5 comments about Tear Soup.

1. I purchased this book for my Daughter and son in law who lost their infant child. It was a great comfort for them



2. All three items were in beautiful condition. The story is absolutely fabulous - especially if you are grieving about anything.



3. My mother is very ill - we're not sure if she'll survive. Since she's such an integral part of my young kids lives, I've been trying to talk more about death and dying. This was one of the books I purchased to generate a discussion. My daughter liked it but wondered why the lady was so sad. She seemed to focus on this and had trouble getting past this unknown. She's five years old.
   
   I liked the book well enough to purchase it for a friend who lost a son just over a year ago.



4. I found this book while trying to find a book to explain the loss of my father to my 3 children. After stumbling across it in the bookstore, I believe I found a gem. It really told a beautiful, very touching story about Grandy who is suffering a loss. It really shows the different stages of grief one goes through and it really hits home. I had my kids and sister read it, and then I gave it to my mother. I highly recommend this book to those who are grieving. I think, I too, will be handing this out to those who are suffering a loss.



5. This book is a nice way to let someone , who has suffered a loss of any kind, know that you understand how sad and difficult this situation is for them.Cards are good,but I have sent this book to people of all ages with a short handwritten note as an offering of condolence. It's format may seem juvenile,but its message is clear. Also because it is simply written, it is not a book that takes deep concentration, nor is it "preachy".These factors are helpful when the one grieving is overwhelmed with emotion.Certainly it is a book to help young people, but ANY age can benefit from it's messages. In my message to the recipient, I mention the books format and that it's messages are clear.Everyone I have sent it to has truly appreciated it.

5 comments about The Wisdom of the Enneagram: The Complete Guide to Psychological and Spiritual Growth for the Nine Personality Types.

1. This is the best book that I have ever read on personality types.
   It even eclipses Myers-briggs in that it outlines WHY we are the people that we have become. Though there is a lot of information, the author leads the reader in small enough steps to not only grasp the material, but to comprehend the potential of our own growth and the way foward in our lives. Un missible for those that work in larger groups or want to understand their families and loved ones better.



2. This is "The Source" of information on the Enneagram.It is also used by Fr. Wm. Meninger in his exploration of the subject. The ancient adage "Know Thyself" is exemplified in this Masterpiece.
   While contemplation is extremely important for interior developement,getting to know yourself and the reason for your actions is its external complement. You'll discover through "The Wisdom of the Enneagram" the path to self-knowledge.Self-awareness will lead the true seeker to self-correction and less suffering.
   Greater humility,the antidote for pridefulness, is cultivated through self-knowledge.



3. I have read several books on this subject and this is definitely the best so far. Well written and easy to understand.



4. This book was more on target about my issues than any other book i could have read and it told me how i need to improve my weaknesses. It has helped me really see my self and the destructive patterns that i never realized that i am caught up in.. I recommend it highly if you are ready to change and have inner peace of mind



5. I had the good fortune to study the Enneagram, as a graduate student in psychology, with Luc Brebion, one of Claudio Naranjo's original "disciples," who brought the teaching of the Enneagram to North America. It was my understanding at the time (1980) that the teaching of it was limited to those who'd studied with Claudio, or his original students, as it was so easy to get it wrong.
   
   I now understand why: the only frame of reference, before the Enneagram, for the study of personality, was a psychiatric one--personality DISORDER (in other words, personality features so extreme or destructive that they were truly pathological, and created major obstacles to fulfillment in both love and work). The great virtue of the Enneagram is that it helps us understand our personalities WITHOUT PATHOLOGIZING. Being able to understand our personality traits and styles can be very useful...but when we feel pathologized in the attempt, it's a turn off (besides not being merited).
   
   Given those considerations, THE WISDOM OF THE Enneagram is the ONLY book I've recommended to clients in therapy over the years, and it has been very well-recieved. It is the ONLY book I've yet read on the Enneagram that really gets it right; I highly recommend it to anyone who wishes to know and understand themselves better. I both helps to locate personality blindspots, and to FORGIVE ourselves for them...while, over time, the greater awareness opens up a broader frame of reference for other possible responses to life. (This is why the hardest people to "type" in this way are those who have done the most inner work; as a result, their behavior, thinking and speech is less predictable, less discernable as having a particular flavor...with the result that who we REALLY are--the True Self or Soul--can shine through the increasingly translucent cover of personality).

5 comments about The Seeker's Guide (previously published as The New American Spirituality).

