In seven sections representing essential domains of life—Time, Home, Style, Enthusiasm, Caring, Purpose, and Spirit—Alexandra Stoddard shows us how to celebrate every moment of life. This treasury of brief essays is chock-full of the wise ideas, personal anecdotes, and practical strategies that have inspired millions of her readers and audiences to live more beautifully and meaningfully every day. She helps readers form their own personal philosophy for living as well as discover specific, small actions that build tranquil time into the most hectic day, add lightness and energy when needed most, elevate a passing moment into a vivid memory. She encourages readers to "take stock, and rethink everything. We need to make the connection between how we spend our time and how well we live our lives."

With each essay offering a memorable mindset for living, Alexandra's observations are searching ("What is your deepest desire?"), surprising ("Lower your standards"), encouraging ("You have 8,766 hours a year to act wisely"), and whimsical ("You've gotta have a look") and are certain to spur readers to new levels of insight and joy.

FROM OUR EDITORS

Alexandra Stoddard has been described as an "interior decorator and philosopher of contemporary living." In this book, she wears both hats, dispensing wisdom on topics ranging from time management and self-indulgence to clean sheets and proper attire. Time Alive is divided into seven pithy sections, entitled "Time," "Home," "Style," "Enthusiasm," "Care," "Purpose," and "Spirit."

FROM THE PUBLISHER

In seven sections representing essential domains of life -- Time, Home, Style, Enthusiasm, Caring, Purpose, and Spirit -- Alexandra Stoddard shows us how to celebrate every moment of life. This treasury of brief essays is chock-full of the wise ideas, personal anecdotes, and practical strategies that have inspired millions of her readers and audiences to live more beautifully and meaningfully every day. She helps readers form their own personal philosophy for living as well as discover specific, small actions that build tranquil time into the most hectic day, add lightness and energy when needed most, elevate a passing moment into a vivid memory. She encourages readers to "take stock, and rethink everything. We need to make the connection between how we spend our time and how well we live our lives."

With each essay offering a memorable mindset for living, Alexandra's observations are searching ("What is your deepest desire?"), surprising ("Lower your standards"), encouraging ("You have 8,766 hours a year to act wisely"), and whimsical ("You've gotta have a look") and are certain to spur readers to new levels of insight and joy.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

As in several of her 24 previous books (Choosing Happiness; Feeling at Home), Stoddard focuses on how to live a fully rewarding life. She advises on how to find time in a busy schedule for goals like volunteer work or taking a class, suggesting that you maintain a detailed calendar of how you spend every hour and day, which will help you avoiding time-wasting distractions (her list ranges strangely from worrying to "marrying the wrong person"). The volume is a series of short, softly toned essays that lack a unifying theme, touching on everything from style (and her personal discomfort with "frills and fussy designs") to enthusiasm (Stoddard likes to skip when the doorman compliments her on her attire). An experienced interior decorator, she strongly advocates continually reorganizing and improving your living space. She also recommends the luxury of carefully prepared meals, bubble baths and cultural activities. Stoddard can be platitudinous (one chapter is called "Your True Essence Is Love") and perhaps not everyone can afford "fresh, crisp new fabrics" every five or 10 years, no matter how diminished the old fabrics' "life force" may be. Alexandra's guide to life is thus not for everyone; there's a lot of work involved in living the simple life she recommends. (Oct. 1) Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.