Product Description
This book takes readers back to David Niven's childhood days, his humiliating expulsion from school and to his army years and wartime service. After the war, he returned to America and there came his Hollywood success in films such as "Wuthering Heights" and "Around the World in 80 Days". ... Read more

Customer Reviews (22)

Great Book About An Extrodinary Man
David was/is the most under rated actor in Hollywood.
Charm,wit and humor jump off every page.

Buy, if your last name's Niven; avoid otherwise
If i were one of Niven's offspring, i would definitely find much interest in this autobiography. Seeing as i'm not, i've found it boring to no end. It was recommended me by one Amazon reviewer as a "very funny read." It is everything but. To be honest, i only read the first few chapters. I didn't feel compulsion to go any further.

Trying to come up with some good points, the following two finally presented themselves. In the middle of the book is to be found a picture of Niven flanked by two of his sons, the elder of whom is a most presentable, semi-nude young man, whose appealing aspect roused my spirit a bit from the apathetic lethargy it had succumb to in the course of reading the first few chapters. Also, the index looks quite comprehensive.

A wonderful way to get to know beloved Niven
This wonderful book should be read by every David Niven fan. He was a good actor and a great man. I fully recommend this book.

not bad
His other book "Bring on the empty horses" was a much better reading. The Moon's a Balloon had a few of the same passages in it as "Bring on the empty horses". It was just ok. I think I would have enjoyed it more if I hadn't read the other first.

Is it possible to read it any quicker
WOW as expected David Niven's writings were as easy as molten chocolate..funny, irreverent, I wanted to be like him...I very much recommend this book as light entertainment but also if you are doing some soul searching...there may be some ideas in there. ... Read more

Product Description
David Niven recalls his time in Hollywood during its heyday. He recounts stories and anecdotes of the stars, producers, directors, tycoons and oddballs, many of whom were his friends. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (28)

Wonderful from start to finish
Niven wrote 2 books and they are both very special books that show so much of his life and the people he encountered along the way.All told with such charm and warmth and real humor and insight that you just can't put it down.I wish he had written more he is a wonderful story teller and makes the reader feel like he is involved in the story.I think he must have been a pretty special person himself, the kind of guy you would love to sit down and visit with.I have read both of his books at least twice and always find something that I had forgotten to enjoy again.

Wonderfully written by one of the worlds most wonderful men
This book speaks of Hollywood at its most magical. A great read about all the actors and actresses that never should be forgotten. David Niven was as talented a writer as he was an actor. A must read.

bring on the empty horses
this book arrived in terrible condition...it was actually torn in half ...all the binding was cracked/broken and pages were falling out

....i threw it away

Bring On The Empty Horses
Excellent sequel to The Moon's A Balloon. Continuing David Niven's life and career and written in his own inimitable and self-deprecating style. Amusing and entertaining. Thoroughly recommended to all but read The Moon's A Balloon first.

Flawed, but highly enjoyable
Upon rereading this recently, I discover many areas in which Niven's memory is faulty in recalling certain events. This isn't surprising, given the fact that he was writing his memoirs decades after said events took place.

Some are frantic to know who "Our Little Girl" could have been. It can only have been Vivien Leigh. No, she wasn't from Arizona, she wasn't a blonde, etc. This would have been Niven's way of protecting her identity by creating an entirely different look and background from Leigh's own. When Leigh had her famous breakdown, Niven stayed with her for two days until Laurence Olivier, who was still married to her at the time, could come from England. Niven writes about this very occurrence in "Our Little Girl", which helps to identify the actress as Leigh. He was good friends with both of them, which may be why he chose to hide her identity rather than to give it out straight - Leigh died years before the book was published, but Olivier was still very much alive.

Niven has a style that is very easy to read, very human, warm, and often hysterically funny. He shows us a Hollywood apart from the glamor, the opening nights of movies, the gorgeous people. His Hollywood is populated by real people with real faults. A widower himself (his first wife died as the result of a tragic accident), he treats the stories of Clark Gable and Fred Astaire, both widowers, with empathy and compassion.

Tricky memory notwithstanding, it's still a wonderful read. ... Read more

Product Description

Scientists and academics have spent entire careers investigating what makes people happy. But hidden in obscure scholarly journals and reports, their research is all too often inaccessible to ordinary people. Now the bestselling author of the 100 Simple Secrets series distills the scientific findings of over a thousand of the most important studies on happiness into easy-to-digest nuggets of advice. Each of the hundred practices is illustrated with a clear example and illuminated by a straightforward explanation of the science behind it to show you how to transform a ho-hum existence into a full and happy life.

Customer Reviews (41)

A little disjointed
I found the title of "100 Simple Secrets of Happy People" intriguing.It really does list 100 secrets and the studies they come from.Not much there that most people don't already know.The basics are think positive, the cup is half full, perspective is everything, etc.

My problem with the book is some of the secrets made me do a double take.For example, secret #47: Be socially supportive."You will feel good about your efforts, and it will bring you an even closer relationship."It concludes, "The need for support or the number of problems individuals faces is a less strong predictor of their happiness than the amount of support available to them."The secret to happiness is to give support.Wait.The secret to happiness is to get support.

