Reviewed by Leonard Smuts for Readers' Favorite

How do we measure success? Is it by our bank balance, possessions, or accolades received from others? Danny David seeks to change our perceptions and provide answers in A Spontaneous Life: How I Mastered the Subtle Art of Flow. Growing up with an absent father, he had to deal with feelings of abandonment. He had to re-think his life when his father died from cancer and his best friend Alex committed suicide soon afterward. He discovered that we all have the power to forgive and transform. Danny learned to deal with loss, grief, and anger. As a child, he learned martial arts, trained at a gym, and had minor roles in television features. He later succeeded as a bodybuilder, became a certified personal trainer, and studied acting. His life progressed steadily, influenced by friends, mentors, and synchronous meetings with strangers. It all fell apart when he was involved in a bicycle collision, resulting in a serious knee injury. That set him back, and forced introspection, but put him on a new path of self-discovery.

Danny David has a fascinating background that stretches from working in restaurants to becoming a bodybuilder, an accomplished fitness trainer, an actor, and an author. He shares his life-changing experiences in A Spontaneous Life. It is a tale of searching for something better, adapting to change, and showing resilience and tenacity in the face of adversity. It is also an exploration of his mindset and how it evolved through techniques such as meditation and journaling. In the process, he reclaimed his passion, found meaning, and overcame vulnerability. The author recounts his experiences in Costa Rica, which he visited twice, and ultimately led to his reaching a state of spontaneity. The writing style is candid, entertaining, and filled with wisdom that is both practical and inspirational. He suggests that we should set clear goals and have an execution plan, and he challenges readers to go off the grid for a month to reflect and rebuild. The author is an avid reader, and the book is rounded off with a comprehensive list of sources and additional reading. It will encourage readers to take a fresh look at life.