2 comments about Human Being: Self, Desire, and Consciousness.

1. I absolutely love the way the author has written this book. It is very informative and very interesting and very true in it's entirety. I currently work in the Mental Health Field and this book is an asset to me to help me to better understand and broaden my knowledge in my life and current field. The author has beautifully written this book. :) I absolutely love it:)



2. This book offers a fascinating and important new understanding of consciousness in general.
   
   
   The author presents new and original ideas in a very concise manner, at times requiring one to slow down and think. The concepts in this book will really get you to read more slowly and begin to think more deeply, something alot of us have forgotten how to do,or choose not to do. I work in pediatric Physical Therapy as well as adult home health.
   I can really relate to the ideas set forth in this book. I see the result that the lack of sensory experience has on my clients on a daily basis.
   I also have seen the change that increased sensory experience has on their lives. Decreased anxiety and depression, and increased learning ability, increased attention span, and increased overall health.
   I believe as does the author of this book that it would be beneficial
   and healthy for everyone to begin to look at how they balance
   natural and unnatural experiences to help improve the quality of their being. This book is a must read for anyone interested in improving their life experience in general. I found the discussions about memory, dreams, genius, art, TV, and music very interesting.

5 comments about Bruce Di Marsico Presents the Option Method.

1. Certainly worth listening to and sharing with others. The best part is that Bruce doesn't deliver a big spiel, telling us how we should go about reorganizing our lives, but instead shares some simple (as in not over-the-head philosophy) observations and musings.

   As Bruce himself puts it, what he really wanted to do was leave us with a question, "Is our unhappiness really necessary?" (once again, the nice thing is it is the question he wants to share, not the answer). If one stops and think about it, as he obviously did, it's a very profound question. I hope you have enjoy it as much as I did.




2. This tape is a rare and beautiful example of the legacy of Bruce Di Marsico. His gentle, kind demeanor, his tone of genuine feeling as he offers almost humbly the incredibly liberating message of his creation, the Option Method: these are treasures that I can only recommend with all of my heart. I had the opportunity to study with Bruce and was blessed to hear his words and be the object of his loving questions. That experience transformed my life. So, to have this tape available is exciting because I know that others will be drawn to look more closely at what the Option Method might have to offer for them. Fortunately, a book of Bruce's writings will soon be available. Those who would like more information can look at my books at amazon.com or those of Mandy Evans, to get an understanding of what the Option Method is all about.



3. For most of us this is the first opportunity to hear the voice of Bruce Di Marsico, developer of the Option Method. The Option Method is a process using a handful of questions to examine our beliefs, more particularly those beliefs we have about why we are `unhappy' (letting that word stand for any emotional state we don't like). On this tape, Bruce Di Marsico speaks about what might be called the Option philosophy lying behind the Method. The radical suggestion is that, on examination, we can find no valid reasons for being unhappy. Yes, put like that it may sound a bit glib. That's one reason it's a delight to hear the case being made in Bruce Di Marsico's voice, a voice which conveys an inherent reasonableness, as if it were the voice of what common-sense ought to be.



4. Bruce Di Marsico presents wonderful ideas about how we are the creator of our own personal happiness. The beliefs we hold determine the feelings we experience in any given situation. This tape explains the Option Method - a simple, non-judgmental questioning of your beliefs and whether or not they support your happiness. A simple and insightful tape. Thank you, Bruce! And, thank you, Debbie..



5. This tape can be the key to opening up a whole new happy life for anyone who wants it. That is exactly what it did for me when I learned the Option Method 17 years ago. On this great intro to the Option Method, Bruce DiMarsico dispells the mystique around unhappiness by exposing the notion that the experience of unhappiness is always based on what someone believes... often erroneously. Questioning the belief(or judgement or assumption) can effectively vaporize the unhappy conclussion. Hearing one of Bruce's original lectures on Option rekindles the fire in me to spread the word to other happiness-seekers. Do yourself a favor... get this tape and let yourself out of YOUR prison of unhappiness. If I can do it, anyone can!

