Randye Kaye Author: Reviews

Randye’s latest book, Happier Made Simple: Choose Your Words. Change Your Life. reached #1 International Bestseller Status on Launch Day!

Here’s some of what earlier reviewers had to say:

“Filled with humor, insight, and a vitalizing honesty, Happier Made Simple reminds us that we always have a choice in how we respond to what life throws our way. Randye Kaye’s welcome voice offers an empowering message and practical strategies for living a life of joy, presence, and connection.” – ~Donna Cameron, author of A Year of Living Kindly: Choices That Will Change Your Life and the World Around You

“Randye Kaye charts an exhilarating course for recalibrating the pursuit of happiness while navigating life’s journey. Her timing couldn’t be better ~ we are all dazed in today’s chaotic and uncertain world. Randye’s insight and “down to earth-ness” helps us regroup, reassess and reimagine our lives with both passion and purpose. Thanks to her brilliant guidance, I plan to take each day and make it a masterpiece! Happier Made Simple is simply a must-read! “

– – Armen Bacon, co-author of Griefland – An Intimate Portrait of Love, Loss, and Unlikely Friendship

“Before you settle in to read Happier Made Simple, be sure to grab a pen with enough ink to underline all the tips, phrases and new ideas you learn as you say to yourself, ‘Why didn’t I think of this before?’ Kaye’s book reads like half magazine article, half chat with a trusted friend who’s ‘been there before’ and shares ways of arriving at  happiness by thinking and speaking about it in a new way.  Is it rocket science?  No, and Kaye claims it’s not, but it’s  so much more; in one sitting, we learn from the very first word to the last, and when you get up to make dinner ( or get the kids, go to that meeting, or even shovel the driveway) you’ll use words and have a happiness mindset you hadn’t known was in you all along.” –Carole Laskey, LCSW

“Easy to read and with such great insights. This book is absolutely needed. I want to highlight and circle so many things. It’s a gift to the world!” – – Liz de Nesnera, Best of Both Worlds VO

“Such informative, in-depth ideas in this book. There are written exercises to help you along your path to becoming happier as well as numerous references. I also loved the words of wisdom throughout the book such as, ”If I lose, I get to keep the lessons I’ve learned.” Read it twice then recycle to a friend. –Joyce Boncal, Business Owner

“Full of hidden treasures in the words, quotes mantras and most importantly the wonderful BREATHE acronym and the corresponding core phrases…. The book is so good that I have gone back through it to take notes and absorb as much as I can of the gems that inspired me.  I am fully determined to adopt the principles of the BREATHE acronym and work on being happier.  This book could not have come along at a more appropriate time in my life.  As a predominantly left brained thinker, I especially appreciate the Some Science and the Extra Credit sections, as this book is one of the rare few that inspires me to dig in deeper.” – Deborah Knighton

“Randye Kaye’s Happier Made Simple pulls together key insights and strategies from the vast body of research on mindfulness and cognitive psychology to provide concrete, actionable ways to take control of finding your own happiness, with a heavy dose of humility and humor. I will be recommending it particularly to the parents I serve as I believe it promises to be a powerful tool for helping them find more joy and less stress with their young kids. What a gift.” – Claire Lerner, LCSW, child development and parenting expert, and author of Why Is My Child In Charge?

“Randye Kaye has given us a gift, not just of words and phrases, but of a million different ways we can shift our thinking to guide us to being happier. I love the tidbits, quotes, and action challenges scattered throughout the book. They give the reader something even more specific to focus on and ways to apply her teachings to our everyday moments in life. For the left-brain science types, she gives us facts, research, and some neuroscience confirmation that what she is teaching us is both true, but also helpful for us to understand the WHY of this exercise. Randye’s sense of humor, her personal stories, and her casual conversational style of writing kept me engaged and wanting more. I feel like I’ve taken a masterclass with a personal instructor who happened to sit next to me at a coffee shop. Luckily, this class is open to anyone who wants to read it!” – Monica Leggett, New Steps Life Coaching

“In the 31 years that I have made the Happiness Decision I have read a large number of books on happiness. Happier Made Simple is on the top of my list of must read happiness books. It is packed with how to make the right choices so you can respond to the challenges of life. Randye Kaye has done and outstanding job of presenting tools and strategies that will change your life around for the better!” – Lionel Ketchian, founder of www.HappinessClub.com and Happy U.

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Here’s a sampling of the reactions to Ben Behind His Voices. (2011) You can check out more reviews on Amazon, Goodreads, and on the “reviews” page of the website.

