Shut Up, Stop Whining & Get A Life: A Kick-Butt Approach to a Better Life

By: Larry Winget
Publisher: Writers of the Round Table Press Inc.
Publication Date: April 2011
ISBN: 978-1610660020
Reviewed by: Deb Fowler
Review Date: January 28, 2011

So many of us have read a plethora of self-help books, books that end up as door stops or, when donated to a library, garner us a nifty little tax deduction. But where did all that so called “help” go? Nowhere because soft sell doesn’t work on most people. Platitudes simply don’t work for most of us, but we try to fool ourselves into thinking that by purchasing Zumba we’ll be on Dancing with the Stars next week or by putting the best selling diet book in our carts we’ll be svelte by the time that class reunion comes around. Larry Winget has news for you regarding nonsense like that. You can’t, you won’t, and you’re as dumb as a post if you don’t get off your butt and change your attitude.

He’s going to offer you some “ugly truths” that just might force you to take a close look at yourself … and STOP whining! You can have what you want (within reason), but first you must “Regroup and focus on the things you should be saying to yourself—things that move you closer to the results you want.” (pg. 5) Larry is not one to hold the punches and will not sweet talk you into putting down that Whopper and ordering a salad. “MNOM, MNOM.” He simply states (probably as he rolls his eyes), “It amazes me that people can blame everyone except themselves for their problems.” (pg. 6) Fast food is making us fat and big tobacco is killing us in droves. Not. You, dear people are killing yourselves. Whining and trying to put the blame on everyone but yourself will keep you right where you’re at. Nowhere.

Larry has plenty of advice and if you don’t like it, he doesn’t care. He has no time to stroke your ego and coax you into changing your life if you aren’t planning on it. He bluntly (is there any other way to say it?) states: “There are three reasons people are not successful, and you’re not going to like them. The reasons you are not successful are …

“You are stupid.
“You are lazy.
“And you don’t give a damn.” (pg. 8)

After hammering the reader with his determined philosophy, Larry, still kicking butt, gets down to the practical. He will help you enlist the “creative forces of the universe” and make them work to your advantage. You have to sometimes compromise or give up things (like that Whopper) in order to get what you want. If you believe you can do something and have faith (forget the hope) you truly can do what you want, but first you need to develop a plan. In this brief book you’ll find advice on avoiding negativity (your own and that of others), getting rid of things you don’t like, you’ll learn you do have choices, you’ll learn how to “get smarter,” how to manage stress, develop relationships, “focus on the now,” develop your individuality, learn how to raise your children, and you’ll learn many other interesting philosophical tidbits (without piling on the gravy) that just might force you to take a close look at your losing lifestyle.

No doubt about it, Larry has that no nonsense approach to self improvement that really resonates with some people. Of course if you want to mnom, mnom your way into an early grave because you claim you can’t help yourself, this book is not for you. His up-in-your-face bluntness is actually quite refreshing for a change as opposed to those who try to sweet talk us into changing our lifestyles. I could almost imagine an index finger pointing rising from the pages when I read statements such as “I attack laziness. I attack stupidity. I attack dishonesty. I don’t attack people, just their actions.” (pg. 33) Much of Larry’s philosophy on life is just plain old common sense and he takes the high road, encouraging the reader to do things like accept responsibility for their actions and adopt a giving spirit. This book, presented in the form of a graphic novel, is not for all, but if you need a little push, you’ll certainly feel that index finger pointing at you.

Quill says: If you need a little tough love to get your life back on track, Larry Winget will be more than happy to tell you to Shut Up, Stop Whining & Get A Life!