THE EVERYDAY LIFE PROJECT

A manual offers a common-sense road map to living a better life.

In this brisk work, Tuitt provides short pieces of advice to his readers on a wide spectrum of important topics, from physical health and mental sharpness to financial responsibility and the worth of exercise. He cautions readers on the dangers of pointless greed. “The mistake many people make is thinking that the thing they desire has the power to make them happy,” he writes. He reminds readers that happiness comes from shaping their days and habits to live life well. He thus presents simple, often two-sentence tips on things like the value of getting enough sleep and the many health benefits of eating well. He reminds his readers that they should try to enjoy their jobs, and they should strive for a good balance between work and the rest of life. Not everything in the book is cheery and unclouded, of course; Tuitt also deftly deals with potential frustrations, including coping with difficult people. In this case, the author’s preferred tactic is to contemplate the problems in your own personality. “Strangely,” he writes, “the first thing you need to think about when dealing with difficult people is whether in fact you are the difficult person.” Although even here, there can be a cutoff point. “When you have tried everything else,” Tuitt writes, “there is a time where the best thing to do is to walk away.”The book supplies a lot of blank space: The author leaves great swaths of page real estate to readers to make their own useful notes. Tuitt presents clear, heartfelt counsel throughout the manual. But sometimes his nuggets of advice are not very substantial. Surely, most of his readers must know already that it’s a good idea to eat their greens and get enough sleep.

A sincere and upbeat guide to wholesome living that delivers some familiar advice.