Five "F" Words That Will Energize Your Life by Ben Kubassek Search Amazon for other books by or about Ben Kubassek. Rating: Reviewed by: John L. Hoh, Jr.

In this rough-and-tumble, fast-paced, success-now-at-any-cost society, there is a yearning for something simpler, slower, and less hectic. How did I come to this conclusion? Just the avalanche of books addressing this very need tells me that there is a market for such books.

Author Ben Kubassek (his previously published book is Succeed Without Burnout and he is also a professional speaker) relates his own struggles with success and balance in his life. In fact, Kubassek goes back two generations and begins with how his grandfather got tired of fighting in a war for the Hungarian army. After an intense battle, grandfather decides "there has to be a better way." Grandpa deserts and eventually leaves Hungary for Austria. He is impressed by the book of Acts in the Bible and how everyone shared what they have. He decides to start a commune. He is attending a church in Austria at the time and reveals his plans. He is encouraged to go to America and start his dream, then come back for the rest of the congregation. Grandpa learns that some people love to follow dreams as long as someone else is taking the risk.

Eventually Grandpa would come to Canada and start a commune-the Community Farm of the Brethren (afterwards called "The Farm"). But Ben himself decides that for himself "there has to be more" and decides to leave "The Farm." Ben doesn't get into the details about why he left the farm, but leave the farm he did with $2000 and a determination not to work for anyone else.

But all was not easy sailing for Ben and soon trials and tribulations come into his personal and business life and he needs to evaluate and reorganize his priorities. And that's how we get to the Five "F" Words That Will Energize Your Life. What are the five "F" words?

The five words are Fitness, Family, Friends, Finances, and Faith. The order the five words are presented are in no particular order. I probably would have made the order, in a sense of priority, as Faith, Family, Fitness, Friends, and Finances. But the order isn't indicated as having a significance by the author. He may have felt all five were equal in importance.

Fitness is important because without one's health, nothing else matters. Family is important because that is where an individual is grounded. One also needs to cultivate family ties throughout life. Friends are important because they can drag you down or help lift you up. Evaluate your friends and choose wisely. Finances, according to Mr. Kubassek, is being rish without a lot of money. Mr. Kubassek relates the steps to master your money, live simply, and achieve Total Prosperity. Faith is three-fold, according to Mr. Kubassek: faith in yourself, faith in friends, and faith in an Almighty Creator. Again, his use of generic terms of a deity may be intended to find a wider audience. And, again, his order of listing is puzzling. I myself would go with faith in God and then faith in myself as a redeemed child of God. Faith in others will always be nebulous because trust needs to be built up over time.

Mr. Kubassek's faith is open in the book. While he doesn't give specifics about his faith-life, a peek into his faith can be seen in his prayer life where forgiveness is central to his prayers.

Overall Ben Kubassek offers some practical advice for anyone looking for balance in their lives. In 177 pages one's life is covered in five major areas. Quotes from historical figures and from Scripture are added for emphasis. Cartoons help lighten the mood of the book.