Author Chang sets forth the conditions and considerations required for experiencing life as satisfying, socially sensitive, and self-directed. Her dynamic thesis begins with the portrayal of many humans as simply reacting to life's exigencies rather than exploring possibilities to ameliorate their situation and manage their personal growth. In an ideal society, everyone will understand and cooperate within her/his innate status, but this requires that each one truly grasps the importance and intent of that status. Chang stresses that to "go with the flow," one must identify and immerse oneself in it. Authentic self-acceptance will arise from serious exploration of one's deepest wishes and abilities. Therefore, Chang advises readers to "search into your heart and look for feelings that are genuinely your own."

The rewards of self-realization are characterized by a Chinese grandmother who, in her eighties, fulfilled a longtime wish to motorcycle to Tibet to view the Himalayas. Chang draws from the examples of such time-honored life masters as the Buddha and the Dalai Lama as well as figures such as Carl Rogers and Martin Seligman, promoters of individually based positive psychology. Chang's recommended process requires forgiving oneself, forgiving others, developing resilience, and acting with compassion for all.

Chang, Taiwanese by birth, holds multiple degrees in law and psychology and has been a visiting professor at universities in California and Australia. She currently works in post-disaster mental health, trauma, and psychological well-being. Each chapter of her far-reaching treatise is followed by a thorough reference list, and all are based around the general analogy of the tiny acorn that breaks out of its shell, becoming a huge tree providing shade and shelter while thriving on nature's bounty. Chang's intensive view of improvement and uplift will doubtless provide inspiration for readers across a wide spectrum of academic study and personal seeking.

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