5 comments about Broken Promises, Mended Hearts : Maintaining Trust in Love Relationships.

1. It's not just that this book is written horribly (it's nothing but extreme excerpts from people who've obviously made therapy their personal hobby). It's not just that this book fails to offer actual constructive ideas about dealing with trust issues (although it does explain, ad nauseum, all the ways you might see trust issues). The real problem is that it sounds like the most old-school, formulaic psycho-babble you could possible imagine.
   
   In a nutshell, here's what this book will tell you: 1. it's all because of your parents and 2. it's all because of your gender. Helpful? NO!
   
   I really have no idea where all the good reviews on this book are coming from. Seriously, if I didn't have such extreme trust issues, I'd wonder if the author didn't pay a couple of his friends to drop Amazon a note...



2. This is the most important book I have ever read. My partner and I finally understand WHy we made the mistakes. Only then could we fix them and not repeat them. If you read nothing else ever, read this book. Your life will make complete sense



3. I think this book has some fabulous points on anyone who has any trust issues, it's very direct and makes so much sense. I wish I had read this book a long time ago, I'd say it really gives an in depth description as to why so many of us don't trust and sabotage a potential good relationship.



4. I have to admit, I read this and really found a lot of good points made. I am sure we can each read into what we want about a book and find some spin on how it fits in our life. I am not a big self-help book guy. My girlfriend HATES them...she thinks they are just the easy answer, we need to look inside ourselves to find what we are looking for. These books are just cookie cuter and broad strokes over what we are looking for. But for me, I say read it and let the book get you to think about things. It won't solve all your problems and issues....you will have to do that on your own. But at least this will give you a nice start. I truly recommend this to whomever is wanting to at least improve themselves and take ownship of thier own life!! Yea books!!!



5. The surest path to happiness is losing yourself in a cause greater than yourself. When a relationship is over, it is best to bury the past and get on for your own satisfaction. It just wasn't meant to be with that particular person. Words are important, but its the tender little gestures of affection, the hugs and hand-holding, even shoulder squeezes, which confirm personal connections. Call upon the pride you feel for the good choices you have made.
   
   It could be jealousy rearing its ugly head, so it is not good to give too much credence to people who are asking you to rethink things. Life is like a jigsaw puzzle, without the picture on a box to show what iss supposed to look like. Live life everyday and be happy just to be alive. Sometimes you're not even sure if you have all the pieces, like my Russian architecture in blue and gold. Life can be beautiful, a song sung by the California group.
   
   Even if you wish the truth were something different from what it is, call the problem like it is so that everyone, especially the person you love, can understand where you're coming from. If anyone doubts one of your choices, stand up for yourself. Put your best foot forward and fight for your perspective. Value how you feel about yourself, if for no other reason than it makes you happier -- and more pleasant to be with. You will gain the support and approval you need so go right ahead and step in, feet first.
   
   Love is expressed through trust and respect. Our natural reaction is to not trust ways and ideas counter to our own. In non-romantic relationships, you can hardly expect to be respected for what you say or believe, but you can expect instead to be condemned by someone because of it. It is rare to find an opportunity to savor a thought or fact. For most, it is immediately inspected for relevance. Life does not stand still; we can't stop change. At times, change disappoints us and causes hurts to surface. Without it, we could never hope for anything better than what we have. To continue living is to change. Complicated situations worked through enhance the relationship; moving on and putting hurt aside keeps us mired in self pity. We'd have no way to ever hope to be a better person than we are. Love can aid in enduring change to glean good from it.
   
   The source of overt frustration is not change itself, but what we let change do to us. Change would be no problem if we didn't wish others would think and act as we do and as we feel they should. We need to strive to let the power of love enable us to respect and trust others and their opinions more. It's hard sometimes to know who to trust. I have trusted the wrong people many times, and I have loved the wrong people. But life is honesty. I learned the hard way that the "little white lie" sometimes is necessary for the other person's soul.
   
   If you possess a very particular type of honesty, that's straightforward and compassionate, you should ever let anyone tell you that it's not the right way to be. It's okay to admit that you don't know it all. Money is nothing compared to personal growth and emotional fulfillment. Problems generally don't happen one at a time. They don't wait patiently for you to solve one thing before another pops up. Problems often travel in groups.

1 comments about Dilbert: 2009 Desk Calendar (Dilbert Books (Paperback Andrews McMeel)).

