when he did get his chance for anything he took it and worked as hard as he could to make it work at least in his career, he made some mistakes in his personal life until his son was born and then everything he did was for him. Also, he has amazing determination which rose him in the ranks of one of the most renowned brokerage firms.

The only thing that this book didn't need was intimate details of his sex life which he was very forthcoming, though it did show he was easily distracted by it, and there was a lot of swearing. I don't know if I would necessarily recommend it but it was an interesting read.

Believing Christ by Stephen E. Robinson

I absolutely loved this book. It could possibly change my whole way of thinking and my life as a consequence. I might need to read it every six months or so to remind myself of its teachings. Believing Christ portrays the meaning of the atonement in such a simple way. I don't think I had ever really understood it before. The basic premise is that all humans are sinners. There is just no way around it. However, God will not allow anyone with sin into his celestial glory. This is a problem. Only with the atonement of Jesus Christ can we overcome this. He suffered for all our sins so that we would be clean enough to live with our Heavenly Father. I always thought that it was up to me to become perfect or at least really close before that could happen. This book helps me to not let the guilt of my sins overcome me to the point that I think there is no point and that I will never reach my heavenly glory. All I have to do is have faith that Jesus Christ will save me as long as I do the best I can.

I think everyone should read this book especially those who are close to losing hope because they are so hard themselves for their sins. I have never had anything explain this concept to me so well.

Quotes that I love:

"What the Lord is saying here is this: 'It doesn't matter what you did. Whatever it was, no matter how horrible or vile, is not the issue. The issue here is that whatever your sin was or is, I can erase it, I can clean you up and make you innocent, pure, and worthy, and I can do it today; I can do it now.'"

"We all fail by differing degrees, but we all fail. That is why we all need help, why we all need a Savior, and why needing help and needing a Savior are no disgrace."

"..he never requires more than I am able to give, and what he does require of me is always appropriate to my knowledge and circumstances....My obligation is to give all I have, not all someone else has, to be as good as I can be, not as good as someone else is."

There are many many more great things in this book. I found myself crying while reading at a bus stop because the words touched my heart and soul so deeply. I really felt that what I had read was true. That I can be saved, as long as I do my best.

The Secret by Rhonda Byrne

I don't really have to much to say about this book because I feel like I have talked until I was blue in the face. It was interesting to read, but I wasn't very motivated to read it. Probably the stigma I have for self-help books. Don't ask me to explain where the stigma comes from, I've talked until I was blue in the face about that as well. But after much prodding, I finished it. Basically the secret is "The Law of Attraction." Positive thoughts attract positive things into our lives. If you really focus on what you want in life in a positive way then you will attract it to you. I agree that having positive thoughts will make your life happy, but as far as just bringing stuff to you, I don't know. I'm trying to apply its teachings and not think negatively but I'm still a little skeptical so I'll probably never find out if it really works.

Anyway since this book is so widespread and popular, I'm sure you all will read it and come up with your own conclusions. My book club for the most part liked it but had the same concerns that some people might take everything in this book for fact and not be able to discern what is the good and what is the bad. We also felt there was a definite implication of needing to be selfish in order to apply these principles. Anyway, I now have read a self-help book cover to cover and I may never read another one or I may. You could say the book I am reading right now is a self-help book but I'm not looking at it like that.