5 comments about Overcoming Passive-Aggression: How to Stop Hidden Anger from Spoiling Your Relationships, Career and Happiness.

1. One the best self-help books I've read. This book takes both the view of people who are passive-aggressive, referred to has hidden anger, and those around them affected by these behaviors. It has really helped me both understand how to be assertive with emotions and address hidden anger in others around me. The book's philosophy is "knowledge is power" rather than taking a prescription approach. Every reader can take this knowledge and apply it in their own lives, work setting, school and with children and other family members.



2. This has truly changed my life. I have been mistreated by my husband's sister for 17 years, it has been a horrible experience. The little digs, rude comments, setting me up. Then playing innocent victim. (The example scenario page with man and his new fiance and his sister, could be my true life excerpt). I never understood and then I read this book. Now I get it. What makes her do what she does. It has been so very enlightening and such a relief to understand. It was never even about me. It is about her, and her low self esteem and jealousy. Although I still don't want her in my life, I no longer have such bitter feelings for her. I feel for her. It has helped me in everyday life to be more compassionate to others. The anger we see usually has nothing to do with us. This book has made me a kinder person. A MUST READ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



3. This book claims to be co-authored by congressman Tim Murphy, PhD and Loriann Hoff Oberlin, but with her openly advertised book "Writing for Quick Cash" (scroll up!) it becomes apparent that this book is an offering of her opinion while piggybacking on his reputation - all for quick cash. What this book really is: a manual for feminists on how to assign blame in order to look and feel better about themselves as women.
   
   In the first pages ("About the Authors") she openly declares her feminist agenda by claiming her book "Surviving Separation and Divorce" was written to encourage women. Beware, male readers - sexist programming ahead. Being born with a Y chromosome was no crime I chose to commit, yet reading through the examples of loser men going to court after being irresponsible with their children did nothing to strengthen me personally or help me identify or overcome passive-aggressive behavior in myself or others.
   
   In the book I noticed several names and explanations on passive-aggressiveness and the effects it has, but the title of the book is OVERCOMING Passive-Aggression. On page 140 she says, "When your marriage ends..." When!? Is the only solution to passive-aggressive behavior in recognizing it in others and avoiding or exploiting them? I hope not.
   
   This book was a complete waste of my time, and I hope for the good of all that there is a book out there truly about overcoming passive-aggression that will benefit the individual who reads it and those around them.



4. This is a book I would NOT put into my personal library...I didn't learn a whole lot more about passive-aggressive behavior than I knew going into the reading. There were relatively few "examples" in this book...and for this type of book and this guy being a therapist (and congressman...he does beat us over the head with this fact throughout the book and it was more than a little annoying), I would have expected far more "stories" or case studies...and they just aren't here. This leaves the book a very dry and relatively uninteresting read, as he actually deals very little with actual passive-aggressive behavior and goes off at length on nearly ever other type of disorder that can be associated with PA behavior. I might recommend it to someone totally unfamiliar with PA-ness...but for me, this book left much to be desired. Additionally, the suggestions (beyond seek out a therapist/counselor, were excessively vague (another area where full examples to illustrate the author's point would have been extremely helpful). I rate it a C and hope that I can pull some useful additional reading from the notes.



5. This is one of the only well written and full description of the PA personality I've seen. If you suspect you are dealing with Passive Aggression, it will help pave the way for healing.

5 comments about Making Peace with the Things in Your Life: Why Your Papers, Books, Clothes, and Other Possessions Keep Overwhelming You and What to Do About It.

1. I really enjoyed reading this one. I actually have a better understanding of myself and my stuff after reading this book.



2. As others have written,I too have read many, many, MANY clutter, organizing, packrat books. I still have so many, they have contributed to the clutter. This was one of the good ones. My problem is not organizing my stuff-- I want to get rid of it. Most books give you detailed file organizing and specific instructions. I wanted to know WHY I couldn't let go of so many things. This may not be everyone's problem, but it was mine. Once I understood why, it actually helped to get rid of them - not organize them.



