Unfortunately, this was not really what I hoped it would be .

I definitely like the premise of this—mini-lessons from short life stories and reflections that the author deemed worthy enough to share with the world. However, the execution was not as engaging as I would have wished for it to be.

While I found myself nodding along and not without interest in the anecdotes, I also can't say that I was actively involved in any stories or that any made a particularly large impression on me by the time I reached the last lesson.

Overall, I think that this was an okay read, and I do appreciate the structure of the book.

Thank you to Netgalley and AuthorBuzz for the opportunity to read this ARC!

Thank you, NetGalley and Dr. Levy for the advanced copy of Life is a 4-Letter Word.
I fully enjoyed this book. It is not a book that you will sit down and read several chapters all at once or all in one sitting. This is the type of book that you read one essay a day. and is very enjoyable! The essay collection is certainly not teaching us anything new---but presenting a subject/situation from the author's point of view and closes each short story with a very relatable 'life lesson".---possibly some lessons that we tend to forget. Dr. Levy is a skilled storyteller and he presented some topics that made me reflect on after finishing each individual essay. This is a light read but thought-provoking at the same time.

The book is made up of cute snippets of life that have a lesson attached. Several of them are very poignant. This would make a great gift book, especially for a graduate. I especially liked the snippet about the racial divide since I grew up in that era, and it hit home for me. I intend to search out other books by this author.

I really enjoyed this little yet powerful book. Loved his observations on life. Lots of lessons learned and life lived in this read. You could tell this guy gets it. He understands that we need to be reminded of what we’ve been through and that life teaches you lessons along the way if you are willing to look for them.

A quick read where they author shares many life stories and lessons he learned a long the way. He writes in a relatable way and it's easy to take away meaning from his stories and how you may be able to apply it to your own life. Thanks to NetGalley and AuthorBuzz for an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is similar to the Don't Sweat the Small Stuff books -- a short essay with a lesson at the end. I didn't like it as much as the first Small Stuff book but this is still very good. It will definitely resonate with a lot readers.

I really appreciate the NetGalley advanced copy for review!!

Quick entertaining read. This collection of anecdotal life lessons isn’t my usual style of book, but it was pretty interesting. While there were no life altering revelations, but I did enjoy the writing style.

Life is 4-Letter Word is an easy read. David A Levy has included stories about his life and the meaning he got from them. He looks back on his life with humor and lightness that can betray the depth of a few of the essays. My biggest issue was some were just vignettes that seemed like the author was trying too hard to get a meaning from. It's possible these pieces just need a little more for the readers to truly understand what he was getting at with the story.
Overall, this book is light but with some depth. This would be a good book to read on those rainy days when you're stuck inside and you aren't the kind of person who likes to be stuck inside with a n=book.

The type font was VERY difficult to read. Very small and sometimes smaller. It was not what I had expected in way of for a psychologist/therapist. I expected ...more real wisdom or a lightbulb in my head. It was just which didn't do it for me. I would suggest the font be changed and larger.
Thanks, NetGalley for the advance copy to review.

Dr. David Levy, in “Life is a 4-Letter Word,” does a credible job of telling me stuff I already know. Who could imagine I’d read simple advise such as “Things could always be worse,” “Simple is better, but not always easier,” or “If it seems too good to be true, it probably is” and be amused by the experience? But I was, because Dr. Levy is not only a nag. He’s also a hoot.

This little book is not the right size. It is similar to a Kindle in its dimensions but that’s too big to fit into my old bathrobe pocket. In my 84th year, I need something small enough to carry around if I’m going to be able to find it to read it. Because I’m in my robe most of the time, that’s where I look for my reading material. Mostly I find lint.

Dr. Levy has an amazing mind. Simple but edifying. Deep but able to accommodate shallow waters. Comical but as serious as STD. I liked his stories and appreciated his lighthearted look at situations that are not always laughable.

I recommend you read this book and ruminate on its contents. There’s good advice that’s not always easy to follow.

This was an excellent read! I love how it's divided into short vignettes/essays, each centered on one life lesson. I downloaded this on my Kindle app on my phone, and each was short enough to read while in line or other waiting situations. Because they are positive stories, my whole outlook during those waiting times was greatly improved because of what I was reading. They also are quick reads right before bed.

An interesting book of anecdotes all with a life message that Dr. Levy had learned. He has compiled them throughout his lifetime and they are in chronological order. Each is a quick read of a couple of pages. I enjoyed this book and thank Dr. Levy for the free copy in return for an honest review.

