5 comments about PostSecret: Extraordinary Confessions from Ordinary Lives.

1. 
   I was not aware of the website until I got this book as a birthday gift. It was one of the best birthday gifts I have ever received. The book is amazing. The boldness of some of the messages is astonishing. You can learn here what the REAL world is all about. Some of the messages are funny, some sad, but most of them will make you stop and think about the way we interact with others, what are desires are, etc. I think the reader will often well relate with many of the messages. I definitely encourage everybody to either get the book or at least visit the website.
   Another great title i recommend is Naked Pictures of Famous People



2. Each of the Post Secret books gives you a window into the human soul. Sending in a post card is a cathartic experience. Laugh, cry and connect with insightful journeymen in the human experience. Read the books. Share them with friends. Subscribe to the blog.



3. "Some of the most beautiful postcards in this collection came from very painful feelings and memories. I believe that each of us has the ability to discover, share, and grow our own dark secrets into something meaningful and beautiful." ~ Frank Warren
   
   There are some things you wouldn't even tell your best friend. Instead, you might consider telling Frank by sending him a creative postcard. What started off as an idea for a community art project has morphed into numerous books.
   
   Some of the postcards show a sense of humor, while others show a dark side inspired by people's psychological pain. You may be shocked by some of the vindictive thoughts or even surprised by your own emotional response to the honesty in the messages. Here are a few I can actually include in a review (others are too private to post):
   
   "I put coins in other people's parking meters."
   "I am home-less and no one (not even my family) knows about it."
   "I give decaf to customers who are rude to me."
   
   One thing I know for sure is that some people have given me regular coffee instead of decaf! In this book such a dark side is now revealed.
   
   This book is a fairly quick read because most of the postcards have just a few sentences. Most of the postcards are artistic and represent the feelings and moods of the writer. That is what makes so many of them unique. While reading I had thoughts about sending in a postcard with my own secrets. This book is sure to inspire you in such a direction.
   
   ~The Rebecca Review



4. I've been a fan of the PostSecret site for awhile now. It's a project started by Frank Warren back in late 2004 involving blank postcards. He spread them around and asked people to share a secret on the card, decorate it as they saw fit, and then mail it anonymously to him. In short order, the project took on a life of its own, and Warren started receiving cards and letters from around the world. The book PostSecret: Extraordinary Confessions from Ordinary Lives is a full-color compilation of some of these mailings, and it's fascinating.
   
   Behind the cover of anonymity, people are willing to 'fess up to numerous things that are dark secrets never before revealed. Going through the book, you see secrets such as "He's been in prison for two years because of what I did. 9 more to go.", "I wish my parents could see me for what I am, instead of what I didn't become.", and "I am contemptuous of others so it hurts less then they are indifferent to me." The words themselves can be funny, haunting, sad, or shocking, but the real impact is the artwork that adorns the cards. It's there that you get the full emotional impact of what the writer is saying. For instance... A "Hello, My name is..." tag with the space filled in as "I force new acquaintances to address me by my shortened name because it makes me forget my past.". Or there's the picture of the wrecked car with the hand-written note "I almost decided not to get out, once I knew I'd hit the river."
   
   Not all the items are as dark as what I've noted above. There's "I believe in destiny, and I think I know mine. :) :) :)", "I had a cyst on my face that ruined 7th and 8th grade. Now I love it because it makes me different.", and my favorite (written on a Starbucks cupholder)... "I give decaf to customers who are RUDE to me!"
   
   I guess part of the fascination with PostSecret is the lurid stuff that shows up. But it's also a reminder that what you see on the outside of someone is in all likelihood far different than what they see on the inside. It once again reminds me that everyone is struggling with something in their lives.
   
   There are other books in the PostSecret series, and I have them on hold at the library. This book was excellent in a thought-provoking way, and I look forward to more.



5. I found this book fantastic on a number of different levels. First, it was artistic...people sending in postcards that were original and/or altered to fit their mood. Second, it was truth...or at least something close to it. People sharing their deepest secrets, expunging their soul and saying what they really think. The collection goes from high drama to low comedy from page to page, and kept me enthralled from dust jacket to dust jacket.