REVIEWERS SAY:

Ben Behind His Voices:
One Family’s Journey from the Chaos of Schizophrenia to Hope
By Randye Kaye
www.benbehindhisvoices.com

“In this must-read for any family struggling with mental illness, Kaye offers a gripping account of her son’s battle with schizophrenia… Along the way, she shares her fundamental belief in love, humor, and hope. This well-written, well-researched, and brutally honest book will provide information, inspiration, and encouragement for many parents.”

— Publishers’ Weekly, Reviewed on: 08/01/2011

“Audiobook Review (read by the author) — “One of the best of the best”, nominated for a 2011 Listen UP! Award in “Read by Author” Category — “This extremely affecting memoir is made more potent by author Randye Kaye’s background as a professional voice actor. Besides providing crisp, brisk narration, Kaye is exceptional at creating a sense of intimacy with listeners.”

— Publishers’ Weekly, Reviewed on: 11/28/11

“Ben Behind His Voices details the struggles, initial defeats, sadness, subsequent victories, and joys of a family coming to terms with a son’s schizophrenia… in this captivating family drama…This book is a good “up-close” description of all the ways mental illness affects families.”

— NAMI Advocate, Reviewed on: August 2011

“A mother wrestles with the advent of her son’s schizophrenia and its long, painful unfolding…….Heartfelt and surely of help to those new to living with mentally ill loved ones of their own.”

— Kirkus Review

“An illuminating portrait of a parent coping with the guilt and heartbreak that come from feeling like one can’t ‘fix’ one’s child. Recommended for anyone who is involved with teens or those with mental disorders, and a darn good read for memoir fans.”

— Library Journal

“One of the best books I’ve read this year. It touched me deep inside both as a parent and as a professional…I had no idea what to expect when I received it, but I didn’t think it would be so good, so well-written, and so insightful…Although non-fiction, it is a highly readable book and almost felt like I was reading a novel. It gripped me from the first page and I was riveted throughout. The pace, the dialogue, the added information boxes, and Randye Kaye’s own writing is amazing.”

— Library of Clean Reads, Reviewed on: August 22, 2011

“Should be required reading for all psychology professionals and students, as well as anyone who loves or cares for someone suffering with schizophrenia. Incredibly well written, profoundly honest…I sat holding my breath as I turned each page—a gifted writer.”

— Linda Appleman Shapiro, Psychotherapist and author of Four Rooms Upstairs: A Psychotherapist’s Journey into and Beyond Her Mother’s Mental Illness

“Ben Behind His Voices reminds us that schizophrenia is an illness, but not necessarily an identity. It movingly depicts the difficulty and the importance of recognizing, accepting, and managing the symptoms of this disorder.”

— John H. Krystal, M.D., Chair, Department of Psychiatry, Yale University of Medicine, Chief of Psychiatry, Yale-New Haven Hospital

“This book is just what our family members are looking for when they learn their loved one has been diagnosed with any severe mental illness. The biggest question out there is whether there is any hope for them. I am pretty sure family members are going to find an answer as well as the understanding that will make a huge difference to all of them. I have nothing but wonderful things to say about this book. I love it!”

— Paloma B. Dee, National Alliance on Mental Illness, NAMI-CT Family & Professional Education Program Director, CT

“Randye Kaye has a message for all of us. With courage and fortitude, she embraces her son and all his symptoms. She doesn’t judge. She doesn’t give up. She loves. She hopes. In this book she explains how other parents can follow her lead and learn from her years of extraordinary experience.”

— Roberta Temes, Ph.D., author of Getting Your Life Together When You Have Schizophrenia

“Randye Kaye’s skillfully written memoir of the extraordinary challenges her family has endured in coping with her son’s schizophrenia is filled with hard-won knowledge and inspiring wisdom. This book should be required reading in programs that train mental health professionals …I wish I would have had access to this much needed book when my daughter had her first psychotic break. Randye’s warm, insightful, informative book provides a guide about how to survive in the best ways possible.”

— Susan Inman, author of After Her Brain Broke: Helping My Daughter Recover Her Sanity

“What I find most compelling about Ben Behind His Voices is the author’s honesty as a mother about her true feelings. She connects with her readers because she allows herself to be human and vulnerable and share both her struggles and triumphs.”

— Amy J. Barry, author of A Child’s Grief Journey and the award-winning writer of the column “A Parent’s Eye View.“