The vague wording of the title might very well prompt readers to pass over this slim self-help book. But a glance at the back cover, where author Robert Brett boldly confesses that his muscular sclerosis led to a heartbreaking divorce from his wife because it was taking a toll on her and it was “the right thing to do,” may change minds.
In For Humanity…For You, Brett aims to help others view life in different ways, as he has been forced to do. Although many of his experiences revolve around his disability, “the underlying message is universal,” he writes. At its core, this is a collection of simple platitudes about acceptance, flexibility and keeping an open mind.
Rather than dwell on the unwelcome changes in his body, the author treats each challenge as a “project” or “puzzle.” “The important thing is to keep moving forward,” he writes. “There comes a point in our lives when we have to stop thinking that life’s going to be the way we want it to be and start seeing things for how they really are.” This outlook, however, is far from pessimistic. On the contrary, Brett’s dash of realism mixed with a positive attitude is not only believable, but downright contagious. “Thinking of only negative things,” he points out, “has the same effect as trying to walk through sludge.”
Brett has done a nice job organizing his book, with easy-to-follow, conversational musings, a recap and a short “Looking Ahead” synopsis at the end of each chapter. Readers may wish for less familiar ideas and more substance (the book is less than 40 pages, and in some cases, the recaps are almost as long as the chapters), but the author’s message is clear and inspiring.
For Humanity is a quick motivational read that lifts the spirit and reminds us that we should make the most of what we have, even if it isn’t everything we expected.
Also available as an ebook.