This book simply did not do it for me.

I am annoyed with this book on multiple levels. I am not the kind of reader, who gives up on a book that easily and I usually see it through the end even if I know that it is killing me softly. And this is one of those books.

You have heard every single lesson in this book at least a thousand times before and I'm sorry to say that it's not the only disappointment.

I felt like I got caught up in a psychological booby trap, expecting something profound to happen but waiting in vain. The life lessons given in capital letters are not based on some rooted fundamentally life-changing experiences and felt shallow for a psychologist/therapist to give as an example.
What kind of a life lesson "When you don't know what to do, fake it til you make it" offers, I don't know. Or "Try hard but not too hard."

I am just pissed.

What I liked about this little compilation of life lessons is that you don’t have to do anything with them. Except maybe learn from them. But there are no homework assignments, and no necessity to change your way of thinking. And if you fail to get the message, you won’t automatically be excluded from a promotion at work or social success or anything.
The format is sort of a Chicken Soup for the Soul approach, and this renders it similar also to the 40-day meditation books I have read over the past year. There are a series of short anecdotes followed by a unifying conclusion or life lesson the author had drawn from the particular episode. But there are no associated prayers or exercises with them. About the only thing the author asks you to do, and this is optional, is to think about the episodes of your own life and what you have learned from them as he has learned from his life experiences, and maybe share them as well.

***Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***

I appreciate what David Levy is trying to do here, but I think it falls short. Described as being a book of humorous and insightful short stories from a veteran psychologist's life, I was underwhelmed by the lack of enjoyment and inspiration I received from this book. The "short stories" were literally a few paragraphs and I didn't really learn any inspiring life lessons. I did not even find much amusement in this book.

Life lessons of all sorts, many of which are interesting,but the font type was so hard to read that I did not finish. Too tiring for the eyes, which is too bad as it seemed going.
Thank you NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest opinion.

This book was a quick read. I found most of the essays to be pretty straight-forward in their "lessons," but some were kind of a stretch. These seemed to be the essays that were the most compact; maybe if the author had fleshed out those essays, the lesson would've been more apparent. Overall, a nice little book to make people realize that there are lessons in the randomness of their lives and yes, some of it is very obvious, if one is to just take notice.

I loved reading this collection considering it non-fiction as some kind of mundane things happening in our lives (specifically that happened in the life of the author) that we think would not matter much when they actually do with a life lesson/moral at the end of each chapter.

The writing style is crisp and simple. It is easy to follow and totally relatable.

This is the first book by the author that I have read and I loved it.

I need such books when I need some kind of motivation and this one came to me at the right time.

I would have loved the book more if some more events of everyday mundane life have been included. Somehow some chapters seem too incomplete and some chapters seem too lengthy without a purpose.

Overall, it's a good read. It's an insightful read I would say.

Thanks #NetGalley for the book #LifeIsA4LetterWord

I'm sadly disappointed with this book. I expected more: more humor, more insight. Instead, each chapter is a very short anecdote that ends with a lesson or other such "wise words," none of which is necessary to understanding the anecdote.

I didn't find much humor in the book. The takeaway lessons from each chapter were nothing earth-shattering or even novel; these are things most people would know. In one case, the author completely contradicts the lesson from chapters only a few pages apart. One of them instructs to reader to rely on feelings and the other NOT to follow one's gut.

My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

LIFE IS A FOUR LETTER WORD - Dr. David A. Levy

I received this free Kindle book from Net Galley for the purpose of review.

This was such a fun book. Each chapter was about one and a half long in my Kindle. Then there were various two line sayings that are actually very good.

The Shot: When you have to face the inevitable, it's best to just to get it over with.
Now, when you are in the doctor's office or hospital and you learn a shot is coming, the thought is perfect.

The Nature of Attachment: Doing the right thing can be painful.
A truth we all realize and another life isn't fair, - but easier with companionship.

I thought this next one was especially profound for children of all ages, 5-75 - You only know you've gone too far when you've gone too far.

And then there is the one we have all shared with our children and was probably taught us:
If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

This little book would make a fun coffee table addition in your home or a great little book to discuss all these statements with your children taking one at a time and allowing them to give examples and you as well. Sharing with children is always a benefit.

I highly recommend this book. Just a fun book and quite enjoyable with his short stories.