1. I carry my 2008 Dilbert planner/calendar around with me everywhere... It fits nicely in my purse and has just enough room to keep the information I need in it.
   
   Being proactive I went ahead and ordered my 2009 calendar because my boss is already planning things into next year. The 2009 version has the comics set up the same, filling each page on the left. They are just as funny as always (you either love Dilbert or you have never lived in cubeville). However the main difference between the 2008 and 2009 version is that the pages on the right, which contain the weekly planning portion, are black with little colored or white rectangles going from top to bottom. The change from the two by two blocks stacked 3 high didn't really bother me, what did bother me was the outline of the pages being black, meaning you can't overrun your writing into the colored edges... if you have something long, you'd better make it fit because if it runs out of the box you won't be able to read it.
   
   I love the spiral holding the calendar together because it allows me to just flip to the week I'm in and leave it there until the following week - no flipping or hunting needed. The paper is quite thick and my 2008 version has held up quite well to the many abuses I put it through (furious page flipping, killing bugs, functioning as a coaster etc.) Because this one is made the same I expect the same duribility
   
   Also for those of you who like me are lefties and use the uniball style pen to keep the back of your arm from changing color as you write... a uniball pen will not write on the waxy glossy paper they use. I have to keep a ball point pen hooked to it for writing because it is the only writing utensil that seems to work (no pencils either).
   
   Other than that, I love this calendar and will probably own the 2010 version as well (unless they start putting out Calvin and Hobbs or the Far Side in calendars).

5 comments about 101 Things to Do Before You Die.

1. Great book. I love that it is like a journal so you can keep track of the things you can mark off of your list and take notes along the way.



2. Don't bother getting this book. Several of the things it says to do are illegal, like go do Graffiti, & get arrested, Other's most people will not able to do such as get a painting in a gallery or write a great American novel.
   If your want to do something fun and new save your money use Google, & take the money you saved & buy something fun.



3. Generally it's a great book, and I love the layout of it. The only bad thing I have to say is a few of the "Things" are bound to raise eyebrows.



4. A very funny and unusual book. The pictures and way that you fill it out are great. Stickers included are a bonus!



5. I was looking for a book to encourage me to get out and live life to its fullest. This book is a disgrace to humanity. 85% of its suggestions of things to do before you die are either illegal or immoral. I didn't want to waste the money to send it back and I refuse to give it to anyone. The solid waste dump seemed most appropriate, so that's where I put it.

5 comments about Out of Body Experiences: How to Have Them and What to Expect.

1. This is an interesting book to read, BUT, Robert Monroe's books, especially the first (Journeys Out Of the Body) and third (Ultimate Journey) are better, in my opinion -- especially if you are looking for a method.
   Robert Monroe had more, deeper, and better-understood OOBE's. Peterson definitely got out there, but his insights were not as good. I think some of his interpretations may be just plain erroneous. Also, Peterson often had a lot of trouble getting out. It's clear from his list of exercises for developing consciousness and getting OOB that he has a particular mindset or mental type which is different from Monroe's (and from mine). It doesn't have to be that hard to "get out," so Peterson is probably experiencing doubts, fears, ambivalence. Or maybe he has a different astral er, "constitution"?
   That said, there are different flavors of ice cream for a reason, and for some people Peterson might be just the right one. I did like the way he included material about working, riding the bus to work, etc. which brought the whole body of material "down to earth", made it more believable, and showed the reader how Peterson fit into the everyday world.
   This book is available for free online.



2. Ha! f--king immortals who would have ever guessed? this book was written in a way by which the average human can gain valuable insight. written in simple language.
   The author reminds me of myself quite a bit, as far as initially being fearful and shocked by the concept of us, humans beings, possesing like a secret 3rd eye which would allows for us to see things and go to places simply by concentrating & adjusting our vibrations.
   
   My reflections after reading:
   
   1. I realized that alot of the things in the Bible, Koran, etc are very much valid. its just that the old scriptures are written in 2000 year old language. The idea of different religions is something like an exaggeration & lead by fanatics who dont realize that everyone is right.
   
   2. Most fanatics are driven by one thing..."fear". Fear truly is the mind killer! my experience has helped me to embrace a more logical belief. There should be a human religion as we are all connected!
   We should not fear each other.
   
   This book will bring you 1 step closer to what we really "REALLY" are....1 step closer 2 truth.



