Title: A Man’s Late Night Thoughts
Author: Jim Richman
Publisher: Dorrance Publisher
ISBN: 978-1645301301
Pages: 362
Genre: Philosophy
Reviewed by: Beth Adams

Read Book Review

A Man’s Late Night Thoughts is a cross-genre reveal of single-line thoughts covering all topics of the human condition called life. Most are amazingly insightful observations in which all readers, to some degree have experienced, albeit perhaps never have articulated – until now. Most are inherent with humor, some showing anger, others remorse; all of the 319 thoughts are totally original and each bringing incredibly relatable thoughts to the readers. Author, poet, philosopher and amoureux de la vie Jim Richman no doubt keeps a pad and pencil by his bedside, awakening to jot down these perhaps dream-induced or meditative thoughts before they slip away. One by one, none repeat their unique messages, each respecting the intellect of the reader.

Generously spaced with one “thought” per page, this book can be opened at any point, read and put down, which makes it a great companion book for traveling or by a night- stand. Each line will make for pensive reflections to engulf the minds of the readers, causing a pregnant delay prior to moving on to the next thought. As a picture is worth 1,000 words, these compressed and incredible revelations are each worthy of a chapter of following up stories by the author, as to how he came to these points of distilled truisms. Epiphanies galore, this collection is a treasure chest of knowledge, wisdom, experiences and advice, distilled into a book unlike anything I have ever seen before. To pull out a few of my favorites, by no means puts the others in a lesser level of enjoyment, but for example, take: “I know I will regret the dumb things I will do in the future /question is when can I get smarter” or “we must learn to be strong enough to be gentle.” As Jim says, “Overwhelmed or under whelmed, the trick is not to be whelmed at all.” I am overwhelmed on your book.

Aside from being a great gift book to a loved one – including oneself – A Man’s Late Night Thoughts is different things to different people. To those readers suffering a loss, these thoughts will help heal and comfort their emotions; to those yearning wisdom through experiences, this will enlighten and illuminate so many of life’s situations; or for those readers confused, these thoughts will guide them onto a course or direction worthy of the wisdom within.

Good advice, well taken, is the sign of an intelligent person. Good advice, given in such succinct sentences, is the sign of a brilliant mind; timeless in its philosophical content and psychological understanding of human behavior, unabashed in revealing his own personal incidents of love, loss, and the celebration of life. When reading this book for the second time, so much more was revealed, so I recommend going back to this time and time again.

It occurred to me this would make a great desk calendar in a printed format, should that be the ambition of the author in the future. For Hollywood writers, potent dialogue can be written around the terse “comebacks” from Richman’s quotes to deepen the characters. For all people from 8 to 80, A Man’s Late Night Thoughts should be required reading. As for me, I am keeping my copy by my night-table to enjoy when my hectic schedule subsides, and the relaxed freedom allows me to relish in this original work of literary art.