3 comments about A Woman's Self-Esteem: Struggles and Triumphs in the Search for Identity.

1. Though smaller and less ambitious than most of Branden's other works (such as the brilliant Art of Living Consciously), two women I know have reacted very favorably to this book, which suggests to me that it could be a useful primer on Branden's approach.

   The book's modest size (and attractive cover art, I should add) may be an advantage in this regard. While intellectual purists might still prefer a tome, many people prefer a small book with essentialized information. A Woman's Self-Esteem is a good example in this regard.

   Most of the book's chapters are expanded versions of articles Branden published in New Woman magazine in the early 90s. While many of the book's themes will of course apply to men as well as women, Branden's primary focus is on the challenges facing women: How to embrace their own strengths when doing so may not be fashionable, how to be assertive in a job or in a relationship, how to keep appropriate boundaries.

   As with his other books on self-esteem, Branden devotes the first several chapters to summarizing his overall theory, and I found these to be among his most elegant summaries ever. Although I personally enjoyed the book as a whole, one mild disappointment for me was the chapter on "Embracing Our Strengths." Here Branden addresses the difficulty some women experience in finding the will and inspiration to assert their own intelligence and individuality. He addresses a number of helpful issues in this regard, but fails to mention the powerful function of good art. Since he is well aware of the role of art in inspiring heroic behavior, I found this omission puzzling.

   Ayn Rand admirers will find interesting the last chapter of the book, which is a reprint of Branden's essay "Was Ayn Rand a Feminist?" from the anthology Feminist Interpretations of Ayn Rand (co-edited by Chris Sciabarra and Mimi Gladstein). Branden concludes the essay: "Where did Ayn Rand stand with respect to feminism (a term she never liked)? A feminism that sees woman at her best as a heroic figure will find support and validation in Rand's writings. A feminism that defines woman as victim and man as her evil oppressor will see Rand as the enemy -- because Rand sees woman not as weak but as strong, and because Rand sees romantic love between man and woman as an expression and celebration of their esteem for each other as well as their esteem for themselves."

   One major yardstick for judging a book such as this one is the extent to which is encourages people (and women in particular) who might never do so to think deeply and clearly about the role of self-esteem in their own life. It seems to me the book will be very useful in this regard.




2. I gave this book to my daughter who had been struggling with a relationship. Because she's only 18 years old I thought I was taking a long shot. Branden's books had completely changed my own life, but they've all been intellectually thrilling to read, and sometimes teenagers are superstitious about being intellectually thrilled. Not my daughter. To my surprise. She took to this book like a duck to water, and it changed her life. No one's books, that I know of, make bigger IMMEDIATE differences in a person's life than Nathaniel Branden's. He is a national treasure.



3. I'll start off with the positives: The ideas presented in this small book are a short recap of one of his other books: The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem with examples drawn from women's lives. His assertion that we need to live consciously, purposefully and with integrity, embrace our strengths, accept and assert ourselves, as well as take responsibility for our own lives and happiness is certainly helpful and worth reading - and living! The examples he gives are no-brainers and over-simplified. By that I mean that he tends to give situations where the person is clearly doing something harmful and is the cause (usually the sole cause) of her own pain or, otherwise, where people who care about her and are reasonable are the cause of it. This is a pretty common in books and not a major flaw but very disappointing when you have to deal with the more difficult, complex and gut-wrenching realities of life and can find little help in such books. There are times when we have to deal with unreasonable, uncaring people who are causing you real damage to our lives. The author also glosses over the difficulty of ending long-term, important relationships when you know they are harmful to you. You get the feeling that his own limited experiences (a white, well educated, well-to-do, older man) prevent him from seeing the injustices in our society and make him believe - and teach - that simple self-adjustments are all that are needed. One star was deducted because of this.
   
   Then comes the essay in the appendix that takes away the other two stars from the rating. It is entitled "Was Ayn Rand a Feminist?" Here are a couple of quotes from this essay:
   
   "She was always pleased when someone told her 'she thought like a man.' And yet, when asked if she would have preferred to be born a man, she invariably answered, "God no! Because then I'd have to be in love with a woman!"
   
   Another quote:
   
   "...The black dress seemed excessively revealing - because it was astonishing to discover that the lines of her shoulder were fragile and beautiful, and that the diamond band on the wrist of her naked arm gave her the most feminine of all aspects: the look of being chained."
   
   Also:
   
   "Ayn Rand was a ferociously intellectual, proudly self-assertive powerhouse of independence who described herself as a "man-worshipper."
   
