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

1. Like the back cover of this book claims it is a bridging of both Eastern and Western thought. The author has certainly achieved this in its small well packed 181pages of wisdom. Although I have read my fair share of Eastern and Western books over the years what the author delivered here is the most straight forward message for 'Personal Transformation' stripped down to its very bare essentials. This will satisfy the empirical reader that has no interest in wading knee deep in Eastern metaphors searching for meaning. It's is a straight to the point, honest and psychologically robust approach for living in the now. It does not get too bogged down in spirituality and yet don't be fooled because its entire inner message itself is all about Spirit. A favorite excerpt of mine is in page 134 "What it means to live spiritually is to not participate in this struggle. It means that the events that happen in the moment belong to the moment. The don't belong to you" It's a precious book of wisdom that will be well underlined by the time you have read it for the second time. If you're still not too sure about purchasing it, Don't just take my word for it and read all the other reviews below. Thank You for finding me.



2. I'm half through this book and feel like I've met a friend who is accompanying me on my path. A good friend should be honest and real, and this author, by sharing his insights, has already opened my eyes on a number of issues concerning the ego and gently shown ways for moving on to freedom. This book is an excellent choice if these are your topics, too.



3. This book was so helpful. It was along the same lines as The New Earth by Echart Tolle but to me so much better. I got alot out of it.



4. I was struggling with a personal issue around the time I bought this book, and it immediately helped me to put things into perspective. Just the author's comments about the chatter that goes on in our minds was extremely helpful. In the bookstore they had this book listed under self-help, but I would classify it more as spiritual or Eastern philosophy. It has been a very useful "self-help" tool for me as someone who is interested in yoga, Buddhism, Hinduism, and metaphysics; however, I'm not sure everyone who heads to the self-help isle would find it an easy read.



5. I found some of the messages of letting go very helpful in dealing with negative or plaguing thoughts. But I didn't like how he painted everything too black and white, everything is either this way or that. For my taste, he focused too much on negative thoughts and emotions that our mind creates. I had the opportunity to listen to his comments on the book in person for two hours, and one thing that really bothered me was the way he depicted our mind/brain as a negative machine. He said "if we were to let our brains work on default, it would be like being in a car and taking your hands off the steering wheel and flooring it." As a student in the neuroscience field I was greatly offended by this, because first off the brain is a far greater masterpiece than a mere computer, and secondly I do not believe the brain is naturally inclined to be bad. To me it's the same principle as in Christianity, I don't believe we are all born sinners and that we are naturally evil. And this seemed to be Singers message throughout the book: All our mind does is create negativity that plagues us throughout our lives, unless we learn to "let go".
   
   I am all for letting go of unpleasant experiences, emotions and thoughts. I merely didn't like how he got this message across to the reader. Considering it is a self-help book, I shouldn't be too surprised that this is the way he decided to go about it, but I personally despise of anybody who thinks that humans are evil from the get-go. So to me some things in this book seemed contradictory and a little too black and white.
   
   If you're looking for a book to help you separate yourself from your earthly experiences and achieve a higher degree of consciousness, then I think this is a book that does a good job in describing how to get there. If you have already been through several self-help books though and understand this concept, then I believe this book is a waste of time other than a few good laughs. It's a quick read and regardless of where you are in life, I think you can get a few good pieces of advice from here.

5 comments about Choosing Civility: The Twenty-five Rules of Considerate Conduct.

1. While this book might identify behaviors you have been using since childhood, it may open your eyes to some of the more inconsiderate conduct that goes on in your life. It not only explains how one should act, it discusses how you can deal with the conduct of others, and how to encourage civility all around you.



2. This is an excellent book on courtesy in our everyday interactions. I think if everyone practiced Forni's 25 suggestions, both public and private life would go more smoothly.



3. I read *Choosing Civility* because I found that the pressure of living in a crowded city was beginning to make me a bit misanthropic towards my fellow humankind, which led to me becoming a bit less civil in my behavior in this crowded world. I wanted a refresher on how to treat my fellow man in a manner that I wished to be treated myself. I also read this book because I saw that the pressures and pace of the modern world was beginning to break down our civilization.
   
   *Choosing Civility* definitely delivered on my first need, it made me more conscious of the little things that lead to better interactions with people; little things like ensuring that I respect the personal space of others in a conversation, being inclusive of everyone in a group such as my coworkers, refraining from idle complaining, and respecting other people's time. After reading this book, I found myself noticing moments where I was being uncivil in small ways and allowing me the opportunity to correct these behaviors.
   
