A Stranger's Choice

I just had a wonderful idea which actually requires me to step outside my comfort zone and talk to strangers!!  I know!  It has been mulling around in my head for a short time and yesterday I made it happen!  So, here's how it goes.  On occasion, depending on how brave I am, I will go up to a total stranger who is reading, wherever that place may be.  The task is to inquire about the book they are reading and ask how they are liking it.  Then the homework begins.  I will research the title and blog about the book!!  Fun and unique (I hope).

So, today's the first day.  The first ever installment in this new series, A Stranger's Choice, on My Bookshelf.  My husband and I managed a lunch date at Costco, of all places.  As we were sitting at our table and having a nice little chat, another customer sat at a table near ours, eating a cone and reading! 

After explaining my plan to my hubby, I sullied my courage and walked to her table and did it.  In case you didn't know, this took a fair bit of courage as I can be painfully shy.  I totally shocked my husband!  So this actually helps me in a couple ways as I battle my inborn trait of shyness and accomplish this new task!  You know, she was actually happy to talk about her book!!!  Who knew?  Well, I guess I should have expected it because I love to talk/write about what I'm reading so it stands to figure that others will too!

Her book of choice, which she had just purchased, is Rules of Life by Richard Templar.  She said she is really enjoying it and let me know that the author has written others with a similar theme.  They're even available at Costco!  (Must be new because I hadn't seen them there before.)  She proceeded to tell me about the other books in this author's repertoire that I noted to be available at Costco including Rules of Work and Rules of Parenting.  After determining my husband's patience quota for the moment, I walked speedily to the book stacks and found three of his titles there.  Here's what I learned about Rules of Life.

"Some people seem more contented, fulfilled, enthusiastic about life... just plain happier. Is it genes? Money? No. It's the choices they make, how they behave, every single day. Now, Richard Templar brings together the rules that happy, successful people follow: small, simple, common-sense, doable rules that can change your life!" (Google Books)

The Rules of Life is a philosophy book written by Richard Templar. The book is divided into sections: personal; partnership; relations; social and universal, with each topic suggesting rules to make life better. The book is an international best seller and is the next book in the 'Rules-of' series, succeeding 'The Rules of Work'.  Here are the other titles in the series:

Rules of Management: The Definitive Guide to Managerial Success (Paperback - 30 Nov 2004)

The Rules of Life: A Personal Code for Living a Better, Happier, More Successful Kind of Life (Paperback - 8 Nov 2005)

The Rules of Wealth: A Personal Code for Prosperity (Paperback - 31 Oct 2006)

The Rules of Money: How to Make It and How to Hold on to It (Paperback - February 2007) ISBN 0-13-239410-3

The Rules of Parenting: A Personal Code of Raising Happy, Confident Children (Paperback - 3 March 2008)

The Rules of Love: A Personal Code for Happier, More Fulfilling Relationships (Pearson Education Limited, UK 2009)

The Rules of Work, Expanded Edition: A Definitive Code for Personal Success (FT Press, June 22, 2010)


(source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rules_of_Life)

 Of course, you  know, I didn't stop there!  I had to peruse the tables of books, noting new releases, popular books which continue to take their place amongst the stacks, and found several that I really want to read.  Did you know Frances Mayes has a new novel out called "Every Day in Tuscany"?  If you've read or had the occasion to watch "Under the Tuscan Sun," you'll understand my excitement!  This is based on the author's real life experiences as she moves to Tuscany, buys a little villa on a whim (bad decisions...don't you just love them?), and starts over in this new land among strangers.  Humourous, witty and touching.  It's a feel good kind of story with depth and likeable flawed characters. 

Also noted were "The Imperfectionists" by Tom Rochman (I really want to read this story about journalists), "Major Pettigrew's Last Stand" by Helen Simonson, "The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest", "The Forgotten Garden", several novels by Jodi Picoult, Nora Roberts, Tom Clancy and so much more.... Can I work there?