3. This is by far the most useful book on decluttering I've read. It gets right down into your heart and helps you sort out what you find there. It doesn't tell you what products to buy, but helps you understand what blips in your brain chemistry or psychology may be contributing to the clutter problem, and suggests specific strategies for dealing with the various reasons.



4. I did not read the book entirely. From my brief scanning the book seems to be very informative and instructional-- a good guide.



5. This book is the only book I've read that has had a permanent effect on decluttering for me. While it is a little tedious to get through, I discovered that upon finishing it, I was actually changing my habits. I had been in the midst of a house-wide declutter project, but it would certainly have crept back to the normal messy state of things if I hadn't changed my habits. It changed the little day to day ways I manage my things and changed my way of thinking. It was a little short on specific strategies, and was quite deficient on managing papers, reading materials and documents (was more focused on getting rid of/managing things), but I am still giving it 5 stars since it has had such a positive impact in my life.

5 comments about Procrastination: Why You Do It, What To Do About It.

1. "Procrastination" by Burka and Yuen is clearly the beginning of an answer to what's holding us back from doing things. It is a kind of behavior that masks many problems. It gives a name to the behavior, gives a plausible set of reasons why we do it, and gives us something to do about it.
   
   In a word, fear is the general cause of procrastination, but the authors do a fine job of unpacking that suitcase. With numerous examples to choose from, it is easy for us procrastinators to find some others who do it our way. And just as interesting, some people do it other ways that we haven't recognized before.
   
   Recognizing we are not alone is really a good first step to moving on.
   
   In the second half of the book, the authors begin to show us how to overcome the inertia of procrastination's gravity. I found the "taking stock" inventory of areas of procrastination very helpful. Following the inventory, they suggest a plan of action and ways to make progress.
   
   Procrastination is a more wide-spread problem than most of us want to admit. Perhaps that's because it hits too close to home. What these authors have done is to bring the problem out in the open and deal with it head-on.
   
   Highly recommended. (Don't put off buying it, now.)



2. Finally I've found something that can help me overcome the hurdle of procrastination! I know there are different variations and how it affects each of us, but this book outlined behaviors, thoughts, and tactics that describe me to a "T"! I'm happy to know that I'm not crazy...and others share my struggles. If you think you're having more than a "lazy day"...since I seem to have MANY--this book may help you overcome your procrastination issue.



3. I agree with the review by DeLonzor - I couldn't bear reading this book because I found the text very "bogged down" myself. Not that it isn't an excellent workbook for the procrastinator. I decided that it's so wordy because one of the goals of the authors must be to lull (i.e., hypnotize) their readers into being more proactive, and to do that you have to use lots of words and examples of situations, to penetrate all the types of mental/emotional blocks readers will put up as they read this book. Obviously this style works because it certainly put me to sleep! Being a fan of REBT (Albert Ellis) myself, I prefer something a lot more to the point, like "Living Without Procrastination" by Susan Roberts, which briefly lays out the research about who does it and why and simply and succinctly describes what each person can do to nudge themselves toward action. So, I'm not knocking the book here, just want readers to know there are other options. No matter which style one prefers, reading a book on procrastination, especially in these overstimulating times, is good for anyone's soul, and for simply increasing one's enjoyment of the world.



4. I bought this in conjunction with "The Now Habit". This is quite a different book, much more verbose (but in a good way) and tends to get a bit deeped, in my view, into the psychology of procrastination. Which is useful.
   
   If I absolutely had to choose, I would choose "The Now Habit". But I would strongly suggest that you read this book also. It does cover things that the Now Habit does not cover very well.
   
   Our society tends to take a very simple view of procrastination, which can have fairly complex causes. This book helped me understand many of the roots of my behavior and, painfully, I recognized many of my behavior patterns. That alone is "worth the price of admission". This book will help you deal with your procrastination.



5. I've been a procastinator all my life. And I always wanna why I did it, and what to do about it.
   I bought this book a few weeks ago. When I first read the first chapter about procastinator's cycle then I said to myself "omg , that's exactly the same thing that happen to me."
   
   Don't wait any second more , Buy it , and read it . No more procastination.

5 comments about Modern Magick: Eleven Lessons in the High Magickal Arts (Llewellyn's High Magick).

