Here’s the Bright Side: Of Failure, Fear, Cancer, Divorce and Other Bum Raps

Rollin’s aggressively upbeat, humorous and reassuring ode to finding strength and optimism when life deals such bum raps as cancer, divorce and loss of a loved one is winningly brought to life thanks to Ward’s brisk, authoritative delivery that may remind some of Linda Ellerbee. Rollin’s pep-talk about finding an upside to every low blow is persuasive because she reveals her own anecdotes about surviving two bouts with breast cancer, a divorce and loss of a beloved parent. As Ward’s can-do narration reminds, “There is power, mountains of it, in humor,” but it also warns that illness is no joke: “A good attitude is always a good idea, but don’t count on it to cure disease.” Rollin doesn’t buy into the idea that the strong will win and the weak will lose. “I now know, as I didn’t before life nearly skidded to a halt, that, no matter what, there is usually a bright side up for grabs,” Ward intones. “One needs only to grab it.” This is an ideal gift for anyone facing hardships. Simultaneous release with the Random House hardcover (Reviews, Jan. 1). (May)