Peaks and Valleys

I just finished reading “Peaks and Valleys: Making Good and Bad Times Work For You — At Work and In Life” by Dr. Spencer Johnson. Johnson also wrote the enormously popular “Who moved my Cheese?” a few years ago, a staple in leadership circles, so when I stumbled across “Peaks and Valleys” in the library I decided to give it a shot and ended up reading it in one sitting (it’s a short book).

The book is the story of a man who lives in a “valley” who one day faces his fears and climbs a “peak” and there meets the most peaceful and successful man in the whole world. In a series of conversations, the man on the mountain shares his “Peaks and Valleys” philosophy and the young man is never the same. There is a lot to like about this book. Although it has a kind of Stoic-Zen kind of vibe, it is also full of encouragement in these difficult days. For instance, the book teaches three important things: a) how to get out of a valley sooner, b) how to stay on a peak longer, and c) how to have more peaks and fewer valleys in the future. That’s something we could all be helped by knowing.

There are some great quotes in the book too. Things like, “Peaks and valleys are connected. The errors you make in today’s good times create tomorrow’s bad times. And the wise things you do in today’s bad times create tomorrow’s good times.” I also liked Johnson’s notion of responsibility when he says, “In truth, we actually create our own good and bad times, far more than we realize.” And finally, I loved his statement, “The secret to truly appreciate and enjoy each time for what it is while you are living it” (emphasis mine).

Like I mention above, there is the Buddhist slant, “The path out of the valley appears when you choose to see things differently.” And there is the Stoic angle, “You cannot always control external events, but you can control your personal peaks and valleys by what you believe and what you do.” You could also add a few Scriptures to what Johnson says and preach a sermon from his book (I’m sure many preachers already have). Thus, the book is worth a read, especially if you find yourself lost along the trail right now (as I currently am). Enjoy!

Peaks and Valleys: Making Good And Bad Times Work For You--At Work And In Life by Spencer Johnson. Atria Books, ©2009. ISBN 9781439103258 (hardcover), 112p. Book website: www.PeaksAndValleysTheBook.com