   And last but not least he quotes Ayn Rand:
   
   "I see man as superior to woman" "...man is bigger, stronger, faster - better able to cope with nature"
   
   To my sadness and near shock, Branden goes on to justify everything she has said and condemn none of it as destructive misogynism. In a book about women's self-esteem, stating and defending these ideas is so destructive that I wanted to go down to 1 star. But, as I said in the beginning of my review, he has some useful and good ideas. Unfortunately, they are contradicted in the essay.
   
   In The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem he states: "It would be hard to name a more certain sign of poor self-esteem than the need to perceive some other group as inferior." Branden would have done well to be more conscious and to have more self-esteem when he wrote the essay on Ayn Rand. He seems to have been convinced by her (grudgingly, of course) that women are inferior to men. If he were more conscious, he might have countered her reasons for finding men superior with a couple of rather obvious responses. Isn't giving birth an important role in nature? Do you consider a donkey superior to men because it is stronger?
   
   As for the image of women being chained, he defended that as being OK because it refers to her sexual aspect only and that fantasies of being ravished or overcome by a dominant male figure are transcultural and it would be absurd to insist that they tell us nothing about the female psyche. It does. It says that the female psych has been damaged in almost every culture. For a great book, if you're truly interested in this subject, you can read Riane Eisler's Sacred Pleasure. I found that book to be truly eye-opening.
   
   Branden concludes that only "A feminism that defines woman as victim and man as her evil oppressor will see Rand as the enemy..." Not true! A feminism that does not see men or women as inferior, one that sees both men and women as lovable, one that sees men as people for women to love - not worship - will see Rand's ideas as the enemy! Her ideas are clearly an enemy to a Woman's self-esteem and it is very, very, sad that they are defended in a book that's supposed to help women with self-esteem!
   
   
   Here is a link to the book I recommend if you want to understand how our sexual fantasies have been influenced.
   Sacred Pleasure: Sex, Myth, and the Politics of the Body--New Paths to Power and Love

2 comments about A Teacher's Guide to Stick Up for Yourself: A 10-Part Course in Self-Esteem and Assertiveness for Kids : Every Kid's Guide to Personal Power and Positive Self-Esteem.

1. This is a great lesson to follow for a small group setting as well as whole class. The lessons allow for you to adapt them to your students and they are very easy to follow. They are also creative and give you ideas on what to say during each lesson. I would recommend this book if you are planning on doing a group on self-esteem and assertiveness.



2. I have spent alot of time searching for a book like this one. I am soooo glad I finally found it. I work with elementary and middle school kids as a mental health counselor and have found these exercises to be the best in allowing kids to discover their own potential. It is a VERY effective book and well worth the money for families, teachers, counselors, and psychologists doing group work. I actually plan on using it for my own kids too.........great tool !

4 comments about The Planets Align So Rare: Twelve Dimensions to the Human Potential.

1. This book is amazing! It gave me the knowledge and understanding I needed to move forward in my life towards positive avenues. It helped me to better understand who I really am. This book was the best journey I have ever taken!



2. I just finished reading "The Planets Align So Rare" and my head is spinning...in a good way! I was overcome and moved by the authors' ideology about life and the universe. Some of the things they write about might seem almost obvious in retrospect, but in today's society where people spend most of the time on their cell phones rather than interacting with the person right in front of them, it's apparent those seemingly obvious ideas have been forgotten by much of society. And I'm just as guilty as the next person. And then other points they make in their philosophy are original and complex, but always presented in an orderly, easy-to-read style. In some ways, it reminded me of "Conversations with God" and in other ways of "The Celestine Prophecy" or "The Prophet," but only in the essence of the spiritual genre. The way "Planets" is presented is wholly different than any book I've read. This book follows the journey of the spirit in all of its stages (the authors call them dimensions) of life and death. Each dimension touches upon astrological aspects that relates to it, but only in the most basic of ways, and mostly at the beginning of each chapter. I don't really know very much about astrology, yet I understood what they were talking about perfectly. Then they move past the astrology to discuss the potential for growth in each dimension. There is so much valuable information, I definitely need to read it again just to get what I missed the first time. I wholeheartedly recommend this thought-provoking book.



3. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in philosophy and self realization. A great book for someone who would like to learn more about the basics of astrology and the influence the study of astrology may have on your present existence on this planet. There is enough information written in this book for those who wish a more in depth approach to astrology and philosophy...all written in an interesting, easy to understand style that makes for a very pleasant reading experience. Enjoy !