   Where the book falls short, at least for my needs, but not necessarily for everyone, is in how to deal with and accept the uncivil behavior of others. Before reading this book, I was aware of a general incivility in our everyday lives; but, after reading this book, I became painfully aware of how bad the problem was and the book didn't prepare me properly for those times when I felt the victim of uncivil actions and how to remain civil myself at the moments.
   
   >>>>>>><<<<<<<
   
   A Guide to my Book Rating System:
   
   1 star = The wood pulp would have been better utilized as toilet paper.
   2 stars = Don't bother, clean your bathroom instead.
   3 stars = Wasn't a waste of time, but it was time wasted.
   4 stars = Good book, but not life altering.
   5 stars = This book changed my world in at least some small way.



4. I love this book of tenderly nuanced advice written in beautiful prose and will reread it often to remind myself how absolutely necessary civility is in our lives. Professor Forni does Johns Hopkins proud!



5. After discussing why we don't treat each other as well as we should and why we should treat each other better, Massimo offers 25 rules to help us implement his advice. He gets very specific about the ways we can treat each other better, every day.
   
   I like this book for two reasons. One, because it puts the accountability where it belongs: on me. I can't improve my relations with other people by expecting them to change. I can't do it by labeling them, criticizing them or judging them. All I can do is change what I do and how I do it.
   
   Two because it offer specific suggestions on how to be more civil. It's useful and can be implemented right now.
   
   The better we treat each other, the better our world becomes. This book is a step to helping us all get there.

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

1. Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway is a great read. The positive and practical approach to fear and things we dread doing is quite useful. I was surprised to find that the book has been in circulation for more than 20 years and still rings as true as ever.



2. Its a great book, gives great advice on positive thinking, changing our behaviour to get the best out of life and selves. Recommended to anyone, buy it without fear no matter how old you are or you'll be missing a great companion and friend, in fact you are going to love Susan and see her as a friendly mentor who'll be there whenever you need her..thank you Susan for your wise, kind and helpful advice :)



3. Anyone struggling with fear or anxiety would do well to read this book. Susan Jeffers has written a wonderful book full of practical advice for overcoming fear and building courage to do what you want to do in life. She does it in a humane way without stigmatizing the person who is suffering. She recounts the story of one person who showed up for her class on coping with fear, and announced that she almost didn't attend, for fear of having a panic attack in front of everyone. Susan then asked her to show the class what a panic attack would look like, and of course, the student was unable to conjure one up. Throughout the book, she tells stories about how people overcame things they were afraid of, and started having fuller lives, using the techniques in the book. One of the main tenets of the book is that fear is not going away, and the only way to get past the fear is to go out and do what you want in spite of the fear. This is not a book you will want to read once and forget about. It is one you will want to refer to time and time again, for reminders on actions you can take to Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway. They are actions you will need to remember to do often, until they become habits.



4. I bought this book based on a reference in Secrets of the A Game by Logan Edwards. I originally purchased this book to help with getting over my social fears with meeting women, but I actually got much more out of it. Of course, it DID help out with meeting women, but also gave me a better perspective on interacting at work and with family. I highly recommend it.



5. This is an excellent, thoughtful read for those on the journey to growth and happiness.....she helps make the "facing fears" part of that path positive, adventurous and ultimately a "no lose" proposition...

5 comments about Chicken Soup for the Nurse's Soul: 101 Stories to Celebrate, Honor and Inspire the Nursing Profession (Chicken Soup for the Soul).

1. I work as a Director of Nursing and I enjoyed this stories.



2. I was feeling really down until I read this book and now, after 27 years in the profession, I can remember why I love this job!!!



3. Incredibly touching with quotes to remember. A book I will pass along so others can enjoy the soul warming experience as I did.



4. As always, very pleased with yet another Chicken Soup book.



5. I am a nurse, so of course, I loved this. It has wonderful, uplifting stories. It would be a wonderful gift for any nurse, or for yourself, if you are a nurse or for anyone thinking about becoming one.

5 comments about Mindset: The New Psychology of Success.

1. I had read some parts of the book and decided to own a copy. The price is not cheap but when I received the copy, it looks like everything is shrunk. The paper is very low grade and dark.
   Go for the hardcover or CD if you want to own one!!!!



