Summary: Tom Shadyac was the hugely successful Hollywood director of such films as Ace Ventura, Liar Liar, The Nutty Professor, Bruce Almighty and Patch Adams. Then in 2007 he moved out of his 17,000-foot mansion and into — surprise! — a mobile home. He began giving away his income. The luxuries of his former lifestyle had taught him one thing: "I was no happier," he says. Not long after, he was hit on the head during a bike accident and suffered from debilitating post-concussion syndrome. This last physical struggle gave him the courage to talk about why he made such a drastic change as well as the courage to direct the groundbreaking documentary "I Am" - which examines the troubling question, "What's wrong with our world—and what can we do about?" ... And to capture this exploration in his book, "Life’s Operating Manual: with the Fear and Truth Dialogues" - in which Tom answers another simple yet provocative question: "Is it possible that life comes with set of guidelines - an operating manual?" ... like just about everything today — from your computer to your car, from your cell phone to your iPad? As Julie Ann's guest on ConsciousSHIFT, Tom shares what he has discovered about "Life's Operating Manual" - and argues that we can discern what is written inside of this operating guide and find the courage to live in accordance with its precepts. Tom explores nature, history and philosophy, and opens our eyes to one underlying principle that should guide the human race: love. This single principle is, in essence, our operating manual . . . and its instructions are very simple. The question is, do we have the courage to live in accordance with this precept — to step away from how society currently works and the ills we experience because of it? Do we have the fortitude to change and cast aside the ideas that have led to war, poverty, genocide, and environmental destruction? With Tom’s inspiring vision of what the world can be and the straightforward advice he shares on ConsciousSHIFT about how to move toward it, your answer to these questions will be a resounding yes. Join Julie Ann and Tom for this thought-provoking, life-expanding exploration!