Secret #49: Be a peacemaker.An example is given of how a fight between two sisters over a phone bill and a resulting lawsuit caused a family rift because the family was uncomfortable around them.Conclusion?"The passive avoidance of problems between loved ones reduces contentment by 15 percent."Umm.The sisters were SUING each other.That's hardly passive avoidance.Sure, the family was avoiding them, but they may have been wise to stay out of it.There was no example of how being a peacemaker would make a person happier.I suspect trying to be a peacemaker in this situation would have lead to nothing but turmoil.

Nothing eye opening, not very deep or thought provoking, could have been better written.On the other hand, it's not too bad for browsing on a lazy day, as long as one doesn't need to think too hard about what's written.

Quick, easy, reasonably priced
Just a few clicks and within a few days I had my book.Much better than driving to the bookstore.

You will love this book!
This book is easy to read and FULL of great ideas. Also, the research quoted in convincing and easy to understand.

Loved it and shared it with many!!
I loved this book so much that I purchased several copies and sent to friends.Another reviewer mentioned that the book was superficial; of course each piece of advice was brief, that was his intent!The book is meant to be a non-tedious read.

Thoroughly enjoyable book about being Happy
I enjoyed reading this book so much that I ended up seeking out other books by this author.It's not just a book filled with "feel-good" advice, but the ideas are backed by research studies that prove the ideas work.

This is one of those books that you can read from cover to cover, or just read little bits and pieces whenever you want.Each of the 100 "secrets" in the book is explained in a page or two.There is a quick two or three sentence summary of the secret, followed by more information or an illustrative example, and concluded with the statistics or study that backs up the idea.

The ideas were definitely things I could put to good use.Some were things I already knew (although it was nice to see them backed by research studies) and others were ideas that I hadn't really thought about before.Some of the secrets include:

Exercise
Volunteer
Pay Attention.You may have what you want.
Try to think less about the people and things that bother you.
Friendship beats money
Accept yourself - unconditionally

I found this book to be a fun and positive read while providing great tips that can easily be put to use.I'd recommend this to any reader - and it would make a wonderful gift!
... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (1)

David Niven the last true gentleman
Micheal Munns biography of the late great David Niven is a fine read. David Niven was a superb actor and a real gentleman. No one really has anything bad or negative to say about him even though he wasnt always an angel. This book details his life and his thoughts and Munn isnt afraid to print the darker times of Nivens life. He says all material is quoted from the actors mouth himself, although Niven's children say they never knew or heard of their father speak of ever knowing Munn. IN any case this book is a must for any David Niven fan. I couldnt put it down and i own all of the David Niven Biographies. My Favorite is called Niv by Graham Lord but this is almost equal to that. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (6)

A wondeful actor and true gentleman
ive read all of the books written about David Niven and this is the most informative by far. Well wrtten and easy to read you actually get to feel like you knew the actor himself. He was a great actor and an even better man. No one who knew him has anything negative to say about him and they are quoted often in the book. He was a randy fellow and his exploits are detailed here. I would recommend this for any Niven fan and if you werent a fan before you may be one now.

Twee Drivel?
After Niven's death the present owner of his chalet, Coco Wyers, went inside the house and surveyed Niven's muurals of matadors in the dank basement of the prefab house.Psychic Coco knew something horrid had happened in the house, but what?"Oh my God," she thought, "what happened here?I felt that something was really not OK."Author Graham Lord has surveyed half a hundred of Niven's friends and associates and come up with the truth, that Niven could be charming and affable, some say generous, but he was a notorious womanizer and serial cheater.He always felt insecure, as most actors do, and he took himself seriously, cherishing the Oscar he had been awarded for his brilliant performance in SEPARATE TABLES.

At the same time, he and his monstrous second wife, Hjordis the drunk, adopted two little girls who grew up, Lord tells us, to be neurotic, quiet, disattached from reality, and deeply unhappy.Well, Hjordis was a world class monster.Betty Bacall is quoted often in NIV (she must have given the world's longest interview for she seems to be on every page) as calling Hjordis "cold."Bacall scoffs at Hjordis' acting ambitions, sniffing that she must have been crazy to think she could make it in Hollywood.Meanwhile Biven was playing with the girls.Naked, he encouraged the little girls, aged 6 and 7, to swing on his outsized member like Tarzan, telling a guest, the painter William Feilding, who witnessed this bizarre scene of fatherhood, "better get them used to a decent size at any early age."He thought more of his [...] than he did his family, that's for sure.At one point he was skiing with Robert Wagner and felt his [...] freezing within a two thin ski ensemble.The two men raced down the slopes and into a bar where Niven plunged his "unit" into a snifter filled with brandy, to warm it up.Another guest went by and goggled, and Niven joked, "I like to give it a drink now and then."

But I felt sorry for those girls.Having that memory in your past must be a tricky thing.No wonder they're ultra reserved and lonely nowadays.They were always trying to please an oversexed dad, and a distant, cold, drunken mother, who was always impossibly gorgeous and never left the house without a full set of makeup.Many friends of Niv's thought Hjordis overdid it with the makeup.I have trouble spelling her name all the way to the end.I feel Lord did a hatchet job on a misunderstood woman whose failing, in the end, was neglecting to protect her two adopted girls from having to play jungle games on the thick vine sprouting from between her husband's legs.

