My Favorite Wee Book: Keep Calm And Carry On.

 

 

Pearls of wisdom are hard to come by. This wee book is chuck full of wise tips to guide you through almost any situation.

 

You may have seen the saying “keep calm and carry on” on posters and what not over recent years but not many actually know where it comes from. As you may know, we british types aren’t alwayse the best at consoling people in times of need or giving nurturing and sensitive advice (Stiff upper lip and all that good chap) – In 1939 the British Ministry of Information (sounds like something out of Harry Potter) had over 2 million copies of this poster made in the chance case that Germany invaded. Two other posters were made along with this one: “Your Courage, Your Cheerfulness, Your Resolution, Will Bring Us Victory” and “Freedom is in Peril” (The latter really demonstrates our insensitivity). It was an early example of propaganda – given positive propaganda – that never saw the light of day. Most of the posters were pulped and only half a dozen were saved.

The categories in this book include: Crisis, The Economy, Economists, Speculation, The Great Crunch, Big Business, Banking, Money, Debt, Risk, Greed, Work, Strength in Adversity, Mistakes and Failures, The Good Life, Happiness, Friendship, Thrift, Coping, Change.

 

Some of my favorite snip bits of wisdom include:

 

“Now and then it’s good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy” – Guillaume Apollinaire

“If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs, it’s just possible you haven’t grasped the situation” – Jean Kerr

And my favorite…

“I am an optimist. It doesn’t seem to much use being anything else” – Winston Churchill

 

I often tweet a number of these statements a few times a week and usually they are among my most ReTweeted.

It’s $10 and makes a great coffee table book for a small table.

 

 

Filed under: Interesting finds, Personal, Words to live by, Andrew F Stewart, Andrewfstewart, Books, life, Public Relations, social media, The individual, Toronto