5 comments about Way of the Peaceful Warrior: A Book That Changes Lives.

1. To me, this book opened my mind to receive the true message Dan Millman had to share with me in his more in-depth book on life: The Life You Were Born To Live. This book was also entertaining, but didn't really change my life, the way he says others' lives have been changed. The book that changed/is changing my life is The Life You Were Born To Live.



2. This is a very inspiring book. By the way, have you wondered who Socrates is and whether he is real? From my point of view it seems very clear that most of what Socrates says in this book is a direct take off the teaching of Adi Da Samraj, a spiritual teacher that Dan Millman was a devotee of in the 1970's in California. Being a devotee of Adi Da Samraj, myself, and being very familiar with his teaching, it is obvious that this is so. If you go to www.adidam.org you can find out more about this teacher who is alive today and who offers a relationship with all who yearn for real heartbreaking freedom and happiness. You can look up the essay on Divine Ignorance for the correlation of where Socrates talks on page 28 "You are ignorant of where the universe is; nor do you know what anything is or how it came to be. It's a mystery." Adi Da Samraj's book of wisdom teaching for children "What, Where, When, How, Why, and Who To Remember To Be Happy" is also the same consideration written for children.



3. Read this book about two years ago. Wow! It really is a life changer! I've read many books about life. This one is the best! It really creates a focus and balance on life. This book will open your mind and heart. I've given it as gifts to those I love and everyone who has read it has told me the same thing. A must buy! However, as good as Peaceful Warrior is don't read Millman's other books, Sacred Journey or Socrates. As most reviews have stated, they are a disappointment. My opinion is that Millman had one good book in him, and that was Peaceful Warrior. His only other book that was okay, was No Ordinary Moments. If you really want to read a book by Millman after Peaceful Warrior read No Ordinary Moments, but that's it! Lastly, another really good book is University for Success. Combined these two books are special!



4. It was a gift for my mom and she loved it. It's a product that you can't find in Mexico so it's excellent to have Amazon that could bringh it for us LOVE YOU



5. I have read Way of The Peaceful Warrior several times. I always
   find new inspiration in it's pages. This is a must read, especially for
   those like myself who are into fitness.
   Richard Walters, author of The 16 Minute Body Sculpting Kit
   
   The 16 Minute Body Sculpting Kit: Attain Your Dream Body in Just 16 Minutes a Day!
   The NinJew

5 comments about Why Does He Do That?: Inside the Minds of Angry and Controlling Men.

1. This is an excellent book for those who anticpate working with people who are in abusive relationships. However, this book is actually written for the victims of domestic violence. I strongly recommend anyone who is in an abusive relationship and looking to get out or to discredit all his excusses, should read this book.



2. This book is good for understanding and helping someone whom you think is being abused and/or in danger of getting involved with an abusive man.
   It is good for the women who want to understand and/or get away from such men. And it is a good red flags check list for women who want to be sure to avoid getting taken in by abusive men. To give just a few highlights, his chances of changing are slim, his chances of getting worse are very high. Logic or concern for the woman's feelings, appeals to love and so on will not affect him. Seriously threatening to leave him unless he gets serious help will work in a few cases - not many. The book goes through a lot of myths about such people...They act that way because they were abused, it's the alcohol, he has poor communication skills, he needs anger management, he's going through hard times, etc. etc. etc. This author makes the case, based on documentation, that the primary causes of abuse are feelings of male superiority and male entitlement along with a deep disrespect for women. If that sounds hard, oh well, what they do to women is far worse. (If you are in such a relationship you might want to consider that the statistics show that about 70% of men who abuse women also abuse children.) He sees the problem as a cultural one, fed by pornography which treats women as submissive objects, and "entertainment" that even includes murdering women. Different kinds of abuse are included, not just physical, but verbal abuse, and others. A wonderful book. It affirms that abuse isn't the woman's fault, and it is not the woman's responsibility to change the man. It's his responsibility. Period. (My personal opinion, not addressed by the author, is that if he doesn't follow the first step in the 12 step program and ask the Creator for help, he will never be able to change.)



