The Complete Life's Little Instruction Book

This truly is a great "little instruction" book that we've all been looking for. It's design is classic and well made. It's tidbits are simple, candid and true. I've been buying it for years as a graduation gift and finally just bought one for my 8 year old son... you can never start too early.

This is the best value you can hope to find. I paid .01 (???) for this book used, plus [...] bucks shipping and got a lifetime's supply of helpful advice. Highly recommended to anyone as the perfect coffee table book.

I saw a copy of this book in my dentist's office and was amazed at such a collection of common sense sayings. I needed a copy for myself and am pleased with what I received and the way the store handled the order.

This valuable "little book" is the only graduation gift I purchase, whether from high school or college. The maxims inside give life rewarding depth to knowledge gathered from any of the required textbooks students often pay a fortune for.

I got this from my boss when I went to college and loved the little words of wisdom. I thought it was so appropriate for a student moving away that I gave this to my little brother (11 years younger) when he went to college. It was a great way to give advice without actually giving advice.

Im rating this because, i loved this book. This is a very interesting book and didn't even know that this kind of book existed. I'm recommending this book to anyone who wants to succeed in life and take the advice of others. its honest thoughts and instructions from people who care just like our parents!! Loved it!!

Beware if you are buying this for a high school grad -- it has some laughably dated advice such as "Learn to use the Internet" as well as some outdated and silly lines such as "Drink eight glasses of water a day." In addition, there are some wise and kind admonitions, but most teenagers will chuckle at the bloopers and put it aside. One gets the impression that the author did not have enough good advice to fill a book and resorted to filling in with some mundane and even incorrect instructions.

The author collected hundreds of mostly one-line instructions and observations for his son, and compiled them in this book made up of three volumes. As I went along I wished I could remember all the ones I liked the best. A few examples are: #219 Spend less time worrying who's right, and more time deciding what's right. #812 Don't be thin-skinned. Take criticism as well as praise with equal grace. #1510 When you're angry, take a thirty-minute walk; when you're really angry, chop some firewood.
This is such a good read. A few "instructions" at a time and eventually you get all the way through while giving yourself a chance to ponder them.

When Mr. Brown's son Adam was leaving for college in 1990, Brown wrote the first installment of "Life's Little Instruction Book" for Adam to take with him, with basic principles to live by and live well; as the years passed, it grew into three volumes, and here we have all three books under one cover with 1560 entries. It provides food for thought, in subjects that range from mundane and practical to occasionally, some of remarkable spiritual depth.
Much is on ethics; we are constantly making choices, some that can affect the rest of our lives, and there are some sections here that might stir us to bring our choices into sharp perspective.
There is a lot about taking responsibility for one's actions, and on doing the right thing ( # 636: "Do the right thing, regardless of what others think"), and on respect and kindness to humanity and the environment.
There are two entries, on tape recording the laughter and memories of one's parents, which is a wonderful idea, and one I wish I had done (# 248 and # 440), and much useful advice on finances, getting a job, and a lot on having a fruitful and happy marriage (# 364: "Every day look for some small way to improve your marriage").
Being that this was written for a young man, it is an especially good book for the male of the species, but it would make a wonderful gift for all young people starting out in life, and for those of us who are in our later years, nice reminders to keep us sharp and on the right track.

I very much enjoyed this work. There is always a danger with a book of this kind that it will descend into platitude, or go off into empty generalization. But Browne has a very light touch, and his messages of responsibility and caring for others make much sense. He also is very good at noticing the minor problems of everyday life and how to deal with them.

I want to include a number of examples in this review. They may not however appear exactly as in the original. I have read this book in its Hebrew translation and will now translate a bit back into English.

" I have learned that even if you made an appointment for the doctor at eight in the morning, you will have to wait an hour."

" I noticed that something that you have done in a split- second might cause you heartbreak all your life."

" I noticed that generous people almost do not suffer from psychological problems."

"I noticed that the teenage years contain a great deal of suffering, confusion, pain and love."

" I learned that I cannot expect others to solve my problems."

"I noticed that more luxuries do not necessarily mean more happiness."

" I noticed that the birthdays of my children caused me to feel older than my own birthday does."

" I learned that to love and be loved is the greatest of all of life 's pleasures"

" I learned that it is forbidden to marry someone who has greater problems than your own."

"I learned that you have to fight for the things you believe in"

Outstanding.

I loved this little book! This is the result of a dad sitting down to write out a few words of wisdom and advice for his son who was going off to his freshman year at college. The first list was 511 entries, and then, he mailed his son a new collection every two years.

