Published by MangoDate Published: December 3,2019
Pages: 224
Format: ARC
Source: Publisher
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Life Is a 4-Letter Word consists of 40 brief autobiographical essays, each of which culminates in a valuable “life lesson.” This is the kind of collection that everyday people will relate to. Written in a style that is engaging, warm, humorous, and conversational, Dr. David Levy brings his insights and expertise as a veteran psychologist (and baby boomer) and shares a lifetime journey of personal reflections, growth, and wisdom. Unlike many other self-help books, this book does not lecture, preach, or dispense advice. It’s not a “how to” book. Rather, as the stories unfold, readers are enticed to look at, reflect on, and find meaning in, their own lives…while laughing, wincing, and learning all along the way. In the same way that Richard Carlson's Don't Sweat the Small Stuff inspired a generation, so will Dr. David Levy's uplifting stories and wise advice.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Publisher and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.
My Thoughts
I don’t read a lot of non-fiction books. I find that they often can’t hold my attention well. But, once in while, I come across one that is written well, and in a way that instantly grips me. Levy’s Life Is A 4 Letter Word did that for me, and it kept me hooked til the end!
This little book is broken down into 40 life lessons, all written with humor and conviction and inspiration. Each one had me chuckling, each one had me ready for the next one. Levy’s essays are wonderfully written in a way that they truly capture the reader’s soul.
No matter if you are a fiction lover, or a non-fiction lover, this little book is for you. It’s a fast read. Each essay will leave you thinking about your life, having you smiling and embracing life with a new outlook. I highly recommend this to all. With Valentine’s Day, Easter, and more coming up, this would make a wonderful gift for those you love. Well done, Levy! I look forward to more.
About David A. Levy
Dr. David A. Levy has extensive experience as a teacher, therapist, writer, and researcher. He is a Professor of Psychology at Pepperdine University’s Graduate School of Education and Psychology, where he has been teaching graduate courses since 1986. He received his B.A. degree in theater arts from UCLA, a M.A. degree in psychology from Pepperdine University, a second M.A. degree in psychology from UCLA, and his Ph.D. in psychology from UCLA, where he specialized in social psychology, with minors in psychological assessment and personality psychology. He served as a Visiting Professor of Psychology in the Soviet Union, where he delivered lectures and workshops in psychology and psychotherapy at Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) State University, the Leningrad Academy of Science, and the Bekhterev Psychoneurological Institute. He was honored as a Harriet and Charles Luckman Distinguished Teaching Fellow and the Howard A. White Award for Teaching Excellence at Pepperdine, and was a recipient of the Shepard Ivory Franz Distinguished Teaching Award and Charles F. Scott Fellowship at UCLA.
Dr. Levy holds professional licenses both in psychology and in marriage and family therapy. He has worked in a wide range of private practice and inpatient psychiatric settings, he has supervised clinical interns, and he has utilized his expertise in psychological testing (particularly the MMPI) in forensic cases.
His numerous theoretical and empirical research studies have been published in scientific journals and presented at professional conferences. His book, “Tools of Critical Thinking: Metathoughts for Psychology,” garnered widespread acclaim in both academic and clinical settings for its innovative approaches to improving thinking skills. Levy co-authored (with Eric Shiraev) “Cross-Cultural Psychology: Critical Thinking and Contemporary Applications,” which became an internationally best-selling textbook. Levy is the author of “Family Therapy: History, Theory, and Practice,” which was the first textbook on the topic available to Russian readers. His Levy Optimism-Pessimism Scale (LOPS) has been utilized internationally in a variety of research contexts, and he is a member of the Board of Editors for the Journal of Humanistic Psychology.
His most recent book, “Life Is a 4-Letter Word: Laughing, Wincing, and Learning Through 40 Life Lessons,” is published by Mango Publishing.
Levy is also the author of numerous satirical articles, including “The Emperor’s Postmodern Clothes: A Brief Guide to Deconstructing Academically Fashionable Phrases for the Uninitiated,” “How to Be a Good Psychotherapy Patient,” “Psychometric Infallibility Realized: The One-Size-Fits-All Psychological Profile,” “Stinks and Instincts: An Empirical Investigation of Freud’s Excreta Theory,” and “A Proposed Category for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM): Pervasive Labeling Disorder.”
As a media consultant, Levy has appeared on dozens television and radio broadcasts (including CNN, CBS, NBC, PBS, A&E, and E!), providing psychological perspectives on current events, and examining issues and trends in the mental health fields. He has also worked as a professional director, producer, writer and actor in motion pictures, television and stage. He received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Performance in a Network Television Series, and he was a guest star on the television series “Cheers,” where he portrayed the leader of Frasier’s low self-esteem group.
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