James A. Cusumano is an accomplished leader with successful careers as an entertainer, scientist, corporate executive, and entrepreneur. An inspiring speaker and entertainer, he is the author of “Cosmic Consciousness: A Journey to Well-being, Happiness and Success,” “Balance: The Business-Life Connection,” and co-author of “Freedom from Mid-East Oil.” His book “Life is Beautiful: 12 Universal Rules” is a multi-faceted guide to life-long success and personal fulfillment.

In the Preface, James A. Cusumano explains that “Life is Beautiful” centers around the big question of ‘What is the meaning of life’ and the eventual ‘How can I live a happy life?’ His purpose in life is to share what he has learned in the hopes of making a “positive difference in the lives of others and show that Life is Beautiful.” He discovered the parallels between Eastern thought and modern physics but does now want to present his findings as dogma. Instead, he just wants readers to think of what ‘true’ reality means. The book is divided into two parts: The Reason for Your Existence: 12 Universal Rules of Life and Using The 12 Universal Rules to Create the Life You Dream. The first part contains chapters like Consciousness Is Everything, Consciousness And Reality, and The True Nature of Our Universe – they cover the surface of physics and the definition of the soul. He provides references in the bibliography in case the reader wants to pursue the details of the physics presented. The second part covers The Art and Science of Meditation, Creating Your Dreams, and Finding Lifelong Fulfillment – explanations on the arts of relaxation and meditation to be able to uncover a person’s Life Purpose to create personal and professional fulfillments. Appendix B contains The 12 Universal Rules of Life in one section to make it easier to read.

Admittedly, from the title itself, “Life Is Beautiful” at first seems like a self-help book to help readers improve their everyday lives but it is much more than that. James A Cusumano looks at the bigger picture of who and what we are in regards to the universe and he starts off with the definition of the soul, what he calls Cosmic Consciousness, “an energy field that functions by laws of a science that are well beyond our knowledge of quantum physics.” The first six chapters have heavy science content, specifically physics, but at an intermediate level so it is easy to follow. Chapter Seven: Balancing Masculine-Feminine Energies stands out because it addresses Rule #12 “Addressing complex social and cultural challenges requires an appropriate dynamic balance between masculine and feminine energies.” This basically states that for society to work, the masculine and feminine energies should be balanced and that organized religion has “played a key role in elevating masculine energies most often at the demise of feminine energies” in its never-ending quest for power and wealth, which is why the earth is currently hurting. The topics in Part Two are easier to understand because they include tips on how to relax and meditate to create our own reality. Since it is mostly about Eastern philosophy and physics, “Life is Beautiful” may not be for everyone but it opens the readers eyes to the concept of consciousness and the thought that we are all made of energy. It is recommended for readers who appreciate science and Eastern philosophy and are searching for ways to create a more fulfilling life with purpose.

“Time does not exist in the realm of consciousness. It is a man-made fabrication to manage our lives without chaos.”

*The author received a copy of this book for an honest review. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.