3. Should be required reading for all marriage counselors and maybe all therapists in general. A very empowering book. It identifies these men in easy-to-understand English and makes it possible to understand and cope with their behaviour and abusive language - something all the therapists and marriage counselors in our lives were unable to achieve. Highly recommended, especially if ending the marriage is not a viable option.



4. How to Spot a Dangerous Man Before You Get InvolvedHow to Spot a Dangerous Man Workbook: A Survival Guide for Women Surprisingly sound reading, unveils the myths and mystery of the abusive relationship. Lundy Bancroft's passion in his resolve to merge insight and justice for the abused if not bewildered twenty-first century woman is sensible and courageous. Lundy's work will literally guide and provide every mother, daughter and sister the perceptions necessary to begin healing, necessary to bring us out of this dark age and out of abuse.



5. 
   This is a life changing book. I found myself underlining something on almost every page and writing my agreements in the margins. I urge anyone who is in an abusive relationship or has been in one to read this book. It is essential to understanding those type of men who abuse. If I had read this book when I first got married,it would have saved me from 33 years of abuse waiting and hoping he would change. I left 2 years ago but still struggled with my fears and mixed emotions. People think it should be easy to get out but this book explains so well the many reasons it isn't. When I finished reading it, I felt it was finally over. At last, I felt validated and learned that those nagging feelings I had for so many years were right. Now, there's no looking back, I'm free.
   I haven't found any other book that explains how those men think.
   A must read.

5 comments about The Astonishing Power of Emotions.

1. I have read all of the Hick's books. They are actually the ones who introduced me to the Law of Attraction (today most refer to The Secret). In this particular book, they show you how emotions are the defining factor in receiving what you want, health, wealth and relationships. Another one of my favorite books on the topic is Living The Secret Everyday: My Secret Workbook which also gives you a geat background and application of The Secret.



2. I read a not so favourable review of this book and almost didnt buy it, but I'm glad I did. It's true, the messages are all very similar in their books, but there is always "something" that stands out in each one, this one really did it for me. It also includes a free Cd of the workshop surrounding the basic thrust of the book which I listen to over and over again. I just love it. Deb



3. This is the latest in a series of books by Abraham, a group of nonphysical entities channeled by Esther Hicks. If you are seriously skeptical or put off by the idea of channeling, you may not be open to the material in this book. However, if you read it and simply keep an open mind, I think you'll find it is very helpful, regardless of its origin. Unlike some channeled books, Abraham does not dazzle the reader with elaborate descriptions of astral worlds, how life was in ancient Atlantis or how many stages the soul goes through after death. I'm not criticizing such books, only pointing out that Abraham sticks to much more practical and down to earth topics.
   
   As the title suggests, this book is about the power of emotions in our lives. More specifically, it describes how emotions help or hinder us in attracting to ourselves what we desire. One of the basic suggestions Abraham makes in all of their books is the importance of feeling good. When we feel negative emotions, they tell us, it is proof that we are out of alignment with our higher self, the part that sees us and the world as healthy, happy and abundant. So the challenge is to bring ourselves back into alignment.
   
   Some might criticize this approach as simplistic, even a bit of a tautology (something true by definition or redundant -e.g. "the way to feel good is to feel good?") And, in a sense, it is pretty simple and somewhat of a catch-22 (another aspect of redundancy, I suppose) -- if you feel bad and focus on that bad feeling, you will only feel worse, thereby attracting unwanted things into your life. However, Abraham does offer a way out of this bind. It may not be quite as easy as they make it out to be, especially if you have a lot of practice feeling negative emotions, but it's certainly worth the effort. What could be more important?
   
   The trick that allows us to escape the realm of unwanted thoughts, feelings and manifestations is to move in the right direction, even if its only one small step at a time. This is probably the most crucial point in the Abraham material. What is important is not so much where you are right now as where you are headed. They often use the analogy of driving somewhere. You can't help but be where you are now, but what's important is staying focused on your destination and not giving up because you aren't there yet.
   
   I think the Abraham books, and especially this latest one, give the clearest and most complete description of how the Law of Attraction works and how to get beyond any challenges you may be facing.



