CHOOSING SIMPLICITY begins simply enough with a book cover that is simply white with the title in black and the author’s name and no images: it would scarcely catch anyone’s attention on a bookstore bookshelf – but then there are so few such edifices remaining in this Internet-driven world that supposedly that is a moot point.

What Steven M. Ayer has elected to offer is a series of quotations about topics followed by his reflections or Thoughts about those topics and then offers Actions to utilize the lessons in life. What is interesting about this book is that it is written by a highly successful financial advisor for wealth management and he has decided to share the concepts of his success in business by addressing these principles to advise us how to make better choices in life. It would seem he has the best of both worlds – financial and career success and inner spiritual peace.

In his introduction he delineates the three portions of emphasis in this little book: Physical Health, Spiritual Health (and he informs us of his personal commitment to the teachings of the Lord, Jesus Christ, though he freely states it is not his intention to be evangelical here), and Mental Health.

The book is then divided into five sections: Important Concepts (eg, choice, regret, family, politics, goals, human nature, rest etc); Challenges (eg, money, power, wealth, pressure, luck, etc); Qualities to cultivate (eg,confidence, integrity, character, listening, humor, leadership etc); Qualities to Avoid (eg, greed, hypocrisy, entitlement, addiction, naïveté, etc); and Business Applications (eg, inflation, investing, spending, etc). At the top of each one page meditation about each of these many topics he begins with a quotation from a famous person, then offers his thoughts about that quote’s reference or meaning, and follows with a guide as to how to incorporate the idea on the page into our lives.

Steven M. Ayer writes honestly as a man who is living a fulfilled life. His premise for publishing this book is to invite the reader to follow the path to physical, spiritual, and mental enrichment. It is a helpful resource to keep at the bedside for a little balm at the end of a day and a light to begin the new day. Grady Harp, July 11

7-05-11

6-30-11

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Choosing Simplicity

Steven M. Ayer

AuthorHouse (2010)

ISBN 9781452095295

Reviewed by Olivera Baumgartner-Jackson for Reader Views (6/11)

Our lives seem to be getting more and more complicated every day; fuller and fuller of experiences, things, challenges, emotions and events. Yet for all of this abundance, I’ve often wondered whether it ever makes us any happier, and I have reached the conclusion that more frequently than not, more of most things does not necessarily mean a happier existence. Let’s face it… sometimes all we need to feel on top of our game, and also on top of the world, are the simplest things – a child’s smile, a hug from your spouse, a cat snuggling in your lap, a great book or a perfect cup of coffee…

So what exactly is it that would make us more contented, happier and generally more at ease with ourselves, and what exactly is our role in this process? Most of us could use some help in this area, and Steven Ayer’s book “Choosing Simplicity” would be a good starting point in this quest.

Beginning with a well-written introduction, explaining his point of view and what really matters to him, the author takes you on a tour of one’s life with all of the Important Concepts, Challenges, Qualities to Cultivate, Qualities to Avoid and even the Business Applications.

Those chapters are all written in an interesting format, starting with a list of words pertinent to the title, and each of those gets a separate little section, divided into three parts: a quote from somebody famous, author’s thoughts on the subject, and probably the most important of the three, the action.

It is that third part that invariably caught my attention, and its underlying, continuous theme of “you are responsible for yourself.” Ultimately, we have to make our own choices, and therefore it is even more important that we learn how to make the best possible ones. I will gladly admit that there were several areas pointed out by Mr. Ayers where I could definitely see some major room for improvement.

I have truly enjoyed this book in its function of a “guide.” Unlike many self-help books I’ve read in the past, this one does not so much offer exact recipes for a change as points the reader to segments of his or her life that could use some more work and attention.

I never found the writing to be preachy or condescending, but rather encouraging and inspiring, and the Afterword was just an added bonus in its charming down to earth, let’s-keep-it-real manner. Whether you decide to read “Choosing Simplicity” in one sitting, or take it as a daily companion for support in changing what needs to be changed, it will not disappoint you.