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Book Review: This I Believe

I was substituting for a really great class when I ran across a book called "This I Believe". It was among one of the many books stacked on to the teacher's desk, but what interested me was the description of the book. "This I Believe" is a series of small essays submitted by people from across the country, and it originally started as a radio show broadcast in the 1950s. People would write their essays and read them aloud on the radio, and they were required to be under five minutes so they had to be clear and concise. 

The first story I read really intrigued me to keep reading the book further, and the story was called "Be Cool to the Pizza Dude". The author, Sarah Adams, describes her philosophy for empathy and kindness through the idea that everyone should be cool to the pizza dude. If they cut you off in traffic, be understanding. They have a lot of deliveries and don't get paid too much for the hard work they do. If they are a little rude to you in the grocery store, move past it and let it go. Their job can be very taxing, one can only imagine the stress. Through this philosophy, Adams told the readers how she tries to be kind to people. By understanding that everyone has a tough job, everyone has stress, and everyone needs a little kindness once in a while, she was able to slow down and think about the person on the receiving end of her anger. And in her mind, if someone is delivering a pizza to you or to someone else, they deserve some slack. By extending this metaphor to everyone, she was able to be kind to everyone.

 

After I read that I couldn't put the book down. This book was filled with little snippets of people's lives, and through the stories they told you could see what they were passionate about. There were some transcripts from the original 1950's radio show, but most of these essays were written not too long ago. I found some recognizable names in the book; for example, Anthony Fauci, Bill Gates, and Eleanor Roosevelt. It was so cool to see that some people we know today through the public light have been passionate about their careers for a long time. Obviously, Dr. Fauci's essay was really intriguing to read. Not only because I'm a big fan of his work, but because I was able to get a little snippet of his story, and see how much he really loves helping people to the best of his ability. 

 

The authors shared a lot of thought-provoking ideas in their stories. There were some about grief, kindness, religion or lack thereof, and passion. I found each one of them compelling to read and think about, which is what made this book so great. I really wanted to speed through this book and read it as soon as I could, but it became impossible not to slow down and think about what you had just read. 

 

To close this review, I’ll share some of my favorite quotes.  

 

 

“Before Jon’s death, I took pride in the fact that I rarely asked for help or favors. I defined myself by my competence and independence. So who was I if I was no longer capable and busy? How could I respect myself if all I did was sit on the couch every day and watch the snowfall?

Learning how to receive the love and support that came my way wasn’t easy. Friends cooked for me, and I cried because I couldn’t even help them set the table…. One very wise man told me ‘You are not doing nothing. Being fully open to your grief may be the hardest work you will ever do.’” 


The Hardest Work You Will Ever Do–Mary Cook


 

“I have an unusual statement to make. I am a man who believes he is happy. What makes it unusual is that a man who is happy seldom tells anyone. The unhappy man is more communicative. He is eager to recite what is wrong with the world, and he seems to have the talent for gathering a large audience. It is a modern tragedy that despair has so many spokesmen, and hope so few.” 


Happy Talk–Oscar Hammerstein II (as featured in the 1950s series)

 


“‘This I Believe’ [essay] seems to demand something more personal, some leap of faith that helps one see life’s big picture, some rules to live by. So, I’m saying, ‘This I believe–I believe there is no god.’ 

Having taken the steps, it informs every moment of my life. I’m not greedy. I have love, blue skies, rainbows, and Hallmark cards, and that has to be enough. It has to be enough, but it’s everything in the world, and everything in the world is plenty for me. It seems just rude to beg the invisible for more. Just the love of my family that raised me and the family I’m raising now is enough that I don’t need more heaven.” 


There is no God–Penn Jillette 

 


“Principle 1: Coolness to the pizza delivery dude is a practice of humanity and forgiveness. I let him cut me off in traffic, let him safely hit the exit ramp from the left lane, let him forget to use his blinker without extending any of my digits out the window…

Principle 2: Coolness to the pizza delivery dude is a practice of empathy. Let’s face it: We’ve all taken jobs just to have a job because some money is better than none….

Principle 3: Coolness to the pizza delivery dudes is a practice of honor, and it reminds me to honor honest work….

Principle 4: Coolness to the pizza delivery dude is a practice in equality…. I am equal to all I meet because of the kindness in my heart. And it all starts here–with the pizza delivery dude. 

Tip him well, friends and brethren, for that which you bestow freely and willingly will bring you all the happy luck that a grateful universe knows how to return.” 


Be Cool to the Pizza Dude–Sarah Adams 

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