3. Wow! Its very cool that Bob Peterson and Charles Tart have written a book together. I feel a kinship with Bob even though I have never met him and never read his books, because both my and his books on OBE were out in cyberspace at about the same time. Charles Tart is, of course, a legend.
   
   Anyway, if you want to learn about this stuff and not pay for it, read my book DO_OBE. If you google it you can find a copy.



4. this book is well written and puts alot of fears to rest. i find that your expectations highly affect what you experience and this book keeps you in a good frame of mind. this was the first book to get my friend "OUT" and she cherishes this book. i have a special attachment to another book because it was the first to get me "out", even though this robert peterson book is a better, more well rounded book. i highly reccommend this book, actually i just let a few people borrow it, they love it.



5. Hello, this is basically the same review I wrote for "Adventures Beyond The Body. It's basically the same book just written by two different people. This book will also help you to acheive an OBE. This book is also an excellent read, but obviously this authors OBE experiences are different from the other author.
   This is where I am with the OBE issue....
   
   I figured I'd weigh in on this book.
   In other reviews I had stated I was raised Catholic but had more or less given up on Christianity and other religions as a source of knowledge about the next world.
   I decided to go looking for myself. Being a big fan of the movie Flatliners, I was wondering if this OBE thing could be accomplished with out actually stopping your heart.
   A little internet research led me to this book and one other which I will also review.
   The book really is an amazing read.
   He gives great tips on how to accomplish the experience and what to expect.
   Like other reviewers I found myself lucid dreaming and being able to sway and partially get in and out of my body within a few weeks. But it literally took me over a year to overcome the fear factor and actually leave my body.
   I titled my review, "Be Warned".
   Why?
   Because the author was right, one you force the experience you can't stop it.
   I would say in the last ten years I have had hundreds if not more OBE's.
   I went looking for answers, I didn't find any.
   OBE's are NOT NDE's (Near Death Experiences)
   There is no white tunnel waiting for you to enter.
   There is no garden of tranquility waiting for you.
   Nor were there any flames or demons.
   What did I see?
   It's difficult to put into words exactly..........
   The author claims to have experienced some very incredible things, and who am I to say he's lying.
   Everyone I've told has told me, you were asleep or imagining it.
   There really isn't anything I could do to convince them otherwise, I was as awake during the actual experience as I am during my real waking state.
   What did I see?
   LOL, my bedroom and the downstairs of my house. I tried an experiment by moving a lamp while out of body.
   As soon as I reentered, I saw the lamp had NOT been moved.
   This leads me to believe when you are out of body; you are seeing the spiritual side of the real world, a mirror image if you will.
   I haven't had any contact with any otherworldly beings, positive or negative. Whatever celestial secrets are out there, the angels and demons are keeping their celestial mouths shut.
   Like I said, I started this looking for answers and found none. The experience itself is VERY difficult to control. You vision is either clear as can be or extremely distorted and unfocused. I don't remember if it's the author of this book who says to "demand clear vision" while out of body and it will happen. I tried that, DIDN'T WORK!!!!.
   I did look down at my arm while out of body and what I saw was beautiful. It was like an outline of an arm with millions of little blue lights inside of it. I also have looked at my bed on numerous occasions and the only thing I have ever seen was a blank bed with the indentations of a body laying on it.
   I've never had any scary encounters but my experiences are really never that long, if you so much as think of your body, ZAP your right back in it. I've never been in any kind of fear of possession, I've seen the "silver cord" that is mentioned in the book and it's very real. Nothing can take your body without your permission I don't care what the fundamentalist's say. Your soul has a claim on your body, period.
   I've never had an experience that has lasted long enough for me to actually venture out of the house so I can't comment further on that.
   I guess I can't wait for some comments from people. Have any of your experiences been the same as mine?
   I started doing this looking for answers, religion and the occult gave me none.
   OBE's gave me none.
   If you're bound and determined to do this, then it's at your own risk.
   Like I said, once you force the experience, you CANNOT stop it from happening again.
   It doesn't seem to happen at night when I go to sleep, but if I lay down to take a nap in the afternoon forget it.
   I'm in and out constantly. There is however a school of thought that says a part of us leaves every time we go to sleep. I'm inclined to believe that, maybe I'm just not recalling the experiences during my nighttime slumber.
   Again folks, be careful, if you aren't mentally ready for this then don't do it.
   If you're bound and determined to do it, then it's at your own risk.
   Whether or not you find any answers to your questions will depend on.............don't ask me, it seems the universe is content to withhold any otherworldly information from me, oh well.
   Take care.
   B

2 comments about Self-Directed Behavior.