1. One Day She'll Darken: The Mysterious Beginnings of Fauna Hodel
   
   I heard about this book..when I heard Oprah Interview Ms. Lessor...I ordered it..I found it to be informative..tying in all the religions..pointing us to our oneness...



2. I am approaching my 50's and one of the first things that changed was my vision. This being such a wonderful book for those in their "wisdom" years, I would like to recommend that it is reprinted and made available in LARGE print. I am really challenged with the fine print and the word congestion on each page. Thank you for the consideration!



3. Nicely written, personal and relevant for anyone "seeking" information on spirituality. It doesn't promise anything but makes a compelling case for meditation. Several tips for meditating are offered throughout the book and a variety of specific meditation practices are available to integrate into your life. I liked that the author understands that changing your daily routine to include meditation takes forgiveness and patience. If it becomes an exercise in obligations too early on, one may be easily discouraged.
   Well done and enjoyable read promoting meditation as part of a spiritual path.



4. This book is extremely hard to read because of the small print--some lines are squeezed together and the print becomes even smaller. The reader needs to be aware that this book is dry and much like a text book. The author concentrates so much time on her lifestory. There are many other books about spirituality that are positive and uplifting for the reader to enjoy.



5. I am about two-thirds into The Seeker's Guide. I read 10 - 20 pages per day. The subject matter is very interesting to me. However, I'm finding the writing tedious. I often re-read exerpts and have difficulty with Ms. Lesser's personal reactions to everything she has experienced. I find myself wanting to know her experiences but not her evaluation. She's traveled a phenomonal path and I'm anxious to learn about her evolvement, relationships, travels and teachers. Just as I begin to have some vicarious experience, I'm thrown off by another personal opinion she has. I find it distracting. To me, it feels like she wrote more for her personal gratification and not so much to assist the reader in a search for spirituality. Still valuable stuff!

5 comments about The Secret Lives of Men and Women: A PostSecret Book.

1. What a great book. It's amazing to see the other secrets people are carrying, hidden from their family and friends. If you like PostSecret, you should check out SecondChanceOnline.blogspot.com, where people anonymously post regrets they've had.



2. Is there anyone left on earth who doesn't know about these books, the blog, or the website? If so, where have you been? Out of all the coffee table books I've read in the past, the PostSecret series is the very best of the best. I haven't viewed all of them, but will. That's a promise.
   
   THE SECRET LIVES OF MEN AND WOMEN is probably the least favorite of the book thus far. Maybe because it was so thin compared to the other two.



3. ive been a follower for the postsecret project for a while now and i love the books that theyve produced with some never-before-seen secrets in there.



4. I think this one is a little less art, a little more content since Warren knew the secrets were a success (and people cared less for the artistic value of the postcard itself). The postcards are presented in ways that are easier to read than in the first postsecret book (I have not read the second book). The pages are also used more efficiently than in the first book. This book's secrets run more on the darker side. I felt a lot more sad reading this one than the first one. I don't think there was but one funny "secret." All I can say is that I hope the people sending these in are being genuine because I'd feel like a chump if they weren't.



5. I enjoyed the range of emotions the pages and pictures brought out. It was interesting to see so many share without worry. It makes you know you aren't alone in some of your thoughts. Very unique and artistic.

5 comments about The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles.

1. This is a great little book with alot of wisdom. I am very happy with my purchase. The transaction, shipping and date of arrival were excellent.



2. If you are in a certain part of your life right now, you'll find the book profound.



3. What a great book. A very fast read. Honest, "tough love" for the stuck creative personality. Some coarse language I could have done without, but lots of sharp insight and effective support for his advice in the telling of his own stories and those of others.



4. This was a great book that a friend recommended to me and I'm glad she did. Sometimes artists get stuck or stagnant and more than once I have found myself "warring" with myself as we sometimes do. This book opened my eyes to some of my creative blocks. Great reading.



5. I cannot rate this book highly enough. It is one to read over and over again. I stumbled upon a copy years ago and each time I pick it up, I learn something new. Many thanks to Steven Pressfield for writing this very valuable, uplifting, "meaning of life" book.

5 comments about The Spontaneous Healing of Belief: Shattering the Paradigm of False Limits.

