Legacy: The Giving of Life's Greatest Treasures

Those contemplating their contributions to their families and to society will find some useful strategies here for shoring up their legacy, if they are able to get past the author's somewhat contrived organization of his material. Grieff (Tradeoffs), a consultant and former psychiatrist at the Harvard Business School, has come to believe through his work with patients that most people have a strong need to leave the world what he calls a ""spiritual bequest,"" be it nuggets of wisdom, abiding values or family stories. This legacy, he says, is best developed around eight themes that give meaning to the human experience (all beginning with the letter ""l""). Loving oneself and others well, the importance of personally rewarding labor, of developing a sense of humor, of remaining open to change and accepting loss are well-worn themes in the self-help genre. However, Grieff presents his advice in an engaging, gentle style laced with many humanistic anecdotes. Agent, Helen Rees. (June)