How to Save Your Own Life by Michael Gates Gill

About this time last year I was reading Michael Gates Gill's first book, How Starbucks Saved My Life, which was sent to me by a friend. This January, I have the honor of participating in a TLC online tour for his follow up, How to Save Your Own Life.

Michael spends the introduction to this book summarizing his journey from high-powered advertising executive to Starbucks barista, the process he talked about in detail in his first book. The rest of How to Save breaks down Michael's experience into lessons applicable to his readers.

None of the lessons in How to Save are revolutionary, but this book does provide reminders of some of the values we often overlook in the busyness of our daily lives. The 15 chapters take general statements, such as "Listen to Others who Have Suffered and Survived," and show how they relate to Michael's story, as well as the life stories of other people he has met.

In general, I think this book is a great motivator to inspire readers to look at their own lives based on internal measures of happiness and success, rather than one-size-fits-all external measurements. This is a perfect book for January when so many people are making resolutions and re-evaluating where their lives are going. I'm passing on my copy to the friend who loaned me Michael's first book!

Check the TLC website for other participants in the book tour and their opinions on this book!