AN ABUNDANCE OF GOOD

Kim Shippey

Stephen Post's new book, Why Good Things Happen to Good People, tells the stories of lives transformed by giving. He has been helping for several years to fund research projects that test how altruism, compassion, and giving affect people's lives and wellbeing.

The subtitle of the book puts things in a nutshell: The Exciting New Research That Proves the Link Between Doing Good and Living a Longer, Healthier, Happier Life.

Understandably, perhaps, the book is heavy on lists of core concepts, "how tos," simple rules, and questionnaires with score sheets, but Post and coauthor Jill Neimark certainly know how to garner information and lay it out clearly. They know how to share moving, real-life stories, as they conscientiously explore such topics as respect, compassion, forgiveness, humor, courage, loyalty, and listening.

The whole point of this book, says Post, is to "delineate the richness of giving, and the many ways we can do it." Post and Neimark's delineation is clear and persuasive.

And no matter how you feel about research of this kind, which risks overwhelming readers with facts and figures, there are many gems in this book you won't easily forget:

• Giving is the one kind of love you can count on, because you can always choose it.

• A life well lived is really the sum of thousands of small, ordinary acts of kindness.

• Gratitude begets joy.

• Forgivenes . . . means seeing the inherent worth of another human being . . . watching your own release from an emotional prison . . . .

• Acceptance is more joyful than tolerance.

• When I accept another, I feel celebration and trust.

• Reverence is respect's final flowering.

Kim Shippey

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