A TONGUE-IN-CHEEK GUIDE ON GETTING A LIFE WRITTEN BY A SUCCESSFUL NORTH CAROLINIA CONTRARIAN AND BUSINESSMAN

North Carolina native Tony Brown, a successful businessman and self-described contrarian, couldn’t resist engaging in a friendly “ping-pong” debate with best-selling author Anna Quindlen after he read her book, A Short Guide to a Happy Life.” So that’s what he did – in writing – and he called it A Happy Guide to a Short Life.

Brown produced this little parody book with a philosophical message on how to get a life, matching his comments to her commentary. Then, he called the author, shared the book, got permission to publish – and use her name and book title in his publication. Now the book’s available on Amazon.com and the Web site, www.HappyGuidetoaShortLife.com.

But even if the book imitates Quindlen’s success, Brown’s not going to profit from the sales. Instead, all the proceeds from book sales –plus gift and jewelry items created from the book’s message – go to worthy non-profits.

“Although I was inspired by Quindlen’s book, I challenge her reflections on happiness and other themes. We agree that time on earth is short, so it shouldn’t be wasted, but I elaborate on the significance of work, play, family and friends. I also debate happiness and address the themes of service, gratitude and love to demonstrate personal fulfillment, Brown said. He defines his philosophy on life through three overlapping circles: Work, Family/Friends and Play. He describes life’s goal as making the best use of time in work, relationships and play, not in happiness. And, he emphasizes his belief that people should dedicate their existence to being generous in work, relationships and play.

Donating profits to the Community Foundation of Western Carolina, which will distribute them to selected non-profits, is Brown’s way of personally demonstrating the importance of generosity in his life. “I’m proud of the book. However, I’m most excited about the potential fund-raising capacity of Happy Guide. We donated 100% of the profits, which means somewhere between $5 and $15 per book goes to some really neat non-profit organizations,” Brown said.

Brown, who lives in Davidson with his wife and three school-aged children, grew up working on a small produce farm near Asheville. He graduated from North Carolina State University and earned his MBA from Duke University. Most of his career has been in the public healthcare sector in technology. He’s now a principal of the Public Consulting Group, a large management consulting firm headquartered in Boston with offices in Charlotte, Asheville and Raleigh.

In addition to loving his family, friends, work and play, Brown’s managed to climb the highest mountains in the United States, fly a private plane, run the Boston Marathon, ride a bull for eight seconds and, in 2000, write a children’s book, Farmer Lloyd & Grannie’s Big Farm in the Mountains. And, he can add to that résumé – the person who wrote a guide to show everyone how to “flip on the happy switch” in their lives.

The recommended retail price of A Happy Guide to a Short Life is $14.95. To learn more about its author, book discussions and signing events, non-profit recipients from the books’ sales, as well as the gift and jewelry items that are created from the book’s message and whose proceeds also go to charity, please visit www.HappyGuidetoaShortLife.com.