2. We've always used the phrases "open-minded" and "closed-minded," but after reading this book, you will use them more discriminantly...
   
   The author (Carol S. Dweck, Ph.D.) conducted extensive research which proves that the view we adoopt of ourselves profoundly affects the way that we lead our lives. It also reveals that your mindset can determine whether you become the person you want to be, and whether you accomplish what you are truly capable of.
   
   Her conclusion is that we all have a fixed (or closed) mindset, which is characterized by the belief that your qualities are carved in stone; or a growth (open) mindset, which is based on the belief that your basic qualities are things that you can cultivate through your efforts and influenced by our early development.
   
   After quickly establishing her premise, she uses the remainder of the book to illustrate how people with fixed mindsets view things that happen to them as a direct measure of their competence and worth, and those with a growth mindset don't take situations personally, but view them as a learning oppportunity to get better and grow as a result.
   
   She also includes stories which illsutrate how athletes such as Michael Jordan, Babe Ruth, Jackie-Joyner Kersee, and Marshall Faulk, used a growth mindset to achieve their great athletic accomplishments, in addition to she delving deep into corporate culture to unveil the perils and pervasiveness of the fixed mindset which toppled companies such as Enron, IBM, and Chrysler.
   
   It then moves into relationships, parenting, and general changes in life. Mindset is that rare kind of book you that you can read for a short period of time and instantly extract lessons from to immediately apply to use in your every endeavor. It will change the way you look at things, how people look at you, and change your life (for the better) in the process.



3. THIS BOOK IS A MUST READ, IT CERTAINLY WILL BRING POSITIVE CHANGE IN YOUR LIFE AND GIVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE HUMAN MIND.



4. The subtitle stinks. It makes the reader think that the substance of the book is merely a different approach to positive thinking. NOT SO! Instead, this is a great book. Here's why. It answers two very important questions--and it does so from a very solid research basis: why is that some extremely bright people fail to achieve? and why is it that some people who seem only to be ordinary, achieve greatly?
   
   Furthermore, it challenges the deeply and widely held cultural beliefs about human intelligence--the dogma that intelligence (or IQ) is innate and hardwired. Old dogma dies hard. Once concepts are deeply embedded, a superstructure of assumptions and ideas grows around it. Rejecting a dogma means that many ideas are now questionable, and . . . as a result a close read of a book or thoughtful analysis of a new and complex idea is impossible. As an acquaintance of mine said about these ideas: "I don't believe it. I can't believe it. Everything I've ever learned about intelligence and achievement would go out the window." He tuned out. It was a losing battle I chose not to fight.
   
   What Carol really needs to say--but you can't do it in a book--is that we have profoundly imbibed a cultural attitude that is so wrongheaded, it impacts everything we think about intelligence and achievement. And the failure to look seriously at these ideas is Nutso!
   
   There's another way to get at the same issue: Why is it that so many Asians do so well in college and in business? Is it that they're Asian? Nahhhh. It's just that they never heard that "the cream rises to the top." That wasn't permitted. Instead, it's if you got a B instead of an A on that test, why didn't you work harder? The Asian mindset is profound--and it results in high achievement. The middle class American mindset that you've only got so much ability is deeply held--and often results in mediocre achievement.
   
   After our middle daughter graduated from a top university, she was sitting on the front stoop of our home, and a friend who hadn't achieved asked what her father would have done if she hadn't graduated. Without missing a beat, she responded with a smile: "He would have murdered me!"
   
   That's Carol Dweck's well-researched thesis: Teach your kids and yourself to work smart and keep learning, while you're working hard...and don't stop. It's the key, ultimately, to competitive advantage and American success in a global economy.
   
   
   Your Tags: intelligence, personal growth, personal transformation, achievment
   
   --------------------------------------------------------------------------------



5. This is a stimulating book that reminds the reader that openness to learning, drive and hard work are more likely to result in success in life than is talent. My hesitancy in providing a higher rating is that the research supporting the concepts is referenced rather than reported in sufficient detail to enable independent assessment.

5 comments about Healing After Loss: Daily Meditations For Working Through Grief.

1. The author has managed to combine comforting and validating words, as well as pointing out little things in every day life from which to find the strength to put one foot in front of the other. This is the first book I've read which has really helped since my sister died unexpectedly one year ago. My grief counselor recommended the book, and not only am I grateful, but I will pass this on to others I know who are hurting.



