10 Habits of Decidedly Defective People
by Doug Giles
Published by Regal Books
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at Amazon.com
Reviewed by Julie Failla Earhart
Subtitled: The Successful Loser’s Guide to Life
Whether it’s stress management, diet, meeting planning, and everything in between, everybody needs a little help now and then. Most of us seek help, not from a professional, but from a book. Doug Giles’s new book, 10 Habits of Decidedly Defective People: The Successful Loser’s Guide to Life, is one of those books.
In this hilarious romp through the psyche, Giles uses reverse psychology to goad readers into getting off their rears and do something with their lives.
By merely perusing the chapter headings, readers can quickly and effectively race to the chapter that fits their particular need for living the loser’s life. Sad part is, I know somebody who excels at each habit, and many (dare I say friends?) fall into multiple categories.
If I had to pick one (yes, just one) chapter that described me, I think it would be Chapter 8: “Quit When the Going gets Tough.” Why? I can start and write novels and short stories but I never follow through; I quit when it comes to the little things, like actually finishing those thousands of short story beginnings that I’ve written or revising the several novels that are in an old chest in the basement. And thanks to Giles’ I’ve learned that my problem is losing focus and making up a lot of excuses why I don’t just plant rear to chair and write. Hey, if I want to be a successful loser, all I have to do is keep right on track and cultivate the other nine habits.
Speaking of nine, the funniest chapter is Chapter 9: “Rip People Off.” I’m curious, what does it say about me that it took me 30 minutes to figure it out?
10 Habits of Decidedly Defective People: The Successful Loser’s Guide to Life is not one of those books people really buy. We stand in the bookstore and peruse it. None of us could really buy a book on this taboo subject. After all, the dream of becoming a successful loser is one a dream that must be kept secret, in case those successful people around us try to influence our life-choice.
Armchair Interviews says: Well said, and well read.