1. This was my first book I read about the subject and I still come back to it for reference, truly recommended for beginners at least.



2. If you're new to the concept of Ceremonial magick, this is a good book. HOwever if you're looking for low magick, there's plenty of books out there. The market is actually saturated with low magick 101 books. IT's actually kind of sickening.
   
   So to come across a primer in basic magick without any kind of bla bla bla theology crud behind it like Crowley and the others. Sure he doesn't delve very deep into the reasons for why you use said rituals, ANother fault I have with the modern Pagan Community at large. I don't blame him though as you actually do have to wade through the principles and other guidelines that Crowley ad Reguardie and all of them go into in other books. So this is more like supplimental reading. Especially if you want to pratice magick and not just read about it.



3. I first read Modern Magick about 20 years ago. I had been studying books by Israel Regardie and Aleister Crowley and was getting nowhere fast. This book is a key that opens up many doors of understanding and will easily take a complete novice to advanced levels of practice with minimal fluff, with heavy emphisis on the practical aspects of Magick.
   
   This book was written by an expierenced magician and all instructions are clearly presented. Working through this book will make just about any other book on the subject of Magick considerably more accessable.
   
   It is my serious belief that this is perhaps the most important book on Magick written in the last fifty years.



4. This book fills in the gaps of what other books, manuals and orders leave out. Excellent source of understanding exactly what "Magick" is, what its used for an how-to do it. An excellent first start foundation upon which to build your knowledge base.



5. 
   
   Just thought I'd mention how much I got out of this book and how valuable I feel it can be for the practicing magician.
   After searching the bookshelves for well over a year and struggling to find techniques and theory about magick I was finally fortunate enough to come across this book. It totally goes against the grain of most occult literature.
   It saved me years of research as the book covers loads of very powerful techniques, explaining formulas and practices in clearly defined lessons.
   I wondered what the catch was when I bought it. By that time I was already used to being given the hype (and lots of of bullshit) without any substance.
   I found it better than any of the Golden Dawn books at teaching about the Golden Dawn! Not to mention how neatly it explains the Qabalah. It also gives methods and explanations on western paganism, tantra, and some of the more advanced aspects of occultism.
   There is so much dross that gets passed off as occult literature with weird Christian undertones (urrgh)......when you find something like this you wonder why certain publishers can't do a better job of producing quality books - surely it's not that hard?

5 comments about The Teachings of Abraham Book Collection: Hardcover Boxed Set.

1. The books present an in-depth conceptual framework and a practical guide allowing one to recognize the self as a vibrational being and learn how the Laws of Attraction influence the events happening in people's lives. It provides yet a perspective for developing one's Emotional Intelligence by connecting emotions with vibrations generated by people's bodies. Could be a powerful reading for those looking for self-development methods.



2. I love this nice set. Although I do prefer to listen to their workshop cds nowdays. Want to be happy most of the time independently of what other people say or do? Do you want to be happy from within? Then you have to read or to listen to Abraham-Hicks stuff. It rocks!



3. These books are wonderful! I love the teachings in them. They are very user friendly and not too "new-agey" as some books can be. As far as the law of attraction goes, I'd say that this author explains it the best and the clearest. I saw The Secret and read a bunch of books about it, but I never really got it until I read this series. The boxed set is really cheap compared to buying each book separately. Highly recommended!!



4. I have studied for eight years the teachings of Abraham (non-physical beings who channel their wisdom through Esther and Jerry Hicks. Before that I read and studied many metaphysical teachings, along the same route many seekers travel: Science of the Mind, Napoleon Hill, Catherine Ponder, Neville Goddard, Norman Vincent Peale, Joseph Murphy, Shakti Gawain, Louise Hay, Seth, Orrin and DaBen, Eckankar, and WAY MANY MORE.
   
   
   Of them all, Abraham gives me most joy and the best practical applications for living a blissful life. Bottom line of the teachings: thoughts are things and determine feelings, which in turn create our future. There is no death. Our only job is to feel good. When we feel good we are our best selves. But we humans have developed bad habits about thinking, so Abraham gives us game plans. When we follow them we win. When we don't we lose. But we never REALLY lose, because life is eternal, and we always get another chance.
   