4. Written by psychic astrologer Ray Sette with Carlo DeCarlo, The Planets Align So Rare: Twelve Dimensions to the Human Potential offers the conundrum that all human potential already lies within the fabric of each individual's being, waiting for the choice to bring out the potential and make it real. Based on the concept that each person's astrology chart, choices, and free will are therefore unique, The Planets Align So Rare outlines astrological influence upon each of twelve aspects of human potential: the physical being of self, self-worth and abundance, thoughts, foundations, creativity, health and well-being, balance, transformation, beliefs and psyche, achievements, awareness, and knowing. Drawing connections between astrology and the spiritual realms as well as the earthly material realms, The Planets Align So Rare is a positive affirmation of the human will to destiny as well as a user-friendly introduction to the life-shaping influence of heavenly harmony. Recommended for astrology buffs.

1 comments about How to Say It to Boys: Communicating with Boys to Help Them Become the Best Men They Can Be.

1. This book provides specific words and phrases to use in talking with, disciplining, and generally raising a boy. It is divided by age group (baby boys and toddlers age 0-2, preschool boys age 3-5, etc. up to older teenage boys age 16-18) and by topic. I read the preschool section only with basic topics like bath time, bedtime, and eating, but with excellent others like computers/TV, gender identity, moral development).
   
   This book is simple to read and understand. The format of each topic is the same including Things to Consider, Three Things You Must Do, Things to Say (specific questions and sentences), Words, Phrases and Actions to Use (a nice list of specific words for support and encouragement), Things Not to Say and Do, and Words, Phrases, and Actions to Avoid.
   
   If you read the book straight through, it may seem somewhat repetitive, but I found that in my first reading (when I needed the most help with discipline), it helped greatly to have the "right words" to say repeated for me. You owe it to your boy to check out this book!

No comments about Self-Esteem Tools for Recovery.

5 comments about Daring to Be Yourself.

1. Stoddard's work is a mess of contradictions. In advocating "paring down" to get to what is really important to us, she encourages more buying! Her suggestions and examples are drawn from her life and the lives of her friends - extremely wealthy and very similar to her. If you're looking to find yourself in a way that's inexpensive, non-elitest, and grounded in reality, this isn't the way.



2. Of the thirteen books I've read by Ms. Stoddard, this is my favorite (although I've loved them all). When you read this book get a notebook and answer the questions she asks and when you are finished you will understand YOUR personal style. This book encourages readers to find out what they love as opposed to what is popular or trendy at the time. Have you ever gone into a friends home that perfectly expresses the lifestyle, hobbies, interests and loves of that person? This book is about having what you want with the help of the best decorator ever and the fee is very reasonable! I used to think that the title was kind of cheesy until I talked with several friends who decorate in beige because it's safe-even though they really love purple, lime or raspberry. If you are a purple loving, beige sofa-ed chicken, you really need this book!



3. I think Alexandra Stoddard is one of the best writers! She discovers little things and small details that we don't even take the time to perceive!!!!!! Her books make us feel connected with us and the world and give us a sense of belonging.



4. Alexandra Stoddard is one of my favorite authors and over the last four years since I dicovered her I have been able to collect and enjoy 20 of her books. This one continues to be a favorite. It talks about having the courage to be yourself in aspects from decorating to travel to gift giving. Every chapter is beautifully written and includes Alexandra's tradmark -favorite quotes by some of her favorite authors. (this one made me smile, "Beware of all enterprises that require new clothes." -Henry David Thoreau) This is a book that is so helpful and wonderful to have that I can't believe it is out of print and difficult to get. Luckily, Amazon offers Zshops and auctions. If you love, flowers, travel, decorating, gift giving, hosting parties, or clothes and would like to hear valuable insight on all of these topics - this is a book your library shouldn't be without.



5. This book was okay, but not great. Stoddard's books on interior design are her true forte, and I will stick to reading those in the future.

5 comments about Addicted to Mediocrity: Contemporary Christians and the Arts.

1. If you're a Christian involved in the arts, you MUST read this.
   Even though the book was written back in 1981, Franky's comments about contemporary evangelicalism indulging themselves in propagandizing, sloganeering bad art with the label "Christian" slapped on it is more relevant that ever.
   
   Franky attacks the false notion that if you're a Christian and you are an artist that any art you do MUST have an overt, and obvious "Christian" theme to it. Creativity in and of itself is Godly, and good and Evangelicals need not slap a cheap propagandizing slogan on it to justify it.
   
