We all know that a book can’t guarantee happiness, however Louise Baxter Harmon’s new book “Happiness A-Z: The Gleeful Guide to Finding and Following Your Bliss” does a great job reminding you of reasons to be happy.

Just as the title implies, “Happiness A-Z” is comprised of alphabetical chapters and each letter begins a word associated with happiness. For example “B” is represented with the chapter “Bliss” and “O” is “Open-Minded”. Then the chapter begins with an introduction by the author about why the word is significant with happiness, what it means to her, and other associations. What follows after that is a great variety of quotes from different sources that play off that theme to inspire. Not to get picky, but “R” doesn’t stand for Rebecca OR rum, so I’m not entirely sure we can call this a “definitive” list. For those of you playing along at home, “R” is represented with “Relax”. Relax? Without rum? I suppose anything is possible.

I was given permission to excerpt a portion of the book that I enjoyed. I choose the introduction to “Joy”. The amusing part is that a large portion of her intro features some writing by Mark Nepo (who you may remember was featured on the site back in 2013). So this is kind of an excerpt, featuring an excerpt. I just loved Harmon’s description of joy and then the Nepo just sealed the deal.

Joy: This Lovely Lightness of Being

Joy is an emotion that bubbles up inside you, an irresistible sensation of happiness that comes upon you unawares. When you hear people talk about this blissful experience, they frequently speak of being filled with joy. I really love the idea of us all being vessels for this feeling of felicity. May our cups runneth over with this lovely lightness of being. Mark Nepo, who happens to be Oprah Winfrey’s favorite inspirational writer, has a unique perspective on joy that is utterly fascinating:

Often, what keeps us from joy is the menacing assumption that life is happening other than where we are. So we are always leaving, running from or running to.
What keeps us from joy, then, is often not being where we are and not valuing what is before us.
While happiness is a fleeting mood, joy is larger and more lasting than any one feeling. If each feeling is a wave of emotion, then joy is the ocean that holds all feelings.

Welcome to the last home holistic health reference guide you’ll ever need to buy. “The Home Reference to Holistic Health & Healing” by Brigitte Mars and Chrystle Fielder could have easily without exaggeration been called “The ULTIMATE Home Reference to Holistic Health & Healing”. Mars and Fiedler not only put together a reference manual, but also a guide to living a healthier life. Honestly I’m not sure why you’re still reading, you should already be buying the book. However if you’re still hanging around I might as well tell you a little more about “Holistic Health & Healing”.

When I was first contacted about this book I assumed this was going to basically be a big dictionary, or encyclopedia, whichever reference manual better suits the subject matter. Color me surprised when “Holistic Health & Healing” showed up and I found that instead of a dry list based book Mars and Fielder divide the book into conditions that can affect your ability to be happy and holistic ways to treat yourself for those conditions.

For instance the first one is stress. They start out talking about stress in general and how your body reacts to it. Next, nourish your body with nutrients including foods to eat and avoid. That’s followed up with herbal stress relief which mentions things such as chamomile “being a gentle relaxant that tones the nervous system”. They discuss adrenal health which can suffer from chronic stress. Then there is aromatherapy, homeopathy, deep breathing, meditation, yoga, the Relaxation Response, “The Power of Now”, gardening, walking, a slow hobby, journaling, massage, reflexology, acupressure, and 43 other tips. I assume now you see why I call it ultimate! And it’s like that for easing anxiety, enhancing mood, resting easy, boosting brain power, maintaining a healthy weight, increasing energy, improving immunity, reducing chronic pain, recovering from grief and trauma, and cultivating joy and happiness.

Of course I like the scads of information the authors provide. I also appreciate any holistic health guide that encourages the reader to seek professional medical attention for many symptoms. Author Brigitte Mars also wrote the book “Rawsome: Maximizing Health, Energy, and Culinary Delight with the Raw Food Diet”, so when it comes to dietary issues “Holistic Health & Healing” recommends a raw foods diet. Personally, if I was going to take that kind of dietary shift, I would talk to a professional nutritionist or my doctor first. Just saying. I also want to remind readers to take care when sourcing supplements. It wasn’t that long ago that we learned many herbal supplements were filled with fake ingredients.

“The Home Reference to Holistic Health & Healing” by Brigitte Mars and Chrystle Fiedler is a powerful manual. Make it your first, and last holistic health book purchase today.

Let’s face it, the world is kind of in chaos: famine, disease, wars, drought, poverty, racism, sexism, and other bad things that end with ism. It’s enough to make even the most active and organized among us throw their hands up in the air and say, “It’s too much!” You know why we say that? Because it is. However what if each of us took the time to do small things daily to make your life or the lives of other better? That’s the premise of “Be a Good in the World: 365 Days of Good Deeds, Inspired Ideas and Acts of Kindness” by Brenda Knight.

The title pretty much spells it out, contained within are 365 neat ideas to help make the world a better place. On November 16, you can learn to say “thank you” in a bunch of different languages so you can always show gratitude. January 27 you’re introduced to oceana.org in case you want to adopt an animal. For July 12 you’re encouraged to grow your own garden. Why not give it a try? Tomorrow, May 12th, you’re told to “Ask ‘How Are You?’ and Mean It!”

Ask someone how their day is going and start a conversation. Sometimes people want to talk more than they let on and your interest will show them you care. One day, you’ll get the chance to tell some kind-hearted person exactly how you are. Your answer to that question might not always be pretty, but it will feel wonderful to be heard.

It’s wonderful to be reminded that even a small act of kindness can make a difference in the world. And if we all try to do better, even if it is in small ways, maybe things won’t have to be so bad. That’s how Knight’s “Be a Good in the World” inspires.

And for my first Brenda Knight inspired act of good, I’m giving away a copy of her wonderful book “Be a Good in the World”!

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Contest ends 05/15/2015 at 12am Eastern.