Bears, Monkeys, Penguins, and a Potato Oh My!

I was in the library one day at school and came across this bright green book with a frog on the cover. So I looked at it closer and read, "The Meaning of Life" as the title. I started reading this book immediately because I felt and still feel like I need some meaning and direction in my life. This book doesn't quite give me any direction to my life, although I wish it would, instead it asks questions to get you to think about the direction you want to go. I guess that's a good approach too, but after reading it a couple of times, I still don't know what to do but it does make me feel better about my life and I suppose that's just as good.

The book consists of black and white pictures of animals and sometimes a potato and a can of worms. Underneath each picture is a question that collaborates with the picture. For example, on page 12 and 13 there is a picture of a camel with a weird harness/hat thing on its head and a line of penguins. He asks, "Why do we go on and on about individuality being the very essence of who we are, and then accept a degrading level of conformity in virtually every facet of our lives?"

I love the part about conformity which is underneath the pictures of the penguins. Most of the questions like this, all fit perfectly with the pictures. I will give another example. He starts to give a little advice now and he says, "Occasionally, everything may seem like a total disaster area." This is underneath the picture of a cow in a room with dishes; everything is broken and a chair is on the cow's head and a picture frame around its neck. I have to agree with Greive, sometimes life is like a disaster area just as this picture portrays.

Towards the end of the book, we get to the main message. The message is love, acceptance, and going after your dreams. It is do something you love, to inspire those around you, to be happy, laugh out loud and to make those around you laugh. By doing the things you love and being around people you love, you will learn to love life, and inspire others. Last but not least, life is tough at times, but hang on and pull through because it's rewarding and things will get better. What a great message!!

Every time I get down about not knowing where I'm going in life, I read this and it makes me feel better. The questions and the advice is great but the fact that they collaborate with the pictures is fantastic. I love all of the pictures and the message in the book. This is a must read for anyone, especially those who feel lost about what their calling in life is.

121 pages of comforting stuff!
ISBN:0-7407-3011-8
$9.95 at Hallmark