5 comments about The Stop Walking on Eggshells Workbook: Practical Strategies for Living With Someone Who Has Borderline Personality Disorder.

1. Excellent resource for dealing with someone who has Borderline Personality Disorder. Great help for understanding BPD behavior and how to deal with it.



2. This workbook is essential for anyone who has a loved one with BPD or suspected BPD traits.



3. A godsend and an eye opener. Well worth getting if BPD traits are present in your loved one.



4. If you have a loved one acting unreasonable one day and loving the next,read this book They may not be on drugs not Bi-polar but Borderline Personality Disorder maybe after reading you will have an understanding of the behavior.It is treatable and gives we who live with this person hope the .Ranting , raving blambing ia explained along with sggestions on coping..Best book on this subject I have found.....



5. I had received "Stop Walking on Eggshells" from a family member. Upon reading it, I just knew that I would get the help I so needed with the workbook. I highly recommend this workbook in conjunction with the book for all who are dealing with someone who has been diagnosed with or suspected to have this disorder. I think you'll find that it seems as if you've written it yourself!!!

5 comments about The Law of Attraction: The Basics of the Teachings of Abraham.

1. The name of the book says it all. This is an amazing book...sets out clearly what to do and what not to do to give you the life you want. It is simple to understand and an easy read. It has certainly changed the way I think and feel..as soon as I start to feel 'down' I immediately change my thought pattern. It makes you realise why things have happened in your life and why they have not. It is certainly worth buying and having in your bookshelf so you can refer back to it.
   I give it *****



2. This was a fantastic and eye opening experience. I was looking for something to make me understand myself and the world around me. This truly works if you apply Abraham teachings. This is a must for everyone, especially for someone that is looking for answers.



3. This book really works for me. I understand my life and myself better, and truly believe that I am in the process of turning my life around, and that I will turn my life around. I am already getting pleasant results from applying the principles given.



4. This book is a wonderful read,
   I believe in magic again, I believe in my fellow human beings again too.
   If we could all practice what is in this book we would be so much happier.



5. This is without a shadow of a doubt the most amazing knowledge available today in this planet. All the science, all the wise, all that is only human does not compare to the nature of our inner being.
   I cannot express in words the deep joy I feel when I hear Esther's voice as the non-physical entity known as Abraham (not the one from the Bible though just in case you are wondering). I just know is good because I can feel it, they cannot fool me otherwise. I'm also deeply religious where conversations with God were just the daily norm for our Restoration Prophet. How can I then reject this knowledge? This book is just the beginning, I have been reading these materials for a little over two years and cannot stop reading, I can care less how much it costs, I'll but it no matter what.
   If you care about your life experience in this planet, you owe it to yourself to read this material and put it to work for you.
   I have never felt so free, so happy and so confident everytime I find an obstacle.... I can't say thank you Jerry, Esther and Abraham enough times, it just gets better and better when I get into that mode.
   
   Love you all,
   Efren

5 comments about The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People (Unabridged Audio Program).

1. "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" is the most famous title of Stephen R. Covey, a professor of Brigham Young University where he taught prior to the publication of this best-selling work. The audio version became the first non-fiction audio-book in U.S. publishing history to sell more than one million copies. Covey holds a BS degree in Business Administration from University of Utah in Salt Lake City, an MBA from Harvard University, and a Doctorate of Religious Education (DRE) in Mormon Church History and Doctrine from Brigham Young University. He also holds membership of the Pi Kappa Alpha International Fraternity.
   
   This audio program is mainly about the time management (chapters 1, 2, 3, 7) and interpersonal relationships (chapters 4, 5, 6). The time-management books like "Getting Things Done" by David Allen and "Time Drive" by Gleb Arkhangelsky frequently overlook the importance of interpersonal relationships in the time management.
   
   Many of the ideas and much of the language of "The 7 Habits..." recast the content of the classic 1966 Peter F. Drucker book "The Effective Executive", wherein Drucker wrote: "Effectiveness, in other words, is a habit", and which includes a chapter called "First Things First".
   
