Lauren Speeth’s TAKING THE STAIRS AND LIKING IT is a sprightly and enthusiastic guide to embracing life’s positive aspects and turning them into a force for good in the world. It’s also a source of purpose for the individual. The book was inspired by a meeting with the late Jimmy Carter, the beloved 39th president of the United States, to whom the book is dedicated. Speeth had been taken aback that she was able to meet Carter in 2005—a meeting that began with her gushing: “Of all the Presidents, my friends and I agree that you are the coolest.” What was scheduled to be a five-minute chat extended to twenty minutes, during which Carter shared various nuggets of wisdom that had a profound effect on the author.

Much of the book follows the familiar self-help-through-positive-thinking framework. There are wise metaphors, such as likening the process of coping with life’s struggles to the stoicism of a willow tree: bend, but don’t break. There are calls to be “proactive, not reactive” in life, and to use breathing techniques—what Speeth dubs “a special sigh”—to manage stress.

What sets the book apart, however, are the moments stemming from Speeth’s encounters with Carter and, notably, his wife Rosalynn—who would become a great source of inspiration. Carter’s grace and calm generosity flow through the pages, and as such, the book proves just as much a loving tribute to an extraordinary man as it is a self-help strategy.

Speeth explains how Carter decided whether—or even if—he was able to help a cause: “Outside of his daily work, he never personally said yes to volunteer opportunities where he felt he was merely a warm body, filling a seat. If his unique blend of skills was not needed, he didn’t participate.” This seems central to the purpose of Speeth’s book: What are the unique skills any individual may possess that can be used to make a real difference?

As enjoyable as much of the book is, it’s somewhat let down by a clumsy and cluttered design. Photographs and diagrams are not given enough space to sit apart from the text. A bold, excessively large font is used for subheadings—shouting from the page, regardless of what subtle change of gear they may be announcing. However, TAKING THE STAIRS AND LIKING IT is an interesting and informative book that explores how individuals can find their best way of living while simultaneously benefiting the world around them.

With its emphasis on the thoughts and actions of the late Jimmy Carter, Lauren Speeth’s TAKING THE STAIRS AND LIKING IT serves as both a fitting tribute to this much-loved president and a powerful tool for personal growth and social change.

~Kent Lane for IndieReader