I knew I was going to enjoy Dana Perino’s book after coming across an article she published entitled: “Advice for Millennials: What I learned From My Quarter-Life Crisis (Yes, I had one).”

Discovering that the former Press Secretary for President George W. Bush had once been “racked with anxiety, filled with fear, and totally confused about what I was going to do with my life,” was more than enough to convince me to begin reading her book, And The Good News Is…: Lessons and Advice From the Bright Side.

Funny and moving, insightful and informative, balanced and practical, it is well worth the read, particularly for millennials who may be in the midst of their own “quarter-life crisis,” just as Ms. Perino describes experiencing in her early career.

Spanning her humble, modest upbringing in Colorado and Wyoming, her years working for President George W. Bush and her current role as a host on the popular talk show The Five, And The Good News Is… tells the unlikely story of how a young girl who had once visited the White House at seven years old would return some 20 years later to serve as the first female Republican spokeswoman for the 43^rd president of the United States.

Full of poignant stories from working with President Bush, humorous mishaps both on and off the podium and challenging decisions that tested her courage and strength, the book provides an authentic glimpse not only into her own personal journey, but into the journey of life itself: the ups and downs, trials and tribulations, questions and doubts, triumphs and defeats. Which is perhaps why it – and she – is so relatable.

Far from being pretentious and brash, she isn’t afraid to poke fun at herself and her weaknesses, sharing personal anecdotes of cases where President Bush impelled her to practice self-restraint (and to always forgive and “let it go”) – which is admirable, especially for someone who has attained such a prominent and respected position in politics and media.

Sprinkled throughout with valuable lessons on life and the workplace, it isn’t until the end when she offers solid, concrete advice for young people – which would serve many well to read.

While some of her tips are what you might expect (i.e. dress for success, don’t chew gum and never underestimate the value of networking), most of them are refreshingly distinct – and certainly no less important than the ordinary checklists made available to young professionals today. For instance, she has now inspired me to start a weekend reading folder and may have also convinced me that I should leave New York City and move to North Dakota. She even got me thinking seriously about my response to the question: what do you do for fun?

But, you might be wondering, what of the good news? What is the good news? I think it is just that: that there is always good news. That, as she writes in the introduction, “…in America, nothing is ever as bad as it seems because we have the opportunity and capabilities to fix problems.” She later goes on to say: “Whatever is being said about you, whatever criticism you’re facing, it probably isn’t as bad as a million other things that happened in the world that day…remember, most of us are really not that big of a deal.”

As a young woman, who might just be in the midst of my own quarter life crisis, perhaps that is just what I needed to hear – and why I so thoroughly enjoyed her book (it also didn’t hurt that I could effortlessly relate to her desire to always be thoroughly prepared and her excessive worrying tendencies, even when there isn’t something to worry about).

So, thank you, Ms. Perino. Your book might just be to me what Peggy Noonan’s, What I Saw at the Revolution, was to you: a source of clarity, inspiration and encouragement.

And henceforth, when I’m nervous, scared or tasked with a challenge, I promise to just “put my big girl panties on and deal with it.”

Continue delving into more good news from:

• Gift from the Sea

• Social Graces: Words of Wisdom on Civility in a Changing Society

• 8,789 Words of Wisdom

• Life’s Journey According to Mister Rogers

• Grit: the Power of Passion and Perseverance 

• Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World

• The Road to Character

• The Shepherd’s Life

• Napoleon: A Life

• the Knights Code of Chivalry

• living the aloha spirit

• and from these military excerpts, creeds and poems

• in addition to these quotes about the importance of planning 

• and these quotes on teaching, thinking and learning

• finally, a personal message for college graduates