1. Pretty much the best self help book I have ever read. Watson takes a scientific approach and gives you instructions on how to change any behavior you'd like.



2. This book is very clear and helpful, especially for those who are unfamiliar with behavior modification techniques. It provides a great introduction to self-regulation with many typical self-change examples, such quitting smoking, alcoholism, and many other topics too. I suggest picking up a copy of this if you are serious about changing a behavior with a scientific approach in a step by step process.

1 comments about Overcoming Social Anxiety and Shyness: A Self-Help Guide Using Cognitive Behavioral Techniques (Overcoming).

1. I haven't read other books on social anxiety, but I have read a number of books on anxiety disorders. This book is so helpful to me - it's practical and realistic. The author totally gets social anxiety - the causes, beliefs, behaviors, and effects - and suggests cognitive behavioral techniques to address and ultimately minimize the anxiety. It's a comforting relief to have someone understand, explain, and help resolve something that can sometimes be so difficult to live with.

5 comments about Creativity: Unleashing the Forces Within (Osho, Insights for a New Way of Living.).

1. It is a great book for a creative person.



2. Osho gives it to you straight. There are many great observations in this book and they are very direct. He's not a gentle kind of lama, but tells it like it is and makes you wake up.



3. Osho really has a point of view that worth reading his books. BUT, he is not a good writer; he can think, but cannot write. His books have major problems in coherence and repetition. We long ago knew what is creativity, what is awareness, but Osho presents a new view from a different angle..A Philosophical View.. that comes out from you not crafter by you.
   
   Beside the bad writing criticism, there is a HUGE cristicism I have. Osho in many areas in his writing convey his personal beliefs. NO! readers don't need your beliefs..keep it for yourself please. We readers need to benefit from your vision and that's it. I am saying that because Osho tries to indulge what so-called Buddha. What is that? I don't care who is Buddha. Please represent something I know. I don't care if you believe in that Buddha or whether you see him the super star. Another thing, Respect other religions. Osho many times talks about God. What is that got to you. You are a writer presenting a vision that MUST be independent of any religions of beliefs. This is the poison of Osho's book that i barely close my eyes when i cross by those pages. I ask readers to be analytical in reading Osho's book and take the vision that is useful and neglect his bad extremes and I ask Osho to master how to write a book and please stay away from religions and talking about God and please leave Buddha..I am sure he is resting where he is.



4. I picked up the book due to its attractive title , and my wish to see how it feels like being more creative.
   
   While the book has a few good points, the majority is filled with rambling. I dont know much about the author Osho, but from the book, I picture him as a lunatic who is just obssessed with himself. I tried to finish reading the book, but everytime I tried, I got frustrated and put it down.
   
   Perhaps, I was too quick to jugde, but from my reading of the book so far, it was my worst buy of 2007.
   
   Still keen to read more about creativity, but I should be more selective next time.



5. In my opinion, THE best book ever written on the subject.
   Pick it up and turn to any page...

2 comments about El Poder De La Intencion.

1. Si, es un libro imprescindible para todo aquel que tiene en
   mente no solo el desarrollo espiritual sino ademas, el desarrollo de todas sus potencialidades.
   A fin de cuentas podemos ser muchisimo mas de lo que somos,
   mejor de lo que somos, mas utiles de lo que somos y sentirnos
   mucho mas plenos de lo que nos sentimos. Este es un camino,
   basado en la amplia experiencia y busqueda del Dr. Dyer. He
   leido de el varios libros, el primero,hace varios anios, fue "Tus Zonas Erroneas",
   desde entonces se ve en el autor una evolucion que lo ha llevado a acercarse mas al espiritu
   y a una comprension mas clara de las verdades medio escondidas en la sabiduria milenaria
   de oriente y en las religiones de todo el mundo.
   Lealo, y no olvide sus otros libros, entre ellos "Tus Zonas Magicas" (es otro "imprescindible").
   