1. I finished this book about a week ago and have been deliberating it's content trying to post a suitable review. Quite simply: it seems as though there was a germ of a really good book in there somewhere, but it never materialized. It seems as though Gregg is just trying to replace one mental box for another, that in order for one to program the universe to ones liking, one must alter or change or abandon their beliefs in favor of a new system of beliefs, which in the final analysis seems to be at the very least - pedestrian. It's a new version of make new beliefs or rather, make believe. Gregg's use of scientific proof's is quite sloppy as well and very often unsupported.
   
   It is my considered opinion that it is the dispensing of ego driven belief systems, intellectualizations and judgments that will allow us to begin to experience the wholeness of life and creation; as a very wise being once said "a house divided against itself cannot stand."
   
   A disappointing journey.



2. If you want to know more about your subc.I heartily recommend these CDs
   
   The Power of Your Subconscious Mind
   The Master Key System
   Thought Vibration or the Law of Attraction in the Thought World
   The Science of Getting Rich
   The Science of Mind
   Think and Grow Rich: Original Version



3. "The Spontaneous Helaing of Belief" by Gregg Braden is a powerful and scientifically based book.
   
   Amazingly everything that exists emerges from a simple 'Reality Code' and this code can be changed/upgraded by intent/choice.
   
   Recent scientific evidence is confirming that the universe does in fact work like one big 'consciousness computer' This consciousness computer is programmed by means of the language of human emotion & focused belief. As a result our feelings about ourselves & our world are most important as a basis for constructing a new reality.
   
   "The Spontaneous Healing of Belief" is a highly recommended book & to think of ourselves differently is the beginning of spontaneous healing.
   
   Better read together with a New Energy novel "Nexus" by Morrison & Singh, deep, soulful, inspiring & transformational.



4. The hard-nosed skeptic will caricature Gregg Braden's "The Spontaneous Healing of Belief" as just another "New Age" book written about how we create our own world by merely believing. I want to defend Braden's book from such criticism, and I invite skeptical readers to study this interesting book with an open mind. It is not that belief provides the easy route to New Age enlightenment, it is that Braden's "belief" involves the hard work of purification as we learn to tune ourselves with something bigger than our narrow self interests. While Braden's treatment is not perfect, it is easy to find what he intends to say in the face of would-be criticism. Negativity will not have the final answer, even when it comes with a pretense of rigor. We must also put our best foot forward in a positive sense.
   
   Braden (page xi) summarizes his understanding of scientific evidence: "Paradigm-shattering experiments published in leading-edge, peer-reviewed journals reveal that we're bathed in a field of intelligent energy that fills what used to be thought of as empty space. Additional discoveries show beyond any reasonable doubt that this field responds to us -it rearranges itself- in the presence of our heart-based feelings and beliefs. And this is the revolution that changes everything."
   
   Braden (page 3) raises a troubling point: "What if we're living our lives shrouded in the false limitations and incorrect assumptions that other people have formed over generations, centuries, or even millennia? Historically, for example, we've been taught that we are insignificant specks of life passing through a brief moment in time, limited by `laws' of space, atoms, and DNA. This view suggest that we'll have little effect on anything during our stay in this world, and when we're gone, the universe will never even notice our absence."
   
   Braden (page 16) writes: "It becomes abundantly clear that something -some intelligent force- is holding the particles of you together right now, as you read the words on this page. That force is what makes our beliefs so powerful. If we can communicate with it, then we can change how the particles of `us' behave in the world. We can rewrite the code of our reality."
   
   Braden (page 20) writes: "The atoms of our reality either exist as matter or they don't. They're either here or not here, `on' or `off'." In the off position, Braden considers particles that are transformed into "invisible waves." Braden (page 21) writes that, "everything boils down to opposites: pluses and minuses, male and female, on and off."
   
   Braden (pages 23-24) writes: "Everything is ultimately made of the same stuff. From the dust of distant stars to you and me, ultimately everything that `is' emerges from the vast soup of quantum energy (what `could be'). And without fail, when it does, it manifests as predictable patterns that follow the rules of nature. Water is a perfect example. When two hydrogen atoms connect to one oxygen atom as a molecule of H2O, the pattern of the bond between them is always 104 degrees. The pattern is predictable. It is reliable - and because it is, water is always water."
   
   Braden (page 28) writes: "A fractal view of the universe implies that everything from a single atom to the entire cosmos is made of just a few natural patterns. While they may combine, repeat, and build themselves on larger scales, even in their complexity they can still be reduced to a few simple forms."
   
