3.5 stars

What would happen if everyone in the world was happy? In this book, Edwin is an editor for a mid-sized publisher. Although he initially rejects and throws out the giant manuscript for a self-help book, “What I Learned on the Mountain” by Tupak Soiree, when put on the spot, he suggests they publish it. The book is an instant bestseller, and in time, almost everyone is happy. But, Edwin feels things just aren't right...

I liked it. It was amusing, with a few laugh-out-loud moments. There was actually an alternate ending added in (at least to my edition). I liked the end of the book, but I believe the alternate ending would have been the one if some of the other stuff hadn't been cut from the book. That alternate ending had some of the best laugh-out-loud moments, I thought, but that's probably because they were all Quebec/Canada jokes. ( )

Chi non ha mai letto un libro di auto-aiuto scagli la prima pietra: vuoi per la dieta, vuoi per il fumo, vuoi per lo stress, vuoi per la vita in generale, credo che tutti prima o poi ci inciampino.
Il fatto che le case editrici ne sfornino continuamente di nuovi è segno che nessuno funziona al 100%. Ferguson immagina invece che ad un editore un po' sfigato capiti in mano *il* libro, quello che contiene la soluzione a tutti i problemi, calvizie compresa.
Si ride tanto e di gusto, con i calci al gatto, una moglie chiamata "A 'stro", un capo ex-hippie: ma c'è anche da riflettere. Si ritrova quella che era la filosofia del primo Matrix, gli uomini non possono vivere senza l'infelicità: perché in fondo sono le ombre che ci fanno percepire la profondità, se ci fosse solo la luce vedremmo tutto piatto e uniforme.
Ferguson ha un umorismo cinico veramente tagliente e le sue metafore sono in perfetto equilibrio tra poesia e pazzia allo stato puro.

"Il silenzio era caldo e protettivo, come un abbraccio di flanella. Come una bara foderata di seta" -pag 190
( )

I had a good time reading this story of the creation of a self-help book that actually works. the characters are well drawn, and the pace is firm. I look forward to another book by the same author. ( )

Edwin is a very bitter individual who works at a major publishing firm. He is over worked, underpaid, perpetually drinking and smoking and has deadlines set for him that are unreasonable. One day a self-help manuscript lands on his desk in which promises to help readers lose weight, stop smoking, have great sex and find inner peace. Edwin dismisses the book to be hogwash, but in order to make one of those unreasonable deadlines set against him, he allows it out to be published. But instead of What I learned on the Mountain becoming a sad, unknown little failure, it becomes hugely popular, sending Edwin in a tailspin of ugly and unwanted successes.

http://tinyurl.com/p5tvyvn ( )

Wry and funny and quite frankly just bloody marvelous. Perfect for anyone involved in any way in the creating, marketing and selling of books. And bang on commentary on the self help book market! It is absolute perfection.

Thoroughly enjoyed the Caveat Emptor, the alternate ending (which quite frankly will be truly appreciated by most Canadians - well except for maybe those from Quebec). Ok and got a kick about the line with Stephen King in Bett's Bookstore (which I have been to)

Favorite Quotes

"Join the club," said Mr. Mead. "That's the way it always goes. At some point, you outgrow your generation. Or it outgrows you."

"I know. You wouldn't think killing a tax auditor would be a felony. A misdemeanor, maybe, but not a felony."

"Two million years of human evolution, 500,000 years of language, 450 years of modern English. The rich heritage of Shakespeare and Wordsworth at his beck and call, and all that Edwin could come up with was "shit".

Thanks Chelsea for the recommendation ( )