Comedian Mark Schiff’s Why Not? delivers humor and heart, it’s real-life stories with digestible wisdom. This candid read inspires change, ownership of happiness, and a fresh perspective on life’s ever-present challenges. A must for laughs and life lessons.
With the last year coming to an end and a new one starting, I wanted to take a break from reading about current events and the tense news erupting from around the world to read something presumably lighter. I picked up Why Not? by Mark Schiff. I thought I would be getting some light-hearted reading, and because Schiff is a comedian, some humor. Schiff certainly delivered those things, but there was so much more.
A candid voice
As a writer, Mark Schiff is a man of candor, refreshingly unreserved. The book doesn’t gloss over the darker moments, sure to be a part of everyone’s life. Why Not? uses Schiff’s real-life events and interactions as parables in a unique and entertaining way.
Lessons on change
If we’re being honest about ourselves, we all have something we want to change. We should change those things, and many around us want us to. There’s likely something we should drop from our lives. The good thing and the hard thing, it’s really all up to you. The way we think matters.
Taking responsibility for your own happiness
One other line from the book stayed with me: I’ve come to realize that no matter how much I don’t want to do something, I can still do it. Think of a comedian standing in front of an audience. It’s only the comedian who can make the set a success. Sure, there might be tough crowds and good crowds, but it always comes down to the person in the spotlight.
So it is with your life. Imagine the light shining down on you. It’s all you. As Schiff states in the book, happiness is an inside job.
A guide to a new chapter
I feel like Why Not? helped put me into a new chapter of my life. There are some poignant moments in the book. I even felt I could avoid some missteps by heeding the author’s gentle advice.
Final thoughts
I’ll leave you with some words Mark Schiff said at the end of an interview we did. This can serve anybody, and these concepts were exemplified in the book.
You know, double up on your kindness. Maybe triple up on it. Pay mega attention to your family.
Don’t say anything you can’t take back. That’s huge. Restraint of pen and tongue.
This.
If I can give you anything that can help you, it’s restraint of pen and tongue. Do not send out an email or letter, because once it’s out there you can’t get it back, that nasty stuff. Nobody knows how stupid you are if you don’t say anything.
I recommend Why Not? and Mark, I practice saying “chutzpah” in the mirror every morning.
