Book Review: "The Real Meaning of Life" by David Seaman

Seaman, David, editor. Novato, CA: New World Library, 2005. $14.00. 222 pages.

The first place I go in the library is to the new books section, I just love knowing that there is a high probability that I haven't read most of the books. I'm an avid reader and at times it is hard to find a book I haven't read already. The last trip to the library I found "The Real Meaning of Life" by David Seaman. The title alone excited me, but Seaman's introduction was also interesting so I checked it out. I'm glad I did.

Seaman has collected many fascinating answers to his question "What is the real meaning of life?" Let me back up and tell you the story behind the story that Seaman writes about in the introduction. On October 10, 2004, David Seaman, who was a freshman at New York University at the time, was doing what most freshmen do; searching the internet instead of buckling down and writing his paper. He asked on one of his favorite forums "What is the real meaning of life?" and almost instantaneously he received quite a lot of responses.

From there he set up a website that now is defunct, where he received thousands of responses from around the world. This book "The Real Meaning of Life" is a collection of the very best of the comments made on his website. It is interesting to read ordinary people's thoughts on the meaning of life. Many are positive, but not all. Many tried to answer his question, but others wrote to let him know that there isn't an answer and just deal with it the best you can. Some of the comments will make you laugh, others will make you sad, but most of them will probably make you scratch your head and think "hmmmmm." Seaman weeded out the comments that were superficial so we are left with the fascinating glimpses into another's soul.

This book opens your mind up to consider all the possibilities of just why are we here anyway. "The real meaning of life" reminds me of NPR's series "This I Believe" where people, both famous and non-famous, share their beliefs with NPR's audience every Sunday. If you like listening to NPR's series "This I Believe" you will enjoy this book as much as I did.

Bottom line: Go get this book immediately and start reading it, and then share it with your friends. You will be glad you did.

Other Book Reviews by Genie Walker:

Nonfiction:
"How to Retire Happy" by Stan Hinden
"Living Gluten Free for Dummies" by Danna Korn
"More Than Enough: The 10 Keys to Changing Your Financial Destiny" by Dave Ramsey
"Three Weeks With My Brother" by Nicholas Sparks and Micah Sparks

Fiction:
"At First Sight" by Nicholas Sparks
"Blow Out" by Catherine Coulter
"Darkfever" by Karen Marie Moning
"Odd Thomas" by Dean Koontz
"The Husband" by Dean Koontz
"The Mulberry Tree" by Jude Deveraux
"The Remains of the Dead" by Wendy Roberts
"Sam's Letters to Jennifer" by James Patterson