the great eight by scott hamilton

For a span of about ten years, I was a huge figure skating fan. I'd watch every competition and special on TV, and my favorite skater was Scott Hamilton. I read his first autobiography, Landing It: My Life On And Off The Ice, right after it was published. So when I saw that Thomas Nelson was offering Hamilton's new book as part of their Book Review Blogger program, I knew I needed to give it a shot!

The Great Eight: How to Be Happy (Even When You Have Every Reason to be Miserable)contains Hamilton's eight happiness principles. To illustrate each point, Hamilton uses stories from his life or from the lives of other figure skaters. The principles are simplistic (just about anyone could tell you to trust God and look for the positives), as is the writing.

The quality of this book depends on how you view it. If you're looking for a glimpse into Hamilton's life in the years following his first book, or if you're hoping to learn about Hamilton's contemporaries, this book doesn't disappoint. I especially enjoyed reading about Hamilton's courtship, marriage, and conversion to Christianity. If, however, you're looking for a self-help book on happiness (which is how this book is being marketed), you may want to look elsewhere.

****Side note to all my friends/family: At the end of the book, there's an advertisement for a dvd of Hamilton's favorite performances. This would make a great gift :-)