JANE'S JAM

A brief motivational guide to improving one’s attitude about life.

“What if,” Enright asks at the beginning of her book, “we could look at our changing circumstances and see that there is no wrong choice, and there are no mistakes, only an opportunity to discover new ways of being?” This may seem counterintuitive to many readers, as it goes against what other works of self-help literature espouse. However, Enright follows up this statement by taking readers through the value of “positive self-talk” to become “the quarterback of our life” by changing bad habits and ceasing to undermine our own hopes. To this end, she expands on some “Happiness Go Routes” that her readers may travel, such as “Laugh Out Loud” or “Create a Vision Board.” Each of the book’s short chapters opens with quotes from a famous author or celebrity, from Paulo Coelho to RuPaul (the latter of whom is quoted as saying that “Life is about using the whole box of crayons”), and contains bulleted sections that summarize key points. Her advice throughout is balanced between advice regarding resources readers may use in their communities and personal tips, such as reminders to set aside “me time” as part of one’s journey to happiness and satisfaction. Enright's upbeat energy comes through on every page of this book and strikes a tone that many readers will find encouraging, particularly if they’re experiencing rough times. However, the work is brought down by some bland, self-evident pointers (“It’s important to be true to yourself and what you value in life”) and declarations that seem overly optimistic (“when you focus on the good in your life, your life gets better”). Readers may also feel that the book’s opening assertion is questionable; there are, of course, wrong choices and mistakes in life that aren’t always simply matters of attitude adjustment. Still, despite this, readers will still be able to find some worthy self-help advice in these pages.

A brisk but ultimately slight handbook for embracing positive change.