How to Live a Beautiful Life

An invitation to slow down and savor the world around us more fully and intentionally

Most of us live our lives on auto-pilot, rushing from meeting to meeting, glued to our phones, neglecting to tend to our inner selves but craving something more. How to Live a Beautiful Life is a gentle call to action--an invitation to thoughtfully and intentionally reengage with the world around us so that we can curate a more peaceful present.

Rajiv Surendra takes us through a series of daily moments in which we can better foster a beautiful life, all by slowing down and savoring the world around us:

• How to Wake Up: Even if it’s just for 5 minutes, make the effort to be aware that you’re starting a new day, and do it right. Small things can set you off to a good start, like showering by the light of a candle.
• How to Eat: The act of preparing and eating food is laden with potential for bringing beauty into our lives: Spending the few extra seconds to choose the perfect tomato at the farmer’s market and then appreciating its color when you slice it open. Spreading that butter to the very edge of the toast so it’s covered completely, perfectly. Even decanting your can of coke into a nice glass or putting your Cheetos into your favorite bowl
• How to See: Being aware of what you’re taking in visually, on a regular basis, helps you curate what you see and maximize using your sight for your benefit.
• How to Work: Whatever you do, do it well. Apply this to the things you are doing at home, like cleaning a floor. It’s how you develop a lasting sense of self-worth, by accomplishing something by giving it your focus and care.
• And more…

How to Live a Beautiful Life is the book to turn to when a day feels like something to survive rather than savor, when we wake up with a feeling of dread rather than rebirth, when life feels like something we are just getting through rather than fully living. As we navigate the daily tasks, stress, and obligations of life, bringing beauty into each day may seem impossible, but Rajiv teaches us how to do just that.

Standard and Primary covers are widely available through general retailers. They often have higher print runs and can be cheaper, especially during sales.

In contrast, Direct Market (DM) and variant covers are primarily sold in comic shops. DM editions tend to have more limited availability and may be more valuable to collectors.

The main differences lie in artwork style, availability, price, and collector appeal. Ultimately, the choice between standard and variant covers depends on personal preference, budget, and individual collecting goals.

Comic book enthusiasts have various formats to choose from when collecting their favorite stories.
Here's a brief overview of the main types:

Omnibus

• Large, hardcover collections
• Usually contain complete runs or extensive story arcs
• Typically 800-1000+ pages
• Higher price point, often €100-€150

Oversized Hardcover (OHC)

• Similar dimensions to omnibus, but thinner
• Collect shorter runs or story arcs
• Usually 300-600 pages
• Priced between €30-€50

Hardcover (HC)

• Standard-sized hardcover books
• Collect 6-12 issues typically
• Similar dimensions to single issues, but with a hard cover
• Priced around €25-€35

Trade Paperback (TP)

• Softcover collections
• Standard comic book size
• Usually collect 4-6 issues
• Most affordable option, typically €15-€25

Other Formats

• Absolute Editions: Oversized, deluxe hardcovers (mainly DC Comics)
• Compendiums: Massive paperback collections
• Graphic Novels (OGN/GN): Original stories not previously released as single issues

The choice between these formats often depends on personal preference, budget, and collecting goals. Omnibus and OHC editions offer larger artwork and more content but at a higher price, while TPs provide a more affordable way to collect complete story arcs