The Impossible Just Takes a Little Longer: Living with Purpose and Passion

In the preface, Art Berg (Finding Peace in Troubled Waters, Some Miracles Take Time) says he's going to tell us a story, and that we might find that story a tragedy. And while his story of a flipped car and permanent paralysis will inspire sympathy, Berg is so plainspoken and wryly positive, chances are that it will only take readers a couple of chapters before that sympathy becomes a desire for personal growth.

Berg's folksy suggestions include treating a bad day like a cold virus: "you can make all kinds of moaning sounds. But the reality is, it usually will last for 24 to 48 hours." He also recommends that we not ask why bad things happen, because there is never a reasonable answer and the process leads all too easily to what he calls "why-ning."

These notions may seem like oversimplification, but his little snippets of wisdom are surrounded by stories of the types of obstacles most of us never encounter, like dealing with doctors who said he'd never move independently again, flight attendants treating him differently because of his wheelchair, an inability to make a simple "thumbs up" sign to his daughter, and relearning how to accomplish simple daily tasks.

With moving examples like these as the basis for his philosophy, Berg smoothly ties the events of his life together with appealingly simple ideas to help you focus on your true desires and strengths. --Jill Lightner