4. I know that many people have read this book and love it. But when a book absolutely changes your life, You must speak up. I first read Ask and It is Given - also phenomenal! I have read a lot of self help/spiritual books. There is nothing out there that comes close to the work of Abraham/Esther Hicks. Nothing. If you are a seeker, if you feel lost, if you feel depressed, if you need money, if you need anything at all - READ THESE BOOKS! I thank God that this knowledge came into my life. Bless you all - All is Well.



5. I have read many of the Hicks' books and some say they repeat the same subject matter. Hey, it is about The Law of Attraction and each one of their books approaches it from a different angle. However, another book on the same subject is a very interesting read and gives you a workbook format and a journal to record those thoughts,Living The Secret Everyday: My Secret Workbook.

5 comments about Feel the Fear . . . and Do It Anyway (r).

1. I have read this book twice now...and every time i come up with something else to help my way of thinking. i use to be overly negative and i hated it...so when i got this book recommended by my doctor...i feel like i have taken a 180 and have recommended it to several friends.



2. My rating is specifically directed at the "audio" version of this book. The narrator's voice is not very pleasing to listen to and can become in fact a little distracting. Rather than listening to a clear professional voice, there's a nasal quality to it and a bit of a lisp. You hear a lot of her tongue, swallowing & spit in her mouth...a bit gross. If you don't need the audio version and you are sensitive to these types of sounds (it can over time become as irritating as listening to someone who makes tons of slurping noises while eating), I recommend you read the paperback book version instead.



3. "At the bottom of every one of your fears is simply the fear that you can't handle whatever life may bring you. The truth is: If you knew you could handle anything that came your way, what would you have to fear? The answer is: NOTHING!" ~ Susan Jeffers from "Feel the Fear... And Do it Anyway"
   
   This is one of my Top 10 favorite self-development books. Easily. If you haven't read it yet, I have a feeling it will make it to your Top 10 list as well.
   
   Please (please please) get it. And read it. And mark it all up. And do what Susan suggests. It has the potential to change your life.



4. I think that this book is meant for every one of us on this earth.Reason is that we all go through tough times in our lives.Sometimes everything falls on our head all at once.Then we have no breathing space.We cannot see clearly were we are going,and what we should do.We are stressed to the maximum.This book shows us a way to analyze ourselves in different prospectives.How to handle things that are good,bad,overwhelming and at the same time destructive.
   We need guidance sometimes,and this book has helped me see the light of many things.Friends that unless you share with them their misery will dump you like a sack of potatoes.They use you and throw you away.
   Almost losing a loved one, the desperation of that moment,what can you do, so that you can help your loved one live longer and not die in front of you that such thing does not happen.To extend life for many years more.Is it in our power to do so?I think to a certain extent we can extend it.It happened to me.
   How to react when you are not welcomed in a different culture.How to accept defeat and yet move on.
   I think that we should really analyze how we interact towards each and NEVER take each other for granted.But see the love that is within all of us, and try to express it in every way we can.With a smile, a caress,and a look.It makes the person that sees it feel happy and wanted.



5. "Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway" conveys that by taking positive control of our lives, letting go of resistance, and ultimately choosing one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, we can begin to realize that "pushing through fear is less frightening than living with the bigger underlying fear that comes with a feeling of helplessness."
   
   From a personal perspective, I have seen too many people walk through life afraid, believing themselves to be a victim and giving away control of their lives to others. In fact, I must admit that I myself spent many years as a prisoner of my own fears, letting that fear control what I did and did not set out to accomplish. Eventually, I decided that I was tired of being afraid. This culminated with a skydive at 11,000 feet. I will never forget the moment that I approached the door, wind in my face, stood on the edge, and said to myself, "I believe." For the first time in my life, I completely let go. It was the most beautiful moment of my existence to date.
   
   Control your fears, don't let them control you. Folks... this one is worth your time.

5 comments about Through Time Into Healing.

1. This another excellent work by Dr. Brian Weiss about how understanding our past lives can explain what is happening in this lifetime....amazing stuff.