   Braden (page 31) relates belief to the universal: "Every day we offer the literal input of our belief-commands to the consciousness of the universe, which translates our personal and collective instructions into the reality of our health, the quality of our relationships, and the peace of our world. How to create the beliefs in our hearts that change the reality of our universe is a great secret, lost in the 4th century, from the most cherished Judeo-Christian traditions."
   
   Braden (page 41) writes on healing: "Beliefs have long been known to have healing powers. The controversy centers around whether or not it's the belief itself that does the healing or if the experience of belief triggers a biological process that ultimately leads to the recovery. For the layperson, the distinction may sound like splitting hairs. While the doctors can't explain precisely why some patients cure themselves through their beliefs, the effect has been documented so many times that at the very least we must accept that there is a correlation between the body's repairing itself and the patient's belief that the healing has taken place."
   
   Braden (page 46) writes: "Just as the belief that we've been given a healing agent can promote our bodies' life-affirming chemistry, the reverse can happen if we believe that we're in a life-threatening situation."
   
   Now it is clear that Braden's "belief" is not any belief, or a statement of faith. Rather, Braden describes belief as a synthesis. Braden (page 52) defines belief: "that it's the acceptance that comes from what we think is true in our minds married with what we feel is true in our hearts." Braden (page 53) writes: "Belief is our acceptance of what we have witnessed, experienced, or know for ourselves."
   
   So there can be wrong beliefs when our reason is not in balance with our emotion, and so to arrive at something self evident (as Braden requires) involves an innate error recognition. It is this way that belief can be tuned with the universal, but this requires discipline. Braden (page 59) writes: "the universal experience that we know as feeling and belief are the names that we give to the body's ability to convert our experiences into electrical and magnetic waves."
   
   Braden (page 74) writes: "Simply hoping, wishing, or saying that a healing is successful may have little effect upon the actual situation. In these experiences, we haven't yet arrived at the belief -the certainty that comes from acceptance of what we think is true, coupled with what we feel is true in our body- that makes the wish a reality."
   
   In is interesting that Braden sees reality as a computer simulation, and it comes with belief codes that act as part of the universal computer program. This admission would seem to delight materialists and science fiction writers that venture similar speculations. But Braden's usage is metaphorical, and there is a serious caveat that permits a break from a mechanistic world view: we are able to re-program our poorly tuned beliefs, because instinctively we know that the simulation is only an illusion. Because we know that an appearance is an illusion we are able to escape the dictates of a computer program, and therefore greater reality cannot be just a simulation. Braden (page 137) writes that, "while our bodies are certainly in this world, the living force that expresses itself through them is actually based somewhere else, as the larger reality that we just can't see from our vantage point."
   
   Braden gives us many helpful hints on how to re-program our beliefs. Braden (page 159) writes: "To make a change in something as powerful as the core beliefs that define our lives, we need a trigger that's equally powerful. We need a reason to jolt us from complacency of one way of thinking into a new, and sometimes revolutionary, way of seeing things."
   
   Because we can break away from the output of a mere computer simulation, Braden's big reality involves a spiritual realm that rediscovers the wisdom of Buddha and Jesus. Braden (page 199) writes: "Jesus taught that we must become in life the very things that we choose to experience in the world." This corresponds to Braden's belief code number 27, and by now I hope you feel the jolt of this remarkable book.



5. I found this newer version to be a "part 2" of the book, "The Divine Matrix". The information seemed to repeat everything I learned in that book. That book, "The Diving Matrix", I found fascinating and very interesting. This newer one is a comparable read, but not if you're looking for newer information.

5 comments about Changes That Heal: How to Understand the Past to Ensure a Healthier Future.

1. Thanks for the product, it was as advertised and was posted to Australia in very quick time. I was amazed how quickly it got here actually! It beat other books i had ordered before this one!



2. Though I am not quite finished reading this book, I can say that it has offered me so much insight into myself. Not only that, but it has helped me to see things that I need to change. I think this is a great read for ANYONE!!



3. Changes That Heal is an incredible book. It explains human behavior but provides biblical principle to help in understanding. The book provides hope in that it explains all of the areas in which God wants us to learn to live and to be more like Him. It tackles the topics of boundaries, bonding, truth and grace, and many others. It allows the reader to take a look inside that is safe and not punishing. After reading Changes That Heal you will be able to prosper in all relationships through better understanding. I highly recommend this book!



4. I have read this book, so I know what it's about. However, I purchased the book to be sent to someone else, and though the delivery confirmation indicated it was delivered, the book actually wasn't delivered. So the person I sent the book to, never received it. Amazon isjust now sendilng out a new book. I'm waiting to see if it arrives.



