October 1, 2024
From Maria Shriver's the Open Field imprint at PRH, this work by Petrow (Stupid Things I Won't Do When I Get Old) examines how to find joy in life during difficult times. He recounts a difficult stretch of years when he lost his parents, ended his marriage, and saw his sister lose a long fight with ovarian cancer. Naturally pessimistic, he challenged himself to become more joyful. The work moves back and forth between the author's personal experiences and suggestions for self-help exercises to try. Some of the advice is unconventional (recipes for scones and pecan pie), and some is traditional self-help fare (meditating; keeping a gratitude journal). Petrow is a friendly narrator, and the sections where he is recounting his own experiences are the most riveting; the chapters that put concepts into practice tend to slow the book's momentum. While the advice throughout is solid, it might have helped to place all the how-to sections at the end of the book instead of in between chapters. VERDICT Petrow's tone is akin to friendly reminiscing from a relative, suggesting books to read and apps to try. Recommended for readers who enjoy self-help works in the memoir vein.--Julie Feighery
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