2. In his first best-seller "Many Lives, Many Masters," Dr Brian Weiss chronicles the first case in which he employed past life regression as a therapeutic treatment. In his second "Through Time Into Healing" we learn how this technique evolved to transform his entire practice. Citing dozens of case histories as evidence, Dr Weiss claims that re-experiencing past life trauma can heal not only psychological maladies but actual physical disease as well.
   
   For those whose consciousness remains grounded in the materialism of consensus reality such claims may be hard to swallow. Not so for anyone aware of current research involving the relationship between consciousness and quantum theory, or the history of Russian research involving the application of "torsion waves" to modify the DNA of an embryo of one species into another.
   
   While Dr Weiss appears at a loss to explain how such cures occur, I suggest he consider this. According to many spiritual traditions all disease is a manifestation of karma, and both karma and disease are illusions, which in turn may be dispelled by simply forgiving the error of understanding which precipitated both, which is precisely what often happens quite spontaneously during the regression process, whether involving hypnosis or not.
   
   My own personal experience with this dynamic began in the spring of 1975. My third wife was sitting in front of me reciting an 800-year-old Greek Orthodox prayer that was reputed to dispel evil and quiet the mind when she was suddenly plunged into a spontaneous psychic vision. Before her she saw a shaft of electric blue light coming down through the top of my head and engulfing my entire body, and a very old monk dressed in red robes standing to my right.
   
   As soon as she described the monk I was immediately struck by his similarity to what a previous psychic had referred to years earlier as my "very powerful spirit guide." But before I could speak of this she reported that my features were morphing, first into a Prussian General, then into a Mongolian Warlord from the time of Genghis Khan. Next she reported seeing an inextricably terrifying amorphous blob of grayish-white energy off to my left.
   
   A few months later we decided to take a seminar in psychic healing given by legendary psychic healer Ben Bibb, and during an aura reading exercise, in which I was the subject, the entire class reported seeing everything she had seen months earlier, and in exactly the same order and detail. According to Bibb the man in red robes was indeed my spirit guide, the Prussian and Mongolian were personas from two of my past lives, and the blob of energy was a "familiar spirit," an artificial being created during a past life of high psychic development.
   
   This is the point at which I probably should have sought the help of someone like Dr. Weiss. Unfortunately, I decided to tough it out on my own and for the next 25 years was continuously plagued by spontaneous encounters with "psychics" who seemed bent on answering all the questions I was too reluctant to ask about the events of these two previous lives. Ironically, many of the people at the center of these psychic events had no inkling of any special gifts prior to their spontaneous encounters.
   
   As the evidence continued to mount I eventually discovered my own tragic role in Genghis Khan's conquests as his nephew Yegu, and my role in Germany's involvement in World War I as its Chief of the General Staff. As the specifics surfaced I began to realize how the tragic events of these prior lifetimes had in fact shaped both the events and the relationships of my current life. Almost everyone in my current life it seemed, friends, lovers, wives, business partners, had played some pivotal role in these former incarnations and had now returned to help me resolve the karmic issues, whether I consciously wanted to or not. But what's important here is that with each new revelation I was able to grasp how my errors of the past we're directly related to my own emotional suffering in the present. By forgiving those errors, both mine and others, I learned I could move beyond the pain and heal.
   
   But what about healing physical disease, you say? Let me illustrate. One principal character in my story was my fourth wife who had been the younger brother in Mongolia that I had allowed to be put to death. Understandably, during our present life together she never felt she could rely on me. A few weeks after we separated, I went into trance to psychically check on how she was doing. I awoke in severe pain as a stone ripped through my kidney, only to get stuck in my ureter. For weeks I was on pain pills, until I ran out. Desperate, I directed psychic energy into my bladder until I went again into trance. When I awoke I stepped off the bed just as my bedroom window "exploded" in a vision of my ex-wife draped in ice. "I need to let go of that" is all I said. Then I walked into the bathroom and the stone came out. The stone was nothing more than the physical manifestation of an earlier negative psychic vision I couldn't remember, but I still have it to this day.
   