5. Dr. Cloud discusses some intense topics in Changes that Heal. If you have trouble setting boundaries with people, or if you didn't even know that you are supposed to be setting boundaries with people then read this! It is not an easy read. I think I would typically read each page a couple of times to understand it fully, but it was definitely worth it. My in-laws keep several copies of this book on hand to give to friends and family because it has been so helpful to our family. If you have never experienced true freedom in your relationships and you would like to, then read this book!

5 comments about ADD-Friendly Ways to Organize Your Life.

1. I've not read the entire book yet, but I already know this book will change my life. (No, it isn't a cure all. We all know there isn't one, though we secretly wish one could be found.)
   
   I just finished reading Chapter 5, "ADD Decision Dilemmas". This chapter wonderfully describes problems I've always classified as "procrastination", but really aren't. I'm 40+ now and being introspective, I've really figured out some of my behavior patterns and partial reasoning for it, but this book really nails it. Not only will this book help you identify those behaviors earlier, it provides suggestions that will help you deal with it!
   
   Being the typical ADDer, I couldn't just read the book cover to cover. I've been skipping around (and this book is wonderfully arranged so that you can). I loved the suggestion about having a few files with labels like "I can't believe I haven't called about this!" and other file titles determined by your reaction to the task. (Chapter 17, Fear of Filing) How lovely! I've started countless piles of "things I need to take care of, and soon", that end up just being shoved in with other junk so I can clear a space... Well, now I've got a new plan for that. I'm going to order the "filing crate on wheels" or similar, also from the book, so that I can create files like "take care of this or I'm screwed". Of course, I still have to work on getting to the 'taking care of it' part. But with better organization, the rest should be easier. I'm sure I'll find a good suggestion or two in the book.
   
   I disagree to some extent with the reviewer that rated the book 3 stars because so many of the suggestions involve others. It is true, there are a lot of suggestions involving others. That isn't the book's weakness; That is just a fact of ADD and of life. Lets face it, having more people around to help us deal and remember is simply handy (especially if they don't also have ADD.) I'm single and live alone. Lots of these suggestions can be adapted. You can make use of helpful people that don't live with you. My sister visits from out of town from time to time, I have friends at work that are understanding, etc. Some suggestions may even be adaptable to remote interactions - telephone conversations and emails. As I read the book, I try to think of how these ideas could be adapted. Don't get me wrong, if another version came out with more suggestions targeted toward singles, I'd buy it again!
   
   Bottom line - if you've struggled with organization/disorganization, get this book! Especially if other organizational books haven't helped you. After all, ADD, like everything, is a matter of degree. Besides, you don't have to be diagnosed with ADD to find techniques crucial to ADDers helpful.



2. Too many books read like the author just copied articles on a subject and crammed them into a so-called book. This was one of those. There just wasn't any helpful information in it and I thought it was a waste of money.



3. These ladies clearly know first hand what it's like to live with ADD by any name. Their approach to the problem is easy to understand and effective in that it teaches you how to work within the limitations of this condition and play to it's positives. A very useful and practical approach.



4. This book addresses the challenges that adults with ADD face every single Day. There is a section in each chapter called: Is this your history? It is if you:
   1. Find that forgetfulness and lack of planning add to your daily stress;
   2. Resort to making an impulsive decision just to get it over with;
   3. Allow people or circumstances decide for you;
   4. Let escape activities interfere with your responsibilities;
   5. Tend to hyperfocus and lose track of time;
   6. Live in crises, reacting to circumstances;
   7. Thinks that everything is a "A" in your priority list;
   8. Rarely step back to consider what really matters;
   9. Have difficult to remember and follow future tasks;
   10. Has a cluttered house, bedroom, or office.
   You will find yourself in the stories related in this book and will find solutions for your problems. I did not give five stars because I do not agree with some "Level Three Solutions-Help from Professionals", but the book is good.



5. This book is a gift to adults with ADD. I have only read 2 chapters and it has already made a big difference in my life. As I read, I recognize myself on each page and then I get suggestions on how to better cope with different issues and situations.If nothing else, this book has given me hope. I strongly recommend it to any adult with ADD. It is a great tool.

5 comments about Alcoholics Anonymous - Big Book 4th Edition.

