Book Review: 'The Great Eight' by Scott Hamilton

✰✰✰✰½ Start the New Year with this inspirational read by Olympic champion and cancer survivor, Scott Hamilton. To his adoring fans, Hamilton has always seemed like the most positive person in the world. However, this wasn’t always so. Hamilton has struggled through countess setbacks including childhood illness, cancer, a brain tumor, and personal challenges to come out a winner. By sharing his stories, Hamilton reinforces the idea that happiness is a choice we are faced with everyday. Hamilton describes how through commitment and repetition, anyone can change. In this book, he shares the secrets to combating negativity. Each chapter reveals a step on the road to finding happiness, fulfillment, and a positive attitude.

The Bottom Line: Hamilton is a champion both on and off the ice. Written with honesty and humor, Hamilton shows everyone simple ways to lighten your mood and make a positive impact on others as well. While this book is short and a bit repetitive, I still highly recommend it. Much of what Hamilton writes about is commonsense; however, his use of ice skating analogies makes the material fresh. The ideas are easy to understand and the language is accessible. No matter what stage of life you are in or what challenges you are facing, everyone can benefit from Hamilton’s ideas.

Details: The Great Eight: How to be Happy (even when you have every reason to be miserable) by Scott Hamilton. Paperback published by Thomas Nelson in 2008. 183 p. ISBN: 978-0-7852-3090-8