   Amazingly, after documenting all these events in my spiritual autobiography I was even able to substantiate many of the events described through historical research. My only regret is that for too long my Guide had to drag me "kicking and screaming" just to get me to listen to what he was trying to tell me. In retrospect, if I had it all to do over again, I would call Dr. Weiss. I'm sure the whole process could have been handled a lot faster and less painfully with his help.
   
   Maxwell Austin van Lack, Author of The Vortex: A True Story of Passion and Karma
   
   
   



3. After reading this book, you may want to jump onto Dr. Brian Weiss' couch for a past life regression! The stories of how past life regression helped many people overcome problems in this life is truly inspiring. (Unfortunately, Dr. Weiss isn't taking any patients!)



4. Yes some of the stories are a little mundane, and some of the stories are fascinating. However I had been getting severe migraines for ten years. My friend introduced me to this book; I followed the Regression steps and have been migraine free for 6 months now. (It hasn't been very long since I've done this) The doctors couldn't find out why I was getting my migraines, the MRI didn't show anything, there were no triggers, no doctor could figure out why I was getting them. Thanks to Dr. Weiss and the Regression steps I found out that I was killed numerous times from head wounds, after that regression I have not gotten a migraine since. I am looking forward to continuing my regression to see why else I have some problems that the doctors can't just seem to figure out. This book is to help yourself, along with stories of proof that have helped other people. If you're looking to figure out why you have some of the problems that you do and that the doctors can't figure out, this book is for you.



5. This is Dr. Weiss's second book in which he goes into different case histories and how the hypnotic techninique can help certain types of patients and illnesses. It's really more for the practioner, but still a good read.

5 comments about Passionate Marriage: Keeping Love and Intimacy Alive in Committed Relationships.

1. Dr. Schnarch might be well-served to take a lesson from military briefings: Tell them what you are going to tell them; Tell them; Tell them what you have told them. Never was a big fan of that process, but this book could benefit from it. Indeed, that - combined with the good doctor's appropriation of words for meanings other than that with which they are usually ascribed (the book could use a good definition section) - makes for a confusing lurch through an important subject.
   
   There is language here that can best be described as psycho-babble: "The process of becoming can lead you to act in ways that still exceeds the limits of your self-image." Or: "At another time in another context, [her] statement was the path of differentiation. Now it was the epitome of emotional fusion."
   
   Emotional fusion is bad; "f-ing" is good; one must "differentiate"; one must "self-soothe"; you must survive "crucibles." (Now "crucible" in this context is a seriously intellectual word, but you'd think the author would want to reach a lot more people other than those who understand the word has more meaning that that of a pot used for melting.) I read the whole book - and experienced an almost physical sense of relief when I reached the last chapters where he pulls it together.
   
   The bottom line of what he is saying, in a highly intellectual manner, is that good marriages are those in which people maintain their own independent identity; partners are not responsible for the happiness of their partner; only when you come together - aware of your own needs and wants and intent on ensuring they are met (too), can two people avoid the abyss of emotional fusion. Bottom line: be yourself no matter how scary; don't allow yourself to be made a slave to the idiosyncrasies and vagaries of your partner; own your feelings.
   
   In short, two halves don't make a whole; two wholes make a complete relationship.



2. I liked the approach this writer took to bringing back the intimacy to a dead marriage. The concrete examples as manifested in therapy sessions held my interest. It's usually better to give an example than to lecture about something. There wasn't a whole lot of new information, but it was presented in an helpful manner. The parts about sex were good, but I kept thinking about the way I saved my marriage. Books such as this one helped, but the one thing that brought my husband and I back together, and created more intimacy than anything we had tried so far, was to perfect our oral sex techniques. Oral sex is perhaps the most intimate of sex acts. If you want to read the book that saved my marriage, check out Was that an earthquake? The Sensuous Couple's (Flip Over) Guide to Seismic Oral Sex. It's great!



3. This book is a bible on the subject of relationships. I enjoyed it from beginning to end. Yes!



4. While the author's knowledge and ideas are on the plus side, his free use of crude and rude...and just plain filthy...language leaves me wondering why a man with a PhD and the years of experience he has must resort to "gutter talk" to make points about relationships.
   Due to this, I found myself unable to share it with my wife and just threw the book in the trash....which is, I'm afraid, where it belongs.



