Rules of Life, 2nd Edition

Book description

A personal code for living a better, happier, more successful kind of life

The hugely anticipated second edition of this bestselling title will show you the simple principles that will help you do less, be more – and live a better and happier kind of life.

Some people seem to be just good at life. They glide effortlessly onwards and upwards, always seeming to know the right things to say and do, in every situation. Everybody likes them – they are great to work with and to live with. They are happy (for the most part) and they know how to roll with life’s punches. They have time for everybody and always seem to know what’s important (and how to deal with what’s not).

Is there something they know and do that we don’t? Is it something we could all learn? The answer is a most definite yes. They know the Rules of Life.

The Rules of Life are the guiding principles that will help you achieve more, shrug off adversity more easily, get more out of life and generally be a happier, calmer, more fulfilled person. You'll feel the benefits – and so will everyone around you.

The second edition of the ultimate self-help Bible, by renowned author Richard Templar has now been updated with new rules in response to real reader suggestions.

Table of contents

  1. Cover
  2. The Rules of Life (1/2)
  3. The Rules of Life (2/2)
  4. Contents (1/2)
  5. Contents (2/2)
  6. Introduction
  7. Acknowledgements
  8. Rules for You
    1. Keep It Under Your Hat
    2. You’ll Get Older but Not Necessarily Wiser
    3. Accept What Is Done Is Done
    4. Accept Yourself
    5. Know What Counts and What Doesn’t
    6. Dedicate Your Life to Something
    7. Be Flexible in Your Thinking
    8. Take an Interest in the Outside World
    9. Be on the Side of the Angels, Not the Beasts
    10. Only Dead Fish Swim with the Stream
    11. Be the Last to Raise Your Voice
    12. Be Your Own Adviser
    13. No Fear, No Surprise, No Hesitation, No Doubt
    14. I Wish I’d Done That – and I Will
    15. It’s Ok to Give Up
    16. Count to Ten – or Recite ‘baa Baa Black Sheep’
    17. Change What You Can Change, Let Go of the Rest
    18. Aim to Be the Very Best at Everything You Do – Not Second Best
    19. Don’t Expect to Be Perfect
    20. Don’t Be Afraid to Dream
    21. If You’re Going to Jump Off a Bridge, Make Sure You Know How Deep the Water Is
    22. Don’t Dwell on the Past
    23. Don’t Live in the Future
    24. Get on with Life – It’s Whooshing Past
    25. Be Consistent
    26. Dress Like Today Is Important
    27. Have a Belief System
    28. Leave a Little Space for Yourself Each Day
    29. Have a Plan
    30. Have a Sense of Humour
    31. Choose How You Make Your Bed
    32. Life Can Be a Bit Like Advertising
    33. Get Used to Stepping Outside Your Comfort Zone
    34. Learn to Ask Questions
    35. Have Dignity
    36. It’s Ok to Feel Big Emotions
    37. Keep the Faith
    38. You’ll Never Understand Everything
    39. Know Where True Happiness Comes from
    40. Life Is a Pizza
    41. Always Have Someone – or Something – That Is Pleased to See You
    42. Know When to Let Go – When to Walk Away
    43. Retaliation Leads to Escalation
    44. Look After Yourself
    45. Maintain Good Manners in All Things
    46. Prune Your Stuff Frequently
    47. Remember to Touch Base
    48. Draw the Lines Around Yourself
    49. Shop for Quality, Not Price
    50. It’s Ok to Worry, or to Know How Not to
    51. Stay Young
    52. Throwing Money at a Problem Doesn’t Always Work
    53. Think for Yourself
    54. You Are Not in Charge
    55. Have Something in Your Life That Takes You Out of Yourself
    56. Only the Good Feel Guilty
    57. If You Can’t Say Anything Nice, Don’t Say Anything at All
  9. Partnership Rules
    1. Accept the Differences, Embrace What You Have in Common
    2. Allow* Your Partner the Space to Be Themselves
    3. Be Nice
    4. You Want to Do What?
    5. Be the First to Say Sorry
    6. Go That Extra Step in Trying to Please Them
    7. Know When to Listen and When to Act
    8. Have a Passion for Your Life Together
    9. Make Sure Your Love Making Is Making Love
    10. Keep Talking
    11. Respect Privacy
    12. Check You Both Have the Same Shared Goals
    13. Treat Your Partner Better Than Your Best Friend
    14. Contentment Is a High Aim
    15. You Don’t Both Have to Have the Same Rules
  10. Family and Friends Rules
    1. If You Are Going to Be a Friend, Be a Good Friend
    2. Never Be Too Busy for Loved Ones
    3. Let Your Kids Mess Up for Themselves – They Don’t Need Any Help from You
    4. Have a Little Respect and Forgiveness for Your Parents
    5. Give Your Kids a Break
    6. Never Lend Money Unless You Are Prepared to Write It Off
    7. Keep Schtum
    8. There Are No Bad Children
    9. Be Up Around People You Love
    10. Give Your Kids Responsibilities
    11. Your Children Need to Fall Out with You to Leave Home
    12. Your Kids Will Have Friends You Don’t Like
    13. Your Role as a Child
    14. Your Role as a Parent
  11. Social Rules
    1. We’re All Closer Than You Think
    2. It Doesn’t Hurt to Forgive
    3. It Doesn’t Hurt to Be Helpful
    4. What’s in It for Them?
    5. Hang Out with Positive People
    6. Be Generous with Your Time and Information
    7. Get Involved
    8. Keep the Moral High Ground
    9. Just Because You Have, Doesn’t Mean They Have to
    10. Do Compare Yourself with Other People
    11. Have a Plan for Your Career
    12. Look at the Long-term Ramifications of What You Do for a Living
    13. Be Good at Your Job
    14. Be Aware of the Damage You Are Doing
    15. Be for the Glory, Not the Degradation
    16. Be Part of the Solution, Not the Problem
    17. Check What History Would Say About You
    18. Not Everything Can Be Green
    19. Put Something Back
    20. Find a New Rule Every Day – or Occasionally at Least

Product information

  • Title: Rules of Life, 2nd Edition
  • Author(s): Richard Templar
  • Release date: December 2010
  • Publisher(s): Prentice Hall Life
  • ISBN: 9780273751045