This Is Not the Life I Ordered

Infobox Book
name = This Is Not the Life I Ordered
title_orig =
translator =


image_caption = Book cover
author = Deborah Collins Stephens, Michealene Cristini Risley, Jackie Speier, Jan Yanehiro
illustrator = John Grimes
cover_artist = Jessica Dacher
country = USA
language = English
series =
subject = Self-help
genre = Non-fiction
publisher = Conari Press
pub_date = March 2007
english_pub_date =
media_type = Hardcover
pages = 220
isbn = ISBN 1573243051
oclc =
preceded_by =
followed_by =

" This Is Not the Life I Ordered: 50 Ways to Keep Your Head Above Water When Life Keeps Dragging You Down" is a collaborative non-fiction inspirational self-help book written by Deborah Collins Stephens, Michealene Cristini Risley, Jackie Speier, and Jan Yanehiro. The book was first published in a hardcover format in 2007, by Conari Press. [cite news
last = Stoeltje
first = Melissa Fletcher
coauthors =
title = Many Mothers Say Part-Time Work Is the Ideal
work = San Antonio Express-News
pages =
language =
publisher = The Ledger
date = October 15, 2007
url = http://www.theledger.com/article/20071015/NEWS/710150354/1023
accessdate = 2007-10-23] The first printing of the work was for thirty-five thousand copies, and a second printing is planned.

About the authors

The four authors were all friends prior to writing the book. [cite news
last = Fisher
first = Patty
coauthors =
title = Fisher: Adversity won't keep Speier down
work = San Jose Mercury News
pages =
language =
publisher =
date = June 14, 2006
url =
] Jackie Speier is a former State Senator from California, and was a candidate for Lieutenant Governor of California in 2006. [cite news
last = Katayama
first = Lisa
coauthors =
title = Reforming California's Prisons: An Interview With Jackie Speier
work = Mother Jones
pages =
language =
publisher = The Foundation for National Progress
date = July 7, 2005
url = http://www.motherjones.com/news/qa/2005/07/jackie_speier.html
accessdate = 2007-10-23] Speier survived five gunshot wounds when she was shot by members of Peoples Temple in 1978 when she traveled to Jonestown with Congressman Leo J. Ryan. [cite news
last = Haddock
first = Vicki
coauthors =
title = Jackie Speier -- moving on, moving up: Survivor of Jonestown ambush plans run for lieutenant governor
work = San Francisco Chronicle
pages =
language =
publisher =
date = November 16, 2003
url = http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2003/11/16/INGEM3070L1.DTL&type=printable
accessdate = 2007-10-23] Jan Yanehiro is a broadcast journalist, and co-hosted "Evening Magazine" which aired on San Francisco's KPIX. [cite news
last = Staff
first =
coauthors =
title = A Survivor Celebrates 'Evening Magazine'
work = San Jose Mercury News
pages =
language =
publisher =
date = September 8, 1986
url =
] Yanehiro is a co-executive producer of "Pacific Fusion", a television magazine program featuring Asian American lifestyle, which airs on KRON. [cite news
last = Nakao
first = Annie
coauthors =
title = Spotlight on Bay Area's Asian Americans: 'Pacific Fusion' profiles life and lifestyles in weekly 30-minute show on KRON
work = San Francisco Chronicle
pages =
language =
publisher = Hearst Communications Inc.
date = November 7, 2004
url = http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/chronicle/archive/2004/11/07/LVGUS9LFIN1.DTL
]

Michealene Cristini Risley was Vice-President, group director of licensing and character development, at Sega Corporation. [cite news
last = Staff
first =
coauthors =
title = Cyberspace, it turns out, isn't much of an Eden after all
work = Newsweek
pages =
language =
publisher =
date = May 16, 2004
url =
] She is also the founder and president of Fresh Water Spigot, a creative content company based in Portola Valley, California. [cite news
last = Staff
first =
coauthors =
title = Get girls into the software game
work = Playthings
pages =
language =
publisher =
date = May 1, 1999
url =
] Deborah Collins Stephens is the cofounder and managing partner of the Center for Innovative Leadership. [cite web
last = Staff
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Deborah Collins Stephens, Seminar Speaker
work = pbwc, Professional BusinessWomen of California
publisher = PBWC
date =
url = http://www.pbwc.org/conference/keynote-speakers/deborah-collins-stephens
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2001-10-23] She is also the author of "One Size Fits One" and co-authored "The Maslow Business Reader", with Abraham H. Maslow. [cite book
last = Stephens
first = Deborah C.
authorlink =
coauthors = Gary Heil, Tom Parker
title = One Size Fits One: Building Relationships One Customer and One Employee at a Time
publisher = Wiley
date = April 26, 1999
location =
pages =
url =
doi =
id =
isbn = 0471331678 ] [cite book
last = Maslow
first = Abraham H.
authorlink = Abraham H. Maslow
coauthors =
title = The Maslow Business Reader
publisher = Wiley
date = April 14, 2000
location =
pages =
url =
doi =
id =
isbn = 0471360082 ]

