LIFE'S DAILY TREASURE

A calendar offers historical events and emotional affirmations.

In this book, Battle delivers what he hopes is “a small effort to provide positivity in a world where adverse reporting reigns.” In each day’s entry, the author supplies an on-point quote from Christian Scripture, a mention of whichever national day is being observed, an appropriate anniversary, a note about famous people who were born on that date, some motivational quotes, and space for readers to write their own reflections. For May 26, for instance, he selects the theme of “Perseverance,” quotes from the Epistle of James, mentions that it’s National Paper Airplane Day, presents an anonymous quote (“If plan A fails, remember there are 25 more letters”), and adds the summary he refers to as “Battle’s Bullet”(“Persist always in the face of adversity”). Occasionally, he slips some sly humor into the proceedings, as when he gives April 15, Tax Day, the theme of “Rejoice” (and notes that on this date in 1955, the first McDonald’s opened). Quite often, the connection between some facts and their day’s governing theme is murky at best. The theme of Jan. 11, for example, is “Mercy,” and there’s an appropriate quote from the Psalms (“Give me relief from my distress; have mercy on me and hear my prayer”). But readers are also told that it was on this date that Amelia Earhart flew from Honolulu to Oakland, California, and that it’s the birthday of Alexander Hamilton. Still, the author’s optimism is on full display throughout, and his decision to add unpredictable tidbits to his summaries is a wise one—it guarantees that his various entries can be reread over many years.

An uplifting and endearingly quirky book of daily inspirations.