   Luego de leer a Dyer, uno empieza a creer mas firmemente en
   ideas como "No existen limites" o "Yo Soy Eterno".
   Uno empieza a entender que nuestro estado natural es la
   perfeccion, la felicidad, la abundancia, la plenitud, que no es
   necesario sufrir, que el sacrificio es solo solo una opcion que
   elegimos mas o menos conscientemente. Y lo mejor de todo: al
   comenzar a cambiar nuestros pensamientos, nuestro mundo
   comienza a cambiar, y finalmente, el "es posible"
   se hace una frase mas natural para nuestras creencias.
   Que la Luz lo acompane en su busqueda
   y Que Dios lo sostenga en la palma de su santa mano!.



2. This was the FASTEST service I have ever received. The book was a gift for my mom. She has checked out this same book several times from the San Antonio Public Library and I thought she would like it if she had one to own. It looks great, the delivery was one day to the next. We were very pleased. Thanks, Amazon. I will keep on shopping and would definitely recommend you to my friends.

5 comments about Rightsizing Your Life: Simplifying Your Surroundings While Keeping What Matters Most.

1. I am almost 50, and my husband just arrived at this milestone, and we are trying to declutter. I found this title on a bibliography and reserved it at the library. I've never been happier not to have bought a book. The main problem is that the title gives no indication that it is aimed at a very specific audience. The author wants you to believe it is for Baby Boomers, but it's not. It's for Empty Nesters. I had our first child at 39 and my second at 41, and my life is full of kid clutter. The author assumes over and over again that anyone in my generation is done raising kids, and it just ain't so. It's such an annoying assumption that it's hard to look for any good ideas in the text, which is full of examples featuring people my age with grandchildren. Just what I need to really cheer myself up! As another reviewer mentioned, the solutions are primarily aimed at those with lots of disposable income. I think the title is targeted to draw a wider audience than the book deserves. It's more about life changes (grown kids or aging parents) than decluttering.



2. As a life coach and someone anticipating a move, I read this book with great interest. It is well written, succinct and timely. If you are in your 50's or 60's and thinking about where you'll be living in the future, you will find this book extremely helpful. I think even those in their 40's would benefit by this book. It talks of what decisions are ahead in regard to your living arrangements, what you need to consider, how to get ready and where to go for additional help. I will use it for my clients and myself!



3. My husband and I build patio type homes..smaller homes for people who want to "downsize". And I find I can relate so much to this book.... I am in my middle 50's and I have carried so many of my belongings and my stuff with me around from house to house...and I am tired. I love my stuff..don't get me wrong...I am a collector and a saver of anything that makes me smile. But we had to move to a smaller house 2 years ago and I had to leave a lot of things behind. When I did, I realized I can live with out so much stuff and it is a very free feeling!!! It is not easy..but it is worth trying. I think this book really covered many different types of people and lifestyles. Rightsizing may not mean smaller for you..but it may mean a new life in a new area. It may mean using your master bedroom as a studio and sleeping in the smaller bedroom..because the light is better in the Master. I would give this book as a gift to my friends and to people who are struggling with a new stage of their life.



4. I'm in the difficult process of preparing to down size and I find this book most informative and helpful. I highlighted certain items and find myself returning to the book for inspiration and motivation.



5. As a boomer, we are in the position of having to consider our own lives as well as this of our parents. This book helps do both. It is a four star effort with how to sections as well as great examples. The colored dot suggestion was worth the cost of the book by itself.

4 comments about Getting Together: Building Relationships As We Negotiate.

1. This book helps people understand each other, and build relationships based on trust. I work in open adoption. To me, this book is taylor made for those relationships.



2. The folks at the Harvard Negotiation Project have produced a lot of books. I have found this volume the least satisfying of their works.

   Perhaps this is because _Getting to Yes_ and _Getting Past No_ are so amazingly good that the level of analysis simply wasn't sustainable for a third book. Or perhaps it's I personally tend to think by analogy and had already started applying the concepts in the first two books to non-business settings. In any event, I found the concepts obvious and the discussions banal.

   The quality of the later books seems to return to the same high level as GTY and GPN. For example, _Difficult Conversations_, though not strictly a book "about negotiation," is very fine, although not as easy a read as the other two.

   Bottom line? Useful if you haven't figured out on your own how to apply the concepts of principled negotiation to your personal life. Otherwise, skip it.




3. Getting Together builds on the foundation of Getting to Yes by outlining a framework to build relationships while negotiating. This is a must read for all business people and a good addition to Getting to Yes. It does not read as smoothly as Getting to Yes, but the information is equally valuable.



4. If you really care about your self-development, read it.