   Our best chances today are with Abraham, and those of us "lucky" enough (We earned it!) to have discovered them and to resonate with their powerful wisdom as given to us through Esther and Jerry Hicks, are living pretty wonderful lives because we have learned that they speak Truth.
   
   I already owned the books in this set, in paperback. Those paperbacks are heavily highlighted with asides, marking fave passages. This three-set volume is my "pretty set" the one I have by my side to pull out and choose a page when I want a boost. And, they're my backup for when the paperbacks fall apart from so much handling.
   
   If you're lucky enough to start with the fancy hardbound three-volume set, good for you! (This set cost me less than the three original paperbacks.) Mark them up at will. Reading, studying and being with Abraham's teachings WILL be good for you. Even better things come your way when you DO the recommended exercises and activities!
   
   Would I recommend this set? With my whole heart. Would I recommend any of the teachings of Abraham? With my whole heart. If you are ready for these teachings your life is about to get a whole lot better! Lucky, lucky you.



5. I am probably going to get some flack about the title of my review, but y'know what...who cares? Every day, I find myself getting less and less concerned about what others might think of me. I am reminded of what the late-great Timothy Leary said in one of his last interviews when asked how he felt about being remembered. He said, "The Timothy Leary people get, is the Timothy Leary people deserve..." I really liked that statement and made me realize that I really can't please everyone and even if I could, why would I want to?
   
   Which brings me to the review at hand, the hardcover boxed set of The Teachings of Abraham. I call it a Holy Trinity. Maybe that sounds a little bit blasphemous...maybe that pushes your buttons...and maybe our buttons need to be pushed to help us go beyond what we think or feel is right. Even though this set is boxed, the ideas presented in this remarkable set will help you go beyond any boxes you may have put yourself in.
   
   I have all three books but I bought them separately but I did end up buying the collection for a good friend of mine who is a "recovering fundamentalist"...her words, not mine. Personally, I don't like the word "recovering" because it implies that maybe one is attempting to put yet another cover on oneself and the human species needs another covering
   like we need another Bush in the White House...ooops..did I just say that?
   
   What we need is to not "recover" ourselves, what we need to do is unveil ourselves and the teachings in this book help us to remember how to do just that. Before I even read any of these "Law of Attraction" books, I can remember very vividly as a youndg kid of about 12 or 13 years of age just laying in my bed and thinking to myself what kind of day I wanted to have. I was a pretty funny kid and I really liked making people laugh and so even before I knew what the word 'visualization' meant, I would lie in bed just imagining myself making my friends laugh their heads off and I could see them in my mind smiling and laughing, I could hear them saying, "Oh, man...you're soooo funny, John..." I could feel them patting me on the back and "giving me five" - now I'm just dating myself - but guess what, I'd go to school and the scenes would play out just like they did in my mind. Now I didn't apply these same principles to getting good grades, or avoid being placed on detention for disrupting the class, or being halfway decent in sports, or saved from getting my butt kicked after school after spouting off the the school bully, but I'd go to bed at night thinking to myself, "Wow...I really made 'em laugh today. Tomorrow is going to be even better..."
   
   If you want a better tomorrow, get this set today. No, I haven't won the Lotto using these principles, I don't have a huge house with a 14k gold toilet, I don't have "clients galore" desiring to reap the benefits of my services ---- yet; but what I do have is a good life...a life that feels centered and grounded and happy and the happier I feel, the more I invite beautiful experiences into my life.
   
   This would be a marvelous present to give to yourself. It would be a gift of remembering that you are here to create a wonderful life for yourself and when you create good things for yourself you are actually helping to create a consciousness of abundance for all. The reason why we're in the financial messes that we are now going through as a country is not because of an "abundance consciousness" but because of a "lack consciousness". When you really believe there is enough good for all, you don't have to be greedy or stingy or try and rip people off...nor would you even try...you would want all people to experience what you are experiencing because there really is more than enough for all concerned.
   
