The Great Eight: How to Be Happy Even When You Have Every Reason to Be Miserable

Christian Nonfiction. Religion & Spirituality. Self-Improvement. Nonfiction. HTML:Beloved Olympic skater shares his secrets to happiness on and off the ice. Scott Hamilton has experienced the heights of accomplishment and the depths of disease, from winning the Gold to becoming a cancer and brain tumor survivor. But through his successes, struggles, and setbacks, Hamilton has never lost his trademark humor and honesty. More important, he has never lost his faith and optimism. How does he keep smiling? In The Great Eight, Scott uses stories from his international career and personal life to describe the eight secrets that � through commitment and repetition � have helped him "clear the ice," get back up, and "smile like Kristi Yamaguchi." "Scott Hamilton . . . lives his life as a champion. Everyone needs the positive message of this greatly inspiring book." ~Kristi Yamaguchi, Olympic Gold Medalist "I know and love Scotty Hamilton. You will, too, after you read this book." ~William Shatner "The Great Eight is an inspiration to us all." ~Donald J. Trump "It's like my bud Scott says: 'You can't just skate through life and expect to be happy!'" ~Kevin Nealon, actor, comedian, Saturday Night Live alum.… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member smilingsally

Scott Hamilton's favorite number is eight. Eight has played an important part of his entire life. First as his birthdate: 8-28-58; then as a figure skater, he had to learn discipline and control to perfectly skate a figure eight; and now he uses eight as part of the title in his biography which has

eight principles for a happy life.

Scott contends that "even when you have every reason to be miserable," you can be happy. After spending a good bit of his childhood as a sickly boy, Scott discovered that ice skating made him feel free. He calls God his Almighty Coach, and he gives credit to Christ for the ability to find happiness in spite of suffering. Scott suffered from testicular cancer and then from a brain tumor. He cites many other examples in his life that would pull some people down into the depths of despair, but because of his take in life, Scott Hamilton remains a happy man.

This is an interesting book to read about an interesting celebrity. I recommend it.

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LibraryThing member julyso

I, also, grew up watching Scott Hamilton skate and loving him. Scott has had lots of hard times, so I figure he probably has some good suggestions. His book begins with his health struggles as a little boy to surviving cancer, twice. In one chapter, he tells us when we fall to get up. I like this,

it is pretty simple, but so true. He also calls hard times or problems as "God-scheduled opportunities." These are times for growth, learning, and living according to God's plan. We also need to make our losses, our wins. He tells us that life events don't define you; how your deal with them is what's important.

I definitely picked up some good, no-nonsense ideas about living life. The book is easy to read and enjoyable. It is rather repetitive and most of it is just common sense. He goes back and forth quite a bit. I think it would have been better if told chronologically.

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LibraryThing member isk8jewel

In his latest book, The Great Eight: How to Be Happy (even when you have every reason to be miserable), Olympic champion and cancer survivor Scott Hamilton outlines what he believes to be the eight general guidelines for finding happiness in your life. His well known wit and humor show through in

his writing however he includes some information that seems somewhat unnecessary and distracting. If you have a competitive figure skating background, and already know much of the history and terms which he discusses, it can be somewhat distracting to the main theme of the book. Overall, it’s a good read with some practical advice but if you’re looking for a polished, traditional “self-help” book, this isn’t it.

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LibraryThing member BoiseCOC

The story of Scott Hamilton's experiences growing up both as a child and growing up in faith were encouraging and well written. Tips to happiness were presented by using word pictures based on ice skating. I underlined several insights that I feel were right on.

LibraryThing member remikit

This is the most realistic book on how to be happy I have ever read. He gives you the first 7 of his 8 tips on how to be happy and then lays on the most important piece of advice in the book. He essentially tells you what few other books tell you outright: Happiness takes work. It doesn't fall in

your lap or hit you in the head while you're not looking. I highly recommend that you read this.

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LibraryThing member JenniferRobb

Scott Hamilton: I've known for a long time how much work goes into training to be at the elite level of figure skating (and I admire those who can do it). I've always seen Scott Hamilton as a kind, positive person (so in a sense, it is good to know that he has his off days where he's not so

positive--that he is just like all of us). I was saddened when I heard he had cancer (the first time)--and a bit surprised that he picked Cleveland Clinic for his treatment. (I didn't realize he'd grown up in Bowling Green, OH at the time where he'd probably heard of the Cleveland Clinic.) I admired that he went through the treatment for that and returned to competitive skating at the pro level. Having gone through my own cancer battle, I admire him even more for that. I LOVE that he is an unapologetic Christian (at least at the time of the writing of this book). Though I miss seeing him skate, I understand his need to stop in light of his brain tumor (that has to be the primary focus of your life while you're fighting it) and his age (where he needs to listen to what his body can safely do). I do hope that he at least skates recreationally because skating was part of his life for so long and as he says, skating was his fitness routine.

I'm not sure that there are any great revelations in this book as far as the steps Scott took or learned throughout his life, but they are presented in a way that may make them click with a certain population that might not be reached by other books with similar messages. I liked the stories of Scott's life and career--someone not as into skating might not appreciate them as much. Someone who's not fought cancer might not appreciate them as much.

For me, it was written in an easy to read style that flowed. Every once in a while there was a leap in the flow that didn't make sense to me but for the most part, it flowed. It was a book I wanted to pick up again to continue reading.

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