Book Review: The Noticer by Andy Andrews

Andrews is the author of The Traveler's Gift, which sold over one million copies, and was the subject of a two-hour PBS television special. Yet he knows a thing or two about hardship. It took 3.5 years of rejection by 51 publishers for him to publish The Traveler's Gift.

With that success behind him, here, in The Noticer, Andrews shows us how we, like he, can be transformed when someone takes notice, and helps change our perspective.

Part truth, part allegory, The Noticer is based on Andrews's true story as a homeless, directionless teen, living under a pier on the Alabama Gulf Coast. In this very personal story, a sage older man who seems to know all about Andy's life and his sadness visits him. The visitor, Jones, has a gift. He notices things other people miss. He chats with young Andy, imparting such sage advice as:

"Whatever you focus upon, increases. When you focus on the things you need, you'll find those needs increasing. If you set your mind on loss, you're more likely to lose. … But a grateful perspective brings happiness and abundance into a person's life."

Subtly, Jones begins to leave books under the pier. Books that Andy devours, and that help turn his life around. Today, Andy has read over 200 biographies of great figures in history. He found these successful people had certain qualities in common, which he developed into the seven principles for leading a remarkable life, in The Traveler's Gift.

The Noticer provides an interesting perspective on, well, perspective, and the power of our decisions. One of the wisest areas of the book comes when Jones explains the concept of worry to another person, who like Andy, seems to have lost his way, and feels defeated. Jones knocks worry down to nothing, in percentages, such as:

Article Author: Helen Gallagher

Helen Gallagher reviews non-fiction books and shares insights when attending author and publishing events on Chicago's North Shore. She is a national speaker on technology, writing and publishing. She's a member of American Society of Journalists & …

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