The School of Life

Most books that want to change us seek to make us richer or thinner. This book wants to help us to be nicer: that is, less irritable, more patient, readier to listen, warmer, less prickly... Niceness may not have the immediate allure of money or fame, but it is a hugely important quality nevertheless and one that we neglect at our peril. This is a guidebook to the uncharted landscape of niceness, gently leading us around the key themes of this forgotten quality. We learn how to be charitable, how to forgive, how to be natural and how to reassure. We learn that niceness is compatible with strength and is no indicator of naivety. Niceness deserves to be rediscovered as one of the highest of all human achievements.

On Being Nice

Jawahir M

Summary description: Light analysis on the concept of niceness and kindness on an individual level and on a historical/cultural level.

Score: 3/5

This book was a light heartened read, with some crucial and enlightening points regarding humans' psychology and sociology. It fell short for me in that I saw this as more of a philosophical lecture than a "self-help" book. It would be nice to have some exercise or follow through examples a person can actually try out. There are two major points I must disagree with:

1. Shyness is not necessarily as deep as the book made it to be and is not necessarily tied with the comparison between oneself and the other person. Shyness can be a self-coping mechanism to the person himself/herself, it based more so on their self confidence. They might be aware of the common grounds and quirks they share with another person but are not entirely comfortable with themselves to socialize and open up. Also, I don't think shy minds are pessimists, more like just plain awkward and uncomfortable at certain situations or with certain people. 

2. The second lying example, I'm not entirely sure I stand behind on. Lying to your aunt about her baking skills and saying the cake was delicious is  entirely different than cheating on your partner with another colleague during an international business trip (even if you didn't have sex). The book talks about concerns of well being, in this case though you ought to revisit the relationship and sincerely analyze it again. There must be an underlying reason. 

I loved how they incorporated cultural and historical context into the book, it really opens your eyes about how much Western culture and media has influenced us (I'm not a Westerner so this was all the more intriguing). Though I think it would be cool to have some other form of cultural context other than the West. I think it would be a great comparing and contrast analysis. 

Do I recommend? I don't think it's a must to add to your book shelf, but it's a cute breeze through if you have the time.

On Being Nice

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