Some philosophers spend their entire lives trying to come up with an answer to the greatest mystery of our existence: life. Life has been likened to many things. According to Forrest Gump, it's 'like a box of chocolates'. Others have compared it to a laundry basket full of dirty clothes. But it's more often described as 'the game of life'. As players in this game, we need to know more about the board on which we move our checkers. How does one win the game of life? What good does this game serve? Is there a secret behind the game? The inspirational book If Life Is a Game, These Are the Rules by Cherie Carter-Scott attempts to set down guidelines for players in the game of life. Carter-Scott's theories try to explain human attitudes and behaviour while offering a guide to self development. She provides insights on how we ought to live our lives in order to fully enjoy it. The book addresses acceptance, love and understanding. The author believes that by tackling issues with an open mind and establishing a form of self-acceptance, we can live more satisfying lives. However, I beg to differ. Self-acceptance will help us establish our identity, but where do we draw the fine line between acceptance and egoism? The book also argues that since the grass will always appear to be greener on the other side, people shouldn't work towards getting to the other side. Instead, they should simply enjoy living in the present moment. In a world where self-motivation is necessary for survival, it would be detrimental if we were to lose a sense of direction in terms of what we want to achieve. Personally, I believe that everyone should have their own set of ideals. Books like the Chicken Soup for the Soul series and Carter-Scott's rules of life should be read with an open mind and taken with a grain of salt. Jason Ng is a student at King George V school