   Covey consistently opposes "quick-fix" solutions to life or business problems and insists that changes in paradigm or mindset to align with natural principles provide the "true" source of solutions. The author points out, for example, that the paradigm that produces short-term results in business inevitably leads to an inability to produce results for the long term. He calls this "killing the golden goose". Covey advocates balancing short- and long-term productive capacities as the most effective mindset for the businessperson.



2. If you are looking for what my opinion is (because, of course, this morning you woke up and the first thing you thought was... what is the opinion of Alana Renfro?) the best motivational CDs out there- then stop your Amazon search and purchase the UNABRIDGED Audio Program of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.
   
   Working on the creative side of agencies, corporate businesses and boutique clients, you discover that many creative people do not know how to prioritize what is truly important vs. urgent, begin with the end in mind, or follow-through on set commitments with a trustworthy set of principles and ethics. After all, advertising and marketing can be known for the opposite! Just youtube "ad agency spoof", like "The Truth in Ad Sales" video from the UK or "Truth in Advertising".
   
   My husband is in finances, I am in the creative industry, yet we both are incredibly inspired by this series of CDs. It is applicable to anyone in any industry- you just basically need the interest to better yourself, your business or your personal life. I had read the book previously, my husband had not, yet we both have these CDs in our cars as we drive to and from work and are able to not only learn from Mr. Covey's calming and informative audio, but implement the practices into our personal and professional lives. Also being parents, we've found his insights into families, mission statements, the power of thought and his personal family examples hugely helpful for our children and our perspectives.
   
   As a professional, a wife, a mother, and simply someone who has a drive to better myself and succeed, these Unabridged CDs have changed my life. My husband and I both use the planners, but most importantly- the Unabridged Audio Program of 13 CDs I highly recommend.



3. I have listend to the 3 disc set and now listening to the unabridged set. Do not waste your time and money on the 3 disc set for an initial training. The unabridged set has more information and examples and well worth the extra $. The 3 disc would be good for a reminder, but not for the initial training.



4. Covey's 7 excellent habits is given an accessible treatment in this comprehensive CD package - ideal for those who have less time to read and appreciate the spoken word.



5. For anyone who is into the pursuit of personal development, then this will be right up your alley. The only words of warning that come with it are ; "do not come looking here for a quick fix or a bandaid solution". Mr Covey speaks of concentrated effort based on important priciples which are covered in the audio and are by no means something for an overnight solution.
   If you have ever wanted to hear a lesson then there is gold in them there cd's

5 comments about Why Good People Do Bad Things: How to Stop Being Your Own Worst Enemy.

1. Debbie Ford puts everything right out there. After reading this book you will become more self aware of your our flaw and self sabotage. It will help many step outside of themself and become a better person. I highly recommend this book for self improvement. Not only will you understand yourself better but everyone who is in your life or enters your life along your path.



2. This is great self improvement book and the latest from Debbie Ford. She has amazing insight into our self sabotaging ways. A great read and a book you will go to for reference again and again.



3. Debbie Ford discusses a theory that we are all made up of good and bad which makes sense. BUT she takes it so far to the extreme that it's frightening. Being mortified that her THREE year old son wanted four cookies...saying he's greedy, and then calling her THREE year old son a liar because he said he's had his washed when he hadn't is an extreme...she's talking about a THREE year old child. Debbie Ford provided examples only of extremes and this ruined my perception of her book. The only section I found insightful was the chapter on the masks people use to hide behind. I purchased this book after reading a number of Amazon reviews because I have never heard of the author. I was disappointed as the author does not supply any 'facts' to support her theories. However, she does comment a number of times about people's treatment of her. So is this simply a book based on her own lifes' woes?
   I won't rush to read another Debbie Ford book!



4. Debbie tells it like it is. I purchased this book to try to understand a family member going through a tough time, and I learned a lot, including things very helpful for myself.



5. I found it to be more negative than helpful. I felt that it came across as a little insulting -- It seemed to downplay our propensity to do good.
   
   And like one other reviewer mentioned -- why not also cover "Why Bad People Do Good Things"
   
   "WHEN Good People Do Bad Things" might have been a better title and subject for this book.

5 comments about A Complaint Free World: How to Stop Complaining and Start Enjoying the Life You Always Wanted.