However "Niv" gave good performances in GUNS OF NAVARONE, THE MOON IS BLUE, A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH, and CASINO ROYALE.

Docked one notch for disrespect to a great poet.Niven took the title of his memoir THE MOON'S A BALLOON from a poem by e.e. cummings.Graham Lord, said to have been the literary editor for the Express for 23 years (!) uses this as a springboard for an attack on cummings' nearly as rabid as his attack on Hjordis."The title, bewilderingly fey, came from a piece of doggerel by the pretentious e.e. cummings.Why did Niven choose the title?Search me," Lord sneers.Elsewhere he calls the poem "twee drivel," which in England must be the worst insult you can give.To which I respond, Please, Graham Lord, get over yourself!"Bewilderingly fey?YOU'RE the one who just wrote a 370 page ode to David Niven's [...]!"

Pretty Ridiculous
The author spends many pages trying to suggest that David Niven's stepfather was actually his biological father. The photo of the stepfather, used as "evidence" looks more like Basil Rathbone that David Niven while a I mistook a photo of David's father in his military uniform to be David Niven before I read the caption. A photo of his older brother also looks very much like David Niven though the author tries to make the case that David Niven looked nothing like his older brother and sister. I guess this is a case of who do you believe, the author or your own lying eyes?

Does this mean the moon's balloon has popped?
After reading Niven's two autobiographies in the 70s I wanted to spread the word that he was among the most likable movie stars who ever lived, a civilized sex-maniac who also couldn't help being urbane, loyal, thoughtful, generous, forgiving, bright, witty, tasteful and who therefore was obliged to know and to become eternal friends with just about everybody that mattered during Hollywood's Golden Age.

This new Lord biography says goodbye to most of that, revealing in a good-natured way, as any honor-bound hero-worshipper would, that Niven didn't tell the whole story, neglecting to haave mentioned that his second wife was a second-rate drunk with the kind of bad taste only the red states would brag about, that his fidelities went just so far, that his rigorously high standards of honesty often had to plummet, that his memory of events and headliners from the 1930s and 40s was not unerring, that he could be a bastard just as comortably as the next guy, that he often mistook panache for talent and that charm is not always commensurate with happiness.

Still, Niven, on balance, is as good an example as you'll find of long-goneHollywood elegance and that must count for something---at least perhaps to the world's few remaining sentimentalists..

If Clark Gable, who could spot a phony a mile off, thought that Niven was worth admiring (a few gaping holes in his character notwithstanding), so can I.

THE LIFE OF A "WODEHOUSE WITH TEARS"

Laughing on the outside, crying on the inside may well describe the life of British actor DavidNiven, at least as it's presented inhis first authorized biography by Graham Lord.When questioned about his perpetual cheerfulness, Niven is said to have replied that life was so bloody awful he felt obliged to try to make people happier.And, with a host of friends and 71 films (some not very good) he did just that.

Regrettably, the reader concludes "NIV," knowing very little about who the man really was.The author disputes numerous claims made by the actor in hisautobiographies, "The Moon's A Balloon" and "Bring On The Empty Horses."Lord does this with great courtesy, saying, "NIV was an hilarious, utterly charming, delightfully engaging fantasist, and fibber.His gloriously funny autobiography, The Moon's a Balloon, is stuffed with errors of fact, anecdotes that are hugely exaggerated and superb stories that are completely untrue."

Thus, the narrative thread of "NIV" is constantly interrupted with corrections, and quotations from other sources.The reader is left wondering who to believe, Niven, Lord, or the person being quoted as having been there and seen or heard such and so?

Lord's account opens with Niven's childhood which was none too happy as it was spent with a disinterested mother and a stepfather whom the actor described as ugly,a martinet.Admittedly a snob, attracted by titles, an unrepentant womanizer, Nivenwas also a loyal British subject who interrupted his early film career tofight for his country.

Upon his return to Hollywood a contract with Samuel Goldwyn was to advance his career. The mogul and the actor were often at sword's point, perhaps due to the fact that when Goldwyn was paying Niven $3,000 per week, Goldwyn was receiving $15,000 per week when he loaned the actor out.Those years in Hollywood are described as a constant round of parties, drinking, and romantic entanglements.Names are named ad infinitum.It seems that at one point Niven awoke to find himself in bed with the 20-year-old Marilyn Monroe, and another time with the 23-year-old Ava Gardner.Early on, what appeared to be his most serious attachment was with Merle Oberon.

Women, it seems, were the cause of most of his problems and much unhappiness.He fell in love and married a blonde English girl, Primula Rollo (known as Primmie).The couple had two children, David, Jr. and James (called Jamie).Their happiness was extremely short lived.One night while playing a party game at Tyrone and Annabella Power's house, Primmie mistook the cellar door for a closet and fell to the stone floor.She died a few days later at the age of 28.