1. I am a member of A.A. and wanted to purchase a copy of the Big Book. I always shop at Amazon.com due to the great pricing and service. I just wish that Amazon would have shown me the actual product. A.A. publishes multiple sizes and covers of the Big Book and this was the only one I saw on Amazon. Unfortunately, I noticed at my next meeting that the one I was getting from Amazon was the smallest and cheapest made big book and I paid 3 times what it was worth. I kept it, but was rather annoyed with the outcome. The book is a MUST for any suffering alcoholic, or anyone who knows\lives with one. It is informative, well-written, and full of knowledge and hope. I recommend it for almost anyone.



2. Every recovering Alcoholic should have a copy of this book in your home. It will be your backbone and needed structure while you take one day at a time.
   
   You can learn from others who have walked this path before you!
   
   Merna
   
   Pocket of Pearls: A 30-day pocket workbook to start hearing a softer voice inside of you!



3. What can be added to a book that has been around since 1939 and is still read after a quadrillion people have read it? By following the stories of the various people who have recovered from alcoholism, the "main idea" will certainly hit you. What idea? When it dawns, you'll know.
   
   If the dawn has come already, you will find strength and hope in all of your relationships.



4. Hi there,
   
   I strongly recommend the Audio mp3 version of the Big book: Alcoholics Anonymous: Big Book, Original Edition



5. This book tells exactly how hundreds of thousands of real alcoholics have been saved from alcoholism. How can anyone be critical of that if it works? Only the stupid, or ignorant can criticize a book which has literally saved so many people from certain death (not to mention the thousands more they could have victimized).
   It is truly a miracle, by virtue of all of the people it has saved.
   True, there are thousands more who have failed the program of recovery this book details, but in that is the reason. They failed to do exactly what this book directs them to do. The book didn't fail them.
   
   I personally know a few real alcoholics who were on their last legs when this book came into their lives. All who followed and embraced it's teachings are sober. The one who failed at it would not do what it directed him to do. He died eventually with wet brain (the non technical term for Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome).
   I implore anyone with drinking problems to get this book and seek out AA.

5 comments about Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within.

1. This book has been so much help to me, especialy when I get writer's block. A friend recommended this book to me years ago. Unfortunately, I did not buy it until recently. I also write poetry and this book has been very useful to me not only for writing in general, but also for writing poetry.



2. I'm a freelance creative and sometimes (ok, often) need to be reminded why I write. And that I actually love it way, way more than I hate it. Natalie Goldberg's teeny pocket book is perfect motivation for any writer of any genre including the personal journal. This is a written from a personal, vulnerable place as we get a clear sense of her personal struggles/triumphs. Best of all, every chapter has a strong tug to action with suggested topics to get the brain moving and a little infusion of euphoria that sends me right to my journal or computer. Because of its size I leave it out where I can always see it. I take it with me every time I travel. If you love to/want to/have to write, Natalie Goldberg's book will keep your brain from freezing or frying. Any time I want to get my creative flow, I grasp for my well-worn copy to be reminded that wherever I am in my writing, that's exactly where I belong. I feel inspired. I feel excited. This is a big deal, because I have nearly every book there is on the subject. Writing Down the Bones is the only one of those books that never goes back on the shelf. Ever.



3. This book really inspired me to try my hand at writing and I was very impressed with the candidness and accessibility of the author's style. I'm sure like many others, it made me want to take a class with her in New Mexico. I spent a small fortune to do so, over a thousand dollars for a week long seminar. Save your money and stay home and just write. She is NOTHING like her books in person. She was a narscissitic, self-absorbed whiner, who spent exactly two hours a day in front of the class reading to us from her own notebooks. The rest of the time she told us to do writing practice. When she wasn't swaning around the classroom like a diva, she was slobbering over one of the young students in class, obviously in the midst of some torrid affair. It was embarassing for all of us. I left feeling completely ripped off, so much so that I almost stopped writing! The book should come with a warning label: Do as I say, not as I do.



4. This book has striaght forward instructions for the would be writer. I purchased it to give me incentive on how to journal, write in general and write an autobiography. Natalie Goldberg suggests everything from what type of pen to use to the kind of environment you may choose to surround yourself in while attempting to write. I am encouraged to write better now because of this book.



5. That's How the Light Gets In: Memoir of a Psychiatrist by Susan Rako, M.D. The title comes from a song by Leonard Cohen: "There is a crack, a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in." Rako's book is remarkably candid, insightful, and wonderfully well-written. It's a great read. The writing just flows.