5 comments about Singular Existence.

1. Singular Existence could be my personal manifesto - in fact I wish I had written it! However, as I have no talent, I'm darn glad that Leslie Talbot DOES, and that she has applied her gift to such a worthy cause as this book. After you read it, if you're NOT single you just may find yourself wishing you were...or at least questioning how / why in the world you arrived on the other side. If you ARE single, you may get a sudden urge to dance in the street, like a prisoner freed after years of incarceration for a crime you did not commit and scream out, "Finally, somebody listened!"
   
   Leslie uses her rapier wit to deconstruct societal expectations and media bias surrounding the portrayal of single womanhood, and provides a handy, no-bull guide to dating etiquette that we all, male or female, should keep at bedside. Her no-apologies, take-no-prisoners attitude COULD come off a bit uppity if NOT for the fact that she always laughs at herself first and exposes her faults without resorting to the literary sin of navel-gazing self-confession that is so popular these days.
   
   Next time any well-meaning individual pops the dreaded, "Why are you still single?" question, I'll just smile gamely and, instead of responding with the death-stare, or worse, a relationship-killer such as, "Why are you still 20 pounds overweight / in that dead-end job / wearing those Sans-a-Belt pants?" I'll just hand over a copy of Singular Existence. I plan to keep a stash handy, like business cards or mints.



2. Who is giving this book 5 stars??? Her friends???
   
   Someone loaned this book to me, and I am glad I didn't waste my money on singularly the worst book I have ever read. To be fair, I only got halfway through the book before I set it aside (OK more like threw it down in disgust). The author from the get go says she has her opinions and doesn't care to change and knows she is snarky. But what ensues is pages and pages of male bashing. These "observations" do not come across as funny but rather the ranting of a very bitter, jaded, cynical 40+ woman. Her writing shows her obvious cluelessness about men or how to make a relationship work. She is VERY quick to snap to judgment and intolerant of any flaws. A man does the slightest thing wrong and she goes off for pages on an emotional tirade instead of laughing and realizing that men say stupid things around pretty girls they are attracted to. She also makes shallow observations about married people and those with children, yet again overreacting and coming out swinging. I would not take ANY advice from her or her book nor did I laugh at its content.
   
   The book should have a warning on it reading : bitter angry woman! Step away!



3. I rarely take the time to review a dating/relationship advice book. In fact, it's not a genre I typically read, despite having written one myself--God Is a Woman: Dating Disasters. That's because most of the books have just awful advice and a peppering of cliches; that's why I wrote my own, to try to reach people with better advice and humorous stories. When I do read one, I don't review it on Amazon because I don't want to give another writer's book a bad review. I leave poor reviews up to the readers.
   
   I absolutely loved this book. It won't give you tips on how to date and meet. So why bother? Because it will give you a clean slate by illuminating the fallacies society puts on women regarding relationships. And that's what women really need with all the bad advice out there--a clean slate to start dating anew.
   
   It's also written well and quite funny. I laughed aloud several times, which is huge for a comedian. It is hard to make us even chuckle, let alone laugh aloud. Men should read the book because it shows us some of the ridiculous notions and behaviors women have, as well as where they come from. It goes a great deal to helping guys understand women and their pressures better.
   
   I interviewed Leslie Talbot for my column "Lunch is Not a Date," I was so impressed with her work. Search "lunch is not a date" on the Internet and you'll find it. It will give you a lot more insight into this book and its concepts.
   
   In summary, a great, easy, quick read that is quite insightful and would be a mistake to miss.



4. Buy this book and tell all your friends about it. Leslie's observations are not only hilarious but insightful. It's about stuff women can relate to, with a twist that you just ain't gonna find in Glamour. For example, her essay about weddings isn't about how to be a helpful bridesmaid--it's about the awkwardness of not "making the cut." I've certainly been there. Another essay is about women and electronics that explores an ugly truth: that often "female" is equated with "less than" or "less serious."
   