Niven was inconsolable.Yet, in perhaps one of the more puzzling aspects of his life he sought to assuage his grief by constant womanizing.A friend quotes Niven as saying, "I was insatiable.No woman was safe.It was no disrespect or lack of love for Primmie - I was just trying to get something out of my system that was better out than in.I believe I was very ill in a sexual kind of way."He eventually consulted a psychiatrist and was told that this feeling would pass.

There's no doubt that he was grief stricken.Douglas Fairbanks' wife answered all the letters of condolence as Niven could not bring himself to do it.Nor could he bring himself to return to the house where he might have lived with Primmie, but had the door permanently locked.With the help of friends, most notably Fred Astaire, and Clark Gable who had suffered after Carole Lombard's death,Niven managed to return to work.

The years passed and Nivenmarried again for reasons that in retrospect seem inexplicable.His bride was Hjordis Paulina Genberg, a beautiful Swedish model, who spoke little English, did not seem to grasp the fact that she was becoming a stepmother, and fancied herself a movie star.They had known each other for ten days when they wed.This was a match that seemed doomed from the first I do..Frustrated in her attempts to become an actress (which Betty Bacall stated was an impossible dream since Hjordis had no talent), she first took to drink and then to having affairs which she flaunted in Niven's face.Theirs was to be a long painful relationship, for them and the two young boys.

The final insult came when Hjordis refused to attend Niven's funeral, but was coerced into going by Prince Rainier.She arrived drunk.

At onetime Niven confronted Goldwyn with an ultimatum and the impresariolet Niven go, which was almost the end of his career and income.Television was his savior when in 1952 he made two live drama appearances.Then he invested with Charles Boyer, Ida Lupino and Dick Powell to form TV's Four Star Playhouse.More good fortune followed when the crusty Mike Todd cast him in "Around The World In 80 Days."

Eventually, he bought a chalet in Switzerland where he began to paint and collected pictures.He and Hjordis adopted two small girls, one of whom some consider to be Niven's daughter with model, Mona Gunnarson.He also purchased a home in the South of France, which he loved to share with friends such as the Rainiers, the Gregory Pecks, the Roger Moores, Greta Garbo.

Niven made several Italian films and Hjordis's condition worsened as she suffered not only from alcoholism but also depression.She made life miserable for herself and those around her.In fact, it was said that in the 1970s she became so disagreeable that none could be found to say a good word about her.

Niven perhaps knew himself better than anyone else.Despite his Oscar win for Separate Tables in 1959, he once said to William Hurt, "I know exactly what my position is...I'm a second-rate star."Yet, he was a star which is more than most can say.

In 1979 Niven began to show the first signs of motor neurone disease.He fought it, trying to walk or swim everyday, but he was weakening rapidly.He wrote a note to his dear friend, Deborah Kerr, warning her of working too hard, "Dear Old Chum, .....don't stretch the elastic too far, because it snaps, and that is what has happened to me."

David Niven died in 1983.His life was once described as "Wodehouse with tears."Indeed, it was.

- Gail Cooke



... Read more

Product Description
Color Niven photo front and back First Complete Unabridged hardcover Octopus Limited ed both books 1985 Dark Green Cloth binding ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Absolutely terrific
Bring on the Empty Horses: One of the best novels (semi-autobiographical) ever written about Hollywood. Actor David Niven's insider view is unparalleled, and he writes about his subject with knowledge, affection and continual bemusement.A must-read for anyone interested in the early film business - and the fact of the matter is that most of these observations are still relevant today.Similarly, The Moon's a Balloon is a fascinating account of a young soldier's experiences in WWII. Too bad they're both out of print.

Abridged
Although they claim that it has not been abridged I noticed some stuff had been edited out. I read the first edition four or five times before I lost it and can recall details that are missing from this edition.

Just another great read from Niven.
David Niven will always be remembered for being a quintessential Englishman. Being an actor he was able to count many of Hollywood's greatest stars as his personal friends. In later years went on to write 2 books about his own life and, quite naturally, his many famous friends and acquaintances got mentioned along the way.

The first of these books was called "The Moon's a Balloon" (first published in 1971) and the second "Bring on the Empty Horses" (1975).

This book, which is simply called "Niven" is both books, bound together under a single cover.

In their own right, each book became a huge best-seller when first published and were both hailed as some of the funniest and entertaining books ever written. They will still make you laugh even when reading them for a second time.

The humour "may" be somewhat diminished for those who do not recognise some of the greatest names from yesterday's Hollywood, but I found this book to be as excellent today as it ever was. After all, a good book will always stand the test of time - and in this package you get two for the price of one.

NM

Just another great read from Niven.
David Niven will always be remembered for being a quintessential Englishman. Being an actor he was able to count many of Hollywood's greatest stars as his personal friends. In later years went on to write 2 books about his own life and, quite naturally, his many famous friends and acquaintances got mentioned along the way.

The first of these books was called "The Moon's a Balloon" (first published in 1971) and the second "Bring on the Empty Horses" (1975).

This book, which is simply called "Niven" is both books, bound together under a single cover.

In their own right, each book became a huge best-seller when first published and were both hailed as some of the funniest and entertaining books ever written. They will still make you laugh even when reading them for a second time.

The humour "may" be somewhat diminished for those who do not recognise some of the greatest names from yesterday's Hollywood, but I found this book to be as excellent today as it ever was. After all, a good book will always stand the test of time - and in this package you get two for the price of one.

