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“Are You Fully Charged? The 3 Keys to Energizing Your Work and Life,” by Tom Rath. San Francisco: Silicon Guild, 2015. 240 pages, $22.95 (hardcover), $15.95 (paperback).

Tom Rath, the author of “StrengthsFinder 2.0,” which was published in 2007 and sold millions, has written a new book, “Are You Fully Charged?: The 3 Keys to Energizing Your Work and Life,” which builds upon the same ideas in his previous work.

In “StrengthsFinder 2.0,” Rath contends everybody has strengths and weaknesses, and that it’s more important to identify your strengths than your weaknesses. In “Are You Fully Charged?” he continues along the same lines – identify your strengths, and your weaknesses become less of a concern. In addition, he explains how your life becomes energized because of the focus you put into developing your strengths and building human nature characteristics.

Rath proposes three characteristics as keys to a fully charged life: meaning, interaction and energy.

He uses eight chapters to discuss, define and describe how meaning can add energy to your life so that you can add energy to your work. In one chapter, he recommends creating meaning through small wins by abandoning the pursuit of happiness and swimming in the deep end of life.

In another chapter, he suggests making work a purpose and not a place. Then there is the often heard suggestion of finding a higher calling than cash by asking what does the world need, then doubling down on your unique talents by acting immediately (i.e., procrastination is de-energizing).

Of the chapters that explained meaning, I thought the chapter most useful and interesting was titled “Initiate to Shape the Future.”

Like most self-help books written in the past 50 years, Rath also states one should put purpose before busyness and focus on less rather than (doing) more. To do this, he urges people to put away the mobile phones, iPads, iPods, etc., because they go off at irregular intervals, only to serve as interrupters to your train of thoughts and detractors of focus.

The sound of the mobile devices going off has a Pavlov’s Bell effect on humans … we have to answer.

Rath uses seven chapters to discuss interactions. Chapters in this section are titled “Make Every Interaction Count,” “Be 80 Percent Positive,” “Start Small and Be Clear,” “Take a Break for Relationships” and “Put Experiences First.”

If you read a lot of self-help books, most say the same thing, just in different ways. In “Are You Fully Charged?” Rath takes a positivist’s point of view of life. He suggests we assume nearly everybody has good intent; that we should use positive words as glue for our interactions; use questions to spark conversation (in other words, be a listener rather than talker); buy happiness for someone else; win while others succeed; and help someone see what could be.

I have to admit that I like the positive stuff, so the chapters on interaction had the most appeal for me.

Rath uses six chapters and an epilogue to sum up the third characteristic of energy. If self-help books talk about mind, body and soul, then this is Rath’s body entry. A healthy lifestyle is the focus of this characteristic. “Put Your Own Health First,” “Eat Your Way to a Better Day,” “Learn to Walk Before You Run” and “Sleep Longer to Achieve More” are chapters Rath uses to show how you put your own health first in order to be your best every day.

Rath believes people cannot energize their lives without considering meaning, interactions and energy. He uses a massive number of research papers to support each of the chapter ideas. The reference list is 23 pages long.

“Are You Fully Charged?” is a very entertaining book. Is there anything new as far as ideas? … the answer is NO. What makes this book a good read is the writing (well done) and the way Rath weaves in academic research to support his presentation without the research getting in the way.

— Reviewed by Harold Little, Western Kentucky University Accounting Department.