How To Be A Better Person - by Seb Hunter

I'm not the most voracious reader, but once in a Blue Moon, I'll find something that interests me. Since the launch of the Kindness Community blog, I've become committed to, in the words of Albert Einstein, "widening our circle of compassion to embrace all". And having a penchant for sarcasm, I couldn't help but be interested in this book titled, "How to Be A Better Person" with a cover photo of an angel wearing sneakers standing next to a dog "marking" those very sneakers.

This book about making time to help your fellow man is highly entertaining due to author Seb Hunter's brilliantly irreverent (but not unkind) humor. After all, it is about a guitar playing heavy metal lover with a wildly quick wit on a whim mission to spend 2 years of his life volunteering. Not your stereotypical volunteer, to say the least. Which is exactly what makes this read so enjoyable.

Seb Hunter admits to being a bit of a volunteer cynic. But behind his sharp tongue is a kind soul. I couldn't help but initially wonder, isn't it a bit narcissistic to write a book about your goodwill? But Seb manages this by noticeably 1) going for the kinds of volunteer work that are less prestigious and don't get community recognition - i.e., entertaining seniors, visiting jails, and picking up trash in lieu of The United Way, Red Cross, or various celebrity-related organizations, and 2) berates himself with the help of others using hysterical British jargon. Seb refers to his journey into philanthropy as a psycho-tropic odyssey.

Though his musical talents were underrated by the seniors he was entertaining (most had their hands cupped over their ears), he endured insults from hate fueled people doing volunteer work nonetheless (the paradox!), gets heckled by the crowd "support" during a half marathon (including the spirit of his dead father-clearly where he learned the art of banter), Seb Hunter manages the frustrations of the world with comic genius. This man knows how to laugh at himself and the unpleasant demeanor of the ill-tempered Curmudgeons. It takes a gifted person (smart-ass*) to turn the intricate politics of the Litter Pickers (page 60) into fodder for laughs.

The point made with this book is that most people ARE KIND and want to do their part. We just allow ourselves to get caught up in modern life's individual little ME bubbles. Can we extend that little bubble to encompass the world? Honestly, Seb demonstrates how being kind is cool. And has simultaneously become quasi-enlightened (his words). What a win-win.

Click here to get a copy

*No offense Seb. I mean smart-ass with the utmost respect