NM

Just another great read from Niven.
David Niven will always be remembered for being a quintessential Englishman. Being an actor he was able to count many of Hollywood's greatest stars as his personal friends. In later years went on to write 2 books about his own life and, quite naturally, his many famous friends and acquaintances got mentioned along the way.

The first of these books was called "The Moon's a Balloon" (first published in 1971) and the second "Bring on the Empty Horses" (1975).

This book, which is simply called "Niven" is both books, bound together under a single cover.

In their own right, each book became a huge best-seller when first published and were both hailed as some of the funniest and entertaining books ever written. They will still make you laugh even when reading them for a second time.

The humour "may" be somewhat diminished for those who do not recognise some of the greatest names from yesterday's Hollywood, but I found this book to be as excellent today as it ever was. After all, a good book will always stand the test of time - and in this package you get two for the price of one.

NM


... Read more

Product Description

What are the essential qualities of a great relationship? What do people in healthy and happy relationships do differently? Scientists and academics have spent entire careers investigating the nature of relationships, dating, and marriage, yet their findings are inaccessible to ordinary people, hidden in obscure journals read only by other academics. Now the bestselling author of the 100 Simple Secrets series has collected the most current and significant data from more than a thousand studies on relationships and spells out the key findings in plain English. The advice is not based on one person's unique experiences or opinions, but offers for the first time the research of noted scientists studying the lives and loves of average Americans. Each of the findings is accompanied by a true story that shows the results in action.

Customer Reviews (12)

100 simple secret to great relationships
These are good for quick review of topics.The better book is a larger publication by same author, David Niven, not the actor.They have more information and better for making changes for yourself.100 Simple Secrets of Great Relationships: What Scientists Have Learned and How You Can Use It

It's does what it says it does.
The book is super cute. It makes you think about things when you read it.

A GREAT gift for engaged couples!
This fun, easy read is the ideal gift for engaged couples! I love how Niven breaks down his simple secrets into fun blocks of text, and the survey elements will definitely interest both bride and groom. Help your favorite bride- and groom-to-be prepare for a happy married life...this book is WAY better than a blender or other shower gift. :)

Slow/Delayed Delivery f
I've used Amazon before and have been pleased, however, One book from this order has yet to be received by the party I sent it to.

Wow! I wish this was required pre-marital reading!
I have read all of Dr. Niven's books and have found EVERY one of them to be FANTASTIC!People, Relationships, Best Half of Life, Happy People, etc have all been wonderful ideas with the research the idea is based on. As a psychologist, I hate suggesting books (bibliotherapy) that is half-baked or some crap off Opera.David Niven's is concrete, shouldn't offend anyone with a 'religious' overtone (get over it anyways), and not likely to lead them off to some cult or guru. Just plain, safe, reliable and healthy perspectives. Truly "what scientists have learned and how you can use it." ... Read more

Product Description

What are the keys to success? Scientists have studied the traits, beliefs, and practices of successful people in all walks of life. But the answers they find wind up in stuffy academic journals aimed at other scientists.

The 100 Simple Secrets of Successful People takes the best and most important research results from over a thousand studies and spells out the key findings in ways we can all understand. Each entry contains advice based on those findings, a real life example of what to do or not to do, and a telling statistic based on scientific research. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (21)

Secrets of Successful People
A great title isn't it?I mean who doesn't like simple and secrets, especially when tied to success?

The premise of the book is simple.Summarize research around achievement and success (hence the subtitle - "What scientists have learned and how you can use it."), and give an example, lesson or approach that makes the research practical.

Originally copyrighted in 2002, the research is in most cases at least 10 years old.That doesn't make it incorrect or invalid, but it might seem funny compared to the rash of best selling books in the past few years (Blink, Switch, and Predictably Irrationalas three examples) that use current research to make compelling arguments.

This book takes a less is more approach.Each secret is a short chapter of just a couple hundred words followed by a one paragraph description of the research (a complete bibliography of the research is provided as well.).

Not all of the descriptions/applications seem completely connected to the research, but overall I liked the approach, and the research is by and large very interesting - ranging from the mildly surprising (i.e. working with people who have different opinions and approaches increases productivity by 14%) to quantifying my assumptions (i.e. having concrete goals increases confidence by 50%).

This is a light book that will provide some insights and ideas.If you are looking for a serious research book, this isn't it (though all of the research used seemed solid and is cited carefully).It does provides clues and approaches to greater personal (and in some cases leadership) effectiveness in an interesting package.

I enjoyed it and I have and will use some of what I learned in the future.

Not so simple secrets for success
This book is packed with "simple secrets" to "teach" people how to manifest success in life.The advice is succinct with purpose driven examples of how the "secrets" were heeded or rejected by various business persons. It also exemplifies the outcomes.

I would classify this book as being able to provide revelation. If achieving success were innate and simple people wouldn't require perspiration or inspiration, it would be a given. It's not that this book guarantees a happy outcome. One need not only understand the principles but put them into action.