1. The first thing to understand about A Complaint Free World is that Will Bowen is NOT saying to be a doormat! He explicitly says "Directing a comment to someone who can improve your situation is not complaining." He says "I am NOT advocating remaining silent when there is something that has happened which you need corrected." His assistant, Marcia, says "It is NOT about stuffing your emotions in and putting on a Pollyanna face."
   
   What they are going on is Dr. Robin Kowalski's definition, which was used in a famous study on complaining. "Whether or not the particular statement reflects a complaint ... depends on whether the speaker is experiencing an internal dissatisfaction."
   
   So it's important to know this up front. This book is ALL for speaking out, speaking up, making changes, seeking improvements. It is about doing those things in a way that keeps you healthy, and will best reach your goals.
   
   So, with that being understood, what is this book about? Will Bowen was trying to inspire his church members to live more attentive lives. Many of them had financial difficulties. The financial planning books they had talked about how complaining did little good to help - that people had to face their problems head on, work out solutions, and then work through them with energy and focus.
   
   Will liked this idea and thought he could help people with the complaining part at least. He ordered 500 purple wrist bands that said "spirit", passed them out, and asked everyone to try not complaining for 21 days. If you complained, you moved the wrist band to the other wrist and started counting again. The moving-the-band was key - it was a physical action, something that your brain began to pay attention to.
   
   People thought this would be easy - and then discovered they had to move the band 20 times in one day! Will himself broke 3 bands with all the moving before he succeeded. The average person who tries this takes 4-8 MONTHS before they succeed. However, they improve as time goes - and they report being SO much happier by the end.
   
   Why?
   
   "You can best get what you desire by expressing what you WANT rather than complaining about the way things are." People actually made far more progress in their lives when they phrased their desires in a way that enticed action, instead of in a way that was negative. Listeners get defensive and hostile at criticism - but they feel drawn to help if you are going for a positive goal.
   
   "You have a right to get what you deserve. To achieve this don't talk about or focus on the problem. Focus BEYOND the problem." This is echoed in many other books. What you focus on is what you tend to get. If you complain about being fat and unhappy, you'll probably stay fat and unhappy! If you talk about your goals to go walking more, and your desire to go walking, I bet people will cheer you on and offer to go walking with you.
   
   As Earl Nightingale says, "We become what we think about".
   
   They have distributed 6 million FREE bracelets already, so this is resonating with a lot of people.
   
   Will lays out the four stages of achieving mastery of ANY subject, including non-complaining.
   
   * Unconscious incompetence
   * Conscious incompetence
   * Conscious competence
   * Unconscious competence
   
   What this means is we start out trying a new thing without realizing just how hard it could be. That's fine, otherwise we might not even try smile So with complaining, we start out thinking "heck that's easy" and then realize just how much we DO complain. So we're now conscious of how much work is ahead of us. But then over time, we get much better at it with attention - and finally it is a normal healthy part of our lives and we do it naturally.
   
   The Psychological Bulletin study on complaining found that many complain to get sympathy, attention, or to dodge out of doing something. They even found that doctors felt 2/3rds of all visits to them were based on something mental / emotional! For example, someone gets extremely stressed by work - and this drives up their blood pressure. Think of how much more healthy we could all be if we found a better way to deal with stress and issues!
   
   Ben Franklin said "The best sermon is a good example." Will points out that you shouldn't complain about others complaining smile Don't try to change others. Just be yourself, and don't "feed" their complaining. You might find they change naturally when they don't have a complaining buddy!
   
   Will emphasizes that this is NOT about being a passive doormat. Martin Luther King Jr had his dream. Rosa Parks took her seat and held it. They had a positive vision of the future, and they went for it. They achieved great things.
   
   He reminds you to think about why you are complaining, if you do. Criticizing a place (like a cheap restaurant) if often a form of bragging about your more sophisticated tastes. Criticizing others is a way of saying you are better than they are. He says it is fine to "process" - to share your feelings. "I feel upset because of what was said." He says it is less healthy to deliberately bash others, "She is a stupid jerk for doing that."
   
