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Book Review - By Delwyne Stephens

I have never read a ‘self help’ book before and I only read this one because my brother’s partner gave it to me for Christmas. I am so pleased I did. Dennis Curyer, the author, is a remarkable man and uses his extensive life experiences combined with his academic learning (MA in Classics and Archaeology) to present 7 simple but fundamental tenets for getting the best out of life.

Divided into seven key sections, each component of the book is packed with fascinating examples from the authors’ own life and peppered with excellent analogies, metaphors, and tales of people throughout history whom have made a difference in small or great measure. Dennis draws on his broad knowledge of the principles of Judaism, Christianity, Islam and Buddhism. His book is spiritual and perceptive but it is not religious. Dennis challenges and encourages his readers ask them themselves whether they are getting, and giving, the best there is to have in life.

Because the book is compartmentalised it is easy to read, and suits being read either by randomly opening a page and absorbing a pearl of wisdom or reading it through front to back in a more ordered manner. Dennis paints evocative word pictures with his simple, direct script. From notes out of his journal you can picture Dennis and his family. In a dusty old Buick they make their way through dirty and dangerous checkpoints in Beirut, Lebanon. Dennis reflects on this journey and rejoices in the fact they made it though – alive. He sees a purpose in that and a reason for rejoicing in and enjoying life. Later he talks about perception and reality and how incongruence of the two can needlessly and negatively impact on our lives. Sitting next to a women on a bus and snuggling up to her, thinking she was his wife, is one amusing story. Illustrations about wasting energy and time pursuing things that don’t exist are more sobering.

Embodied in 7 Ways to Live Your Life to the Max is the need to be kind, love others and be encouraging. Dennis uses real and historical examples to show how important these gifts are to our selves and to others. Maxer’s are lovers, Dennis tells us. He extends our thinking of what it is to be these things by providing compelling examples. Prisoner’s wishing they had not hurt family members, Jean Valjean (Les Miserables) whose theft was returned with the kindness of a priest, Dennis and fellow students, challenged when asked to stand for a teacher and learning a lesson in respect. The Jewish Rabbi who went to great lengths to free a Russian Christian.

Dennis’ book really is packed with interesting stories. Those listed above are but a few. His words draw you in and get you thinking about the way you treat others’ and how others have treated you. You find yourself chastened, uplifted and definitely wanting to do better. The 7th tenet of ‘Living Life To The Max’ is to ‘give and know that giving is the measure of greatness’. This final principle is infinitely challenging because we are told that to achieve our true potential we need to give with no expectation of anything in return.

I’m at the traffic lights, bumper to bumper traffic. I wave a young lady in from a side street and am offended when she doesn’t give me a smile of acknowledgment. I am annoyed. Why? Because I was nice and expected gratitude in return. It’s the little things like this, in every day life, that Dennis calls our attention to. Now I try to let people in but try to have no expectation of a reply. If you think about it, to serve others without expectation is to attain joy, because you are freed from the burden of their response. You have done it because it is the right thing to do. Dennis encourages us to look into our hearts and asks have you given anything of value to others lately? Have you given anything of yourself?

Dennis has certainly given of himself in his book, 7 Ways To Live Life To The Max, and I highly recommend it. It is fascinating, educational, challenging and above all real. Dennis does not bamboozle you with terminology or frighten you with insurmountable tasks. The content of the book is inspirational in it’s own right and just by reading it you will be changed. If you do want the Maximum out of life, this book certainly has 7 ways and many means with which to achieve it!

Testimonials

7 Ways to Live Life to the Max is a refreshing and continuous stream of analogies, anecdotes, and personal experiences, told touchingly and with humour to illustrate underlying principles for fulfillment in private and public life. Dennis Curyer in his frank, flowing style, also opens a rich reserve of wisdom shared by historical, political and philosophical figures, and at the end of each chapter leaves the reader thirsting for more . This is a book that begs to be read and re-read, as examples which can realistically become part of daily living, cascade from each page. It is a lighthouse in our stormy societal sea.

Alice Watson
Family and Community Services

“This is a great little book in an easy-to-read style. It is practical, to the point and an appropriate gift for people who want to go forward in their lives. Dennis melds his personal experience, with universal wisdom, so that the tone of the book is one of sharing and guidance. I love the fact that the table of contents and the titles of the sections are included to enable return to certain parts readily, so that this book can be a constant reference at my side. I read it at a difficult time in my life and immediately I was able to gain positive reminders to adjust my thinking back to a sense of perspective. Instead of seeing the end of my world I saw my bad experience as just another of life’s unwanted experiences. Reading Dennis’s book is a great experience.

Penny Barrington
Life Coach

Dennis

I wanted to let you know that I just finished your book and found it truly inspirational. your input on happiness, success and life really rang true within me. I specially enjoyed how you weaved so many parables and quotes within your prose to make it such an interesting book.

I just wanted to thank you I have mailed my parents your name and the name of your book so that they may read it themselves. Take care Dennis and keep on doing what you're doing. you're an inspiration to us all.

Sincerely,
Travis Fry Tesol Teacher
Kansas, USA

Hi Dennis--- how are you??

Not sure if you remember me, but it's Jillian: we worked together at the ALV camp in Taiwan. It's been quite some time, but I've been traveling quite a bit since I saw you last (working in Thailand for 6 months, visiting Malaysia, Singapore, and now Laos en route to Cambodia), you've crossed my thoughts several times. I wanted to let you know how inspiring I found your book to be, how peaceful it made my thoughts in times of anxiety, and how motivated I felt to achieve my goals and not cower to my fears or at the first signs of adversity.

Thank you.

Jillian Bourdan Tesol Teacher
Boston USA

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