WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND

In this debut self-help book, the author employs narratives about friends, family, and former associates to show the way thoughts and perspectives shape readers’ experiences.

Through short narratives describing the paths of different people he met along the way, Davis illustrates his imperatives for meditative, conscious, and positive living. Through stories about friends who learned from their mistakes and others who could not escape their own prisons of thinking, the author gives readers not just points or principles to ponder, but real human experiences that demonstrate them. For example, in one passage, Davis tells the tale of his teenage daughter, who, when allowed to make her own choices, realized she was in over her head and risked a loss of control. The story demonstrates both the potency of autonomy as well as the importance of finding the courage to ask for help, change one’s mind, and self-regulate. In another anecdote, the author deftly describes a woman he admired for being so energetic, upbeat, and seemingly content. Yet, to his shock, when his friend attempted suicide, Davis learned that outward cheer is not as simple as it might seem. The tales, while not all culminating in happy endings, effectively prove one point: Humans are the authors of their own stories, and only through self-reflection and accountability do individuals gain strength from experience. Through witnessing and sharing the personal plights of his friends, family, co-workers, and bosses, Davis skillfully provides surrogates for some of life’s hardest lessons, from humility to heartache to joy. The book ends with a compelling section of optimistic statements that can embolden readers if utilized as reflections or affirmations. A stable, positive, nonpreachy, objective voice makes the manual stand apart from others in the genre.

A successful guide that uses anecdotes to reveal powerful truths about life.