Contents

In the book, the authors share advice gained from personal experiences on topics including family life, work, and love - and the difficulties of balancing these issues. [cite news
last = Donahue
first = Dick
coauthors = Lauren Joyce
title = Springing Forward: Women's Studies
work = Publishers Weekly
pages =
language =
publisher = Reed Business Information
date = January 22, 2007
url =
] As the title suggests, the book offers fifty ways in which the reader can stay focused and upbeat when misfortune strikes. [cite news
last = Staff
first =
coauthors =
title = Jackie leaves on her terms
work = San Mateo County Times
pages =
language =
publisher =
date = November 23, 2006
url =
] The book is structured topically, with each chapter dealing with different types of issues such as dealing with misfortune, managing mistakes, understanding money and how to network with other women.cite book
last = Speier
first = Jackie
authorlink = Jackie Speier
coauthors = Deborah Collins Stephens, Michealene Cristini Risley, Jan Yanehiro
title = This Is Not the Life I Ordered: 50 Ways to Keep Your Head Above Water When Life Keeps Dragging You Down
publisher = Conari Press
date = March 2007
location =
pages =
url =
doi =
id =
isbn = ISBN 1573243051] Each chapter concludes with a "WIT (Women in Transition) Kit," which contains action plans and exercises related to the previous section. [cite web
last = Staff
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = The Book: Synopsis
work = This Is Not The Life I Ordered, official site
publisher =
date =
url = http://www.thisisnotthelifeiordered.com/life-book.htm
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2007-10-23] The chapter "Understanding Money and a Women’s Worth" provides "straightforward directives" on topics such as net worth, tax returns and how to create a financial plan.cite news
last = Bonter
first = Pam
coauthors =
title = Book Review: This Is Not The Life I Ordered
work = ForeWord Magazine
pages =
language =
publisher =
date =
url = http://www.forewordmagazine.com/reviews/viewreviews.aspx?reviewID=3852
accessdate = 2007-10-23]

Reception

"This Is Not the Life I Ordered" reached the best seller list of the "San Francisco Chronicle" for the second time in June 2007. [cite news
last = Staff
first =
coauthors =
title = This Is Not the Life I Ordered Remains on The SF Chronicle Bestseller List!
work = Conari Press News
pages =
language =
publisher =
date = June 21, 2007
url = http://www.conari.com/company/KBnews.jsp
] [cite news
last = Staff
first =
coauthors =
title = Best-Sellers
work = San Francisco Chronicle
pages =
language =
publisher = Hearst Communications Inc.
date = Jun 17, 2007
url =
] The book also appeared on the NCIBA bestseller list,cite news
last = Rosen
first = Judith
coauthors =
title = Indie Surprises for Fall
work = Publishers Weekly
pages =
language =
publisher = Reed Business Information
date = July 30, 2007
url = http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6463780.html?industryid=47144
accessdate = 2007-10-23] and was featured on the "Sacramento 07 Books" list, by the Professional BusinessWomen of California organization. [cite web
last = Staff
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Sacramento O7 Books
work = Professional BusinessWomen of California
publisher = PBWC
date = October 16, 2007
url = http://www.pbwc.org/conference/sacramento-07-books
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2007-10-23] "This Is Not the Life I Ordered" received a positive review in "ForeWord Magazine", where the reviewer noted that the work: "is more about 'turning ‘woe is me’ into action' than coddling."

See also

*Abraham H. Maslow
*Jackie Speier
*Jan Yanehiro
*Leo Ryan
*Peoples Temple
*Self-help
*Women's health
*Women's studies

References

External links

* [http://www.conari.com/estore/product_detail.jsp?product_group_id=1638 Conari Press] , official page at Publisher's Web site
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59VvvXcMmkQ This Is Not The Life I Ordered] , preview of book, promotional video with Jackie Speier
* [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michealene-cristini-risley/this-is-not-the-life-i-or_b_36377.html "This Is Not The Life I Ordered"] , article about the book by co-author Michealene Cristini Risley, at "The Huffington Post"