Are you as happy as your dog?

Author: Alan Cohen (USA) / Illustrated by Alan Gordon
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-08-01
Features: By chance, the author, who also faces life's pressures and worries, wondered, "Am I as happy as my dog?" Through observation and recording the life of his beloved dog, the author lets a dog named Maxi share the secrets of a happy life in the book, presenting a philosophy of releasing work and life stress, and enhancing joy. The Maxi in the book is always carefree and joyful. When happy, he wags his tail and loves you without hesitation; when unhappy, he barks incessantly, honestly expressing his emotions. He has his goals, like staring intently at a bouncing tennis ball; he also has the tenacity of "digging where he suspects a bone is hidden." But he doesn't dwell on the past or worry about the future. He won't sit in a bar holding a beer and grieving over past love, as you might. Instead, he knows how to live in the present. He also understands the wisdom of "if you can't go over it from above, go under it from below." Reading this book gives us a sudden realization, as if a light bulb goes off. The life of a dog reminds people to rethink the true meaning of a happy life. This makes us marvel at the author's insight into life. The lessons Maxi teaches every reader are universal. The process of evolution has made us lose so much. We should be happy, yet we often feel stressed; we pursue happiness, yet we often find ourselves entangled in troubles. As someone once said, "Growing up is about letting go," and we can't avoid this. Milan Kundera once said, "Dogs are our connection to heaven. They don't understand what evil, jealousy, or dissatisfaction is." Yet innocence, trust, optimism, love, care, and the joy of living—the philosophy of a dog's happiness brings us this profound realization. This book carries on Alan Cohen's signature writing style: concise, witty, yet wise, making it easy and enjoyable to read, leaving you wanting more. Bound in hardcover, it features bilingual (Chinese-English) text, elegant and fresh layout, and more charming illustrations, making it a rare artistic treasure.
About the Author: Alan Cohen is one of the most popular motivational writers and speakers in the United States and a spiritual mentor to many. His works and workshops have touched millions, changing their lives and giving them more meaning. He is also a co-author of the New York Times bestseller Chicken Soup for the Soul. His other two bestsellers, The Deep Breath of Life and I Always Had, have also received widespread acclaim. Every month, 60 magazines worldwide publish his personal column—From the Soul—and his interviews and articles have been highly praised by top publications like Vision. His works have been translated into thirteen different languages worldwide. Today, he lives in Hawaii, U.S., enjoying a quiet hermitage life with his beloved dog, the joyful Maxi. Alan Gordon is an artist and cartoonist, skilled at conveying deep thoughts through simple illustrations. He is also a real estate agent. He lives with his wife in North Carolina, USA. One day, a person I met told me, "Over the years, my life has been a mess. Every day, I pray to God that when I wake up, I'll be as happy as my dog. After coming home, I started observing my dog, Maxi. He's always so happy. Maxi is the happiest creature I've ever seen. He always finds new joys and discovers new things. I realized clearly that there must be something Maxi knows that I don't. So I decided to study Maxi's attitude and see what he's doing.