Here's a taste:

Nobody Wins Without a Loser
"One the path to success, you will sometimes confront situations in which you must directly compete with someone and your victory will create bitterness.Even more frequently, your success will casue others to compare themselves to you and to react with jealousy at your ability.
Take comfort in the knowledge that it is not a personal attack on you but instead a sincere but unpleasant form of flattery."p.111

Great Tool for Life Coaching!
A great tool for those who do Executive and Life Coaching as well as directive counseling.I have enjoyed every title by this author, and this one is no less.Buy a stack and give them to your friends and colleagues! Start a reading / support group!

Concise common and practical tips for Happiness
This paperback is a very quick refresher. Perfect for subway rides or long commutes. It reflects on very easy steps we can all take to live happier less stressful lives. Honestly I think most of these items we all know about, but we get distracted by everyday life to put them in practice. This is almost a cheat sheet reminder to remember. Like this author and his other books too. Very similar to Carlson's Don't Sweat The series...

ONE OF THE BEST IDEA COMPILATIONS FOUND!
I have read all of Dr. Niven's books and have found EVERY one of them to be FANTASTIC!People, Relationships, Best Half of Life, Happy People, etc have all been wonderful ideas with the research the idea is based on. As a psychologist, I hate suggesting books (bibliotherapy) that is half-baked or some crap off Opera.David Niven's is concrete, shouldn't offend anyone with a 'religious' overtone (get over it anyways), and not likely to lead them off to some cult or guru. Just plain, safe, reliable and healthy perspectives. Truly "what scientists have learned and how you can use it." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Excellent
I think this was the best biography written about David Niven (and ive read every single one of them). It included talks with his kids and information i hadnt read in any of his other bio's. I fully recommend it!!!

'Absorbing but unvarnished look at a great Hollywood star'
Sheridan Morley's 'The Other Side Of The Moon' is an incredibly absorbing biography of Hollywood film great David Niven.Niven starred in over 80 motion pictures, but the charming, suave actor is revealed to be a hollow man deeply wracked with personal insecurities.David Niven won the 1959 Academy Award Oscar in a starring role for his magnificent performance in 'Separate Tables', yet he spent the rest of his career looking over his shoulder.Author Morley does extensive interviews with many of Niven's co-stars and former close friends that reveal something of the darker side of the star.A horrible turning point in Niven's life, was the death of his young British wife from injuries sustained at a Hollywood party, while playing 'hide and go seek' at the house of Tyrone Power! On the positive side, the writer highlights David Niven's heroic service in the British Army in World War 2, and his nearly lone defense of the long deceased Errol Flynn against charges of being a Nazi sympathizer.
Sheridan Morley's 'The Other Side of The Moon' is a terrific, page-turning look at the complex actor we knew and loved as David Niven, and is a must have book for movie buffs.

A fair and unbiased biography
Sheridan Morley's biography of David Niven is a more concise an indepth look at the British actor's life and career than that portrayed by Niven in his own autobiography "The Moons a balloon". As Morley points outNiven writes more about his Hollywood experiences then actually abouthimself, creating a narrative that delves superficially in terms to his ownlife story as to that of his famous friends. Morley is an equitable writerwho provides a fair and detailed account of the man and actor who wasalways slightly bemused by his own success. Morley offers no nasty hiddenskeletons in the Niven closet but does clarify those stories that the actoralluded to in his books, especially the affair he had with Merle Oberon andthe traumatic mental breakdowns that plagued Vivian Leigh.An interestingbiography of a truly charming man. ... Read more

Product Description
Why do some people have vital health and youthful looks at 70, when others are already sick and old at 35? Over the millennia, many extraordinary people have lived well beyond a century. Some of them have achieved their life's greatest work in their old age. They have shown that it is possible to have health and vitality right up to the end of a long and fulfilling life. This easy to understand book reveals many of their secrets. Supported by recent scientific research, it cuts through much of the jargon and conflict concerning health and longevity. David Niven Miller writes in such a common-sense way that most of the book will seem obvious once you have read it. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

suggestions are hard to follow
A lot of the suggestions for this book is more difficult than the average American can do...

a balanced, unbiased and friendly source of information
This book is succinctly written and thoroughly researched by an author who combines academic rigour with a friendly approach. It does not offer any miracle cures or false hopes. It is probably one of the most useful self-help books you can have on your shelf, because it is a practical reference book full of detail.

The first part of the book deals mainly with attitudes, and is divided into sections exploring emotions, e.g. laughter, crying, and loving. The author emphasises the importance of attitude to life as a determinant of health and longevity, and makes practical suggestions in working towards these. Much of what David Miller writes provokes self-questioning. The section on relaxation and meditation is particularly helpful, although the author at no times promises quick and easy 'cures.' A large part of the book is devoted to diet and nutrition, much of which is quite complex to the lay person. However, the number of tables and detailed explanations makes for interesting and enlightening reading. For example, wolfberry and goji berry are particularly rich in antioxidants and contain potent phytochemicals as well as a range of minerals and vitamins. The author goes on to say how these particular fruits, used in traditional Chinese medicine, boost the immune system, and improve eyesight, sperm production and blood circulation.

