The Happiest Life: Seven Gifts,Seven Givers & the Secret to Genuine Success by Hugh Hewitt

What's the secret to a life of happiness?
In this delightful book brimming with humorous and poignant passages, radio personality Hugh Hewitt provides the answer. The starting place is generosity, he says, and there are seven gifts that are sure to improve the lives of both giver and receiver: encouragement, energy, enthusiasm, good humor, graciousness, gratitude, and patience.
Anyone can give these gifts, but Hewitt shows that some people are particularly well placed to offer them: parents, spouses, family members, friends, teachers, coworkers, and fellow church members.
Channeling his skills as a broadcaster, journalist, lawyer, and teacher, Hewitt weaves stories about these seven gifts and seven givers with inspiring and motivating observations to help readers become generous in the ways that matter most.

 The Happiest Life: Seven Gifts, Seven Givers & the Secret to Genuine Success is written by Hugh Hewitt who is a lawyer, professor, writer and TV host. In the book he shares seven gifts that we can give to others in our lives.  He also talks about our roles as givers and how that relates to the seven gifts.

I found this book an interesting read.  I sometimes feel it is easy to not be happy, and I wanted to hear what Mr. Hewitt had to say on this topic.  As I read through the book I found my self trying to be a better encourager and remembering to be more gracious to others around me as he shared in his book.  It also caused me to think about my role as mother, parent, and friend and to reflect on the kind of person that I want to be in each of those roles.

 I don't think that Mr. Hewitt says anything that is earth shattering, but he has the gift of reminding us in a kind and gentle way about what is truly important in life.  He reminded me that every interaction I have with my kids and my spouse is important and it is worth working to edify them.  Cultivating friendships and relationships are truly the best thing that we do in this life. 

From a home education perspective, I think it would be a excellent book to assign to your high schooler and then ask an essay question, like "Which of the seven gifts do you think you need to cultivate more in your life, and how do you plan to do that?  What people in your life have given you one of the seven gifts and what role did they play?  What role model in your life is a giver of the seven gifts?   That alone makes it worthy of a read.

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