   Overall I found this a very well written book, with great examples, a healthy dose of humanity, and a wonderful message for us all. Will doesn't say this is easy. He doesn't even say this is for everyone. But I definitely agree that many of us complain at the drop of a hat, over things that are really not a big deal at all. All that stress affects our bodies and our health. If we were able to find the humor in life - and find positive action to fix the things we want to fix - our world would really be a much better place.
   
   Highly recommended!



2. I saw this book lying around my office: probably it was a review copy. So I picked it up. It didn't take long to read (and it didn't take long to write either). So here's the deal. Order a "complaint free" bracelet from a website (address thoughtfully provided). Wear it on your wrist. Every time you complain, gossip or criticize, switch it to the other wrist. Result: in 4 to 8 months, you will reach the goal of not complaining about anything for 21 days straight. You will be HAPPY. You will be SECURE. You will know BLISS. You will be assured of salvation in the life hereafter.
   This book is written by the lead pastor of a church in Kansas City, Missouri. It includes nuggets realy profound and hard-earned wisdom such as: "I finally looked at the word insecure. It's the opposite of secure." (page 79.) "I discovered that the word spirit comes from the Latin word spiritus (page 89). "If you will begin to call the people and events in your life by names that spur positive energy in yourself, you will find that they no longer bother you and in fact can be a real bonon for you." (page 104.) "To criticize means to find fault with someone or something."
   Far be it from me to criticize! So by all means read this book. It's only 176 pages long. It won't take too much of your time. And once you've read it, you too will be able to "start enjoying the life you always wanted." It's that easy, isn't it?



3. I found this to be extremely difficult to follow but it's well worth it. I read the book and listened to the CD in my car. I enjoyed it so much, I ordered the bracelets and CD for work and hopefully we'll create a small group to meet weekly, listen to a chapter and discuss it along with our personal experiences.



4. Even if you don't get the book, try the experiment. Get their bracelet (or use a jelly bracelet, or one of your own) and put it on your wrist. Each time you catch yourself grumbling or complaining or criticizing something or someone, put the bracelet on the other wrist. In my first day, I must have changed it 7 times in the first hour. I was shocked, and intrigued...enough to try it for nearly a week before I gave up. That was a year ago, and I still think about that bracelet every week. And yes, I'm far less critical than I used to be. Now, I do neuroscientific research on meditation, spirituality, and optimism, and I think that this little gimmick is a gem. Why? Because every time you foster a critical thought, your brain releases a cascade of stress chemicals which eventually damages the very circuits that control anxiety and irritability. So a little exercise like this can have a profound effect on neural functioning, which is why Andrew Newberg, MD, and I talked about the Reverend Bowen's bracelet and his vision of a complaint-free society in our book, How God Changes Your Brain: Breakthrough Findings from a Leading Neuroscientist. Oh, and one more thing, which we thoroughly discuss in our book: every time you complain in public, your irritability-like a virus-is neurologically picked up by every person who hears your voice or sees your face. So by all means, train your brain to be optimistic and positive because (according to 30+ years of longitudinal research conducted by Duke University and the Mayo Clinic), it will literally add years to your life.
   
   PS: Check out their website (acomplaintfreeworld.com) for tips for teaching children to become "complaint aware." Interestingly, a Missouri congressman was so impressed by the idea that he just introduced a bill into congress calling for a "Complaint-Free Wednesday," the day before Thanksgiving. I hope it passes....



5. This book really made me think about what I say and do and how it not only effects others and my relationships but also my own emotional and mental health and well being. Recommend this book for anyone who is looking to further define themself.

5 comments about The 45 Second Presentation That Will Change Your Life: The World's Best-Selling Network Marketing Guide.

1. As a "seasoned" network marketer, I have never found a book that helps explain what we do today vs. decades ago when network marketing began AND that explains the power of exponential growth using leverage and duplication. It is clear after reading just the preface if you are cut out for this business, which saves a lot of time on the front end. Using the book then as a training manual for how to do what we do becomes a tool and capitalizes on the duplication process. The only question that one must ask themselves after reading the first two paragraphs of the Preface is...."can you do this?"...and to that I mean, can you hand the book to someone and ask them to read the first two paragraphs of the Preface....that person will tell you either "I'm interested, or I'm not interested"...and you can move on.
   Network marketing is like driving a car. Why would you talk about the vehicle you have to drive if you don't know how to drive. We get to teach people how to drive FIRST...then show them the vehicle we use to make money together using Leverage/Duplication/Exponential Growth!
   GREAT tool. Thanks, Don Failla (his 2nd Edition is even better!!!)