The book is conveniently divided into sections which discuss herbs, antioxidants, supplements, cooking techniques, and foods considered toxic to the body, e.g. soft drinks. The author briefly explains the chemical composition, uses and benefits of these types of foods. The author is firm in his belief that soft drinks are acutely detrimental to health: "If you want true health and a long life, avoid soft drinks." The author clearly explains the effects of not only soft drinks but junk foods generally.

Particular attention is paid to the value of drinking water and the quantities that should be drunk daily. He also cautions against the bad practice of drinking mineral-deficient water. In the same section, topics such as sex, and age-related problems of sex, are discussed extensively, and tips are given on how to attain healthy sexual practice. Good hydration is suprisingly important for sex. Drinking 200-500 millilitres of water before sex will help sustain a firm erection in men and good lubrication in women.

Much of the book is informed by David Miller's knowledge of eastern philosophies, e.g. Taoism and Ayurveda. The book also includes a glycemic index of selected foods, which is useful when choosing a healthy, sensible diet. The author also discusses diet-related medical conditions and presents information on how to avoid diet-related illnesses, e.g. candida and stomach acidity. The final section of the book is titled "Outside your body" and discusses medication, allopathic medicine, and chemical pollution of the atmosphere and how it impacts on our general health and well-being. What I found particularly interesting is the section on dentistry, in which he discusses biocompatibility, and the dangers of mercury fillings - from which I have personally suffered.

The final page offers top anti-ageing tips, in an encouraging tone. David Miller suggests ways of changing without radical fixes, e.g. by taking responsibility for one's life. Meditation and enjoying friends and recognising one's blessings are seen as inextricably connected to a nutritional approach. I found that the book certainly motivated me to question my lifestyle and attitudes. Frequent reference to the book reminds me that lifestyle changes are gradual and require hard work, but are by no means impossible.

A convenient and comprehensive guide
Grow Youthful is packed with information drawn from many different sources.It provides a very convenient and comprehensive guide for anyone interested in prolonging their life and maintaining (or regaining) their ability to enjoy it to the full.

Having read widely on similar subjects, I found this book to present a very balanced viewpoint.The author does not seek to push any particular philosophy or present any tradition as containing the answer to "Life, the Universe and Everything". Rather, the reader is offered the opportunity to benefit from many years of open-minded research and personal experimentation.

There are many books that recommend various dietary and/or exercise regimes, but Grow Youthful goes beyond those to cover every aspect of living a healthy life, and avoiding or reducing the damage that living in today's world can cause.

The guidelines presented recognize that there are differences between us, as well as many similarities and that, in the end, we have to find out what works for us as individuals.

A very useful addition to any library.Highly recommended!
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Customer Reviews (4)

Marvelous humorous Niven autobiography
This is another book I had purchased many years ago and somewhat lost, delighted to see it pop up on Amazon, very inexpensive. This is David Niven's official autobiography, the first volume. The second is called "Bring on the Empty Horses", also available on Amazon. That volume is more centered on Niven's experiences in Hollywood during his film career. The Moon's A Balloon details Niven's life as a child in upper crust England, attending military schools, his voyage to California and origins in motion pictures. He writes in a delightful narrative style, full of pathos and humor. One feels his pain when reading of the tragic death of his first wife and the effect upon his career and personal life in its aftermath. Really a jewel of a book, with Niven's debonair style vividly conveyed to the reader.

Who would play Niven in the movie?-
After hearing my father and my husband go on about The Moon's A Balloon for years, I finally read it..and now I know why they loved it. The stories that Niven recounts are so fascinating and humorous, I couldn't help but wonder if some of them were a little embellished; but never mind. This is biographical story telling at it's best with such an interesting and likeable main character who seems to have done it all and known all the famous people of his age--from Erol Flynn to Shirley McLaine and all the movie stars in between to Winston Churchill, Barbara Hutton, Noel Coward, Frank Sinatra...He makes Kevin Bacon look disconnected. His story would make a great movie,but who would play the lead as well as David Niven?

Simply a great read.
David Niven was not always a star. He had to go away and learn his trade in "B" movies before being allowed to enter the big time. He learnt that trade well but, unlike some who were destined to become greats of Hollywood, he also put his entire acting career on hold whilst he served as an officer in a fighting unit throughout WW2.

This book tells the first half of his life's story and what a story it is. Like every biography ever written, the best bits do not happen at the beginning, so some readers, therefore, might find it slow going at first. Though many will not. But then we meet the rich and famous stars of Hollywood from another era and learn a little about each of these people and their various relationships as we move from one to another and sometimes back again.

Written in David Niven's own hilarious style, there is so much humour here that you "will" find yourself insisting others read this book. In fact, it is so funny - especially his descriptions of the wrong use of English words by foreign movie directors, one finishes the book in the knowledge that had David Niven not become an Oscar-winning movie star, he would easily have achieved great success as a writer.

The underlying theme, of course, is David Niven's life and, as one reviewer has already said, this book leaves you wishing you had met this man. Me too.

NM

Simply a great read.
David Niven was not always a star. He had to go away and learn his trade in "B" movies before being allowed to enter the big time. He learnt that trade well but, unlike some who were destined to become greats of Hollywood, he also put his entire acting career on hold whilst he served as an officer in a fighting unit throughout WW2.

