Book ~ "Lessons From Lucy: The Simple Joys of an Old, Happy Dog" (2019) Dave Barry

From Goodreads ~ Faced with the obstacles and challenges of life after middle age, Dave Barry turns to his best dog, Lucy, to learn how to live his best life. From “Make New Friends” (an unfortunate fail when he can’t overcome his dislike for mankind) to “Don’t Stop Having Fun” (validating his longtime membership in a marching unit that performs in parades - and even Obama’s inauguration), Dave navigates his later years with good humor and grace. Lucy teaches Dave how to live in the present, how to let go of daily grievances, and how to feel good in your own skin. The lessons are drawn from Dave’s routine humiliations and stream-of-consciousness accounts of the absurdities of daily life, which will leave you heaving with laughter and recognition.

Dave Barry is an American author and columnist who wrote a nationally syndicated humor column for the Miami Herald from 1983 to 2005.  He has also written numerous books of humor and parody, as well as comic novels. 

Barry is now 71 and though I know who he is, I've never read any of his books.  What attracted me to this book was the picture of him with his dog.  That's Lucy, his ten year old dog, who has taught him seven lessons, which he talks about in this book.  The lessons are:

1. Make new friends (and keep the ones you have)
2. Don't stop having fun (and if you have stopped, start having fun again)
3. Pay attention to the people you love (not later ... right now)
4. Let go of your anger unless it's about something really important, which it almost never is
5. Try not to judge people by their looks and don't obsess over your own
6. Don't let your happiness depend on things ... they don't make you truly happy and you'll never have enough anyway
7. Don't lie unless you have a really good reason, which you probably don't

I thought this book was cute.  Barry talks about some of his life experiences and then introduces the specific lesson Lucy has taught him and how it relates to Lucy.  I liked the writing style, though I found Barry to be a bit negative and grumpy.  Since I'd never read any of his other books, I don't know if this is his style or if he is getting cranky as he is getting older.

The lessons aren't anything new but the book was a good reminder about them.