   It's refreshing to hear an authentic voice like hers.



5. I absolutely loved this book. I didn't think she was bitter at all. The message is crystal clear, married isn't the only way to be. There is no male bashing here, but plenty of society pressure bashing. How many people wouldn't feel the clock ticking without "friends" pushing them to couple up and get married and have kids. The world has changed from the 1950's, it is a new time and women can be single and still be happy. This book makes that point perfectly, and at times hysterically. I highly recommend this book.

4 comments about Life is a Balancing Act... A Fun Book.

1. I really enjoyed reading all of its philosophy of life. It is not the first book of its' type to be published however, for whatever reason, it got my thought processes churning. Perhaps due to my age, my time of life or just by it's
   contents, it caused me to do some mental research on my past and future life.

   Like so many people, my life has been consumed with trying to do the best possible job for my employers and the people who worked for me and trying to provide the best standard of living for my family. I don't think this was done to the exclusion of my family responsibilities but, at times, and maybe too many times, it certainly impacted them. As I reflected on the ideas in the book, I realized that it is probable my goals could have been accomplished with a better focus on the things in life that are really most important.

   My major complaint is that the book wasn't published fifty years ago so that I and the rest of the world may have benefited sooner!




2. Balance is the key to all our lives. Without Balance, we may become burned out, dysfuntional, or just stress out our friends and family. Therefore this book really can help with it's bottom line solutions. Being a small business man, I loved this book because Ms. Lessin has very specific actions to take which definitely will add Balance and reduce stress in your life. My favorite thing in the book is the suggestion to stay home on a Saturday night. My wife and I love doing this and it really helps keep the rushing around at bay.
   The book is creatively illustrated and it makes for a very comfortable and enjoyable read. I think it should be on the Best Sellers List because it's full of real and very good ideas and wont take a year and a day to read. It really makes you see that life is too short not to have Balance. I love Ms. Lessin's introduction too.



3. This book is wonderful. I found that it gives me insights into things that I knew the answers to but was refusing to put them into motion. This book let me know that it's ok. Learning how to balance your personal and professional lives is a very difficult thing, "Life is a Balancing Act" helped show me that it doesn't have to be as difficult as we make it.
   
   I truly enjoyed it.



4. Reviewed by Irene Watson for Reader Views (4/06)
   
   Debbie Lessin, a CPA, entrepreneur, speaker and author, presents 66 resourceful ideas for managing and coping with life challenges. Although the book is small, it is powerful and realistic, yet fun and entertaining. Each page gives the reader a new idea or an opportunity to remember an act that can be followed through to attain balance in life.
   
   For example, on the page for "Expand Your Horizons" Lessin suggests to: ride a motorcycle, train for a marathon, cycle the trail. In "Arrange a Girl's Night Out" she suggests: Laughing, sharing and telling the stories of sisterhood. Lessin suggests in "Just Say No!" to: remind yourself often that you don't have to be a super-woman or super-mom.
   
   Illustrations by Janet Jaffke are amusing and reflective at the same time. In the back of this little treasure Lessin provides an epilogue with items like: things to remember about balance, beat the clock activities, and, free or less than $20 activities. She also provides space for your balance inventory and balance wish list. In the end, Lessin reminds us that "there is no such thing as perfect balance!" We are encouraged to have fun, explore the mystery of life, and move on.
   
   Debbie Lessin's "Life is a Balancing Act" is a perfect little gift book for any woman - mother, sister, grandmother, friend, yourself. Her words of wisdom touch aspects of everyday life and give us the encouragement to strive for balance in our lives. This is not a book to taken lightly, but to delve into and reflect on the quality of life we deserve and manifest. Recommended!

