Critical Acclaim for Life Is a 4-Letter Word
“David Levy has nailed what it means to glean all the greatness out of life’s masterful lessons.”
— Kristine Carlson, co-author of the Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff books
“Professor David Levy’s book is insightful, profound, funny, and thoroughly original. Meaning in life is everywhere, he reminds us, and whether it changes us profoundly or sails right over our heads, it’s nice to know it’s there.”
— Lewis Colick, screenwriter (October Sky, Ghosts of Mississippi, etc.)
“David Levy’s warm, funny and wise reflections on his life’s journey offers both comfort and hard-won advice for readers looking to improve their own lives.”
— Dennis Palumbo, therapist, screenwriter (My Favorite Year), and author (Daniel Rinaldi Mysteries)
“Levy has masterfully gleaned wisdom of the ages and packed them into bite-sized and thoroughly enjoyable morsels of literary delight.”
— Tom Greening, Editor Emeritus of the Journal of Humanistic Psychology
“Dr. Levy’s brilliant, touching, and humorous collection of stories showcases his well-honed, multi-faceted skills as a storyteller, educator, and psychologist. Readers will delight at the relatable snapshots of people, relationships, and events and find wonderful treasures of expertly distilled learning points embedded within.”
— Judy Ho, board certified clinical and forensic neuropsychologist, associate professor, and author (Stop Self-Sabotage)
“Meticulously crafted, these engaging, funny, and often moving vignettes perfectly set up the brief but potent shots of distilled wisdom that follow.”
— Drew Erhardt, psychologist, codeveloper of the Moodnotes and MoodKit apps
“A tour de force of wisdom nestled in a pithy, enjoyable and profound package.”
— Louis Cozolino, author (Why Therapy Works and Timeless)
“This is a very special book that I predict will find thousands of eager readers. The stories combine David Levy’s wonderful sense of humor with insights and wisdom about life. It is well written and a kick to read!”
— David N. Elkins, psychologist and author (The Human Elements of Psychotherapy)
“Life is short. You can either suffer the pitfalls of life’s lessons on your own — or you can learn those lessons by reading Dr. Levy’s sharp-witted and insightful book.”
— Marilee Bradford, producing director, The Film Music Society
“Chicken soup, with a few dashes of Tabasco, and laced with scintillating humor.”
— Eric Shiraev, cultural psychologist, George Mason University
Also by Dr. David A. Levy
Tools of Critical Thinking
Cross-Cultural Psychology
Family Therapy (Russian translation)
Copyright © 2019 by Dr. David A. Levy
Published by Mango Publishing Group, a division of Mango Media Inc.
Cover & Layout Design: Elina Diaz
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Life Is a 4-Letter Word: Laughing and Learning Through 40 Life Lessons
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication number: 2019948609
ISBN: (print) 978-1-64250-154-4 , (ebook) 978-1-64250-155-1
BISAC category code SELF-HELP / Personal Growth / Happiness
Printed in the United States of America
To my mom and dad, who are in every one of these essays — even the ones they aren’t.
To my kids — Jacob and Briana.
To Mary Jane — at long last, true love.
And to the memory of Zorro Levy.
Table of Contents
Foreword: Life — Don’t Sweat It
A Short Story
The Ticking Clock
The Stoned Wall
The Marvels of Cynicism
Kiss Quest
Passing the Ultimate Buck
The Impostor Syndrome
15-Zip
Hedonic Greed
The Shell Game
Empathic Failure
Tincture of Time