Title: The Orange Cover
Author: Moshy Shain
Publisher: XlibrisUS
ISBN: 9781543427745
Pages: 114
Genre: Fiction
Reviewed by: Susan Milam
Pacific Book Review
The Orange Cover presents a plan for reshaping one’s life by learning to value oneself and communicate honestly with others. Author Moshy Shain offers sensible advice written in a way in which all readers can understand. The book gives step by step instructions that build from one plateau of enlightenment to another.
While grappling with his own problems, the author came to realize many of the people around him are struggling with similar issues. Still, most folks go through their days wrapped up in their own worries certain they are alone. The author recognized different causes underlie the difficulties people face; however, despite these differences, he thinks many of the problems have similar solutions. Valuing oneself is an overriding theme of The Orange Cover. The author encourages readers to examine their own actions and reactions. He wants them to understand how allowing people to take advantage of them can lead to a downward spiral of unhappiness. Rather than letting unaddressed small annoyances turn into big problems, the author counsels responding head on to challenges. He believes communication is key to improved self-worth. People should realize that when communicating with others, they are also communicating with themselves. Thus, talking with people accomplishes two goals: it establishes parameters for relationships, and it helps folks understand their problems in a deeper and more personal way.
Moshy Shain writes in a readily accessible style. In addition, he illustrates his recommendations with numerous anecdotes from his own life. Readers, young and old, will find stories which relate to circumstances in their lives. The author doesn’t rely on his narrative skills alone. In almost every chapter, he gives readers activities to help them get to the roots of their problems. These guidelines focus on specific steps which will help people recognize the traits that keep them from achieving happiness. For instance, the author advises readers to make lists of five people they blame for their problems. The list makers should then examine their relationships with those people and discover how they are more powerful than those they are blaming. He suggests making similar lists when confronted with feelings of inadequacy or jealousy. The author closes the book with a series of tips readers can use to keep their lives on track.
The Orange Cover is a self-help book with twists: it’s written by a lay person and features common sense advice phrased in everyday language. The book addresses concerns which will be familiar to readers of all ages and from all walks of life. People who find themselves feeling alone with their problems will discover numerous strategies for improving their lives within the pages of The Orange Cover.
