Why Americans Have It All Wrong: An Alternative Way to Find Happiness-by David Rosenfield (Book Review)

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Title: Why Americans Have It All Wrong: An Alternative Way to Find Happiness-Tales and Tips from a Corporate Lawyer Turned Expat Now Semi-Retired Real Estate Investor
Author: David Rosenfield
Publisher: Buck the Trend Press
ISBN: 979-8218500481
Genre: Business, Nonfiction, Personal Memoir, Inspirational
Availability: Paperback
Language: ‎ English
Paperback: ‎ 178 pages
Item Weight: 8.3 ounces
Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.41 x 8.5 inches

Review:

When it comes to the United States of America, I’m often reminded of Wall Street’s Gordon Gekko’s famous quote, “Greed is Good.” When the culture of a country thrives on this motto, there are many sacrifices that the citizens of one of the wealthiest countries in the world must make. Sometimes it’s a matter of whether people are living to work or working to live. David Rosenfield has got it figured out.

In Why Americans Have It All Wrong: An Alternative Way to Find Happiness-Tales and Tips from a Corporate Lawyer Turned Expat Now Semi-Retired Real Estate Investor, readers will come to understand through various anecdotes, that anyone willing to heed his words can find happiness in such a capitalistic society.

Much of the advice woven within the stories about Rosenfield’s life resonates: from advice about not being afraid of taking a vacation for fear of being looked down upon by peers and employers, to realizing that it is okay to feel neutral about your job, or how to maximize your time in your workplace and personal life. Beyond the wisdom that Rosenfield offers on surviving the rat race of capitalism, he also shares his life experiences and how those events shaped him into who he is and the outlook he has on life. One such example is his father, someone who was a wealthy lawyer who lived his life in excess. Seeing the result of his father’s lifestyle, Rosenfield used this as a teachable moment on how to make manageable and affordable life choices, most ending in his favor and others not. He acknowledges the privilege that he was born into and expresses gratitude for the opportunities that he was given. However, Rosenfield forgoes using his privilege to forge his own path. For example, when he turns down an associate position at a law firm due to his uncle putting in a good word for him, eschewing the opportunity to achieve success on his own merits. He also shows how respectful he is when it comes to the various people in his life that he mentions within his memoir, such as his ex-wife, which he leaves glowing praise for throughout.

In Part Four of the book, Rosenfield admits that he wasn’t happy in his personal or professional life. Instead of quitting or sticking with it despite this realization, Rosenfield goes about trying to change his situation in any way that he can by leaving for New York, despite apprehension about taking such a risk. This moment showed his willingness to confront a situation and fix it until it was no longer an obstacle. This is something many people cannot or will not do.

While the author offers valuable advice for coping with work/life balance and how to handle the internalization of the “time is money,” he takes time to write about his travels abroad and how his outlook on time shapes various aspects of his life. The writing in the memoir is enlightening and as mentioned, Rosenfield shows the depth of his knowledge when it comes to the workforce in his research.

Why Americans Have It All Wrong: An Alternative Way to Find Happiness-Tales and Tips from a Corporate Lawyer Turned Expat Now Semi-Retired Real Estate Investor touches on things and subjects that people in the workforce struggle with. The advice and anecdotes shared in the book offer insight into how anyone, regardless of tax bracket, can use to find the proper balance. It earns a recommendation from me. ★★★★★ – Elijah B. (Explore Authors Magazine)

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