1 comments about 222 More Ways to Make Love With Life: More Ways for Loving, Laughing, and Living in the Moment (The Love Living & Live Loving Series, V. 4).

1. Buying with a high hope, I find the ways taught quite impractical.

2 comments about A Place Called Happiness.

1. "A Place Called Happiness" is a refreshing approach to finding ways of achieving personal happiness. It gave me practical tools to incorporate in my everyday life and helped me to set realistic goals.

   This book made me think about life in a new and inventive way. Dr. Seider's original thoughts challenged me to reflect on how to overcome inner obstacles.

   I highly recommend taking your own journey to "A Place Called Happiness."




2. Dr. Seider is quite a woman and really knows and understand her stuff when it comes to discovery happiness. She realizes it is not always easy to do but shows how it can be done. A very intelligent woman! A must read to help find Happiness.

5 comments about The Practical Dreamer's Handbook: Finding the Time, Money, & Energy to Live the Life You Want to Live.

1. At last, a book that gives us permission to dream and a guide on how to bring those dreams to fruition. Only Paul and Sarah could have written such a book. So often others tell us to forget our dreams and merely live as the rest of the world. But in "The Practical Dreamers Handbook" we're told it's all right to have these dreams and to act on them. I've noticed a different writing style from Paul & Sarah..one of peace and tranquility. Thank you Paul and Sarah for this book.



2. A practical guide written in a manner that touches the senses. If you are at a crossroads in your life, this book will help you get in touch with your true self and make a life-changing decision with confidence. As Sarah so aptly said, it's about "....seizing on fortuitous serendipity." If you are yearning for a change in your life, you will find it hard to put this book down.



3. The gurus of working from home have done it again-- managed to package a personal coaching experience into the pages of their latest work, The Practical Dreamer's Handbook. I wasn't looking for a book that would change my life, but I sure found it. With their usual practical hands-on approach to working through a problem, the authors have provided us with the means to evaluate our life, choose our dream, and find tangible ways to achieve our goals.

   From visualization exercises to training us to set measurable goals that can be attained, Paul and Sarah Edwards provide us with the tools to finally live our dream. I started reading this book on a Friday afternoon, and by Sunday I had rewritten my business plan and set some personal goals with my spouse. I guess you could say it has changed my life, and I plan to practice these techniques for continued success and stress-free living. Many thanks to this talented pair who continue to share their secrets and talents with the rest of us.




4. This is not a get rich quick or what I would call a yuppie new age mode book. But rather a well thought out book that is laid out in Three Parts with sub sections that cover everything from DESIRE -Awakening the Dream which then discusses Imagining, believing and being committed to creating what one seeks. To ACTION-Building a New Reality, which discusses following a plan or thread, finding the money, making the time, and having the needed energy. Part three is SATISFACTION-Enjoying Yourself, and is about feeling fulfilled and appreciating the ongoing process that never ends, but is always evolving.

   The Parts on finding the time and money to go after ones goals were excellent if for no other reason than for the common sense shared. Challenging people to be quiet and be honest and look at how much time we waste doing nonsensical things, and spending money we should be saving for the goal. And the authors were smart to tell the reader to even downsize, and move to a smaller less expensive home or area if this will provide the extra income one needs to create the extra income one needs to have ones goals. That even cutting back on lunch everyday and taking a bag lunch or going for a walk will save a good 25-50 dollars a week that can be stuck away in a goal savings account.

   They also are great at making the reader think about what do we REALLY want and WHY? Are we honest enough to realize that it could take 3-5 years before we see a payoff? Are we willing to put in the needed elbow grease to get the goal?

   But most important to me was reading and being constantly encouraged to NOT give up. So many people grew up in homes where lofty goals were either not encouraged or sadly laughed at. The authors tell the reader that the world is full of naysayers and people who will laugh at dreamers. Yet ever notice how the nerd in school that everyone laughed at, becomes famous and has more friends from high school that were in the whole school in ten years?