   I invite you to go outside your comfort zones and start thinking bigger about yourself and your life. The Divine Spirit created us in Its Image and Likeness - not the other way around - we are ALREADY infinite, abundant, joyful, and powerful and all we have to do is remember...realign with our Original Self and when we do that, good and more good comes to us because good and more good is now flowiung through us!
   
   Peace and Blessings,
   john, 'the Light Coach'

5 comments about A Life at Work: The Joy of Discovering What You Were Born to Do.

1. ...for the release of this book. I am a huge fan of Moore's work but unfortunately, I was greatly disappointed with this particular tome. The depth normally found in Moore's books was lacking - it was subpar to his usual great standard. It was more self-help book than intellectual inquiry.



2. While this is a nice spiritual book to read along your journey to finding your passion and life work, I did not find it to be very helpful or pragmatic for me.
   The author has a very pleasant and engaging writing style that I enjoyed. He uses the metaphors of alchemy to explain the path to creating your life work. He also discusses the belief in the ancient world of us all having an Animus or Daimon that drive our passions and influence us. He also draws on the bible, Buddhism, and ancient mythology along his path to lead us to doing what we were born to do. I liked the fact that he took the focus on simply working and expanded the fact that our life work could be parenhood, our family, our hobbies, our religion, our whatever engages us and enables us to lose our sense of self in something bigger than we are. Beginners will find this book useful, but those of us that have been searching for meaning and a life work for years will likely be disappointed.



3. I've heard some good things about Thomas Moore, but this is the first book I've read. I'm rather baffled as to what this book is trying to communicate. It drifts along almost as if it were sleepwalking, from one fairly brief metaphor or example to the next. I was more than a little surprised by the breezy almost superficial writing style. I am a very reflective person but found almost nothing to reflect upon, in direct contradiction to what I thought I would be invited to do.
   
   Instead I was instructed, rather simplistically in all the symptoms surrounding finding your life work. No helpful ways to be deeply healthy in embracing that life's work from a deeply reflective OR practical space. No playful reveries. No really in-depth examples. My life and my search for the right job, reflective of my soul, is not a spectator activity. Unfortunately reading this book was.
   
   If this book reflects Moore's own current state than I'd say he needs to contemplate his own advice. The book felt obligatory, like he was fulfilling a publishing contract, not producing an expressive, engaging work. I truly do hope though that this sub-par effort may positively help him to go forward. In an odd way it has helped me.



4. Thomas Moore teaches from a place of experience, knowledge, in depth study, and vunerability. Soul and heart are often missing in people's chosen career paths in today's business climate.
   
   A focus on inner work (removing the log from my eye, instead of focusing on the splinter in other's eyes) is required to awaken and implement the profound ideas in this 6 star book.
   
   If we don't connect immediately with the message in A Life at Work, sit with it a while; this gem will put a strong foundation under your dream job. If on the other hand, you find yourself saying, "wow, I really get this, enjoy the ride.



5. Although an interesting book, there are chapters that were just so useless because of all the use of mythological characters. It's hard to identify with that if you don't remember the details of the mythological stories. He gives a brief overview and then tries to tie it in to his work, but overall, it misses the mark. If you are someone who is truly confused about what you are looking for in your life, your life's work, etc..., this book doesn't really give you the nuts and bolts of how to work your way out of that confusion, despite the reviews his personal friends wrote on the back of the cover jacket!

2 comments about The Thing Itself.

1. I loved this book and want to read it again. When I first read it, alone in my living room, I nodded, grunted, and laughed out loud. A few sections made my eyes fill with tears. I kept thinking, "I've got to buy a copy of this for so-and-so."
   
   Todd begins with an anecdote about buying a lovely antique. When this item turns out to be a fake, Todd wonders why this should even matter. After all, the object is still beautiful; it hasn't changed. He then goes on to explore both the nature of authenticity and the history of our yearning for it.
   
   He follows a meandering path, which is a large part of the book's charm. I loved the asides and byways, many of which left me with a desire to travel further along them. I also loved the details contained in these asides. I'm grateful, too, for the specific titles that Todd mentions. Most of all, though, I loved the tone: kind, thoughtful, inclusive, and deeply human. Todd does not make this an abstract discussion. He personalizes it in ways that will help every reader know just what he means.
   