There's some great advice all through this book! And no long stories attached either. Short and straight to the point, each numbered piece of advice is no more than a few lines long. The suggestions cover a broad range, some are serious while others are funny or trivial, but all are honest and good advice, and many are just interesting. Like #841: "When your dog dies, frame his collar and put it above a window facing west" -I've never heard of that before.

I highly recommend this little book as a gifts for anybody in your life and for anything from birthdays to graduations or just because. Would also make a good coffe table or bathroom book too.

I have owned this book for many years and still find the desire to open it up and re-read some words of wisdom from H. Jackson Browne.
His words are simple and basically common sense to those with good mind/heart balance. Nevertheless, it is a GREAT read and reminds us of our humble existence on earth.
I've purchased a few of these and given them as gifts to young couples and adults. It's a wonderful reminder to be generous, kind and humble.

I usually purchase five copies of this outstanding book each spring to give to high school graduates. Four of the five books purchased this spring 2017 were fine, but one came with a bindery error. The front cover was on the back and vice versa with the pages printed upside down. I returned this book and the replacement was the same way with an identical bindery error. If you plan on giving these as gifts for graduates, don't order at the last minute or you might receive one of these defective books. I don't know how many were bound with this problem. So a big heads up.

It is kind of a forever book. I bought the original and pick it frequently and read a page or two. The newer, bigger book continues forward from college and talks about life, and marriage, and children. I have given this to my grandchildren when they leave for College. My son-in-law, who is a chef, bought a copy for all of his employees. Get a copy and I bet you will think of lots of friends and relatives to share it with.

After having been read this by a very admirable teacher, I decided to borrow this book from the library. I easily got attached to this book and plan on purchasing it in the very near future. If you ever wanted a neat little book here it is. It has all of the little things that your parents said to do and more! A great read!

Although the author created this instruction book as a gift for his son, it makes a great gift for anyone. Male or female, young or old, there's something for everyone in this truly delightful collection of 1560 practical instructions and personal observations for everyday living. At times funny, and at other times quite serious, it's very wise and quotable and makes a great read from cover to cover. Buy a copy as a gift to yourself and you'll wind up giving it away and buying another. I love this book! You will too.

This book sumarizes the things I have been trying to teach to our children. I bought one copy for each of our four children upon their H.S. graduation.
These are the tips you have acknowledged and learned, but never thought to write down. I am glad someone did.
Bravo!

I purchased these books for a group of college students that worked together as a staff. Some graduating, some still studying. I can only hope they do take the time to read it (here and there - not all at once) and it helps each one of them be better people. I believe this book has the ability to create role models and help people to treat others with kindness.

I happened upon this book while I was cleaning out some old bins in my storage closet, and what a great find it was! I breezed through every single page, reading one section a day, and have found the advice very uplifting, encouraging, and prudent. I would recommend gifting this book to anyone, young, old, or someone in between. The advice found between these elegantly embossed covers is absolutely priceless, and I can assure you that I'll be looking back to this book for little bits of advice for many years to come.

I love this book so much, that whenever I want to gift someone something not expensive, I give this. The best book of advice I ever read, apart from the Dale Carnegie how to win friends and influence people.

H. Jackson Brown, Jr. is among the best advice givers in today's world of literacy. This book is the best gift for anyone starting a whole new lifestyle. I recommend this book to all young adults, especially those who will soon go on to College. For the game of life is always a hard game to play for young and old alike, and we can ALWAYS use a little or a lot of motivation every now and then.

This book is a comprehensive study; sometimes funny, sometimes fraught with emotion, always applicable and poignant, it holds a place of honor on my living room coffee table. Very rarely does a book offer continuous comfort like this one. Instructions such as, "eat no one's meatloaf, but your mother's" and "once in your life, own a convertible" are genuine treasures. Once picked up and opened, you will find it nearly impossible to put down.

Based on the #1 New York Times bestseller. This handsome leather-bound collection contains the Complete Life's Little Instruction Book Volumes I, II and III. This series continues to touch the lives of readers with 1,560 suggestions, observations and reminders on how to live a happy and fulfilling life. H. Jackson Brown, Jr.'s simple and fatherly advice is loved by people of all ages. Author website: [...]

I really like this book. Especially, the golden / brown hard cover is beautiful. I had bought Vol 1 and 2 about 11 years ago and lost them. So, I decided to buy the new one.

The content inside is very touching. I have really exercised several key ideas of the book which is resulting in a better way of life and thinking.

Buy it!

This is a great book to have to remind yourself of simple, but very relevant life lessons. I keep a copy in my office, bathroom and coffee table.

I listed a bunch of my favorite lessons from the book at:

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I definitely recommend it!