   Good book. Read it!




5. I read this book in one sitting back in 2000 when I was still a newspaper photographer wrestling with the choice of my chosen career path. This book details a couple who left steady jobs behind the follow their dream of opening a b&b. I furiously highlighted passages and scribbled notes in the margins as I read. The next day, I bought a binder and stayed up all night drafting sections a business proposal. It took a little while, but I was eventually able to leave a full-time job with benefits and job security and launch my own wedding photography business. The idea of creating your own career path and not just following one was definitely not on the best seller radar then like it is now. And that book is what I lead with when I talk to photographers now about following their heart. It changed my life. Seriously.

3 comments about Growing Into Soul: The Next Step in Human Evolution.

1. This book is a lifesaver--or at least a marriage saver for us. We had been acting out so many times, and our therapist recommended this book for us. It is based upon thousands of hours of clinical work by the author, Gwen. She helped us to see when we were coming from our ego side, and by contrast, how soul would handle the same situation. Brilliant and MOST helpful.



2. Gwen Randall-Young has written an excellent book. Growing into Soul covers the work we do on the ego level - which is based usually upon fear and has the intention of satisfying only the self on a superficial level. It also covers the work we can grow into doing on the Soul level - which is based upon love and has the intention of satisfying the soul's growth and journey into Oneness.

   This book is great for anyone wanting a great explanation of Ego and Soul. I especially like it when Gwen Randall-Young has given real-life examples, comparing how we might first act or react from the ego, and then how we could transform the situation to a soulful approach.

   Good Work! I enjoyed it!




3. This is a great read for anyone wanting to explore spirituality and the role that the mind plays.

3 comments about The Trouble with Thinking: The Dangerous Trip from In the Head to Out the Mouth.

1. Lauren Powers is an engaging and brilliant writer. I laughed out loud and learned so much. You must read this book!!!



2. Lauren Powers has achieved something difficult in this easy to understand and entertaining book. She has made the concepts of modern cognitive therapy and other modern research on the nature of emotion and cognition accessible to anyone without a background in psychology, biology or any other science.
   
   This very readable book is filled with entertaining stories that illustrate important points about what can go wrong between perceiving a situation and taking action. Namely, it looks at how we often end up operating on autopilot rather than making conscious choices. It also talks about how to break out of this cycle. The subtitle is a very good encapsulation of the subject matter -- the dangerous trip from in the head (thinking) to out the mouth (speaking/action)!
   
   Specifically, this books breaks down the communication process into four components: how we select information, assign meaning, attach a label and then take action. Various things can go wrong at any of these stages and Lauren takes a deep look at each of these areas and uses real life examples to illustrate what she means and how to overcome our unexamined assumptions, cognitive distortions, etc.
   
   I think this book is well suited to people who are looking for a light read that is both educational and entertaining. While it introduces a lot of important and sophisticated concepts, it does so in a way that engages the reader in a manner similar to good fiction.
   
   This title also condenses the most important topics from a variety of excellent resources such as Antonion Demasio, Daniel Goleman, William Glasser and other folks who are at the leading edge of their respective fields. Lauren gives you the most important conclusions of these people and talks about their practical application in daily life.
   
   I found that this book is best suited to people who do not do a lot of reading in this field, but would like a toolkit of ideas for enhancing their communication and becoming more aware of why they do what they do. For people that are therapists or psychologists, their may not be enough detail or they will have seen much of the content before in other places.
   
   Lastly, the book is well organized and it repeats important concepts in different ways. If you are new to this stuff, you will have a good understanding by the time you reach the end of the book and you will be likely to retain this understanding because of the way it was presented and the effective use of engaging stories. The rat brain metaphor didn't quite work for me, but it also didn't detract from the underlying message.