5. If you're not, you need to read this book! The passionate Marriage is an excellent book written in a personable manner with excellent anecdotes that demonstrate the concepts the writer is explaining. Reading this book helped me recognize where I wasn't differentiated and where I needed to do some serious internal work to help myself. It's also helped my marriage a lot, in terms of how my wife and I communicate.
   
   If you're having trouble in your marriage or just want to communicate better and have more intimacy, read this book. It will help both you and your partner(s) connect with each other.

3 comments about Letters to a Young Sister: DeFINE Your Destiny.

1. I'm so enthusiastically thrilled at the things Hill Harper is doing and this book will forever put him in a good light to me. I loved that he was writing a book for young guys to use to manuever through this crazy world; but when I heard he was writing a similiar type of book for young ladies, I was thrilled. I read through portions of the book and, honestly, this is something that girls AND women can relate to and learn from. You are never too young or old to learn a lesson and Hill has done a PHENOMENAL job in helping guide young women down the right road. In a day and age where reading hood-books are the norm, I think it would benefit any parent, guardian, friend, etc. to pass this book onto any lady(pre-teen, teenager, older women) who needs a lesson or refresher in the beauty of being a woman. I thank Hill from the bottom of my heart for providing a little bit of knowledge- from a man's perspective- to the younger generation. This book isn't just for African-American girls, either, this is full of knowledge and I'd recommend it to anyone. I purchased two books- one for my household and one for my younger cousin. Hill discusses sex, gossip, the b* and h words and overall respect. I love the tone of the book and how it REALLY seems like this is your older brother giving you a piece of advice. If you don't have it- get it. If you haven't heard of it before now, let this be all the notification you need that THIS can help a young girl see that she's more than a body and face...she has to DeFINE her destiny to see her worth! LOVES IT!



2. Hill Harper is a genius! He has started a revolution for young people. First, with "Letters to a Young Brother-MANifest Your Destiny", and now with "Letters to a Young Sister-DeFINE Your Destiny". He is mentoring these young people on paper, or as he's called it a platonic hug on paper. He discusses self-esteem, education, sex, belief system, and other topics in the book.
   
   With his educational background, he could write this book all by himself, but he doesn't. He gets help from his friends(Michelle Obama. Gabrielle Union, Nikki Giovanni,etc). This gives his targeted audience advice from two different perspectives, male and female.
   
   He is not keeping the money. All of the proceeds go to his Manifest Your Destiny Foundation. He want to set up a permanent on-line vehicle that mentors young people.
   
   If you have, know, or just see any young women from about 12-24, please but them this book. I bought 8 books the last time. I have have to do the same with this one. Be apart of the revolution.



3. I loved this book. As a Big Sister to an 11 year old girl, I found the topics that Hill Harper spoke to "Little Sistah" about was truly what is on a little girl's mind. I loved that he took an active role in the responses AND that he had a variety of women give their responses. I would love every single parent girl to read this book.

5 comments about The Art of Happiness: A Handbook for Living.

1. I am not a big one for inspirational books but this one struck a chord! Not only is there insight from the Dali Lahma but the Dr. who interviews him asks all the questions I would ask and plays an excellent Devils' Advocate. Anyone who reads this will surely come out being a better person. It gives you a lot to think about. Although I think the DL is naive in some ways, you must take from the book what works for you and keep it all in perspective.



2. If you are unfamiliar with Buddhism, then this book is a good place to start. Also, if you believe fully in the scientific method, as I do, but are interested in Buddhism, then again, this is probably the best place to start.
   
   Instead of overwhelming you with a bunch of Buddhist lingo and ideas as some books do, this book is very gentle in introducing Buddhist ideas and philosophy. Written by a western psychiatrist, it is very good at bridging the gap between western thought and the Dalai Lama's Buddhist wisdom. Cutler asks all the typical questions that westerners have when first exploring Buddhism, so you're not left thinking "Well what about this?". He also adds anecdotal evidence from his private practice to further explain the Dalai Lama's points, which is very helpful.
   