2. The 45-SECOND PRESENTATION really will CHANGE your life. It's the most important book for new networkers!



3. This book was an easy read, very informative, to the point that I am making up an outline of it to share with my downline to use as a guide. I am a seasoned networker, and I wish I had had this information when I got involved in networking in the past, and it also would have helped me to weed out the ones that I should not get involved with. This book doesn't say "don't do this or that company", but once you see the information, you can see which companies fit with the important points necessary for a positive money-making experience in networking!



4. Easy to read. This book was recommended to me by a speaker with 10 years experience in a huge Network Marketing Company. I am a novice when it comes to N.M. and found this book excellent.



5. If you want to succeed in Network Marketing you need a book to carry in your back pocket. This is your book to carry.

5 comments about The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari: A Fable About Fulfilling Your Dreams & Reaching Your Destiny.

1. I enjoyed this book, with reservations. It's an odd blend of (mostly) Buddhist philosophy with the sort of self-help pep talk preferred by corporate go-getters. At times it reminded me of reading the Dalai Lama, at others, a Franklin-Covey leadership session.
   
   The parable is a little facile, and the dialog naive-- but the overall thrust benign and even helpful. It may well be a doorway to a better path for many who read it. If you've never encountered Eastern philosophy before but are already a fan of corporate pep talks, you may find this a real treat.



2. International best-seller, "The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari" is a short fable or story about a high powered lawyer who suffers a personal loss and embarks on a life of workaholism, materialism and emptiness. When he suffers a life threatening heart attack he determines to put the essential luxuries of purpose, peace and happiness back into his life. He travels to the Himalayas and spends time with the Sivana monks, who teach him wisdom of life.
   
   This book is chock full of simple habits and rituals to include in one's life to nurture your body, mind and spirit. The advice within is compellingly framed and concise, making use of symbolism to remember the key concepts.
   
   Picture the following sequence. What can this mean?
   
   You are sitting in a wondrous, beautiful flower garden. In the middle there is a red, six story lighthouse. Suddenly, there is a creaking from the base of the lighthouse and out comes a 290lb Japanese sumo wrestler. He is wearing a simple, pink wire cable sheath. The sumo wrestler spots a shiny stopwatch. He picks it up and immediately falls to the ground. It appears that he has taken his last breath, when suddenly he comes back to life. He then gets up and looks over at a beautiful group of yellow roses nearby. Finally, he exits the garden by a path of beautiful diamonds...
   
   How can you draw upon your deep reservoir of mental fortitude and inner strength that you possess? As most accomplished people know, never stop learning and actively expand your wisdom about life. As many great leaders do each and every day, take time out for reflection, including self-reflection. To not do so is akin to being too busy driving to put gas in your (beautiful) car (you). Awaken with the sun and cultivate a positive mindset and an attitude of gratefulness. Savor the present. Make music an integral part of your life. Build your character by taking specific actions. Simplify your life as much as you can for enhanced peace of mind. Thus, you will leave time for the things that matter most. Specifically, those things that will make the most difference in the long run. Always cultivate your virtues of industry, compassion, humility, patience, honesty and last but not least, courage.
   
   This little gem of a book is inexpensive. It's entertaining. It's a quick read. It will be three hours of your valuable time very well spent. You might learn nothing new. Or, perhaps you will see your life more clearly than ever before. Perhaps you will be pleasantly surprised and this book will unexpectedly improve the quality of your life.



3. I Had previously read the book and I loved it so much that I bought it from Amazon.com. It is an excellent book to have on your night table and a tool to implement good things into your life. Certainly brings you enlightment and help to improve your life!



4. Its amazing that all of these books say the same thing the Bible says but people would rather trust a human for advice than their maker. I give this book 4 stars because it does follow the Bible. It may sound off the wall to some but that would depend on their desperation.