3. Reviewed by Leslie Granier for Reader Views (6/07)
   
   "The Trouble with Thinking: The Dangerous Trip from In the Head to Out the Mouth" is a self-help book that examines the role of communication, both verbal and nonverbal, and memory in how people form opinions and biases. This book has a broad appeal because it provides concrete examples of everyday situations with which most readers will be able to relate. It will be especially helpful for workgroups and committees which rely on interpersonal skills to accomplish tasks. It will also be beneficial to married people who are having trouble relating to their mates.
   
   Lauren Powers focuses on the processes people use to form opinions. She refers to this as the Rat Brain loop which involves automatic thinking rather than conscious thought. This loop consists of four distinct parts. First, the person selects information that supports what he believes. Next, the meaning of this information is defined. Then a label that is demeaning to one or more of the people involved is attached. Finally, an action or reaction is elicited either to defend one self, or prove someone else wrong. Rat Brain causes people to think negatively and expect the worst. This process of misinterpretation is what leads to hurt feelings. Rat Brain appears because gossip is always juicier than the truth; so, in order to eliminate it, people must learn to react with their heads instead of their hearts.
   
   Powers also states that the memories people retain are often flawed. People tend to remember some details, but fill in the rest of the information. Memory loss begins quickly after an event occurs. I thought the story of how several people can be in the same room and how no two of these people will see or experience the same things was very interesting. This is a rather alarming concept for me when it is applied to court cases or trials. Firsthand witness testimony is often used as a major part of the case, but if memory is that unreliable, perhaps new ways of obtaining evidence should be developed.
   
   Powers has a very effective style of keeping the readers' attention. The use of humorous anecdotes at the beginning of each chapter was a nice touch. It added some light-heartedness to a serious topic. She also included exercises to help change our methods for handling differences. She provides tips for how to talk to someone who has offended us so differences can be resolved.
   
   Everyone should read "The Trouble with Thinking" again and again. Rat Brain will never disappear, but it can be controlled through constant reminders of its presence. Changing our thought patterns can help us lead a happier and more productive life.

5 comments about Secrets You Keep from Yourself: How to Stop Sabotaging Your Happiness.

1. What's that adage that you can't judge a book by its cover? Although I compliment the publisher for the cover's clean, contemporary design in sea-foam green and backlit-blue, this understated cover actually undersells this gem of a book. In fact, this is like three books in one. The first third of the book is a thorough investigation into how denial and self-defeating behavior really work, along with numerous ways to nip self-sabotage in the bud. For me, that in itself was worth the price of admission. The book's middle section is an inspiring and affirming motivational text that includes several excellent exercises which helped me clarify values, yearnings, and goals that matter most to me. This section showed numerous ways to live your highest dreams rather than settling for your limitations. The final part of the book is primarily a practical, nuts-and-bolts primer on effective problem-solving, offering a half-dozen no-nonsense methods to solve any personal problem. Any one of these sections could stand on its own as an entire book, yet the three "books" work together seamlessly. I found this book full of insights, though never dense or obscure. Quite a bargain for the buck.



2. Surprised by how much good information and advice was packed into the book. The scenarios used to explain various traits and behaviors were especially useful.



3. This is a top notch book to build self awareness and effectiveness. Mr. Neuharth writes in clear terms that allow for anyone to understand a somewhat complex topic.



4. Dan's book is absolutely exceptional. It is not filled with psychological mumbo jumbo, but is a truly practical book about what a person does to themselves in times of cricis, pain and stress. He gives straight forward and pracitcal steps for recovering and creating the changes you want and need to make and may not know how. Dan puts your life in your own control and not that of others, a place I have been.
   
   I recommend this book highly. If you are facing difficult times and/or want to build a better and happier life this book is essential.



5. Simply put, this book is great. It's not filled with psychobabble or hard to grasp concepts. I had SO many "Ah-ha" and "of-course!" moments reading this book. It doesn't change your life, it helps you understand how to change it yourself and make better decisions. I'm very glad to have found this book.