This book tells the first half of his life's story and what a story it is. Like every biography ever written, the best bits do not happen at the beginning, so some readers, therefore, might find it slow going at first. Though many will not. But then we meet the rich and famous stars of Hollywood from another era and learn a little about each of these people and their various relationships as we move from one to another and sometimes back again.

Written in David Niven's own hilarious style, there is so much humour here that you "will" find yourself insisting others read this book. In fact, it is so funny - especially his descriptions of the wrong use of English words by foreign movie directors, one finishes the book in the knowledge that had David Niven not become an Oscar-winning movie star, he would easily have achieved great success as a writer.

The underlying theme, of course, is David Niven's life and, as one reviewer has already said, this book leaves you wishing you had met this man. Me too.

NM

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Product Description

The Simple Science of a Healthy Life

Customer Reviews (5)

loved it
Another great book to read has really great tips if you want to stay healthy.

Dr. Niven Hits it in again! Long live Healthy Lives
Having come across Dr. Niven when reading 100 Simple Secrets of Happy People, I became a fan of his writing skills, knowledge in the field and practical application of simple ideas that we often overlook.Having it be somewhat of a calendar in that book.So when I saw this book on the shelf, I thought to myself...hmmm...can it be done again?I wasn't disappointed and you won't be either.It's a fun read that I just finished last night!Enjoy life is the principal and he will tell you how!

very good
This book is wonderful & easy to read, its for everyone that cares about their health. A lot of advice you've probably already heard, some of it is common sense, however there was a lot of advice that I haven't heard so it was really useful. The book follows this format. First the author gives you a health fact, then he backs it up by a short real-life story, then its followed up by a statistic or study. Its pretty straight forward.

It would have been helpful if the author had divided the book into sections like eating, health, exercize, etc. Still the table of contents is pretty helpful. I really like it and I highly recommend it. I like this book because the author doesn't try to push any trends. There are a lot of trends in fitness and health and they're usually gone with the blink of an eye. This book keeps it real and simple.

A Good Thing to Do For Yourself
There are a lot of great ideas for your health - some of them so easy you won't even notice what you're doing.For example, Niven explains research that finds we eat faster than normal when we are listening to fast music, and slower than normal when listening to slow music.Just listening to slower music will help you eat to your hunger and not past it.Good stuff.

"Cutesy" little read.
This is a small book that basically gives 100 recommendations to obtain or maintain health. Most of the advice (even though there's nothing in the way of in-depth) is sound although it's pretty much just common sense. In other words if you are moderately health-conscious I don't think you are in for any great discoveries. One of the more ridiculous suggestions in the book was that you could get the daily amount of water you need simply by the foods you eat and that you shouldn't drink a lot of water. Anyone who is anyone in the fitness or nutrition industry will tell you how important and absolutely vital it is to drink water owing to the facts that it keeps you hydrated, cleans your system, and is the best natural diuretic we have. At times this book comes off dry and monotonous but it's one of those books that's interesting enough and "feel good" enough to keep you reading long enough to get through it without too much distaste. ... Read more

Product Description

Sociologists, therapists, and psychiatrists have spent entire careers investigating the ins and outs of health, success, and happiness, but their findings are inaccessible to ordinary people, hidden in obscure journals seen only by other experts.

Customer Reviews (3)

Good book
I push my wife to develop an active reading culture, but alas, she has just begun on her own withlittle or muchplanning. I believe this book is well written to develop the budding reader to be much more knowledgeable.

Secrets?
This book is not about secrets, but about common sense. Having this in mind, you have to scan through its pages to find something interesting to read about, something that will make a difference in you life or will suprise you.

NIce addition after Bible reading
I love David Niven's successful people book so I was happy to see this book that covers 365 days. I read this daily when I get home after a daily Proverb reading as it very practical advice to live by. Just like proverbs, it is full of wisdom to keep you focused on what is important in life. It covers the basic to the profound. It is also to the point as I only have about 25 minutes to myself before the kids' homework and fixing dinner. ... Read more

Product Description

Why do people who have dogs live happier, longer, and more fulfulling lives? Sociologists and veterinarians have spent years investigating the positive effects that dogs have on people's health and happiness yet their findings are inaccessible to ordinary people, hidden in obscure journals to be shared with other experts.

Now the international bestselling author of the 100 Simple Secrets series has collected the most current and significant data from more than a thousand of the best scientific studies on the profound relationship between humans and our canine companions. These findings have been boiled down to the one hundred essential ways dogs positively impact our lives. Each fact is accompanied by a inspiring true story. If you love your dog, and science tells us that you do, this book will inspire and entertain.

Product Description
about hollywood and it famous people ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Great...!!! Intelligent Wit!!
David Niven..... a raconteur of the highest regard... miss intelligent.... wit like his.
Charming.... truth or not...... very very entertaining...

Genie ... Read more

Product Description
David Niven was a respected actor who performed in almost all media. His forty-year career included work in classic films, to which he brought a touch of charm and humor while working with major stars. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor in 1958 and had success as both a performer and a writer. This book presents a detailed record of Niven's spectacular career, along with a biographical overview of his eventful life. ... Read more