This Is Not the Life I Ordered: 50 Ways to Keep Your Head Above Water When Life Keeps Dragging You Down is a collaborative non-fiction inspirational self-help book written by Deborah Collins Stephens, Michealene Cristini Risley, Jackie Speier, and Jan Yanehiro. The book was first published in a hardcover format in 2007, by Conari Press.[1] The first printing of the work was for thirty-five thousand copies, and a second printing is planned.[2]
About the authors
The four authors were all friends prior to writing the book.[3] Jackie Speier is a Congresswoman from California, and was a candidate for Lieutenant Governor of California in 2006.[4] Speier survived five gunshot wounds when she was shot by members of Peoples Temple in 1978 when she traveled to Jonestown with Congressman Leo J. Ryan.[5] Jan Yanehiro is a broadcast journalist, and co-hosted Evening Magazine which aired on San Francisco's KPIX.[6] Yanehiro is a co-executive producer of "Pacific Fusion", a television magazine program featuring Asian American lifestyle, which airs on KRON.[7]
Michealene Cristini Risley was vice-president, group director of licensing and character development, at Sega Corporation.[8] She is also the founder and president of Fresh Water Spigot, a creative content company based in Portola Valley, California.[9] Deborah Collins Stephens is the cofounder and managing partner of the Center for Innovative Leadership.[10] She is also the author of One Size Fits One and co-authored The Maslow Business Reader, with Abraham H. Maslow.[11][12]
Contents
In the book, the authors share advice gained from personal experiences on topics including family life, work, and love - and the difficulties of balancing these issues.[13] As the title suggests, the book offers fifty ways in which the reader can stay focused and upbeat when misfortune strikes.[14] The book is structured topically, with each chapter dealing with different types of issues such as dealing with misfortune, managing mistakes, understanding money and how to network with other women.[15] Each chapter concludes with a "WIT (Women in Transition) Kit," which contains action plans and exercises related to the previous section.[16][17] The chapter "Understanding Money and a Women’s Worth" provides "straightforward directives" on topics such as net worth, tax returns and how to create a financial plan.[17]
Reception
This Is Not the Life I Ordered reached the best seller list of the San Francisco Chronicle for the second time in June 2007.[18][19] The book also appeared on the NCIBA bestseller list,[2] and was featured on the "Sacramento 07 Books" list, by the Professional BusinessWomen of California organization.[20] This Is Not the Life I Ordered received a positive review in ForeWord Magazine, where the reviewer noted that the work: "is more about 'turning ‘woe is me’ into action' than coddling."[17]
