Book Review - The Secrets to Living a Fantastic Life: Two Survivors Reveal the 13 Golden Pearls They've Discovered by Dr Allen Lycka and Harriet Tinka

My Rating - 3 out of 5 stars
Publisher - Self-Published
Genre - Non-Fiction/Self-Help
Publishing year - 2020
Language - English
ASIN - B089Z119NY 
Pages - 166

My Review - 

Everyone wants to commence a remarkable life, but only a few will succeed. Dr. Allen Lycka and Harriet Tinka helped us to understand how we can live a worthy life. We all envy others' destiny once in a while without knowing their hardships. They both come from different cultural backgrounds, they faced various obstacles, but they have one thing in common; their courage and never give up attitude. 

The book has thirteen lessons, which are called Golden Pearls by the authors. They are Love, Inspiration, Victory, Vulnerability, Intention, Non-Negotiables, Forgiveness, Attitude, Thankfulness, Tenacity, Laughter, Enthusiasm, and Empowerment. All these chapters are described by using anecdotes and then continued with the authors' conversations. The book is filled with encouraging quotes from highly known personalities; some were by the authors. 

Dr. Lycka was misdiagnosed and given only six months to live. When most people lose hope, he decides to challenge it, and this predicament was 16 years old. As he said in the book, this experience, living on a borrowed time, changed his life and perspective. 

Being a woman, Harriet Tinka's story made me shiver. She was abducted, wounded, and left to rot by a manipulative, abusive man. While Tinka lost his ability to walk for some time, the judge only gave a six-month sentence to her abuser. She was physically, mentally, and emotionally drained when a little girl shows her a ray of hope. 

They both tried to help the readers realize that they can't control what happens to them, but if something immoral ever occurs, they can rise again. I know forgiving someone is not easy, but it is essential for your own well-being after a time. Harriet Tinka forgives her perpetrator, Dr. Lycka, ignores the doctor who incorrectly diagnosed him not because their actions were justifiable but because of their own peace of mind. 

In the book, Finding Your Voice by Mannette Morgan, she also demonstrates the significance of forgiveness. I found a quote online while reading this book; it is also based on the same topic and left an impression on my mind. "I forgive people. It doesn't mean I accept their behavior or trust them again. It means I forgive them for me, so I can let go and move on with my life."

Every reader can grasp something from this book and use it in their life. While the content and writing style is unusual, I wished that the authors use more of their personal stories instead of other tales. There is a bonus chapter in the book named Fear. It depicts our current situation dealing with COVID 19 and the inability to take action in life. All the branches were easy to understand. The quotes are salutary, but putting them between the conversations lessens the impact. Overall, it is a fast-paced and promising novel. I recommend it. 

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