5. If you ever need to read a self-help book, you only need to read this one.

2 comments about Chicken Soup for the Soul: Empty Nesters: 101 Stories about Surviving and Thriving When the Kids Leave Home (Chicken Soup for the Soul).

1. In My Heart I Carry a Star: Stories for Advent
   The Empty Nesters Soul certainly rings true. Why? because the empty nest experience is both wonderful and heart-wrenching at the same time. The real question is, "How do we respond?" Life is always full of opportunity, and for the empty nester, what we do next has the potential to be redemptive in so many ways.
   Five Stars! Derek Maul: author "In My Heart I Carry A Star" and "GET REAL: a spiritual journey for men."



2. Empty Nesters is a collection of poignant stories about parents dealing with a wide range of emotions when their children leave home--numbness, heartache, loneliness, and even exhilaration. The timing of its publication couldn't have been better for me because I'm coping with my own empty nest. I could relate to other parents who faced empty bedrooms, empty laundry baskets, empty cars. Wanda Quist wrote, "The house is so quiet I hear the ice maker drop cubes into its bin." Another mother sends so many care boxes to her son that they're stacked all the way to the ceiling in his dorm room. But the book is not just about mothers. Fathers, sons and daughters also tell their stories, which gives the reader a broader perspective.
   
   Empty Nesters is organized into sections with titles such as "First Flights," "Under Our Wings and in Our Hearts," "Out on a Limb," and "Ruffled Feathers." The stories are each just two or three pages. Sprinkled throughout are light poems and so-true cartoons. I laughed aloud at parents staring at a phone waiting for their child to call, kids who come home on weekends with tons of laundry for Mom to wash, and a father imagining turning an empty bedroom into a pool room while his wife laments that the child has grown up.
   
   For those parents who are anticipating their empty nest and those who are dreading it, Empty Nesters will help them realize they're not alone, that this time of life is just another inevitable stage that every parent survives. As Patricia Cena Evans wrote, "It was time for me to welcome this next season of life and move on." Yes, I thought. Me too!

5 comments about This Year I Will...: How to Finally Change a Habit, Keep a Resolution, or Make a Dream Come True.

1. Not a bad book at all. The author has done a superb job in approaching the bad habit problems we humans have developed over our lifetime into another way of thinking about it. I think if you are like most people and have tried everything out there including reading various books on goal setting this one might be worth trying. It has helped me, I'm not completely there yet but I feel I am at least on the right path.



2. I am a high achiever and always looking for an edge. This book was excellent, simple and easy to follow. The exercises were relevant and contributed to the learning and integration process. It had a profound affect on multiple areas of my life!



3. This is really one of those you can change your life books that actually work. I loved the way it was written and I really felt like she cared about me. I would highly recommend for anyone who wants to make some changes in their life but is have a hard time doing so.



4. This book is well written and easy to understand. The explanation of how the various parts of the brain and how to get your brain working for you was very good. An easy read that doesn't require a psychology degree to understand the material and how to use it. I have used some of the described exercises to help my clients envision their future the way they desire it to be.
   I recommend this book highly!!!!



5. I'm someone who spent years stuck in a rut. I spent a lot of time wondering why I never got anything done but never did anything beyond wondering. I've spent the last few years turning my entire life around. I quit drinking, quit smoking, started working out, started taking my job seriously (which has garnered me two promotions in three years), and generally started taking charge of my life and I've found that I love getting up and getting to it every day. Something I never could have claimed before in my 30+ years. A lot of these changes have been hard work. I've read a LOT of self help material and found hidden gems here and there. I only wish I had found THIS book years earlier. Everything I've learned. Everything I've known. It's help me put all of that into action. Have you ever run across a situation where you KNOW you could teach the world how to do something but you just CAN'T do it yourself? Well, this is the book for you. I'm on my second time reading it and I just bought three more copies, bringing my total purchased to eight. I've given them away to a lot of the people I kind of left behind when I started changing my old life. Even the ones who don't read are reading it. I've seen weight loss, better jobs, less stress, less anger, reduced drinking, happier relationships... all as a result of things myself and these people have learned through the steps in this book.
   
