Live What You Love: Notes from an Unusual Life

An inspirational follow-up to A Trip to the Beach describes how the authors transformed their own lives and explains how self-trust, personal adjustment, and daily acts of commitment can bring new fulfillment to one's own life.

Many find inspiration in people who give up the big job, big house and big bucks to follow their hearts' desires, but the Blanchards have not only followed their dreams, they've turned their dream-chasing into a cottage industry. Their first book, A Trip to the Beach, about their experiences moving from Vermont to the Caribbean island of Anguilla and opening a restaurant, inspired a legion of people to also follow their bliss. Other books followed, At Blanchard's Table and Cook What You Love, as have radio interviews and an appearance on the Today show. In the latest installment, they share random experiences that illuminate their philosophy, which can be boiled down to: Only do the things you love. Don't expect any grander insight than that from this little book; it's full of common sense, go-with-your gut wisdom, affirmations, aphorisms and lighter than light humor. "No experience is required to gain experience." "Write the headlines of your favorite life stories so far." "Breathe deep. Jump in. Swim, or just float, on the waves of life, of laughter, of love." Some readers may be put off by the self-congratulatory nature of the book, but the book's arranged so it's easy to flip back and forth and cherry pick the passages of import.
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From the authors ofA Trip to the Beach (2001) comes another slim but encouraging manifesto brimming with humorous anecdotes, pithy reflections, and wise counsel. Summering in Vermont and spending their winters operating a thriving restaurant in the Caribbean, this power couple seems to have achieved all their dreams by operating by the one simple principle that serves as their guide: "If we don't love it, we don't do it." In order to share this deceptively simplistic recipe for personal and professional fulfillment and success, the Blanchards open up their hearts and relay their unique experiences in a series of intimate stories that will appeal to fans of inspirational literature a la Robert Fulghum. Margaret Flanagan
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