   One of the best things about this book is it's PRACTICAL advice, just little things you can do every day to be a happier person. I think it would be impossible for anyone to read this book and not get something out of it, not be able to make meaningful changes in their life to be a happier person.
   
   If you want to delve a little deeper after this book, I would recommend getting "Healing Anger: The power of patience from a Buddhist's perspective" by His Holiness, which is a translated version of the actual talks that the Dalai Lama gave in Arizona- which Cutler attended and discusses in the Art of Happiness. If you're new to Buddhism like I am, then you'll be glad you read the Art of Happiness first and Healing Anger will make much more sense thanks to Cutler's practical introduction to these ideas.



3. I am about half way through this book and am a bit dissappointed. I wanted to see what others thought of the book and BlueJack's review, unfortunately hits the nail on the head. This is Cutler's book. This book is not by the Dalai Lama. While I do think the concepts of a right to happiness, compassion, non-reaction, etc., are great for personal spiritual growth, I feel that the Dalai Lama's true message has been filtered through a much less able interpreter. I find Eckhart Tolle much more transformative. If you are interested in how Buddhism can help a non-Buddhist read "The Naked Buddha."



4. A very simple, yet enjoyable, read, but I especially enjoyed hearing his voice on the audiobook.



5. Happiness is a core state we all seek to achieve. Thanks, in part, to the Positive Psychology movement, happiness has taken center stage and is now the focus of a significant amount of attention. On a recent visit to a large, chain bookstore, I noticed one whole table devoted to books related to happiness. It appears that a happiness movement is underway.
   
   It is said that happiness can be achieved through external and internal means. Happiness achieved through external means is, unfortunately, short-lived. Life long happiness is derived from internal sources - positive states such as kindness, compassion and tolerance.
   
   The value of this book lies in its presentation of a framework the reader can use to attain these positive states - a framework based on the integration of scientific psychological research and Buddhist philosophical principles. In addition to the framework, each of the chapters contains exercises the reader can use to reinforce the learnings presented in the chapter.
   
   Due to our survival instinct, negative states of mind often predominate our thinking. Negative states impede or dilute our happiness. To increase your level of happiness, the authors argue that these negative states need to be combated through the greater cultivation of positive mental states. The content of this book will help guide you towards developing these positive mental states.
   
   Seeking greater happiness? This book represents a good starting point from which to start your journey.

5 comments about The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself (New Harbinger/Noetic Books).

1. After I finished reading this book, I purchased other copies and gave them to people I really care about. They have since done the same for others. If you are going to read one book of this genre this year, this one is it. What I loved most is the simplicity. The message is concise, and to the point. A quick read, not to be missed.



2. "The Untethered Soul" is a wonderful book containing some difficult Spiritual concepts that are so well written that they are easily understood.
   
   I would highly recommend this book for anyone who is on their journey to their Spiritual path.



3. As Singer described the crazy mind (our inner roomate), I found myself laughing through the the first 50 pages of this book. I realize that my laughter comes from the deeper self which observes the mind.
   I recently read Eckhart Tolle's "Power of Now" and "A New Earth". Singer's book is a great adjunct. I highly recommend this book.



4. The search for Truth can be so convoluted, so complex,and yet, Michael Singer points out that it is rather simple. Truth transcends dogma, creed,relentless searching and, most importantly its source is within us, waiting for simple choices to be made. This elegantly simple book presented itself to me when I was looking for a different book, and after reading the first paragraph of the first chapter I bought it. It is laser-like in its focus and clarity. His prose is simple, direct and practical.
   
   One of the teachings of Buddhism is that "When the student is ready to learn, the teacher will appear." Perhaps that is why this book stands out for me--it was a message I was ready to hear, and its transformative power is remarkable. There are no elaborate skills to master here--you just keep returning to the simple lessons he provides and in a short period of time you feel deep changes taking place. He explains how the psyche works, why we do the self destructive things we do, and how we untangle the intricate web of false assumptions we operate out of that keep us in fear, anxiety and confusion.
   
   Notice all of the 5-Star ratings. This is one to read over and over again...



5. I gave this book to all of my friends. Singer gives the reader perspective to "let go of the little things" and truly live in the moment. Now to put it into practice...