   If you find yourself in a rut and just can't seem to move forward. Or even if you're doing fine and think you might just need a little push. This book is a priceless work.
   
   Thanks to the author and good luck to everyone else who reads it!

5 comments about The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment.

1. Very useful for me. I was sure that this book will be what I want, before buying it. And it is. Many thanks to the author.



2. ...and it's not even the "best of", sort of reference.
   My thoughts are, that this guy is potentially a cult figure, with followers who are grabbing at straws. I can't imagine what Oprah was thinking. Her original spiritual strengths, were strong enough to take her, further than most people can imagine going.
   2-stars is over-rating his books...in my book.
   My concern:
   Charlatans, exploiting those who may be needing real help.



3. When I saw Oprah mention this book on her show I ran out and got a copy right away. All I can say is THANK YOU VERY MUCH OPRAH. Excellent book teaching you how to live in the now. The best book I have ever read that exposes the false self (EGO) and how the primary job of the ego is to take your happiness away and create all kinds of problems every day.
   
   Here's the ego's program that it is running to justify it's existance "Never Satisfied"
   
   No matter how a situation turns out, the ego will find a way to be unhappy about it.
   
   P.S. The book is so good, I ran out and bought extra copies for all my friends and family.



4. I am a middle-aged professional with an academic background in philosophy.
   
   As I grew older, I felt more strongly that there must be a spiritual realm to our existence. But I relegated myself to the belief that any understanding of this spiritual realm was not to be. That such things would remain a mystery. At times, I would have more spiritual feelings and sensations which reinforced this belief, but still felt that my belief of the spiritual realm would be faith-based and could never go beyond this.
   
   As I entered into my forties, I entered into unrest and discontent with life. I felt spiritually, intellectually and even emotionally dead. Raising two great children and being married to a wonderful person was not enough. The routine of daily life was not fulfilling, materialism provided nothing of spirtual value, and I walked through life with a general feeling of discontentment.
   
   About a year ago, I entered Barnes and Noble because my 11 year old daughter wanted to buy some new books. I dropped her off in her BN department and walked straight across the floor to this book which was sitting on a shelf -- the book not being singled out or advertised specially. It was the Power of Now. I picked it up, looked at the cover and decided to allow myself to impulsively purchase it (something that was out of the ordinary for me).
   
   The next two weeks were incredibly intense for me. And what happened after that was even greater. Tolle's words rang truth to my core. For the first time in my life, my existiential views were married/bridged with a deep spirituality. It made sense. I couldn't put the book down. As I read it, I used the meditation practices that Tolle subtley infers. The inspiring energy of his words aided me immensely to get into a transcendental realm -- a switch. Not magic, not really enlightenment (as the term conjures up something unreachable and unrealistic). But I felt at peace and felt joy. I felt intensely transformed. The world came to me and I accepted what it gave me. I accepted the world existentially. My mind was finally much, much calmer. For the first time as an adult, my mind didn't control me. People and my environment vibrated with a vibrant energy. I knew (not believed, not faith) that there was a One Being that essentially came from stillness or silence and everything was one with that One Being. (Reminiscent of what I think Sartre's Being and Nothingness painfully attempted to point out). I felt this sense of peace on and off for a month or so. Admittedly this intense feeling declined somewhat as a result of some crisis life situations that proved too difficult to surrender to. I am still "working on it" with the joy of knowing that this spiritual realm exists.
   
   This book is the greatest book I've ever read which -- to me -- says much considering I have read many of the great works of literature and most philosophers. No book has come close to this. Tolle's presentation (and what he calls "sign-posts") are succinct and clear. The only problem I have with this book -- and I say this with humor -- is how the book was marketed. Its title, "The Power of Now," and cover art is so sensationalistic that it looks like it should part of an info-commercial along with Ginsu knives and the Ronco fruit dehydrator. I fear that many in the academic world will dismiss the book as such without giving it a chance. I hope I am wrong. I also hope that if the world makes deeper into the future, that this book is mandatory reading for all students.
   
   I hope you find the energy of my review helpful.
   
   
   The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment



5. I gave this to my sister who's been struggling for about a year or so. She's already writing in plans for the new year. I highly recommend this as a gift for someone else or yourself.