   I read this quickly so I could pass on my copy to my brother. Now I need more copies to give as gifts. I guess the first person to get one will be me.



2. I am the brother who received the gift of Mr. Todd's book . Its excellence and wit has produced within me, among flushes of admiration and enjoyment, a few ominous polyps of envy; the sneaking suspicion that Mr. Todd is simply "better" than I am. Because my sister and I are both writers, "better" in this case, maps not only the geography of witty and elegant prose; but also a writer's envy of ideas so admirably turned as to make one suspect that Mr Todd possesses the sole example a lathe designed to express them as perfectly appropriately as the leg of a fine Queen Anne chair. An idea appears, is isolated for examination, and then twirled and turned around and upside down, until every perspective and permutation has been considered. Other readers, like myself, undoubtedly hold opinions about kitsch, Disneyland, authenticity, antique fairs, Yuppie suburban interlopers, wilderness, personal failings and cultural collapse, but I'll wager that by the end of this book those opinions will have been revised and certainly better articulated. Mr. Todd's genius is that he can make you laugh while he forces you do this. I'll think better of myself because I have bought and shared copies of this book with friends and resisted the temptation of inserting his observations into conversations as my own. Yet having admitted that, I can see that even this dishonorable impulse, is part of the terrain this wonderful book maps.

5 comments about Bringing Out the Best in People.

1. I started reading the book as a part of my personal development with the company that I work for. The book is founded in behaviorism, and does not stray from the concepts associated with this worldview. My issue with it is that I believe that people are more than a reaction to the things that happen to us. We have unique personalities, and they consist of more than the conditioning that they are subjected to. This psychology takes away the idea of free-will and choice, and eliminates personal responsibility. When it comes to managing people, I believe that these are important elements to tap into. This behaviorist approach to management may look good on the surface, and make logical sense, but is flawed by its nature, and cannot have any long lasting impact.



2. This is an essential text for anyone who manages people. Daniels is clearly 'for' creating a workplace that taps the innate desire to contribute and against one run by fear. I've seen nearly 35 years of organizational life, as employee, manager and consultant. That's a lot of fads, slogans and philosophies. This book is the real deal.
   
   When people are managed using these clear, rigorous, objective principles, stress and interpersonal barriers decrease, work exceeds expectations. I also recommend Dr. Marshall Rosenberg's "Nonviolent Communication".



3. Aubrey Daniels offers an insightful look at the behavioral school of management, and its key tools: positive, and negative reinforcement. The book covers how to link rewards to behaviors you want to reinforce, when to deliver them, and how to design systems to support them. While not without its flaws, the book is well written and offers plenty of practical advice - if you're an aspiring manager, or a seasoned veteran, 'Bringing Out the Best in People' is a solid investment of your time.



4. I found this book to offer not only good tools to use but it's a good book to reference when needed. Quick to go over, with keeping to simple and factual format. It's of great use for any level of management.



5. Nutshell review - If you are in a management position and want to understand how to motivate people then this is a really insightful and useful book.

5 comments about It's About Time!: The Six Styles of Procrastination and How to Overcome Them.

1. This was my first,unfortunatly, book on procrastination, and absolutly the worst book on the subject. How simplistic to divide procrastination into six personality styles! Don't try to pigonhole yourself with silly labels! Offers very little reletively to other books on the subject, which can suggest many rich, insightful and even clever ways on becoming productive. Good news is - the only way is up.



2. This book is great. It teaches you how to overcome your procrastination, based on your personality style. What is a good tip for me (a perfectionist) may not be a good one for someone else (a crisis-maker). The author described me to a tee in several scenarios.



3. This was not my first nor last book on procrastination. If you're like me, you read self-help books seeking out the little nugget of gold that is going to help make your life better once you put into practice your newfound wisdom. That's just what I find with Linda Sapadin's book.
   
   While others may frown upon her mode of classification, its forgivable given the mountainous job it is to delve into the psychology of just one person. As a procrastinator, I used books on organization, goal setting and self-motivation. But Sapadin's book helped me to locate the "real" reason I was accomplishing less than I am fully capable of achieving.
   