   Likewise, Franky tears down the false assumption that some actions in the Christian life are "spiritual," (ie . reading your Bible and praying) while others are "non-spiritual" (ie playing with your kids.) All of the Christian life is spiritual.
   
   I can't recommend this book enough!



2. This book fits well with other similar books as a welcome addition to my growing library of books on art and Christianity.



3. A little too much filler for me. His dad, Francis Schaeffer, has a similar smaller book on the same topic that is better.



4. Few people who have reviewed this book are apparently aware of Mr. Schaeffer's own artistic work in the years following the release of this book. This book was published in 1982. Three years later, Frank Schaeffer began directing feature films. Go and watch one of these films (all directed by Frank Schaeffer):
   
   Baby on Board (1992). Slapstick comedy starring Judge Reinhold and Carol Kane.
   Rebel Storm (1990). Futuristic action film starring Zach Galligan and June Chadwick.
   Headhunter (1989). Occult horror film starring John Fatooh, June Chadwick, and Steve Kanaly.
   Wired to Kill (1986). Post-apocalyptic action film starring Devin Hoelscher, and with Merritt Butrick.
   
   While it's true that Schaeffer's film work was consistent with one of his ideals (none of these is labeled or promoted as a "christian" film), with regard to artistic excellence they all fall completely flat. Not a single one received even an average review. All are considered some of the worst of the medium, and the low points in the careers of those who acted in them. Don't take my word for it. Watch any one of them yourself. You'll likely find yourself scratching your head over the dichotomy between what Schaeffer says in his book about how Christians (or anyone) should approach the arts and what he actually did in the years following the release of his book.
   
   Unfortunately for Schaeffer, it completely undermines his credibility on the subject, and sheds a harsh light on the book and what was apparently behind it; the desire to lash out, embarrass and humiliate evangelicals. Who can argue the truth behind his main points? No thinking person can. It has been the elephant in the room for years in the evangelical world. A widely read book on the topic was badly needed (still is).
   
   Christ made it clear that his followers are called to speak the truth boldly, which Schaeffer clearly did here. But he also calls his followers to walk in humility. It's sad that Schaeffer didn't approach this book (or those that followed) with that attitude. It would have blunted the apparent hypocrisy of his later artistic efforts.



5. While this book is simply states and placed in question answer format, it gives the impression of being written for a bible study class. Art and The Bible by Francis Schaeffer is much better oriented towards offering advice on what Christian art is and how it applies to Christians in today's times.
   
   This book talks about how Christianity and art have fallen away from each other and how we can get back on track. Again, an excellent Bible study read and talk book, but not much of a "for-fun" read.

4 comments about Tuning In.

1. This purchase was a HUGE disappointment. Don't bother wasting your money buying it. I had high hopes for this item when I purchased it, but it turned out just to be a meditation CD basically with the author talking through it. Big disappointment considering the other items the author has produced.



2. Unlike the other reviewer, I knew nothing about Cheryl Richardson's books or other material. I bought the cd for meditation and to relieve stress. Cheryl's voice is strong and soothing. I haven't read her books and don't usually read anything pop-culture, but plan on checking her work out simply because of her voice! She gives you three options of meditations based on time 10, 20 and 30 minutes. Basically, they are all the same meditation, the longer ones include different focus questions. The background music is peaceful - and I'm very picky about music. She uses visualization and it's easy to get into it. I bought the cd when I was going through a tough time last year and the one word that captures my experience of it is "safe".



3. Product came in a few days later than initially promised but in good condition. Overall, pleased....



4. Product was as advertised and arrived when promised. I'm very satisfied with the service.

No comments about Joyful Recovery From Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/ME.

2 comments about I Can Do It Cards, Health (I Can Do It Cards).

1. These colorful 2-sided health affirmation cards are easy to read. These affirmations are very simple & general. Some of my favorites are:

   "I return my body to optimum health by giving it what it needs on every level."

   "I balance my life between work, rest and play. They all get equal time."

   "I am the only person who has control over my eating habits. I can always resist something if I choose."

   "My happy thoughts help create my health body."

   "I go within and connect with that part of myself that knows how to heal."

   For anyone who is trying to recover from an illness or injury these affirmations can be really helpful. These are also good affirmations for people trying to maintain or improve their health by strengthening their subconscious mind. Enjoy!




2. I would highly recommend Louise L hay to anyone she is a phenominal author and is very wise.