   I joyfully recommend this book to anyone still grappling with issues of procrastination. You may not like being stereotyped, but your can easily overlook that once you get the results you're after, less procrastinating and more "getting things done".



4. As a lifelong procrastinator on her way down the hill, I have read MANY books on this subject as I try to conquer my problem. This book is the best for me. Others who criticize the categorization may not realize that no one fits into one niche. Because I fit into three categories, I do the exercises for all of them. The visualization exercises are so powerful they bring me to tears! I don't understand why, as they are abstract, but my reaction tells me they are hitting the mark.
   
   I have improved my productivity greatly by DOING the exercises in this book. For me, learning the causes behind my behavior helped me to make better use of my time, most days now! For the rest of them, I have learned to be more forgiving and not become frozen in the self-blame and guilt that contribute to the problem. Each day is not just another day to put things off, but another day to try again!



5. I have mixed feelings about this book (I guess a three star review usually means that).
   
   If you are just realizing that you procrastinate, then this is a good book to start with - it puts a large focus on identifying styles of procrastination. This can be useful, and the stories - that seemed all too believable - that emphasize the effects of procrastination definitely make an impact.
   
   However, if you are pretty aware of your styles of procrastination and thought-habits around it (I was when I read this), then I am not sure that it is very helpful. For example, when I took the "style quiz", I found that I scored fairly highly for several styles, but not super-highly for any of them. So... everything "sort of" applies... which means that the division into styles was only a bit helpful for me.
   
   I didn't find that this book led to significant changes in habits or significant new insights. Still, some of the stories have stayed with me, so... it's a three star book.
   
   If you are just at the stage of admitting that you procrastinate - well, I'd say buy this book! Otherwise, don't...

5 comments about Goodbye to Shy.

1. I wasn't too impressed with this book. I did like her 92 secrets and felt this book just fell short. It's not a bad book; but not a really good read.



2. I bought "Goodbye to Shy' audiobook and listened in my car while driving. Listening to her was like being with a really nice friend who understands you and doesn't judge you and is always ready to laugh with you, not AT you and is the best at giving great advice. I wish I could give her a hug!
   She opened my eyes on a lot of things. e.g. I've heard before that people considered me conceited for avoiding them, and I was just shy...I had no idea they did not understand it. Now I do know that shy people are often mistaken for snobs. I am more outgoing now that I listened to Leil Lowndes' "Goodbye to Shy". I wish I had this book years ago.



3. This is an excellent step by step guide to getting over your shyness. Each chapter focuses on a particular step that shys can use. Then at the end of each chapter, it is summarized in a little gray box called a "Shy Buster." The book is very well written and will be especially helpful to people who are very shy.



4. I almost didn't buy this awesome book because the cover is so lame. It looks like some 1950's book I'd find in my mother's closet. But then I read the reviews and bought it anyway. I'm so glad I did. I can sincerely say it's the most helpful book I've ever read.
   
   Liel Lowndes gives 82 "Shy Busters" which are specific techniques to fight shyness. Her insights into shyness are incredible because she went through the same pain. Sometimes I felt like it was ME talking. It was so refreshing to read something that wasn't written by some "holier than thou" psychologist who thinks we're "sick." No matter how much they are trained, they can never REALLY understand how horrible it is to be shy. But this author does. I can feel her pain as I read the book because it's exactly what I'm going through.
   
   I am only halfway way through the book and have completed only about a dozen of the ShyBusters she used to gain confidence in dealing with people. But already I feel that horrible tension and nervousness shedding away. I can finally see light at the end of the tunnel. I can't wait to tackle the rest of the ShyBusters and say "Good-bye" to being shy.



5. I thought this book was good but not great. I liked a lot of her suggestions but I don't think it's necessary to do all of them since there were some that were not issues for me. The one I thought was most helpful was the one where you list in order from least fearful to most the kinds interactions with others that make you shy or scared to do. Then created mini-steps for each one to tackle them. After that the rest of the tips seem like suggestions for things to add to this list. If anything this is a good starting point.