2. I first came across Martha Hickman's Healing After Loss after my late husband died.It was one of the most helpful things I read at that time. In my work as a hospital chaplain I have given copies to several people who have experienced the death of a family member, and many have found it to be a great blessing.



3. I was given this book after the suicide of my dear sister. There were so many days when I could find no comfort except for in reading the entry for the day. I now give this book to everyone I know who suffers a loss instead of a sympathy card. I buy them in lots of 4 or 5 so I always have them on hand.



4. Many grief meditations are written for the caregiver. This book focuses on the one in the midst of the pain. Well done and very useful for my clients in Hospice.



5. Having a particularly difficult day, I prayed to God for comfort and I unexpectedly received this book as a gift from a friend a day later. My concentration is impaired and the very short reflections of those who have suffered loss is helping me gradually recover. I brought a copy for my son as he travels his own path to healing.

5 comments about Emotional Blackmail: When the People in Your Life Use Fear, Obligation, and Guilt to Manipulate You.

1. This an amazing look into the reality of emotional abuse. As a therapist I have been recommending this book to my clients. Watch out for an eye opening read!



2. I myself am currently in the FOG that she describes in this and it has hit home very well and helping me redeem myself. She's VERY good at explaining and assisting. Sometimes I feel she's right there. Very informative about the different types of emotional blackmailers. I'm not done reading, but have gotten 3/4 of the way and I am so happy I bought this book. It caught my eye one day browsing through the bookstore, never bought it out of fear probably. My friend coaxed me into buying it and I'm glad I did. If anything, it will bring confidence and give you some sort of support while trying to figure out what is going on. Put you in the right direction so you can be free and clear! Basically, this book is AWESOME, INFORMATIVE, and a must read for current victims of emotional blackmail.



3. The book IS great, you can read about its value in every other review on this site. I will not repeat them, instead I will tell about the little "but..": most of "healthy" or "non-pathological" relationships we support is not of the bipolar model of the offender and the offended one. Usually we use some forms of lightweight blackmail in one place where receive it in another: it is very hard to draw a distinct rule between asking and manipulating, and the more we need/want/desire something from the partner the blurrier is the border. And unfortunately you will find anything but help in "double blackmail", "crossfire", where BOTH sides of the story can read the book and find that they are the victims. The only hope is that they both get smarter with reading the book and start talking to each other. Which is very likely, as the book IS great indeed ;)



4. I was so glad to finally find a book that spoke of exactly what the truth of the matter is. I loved how Susan took the subject and instead of making it about victims, she made it about how to watch for the signs of emotional blackmail, how to recognize the difference of conflicting feeling verses control issues. I enjoyed reading this book more than any other Verbal abuse book I have read so far. She hits the nail on the head with this book.. it is blackmail, simple as that! In the last part she give great advise of how to handle different types of situations and I have found them helpful. It has certainly help me understand how to handle these types of attacks and why they happen. I highly recommend this book!



5. Great book for people who are pressured to do things againt their will
   People who are easily manipulated by people close to them (spouse, parent, friend.. etc)
   After reading this book I see things more clearly now
   how blackmailers use Fear Obligation and Guilt (FOG) tackticts to get their target's complaince
   This book shows you also which emotion of the 3 affects your decision the most and how to over come them, it also shows how you can take a stand for what you believe in
   What I like about this book is that you don't have to have a PHD in physcology to understand it and implement it's excersices in daily life, any one can do it
   Yes I can stand it, I CAN stand it
   I highly recommend this book :)

5 comments about Think and Grow Rich!: The Original Version, Restored and Revised.

1. A classic. Principles of getting rich are mentioned. Even though I didn't get rich, it did help me achieve
   another goal.
   
   Topics like Desire, Faith, Autosuggestion and Specialized Knowledge
   are all essential to get rich. I do feel something is missing
   from this book. Great violinists and pianists can also be
   rich but I don't think they have to begin with the first chapter:
   Desire (for money). They simply have a temperament, gift,
   and passion for music. Because the perform well in their
   professions, the money comes in naturally.
   
   This book might have made some people rich but I don't
   think it's the only way. To be fair, no reading of any single
   book can make you rich. You need to have understanding,
   practice, and application of what you've read - together
   with other books.
   
   I am not rich yet so I give this classic 3 stars.
   
   Besides, "The mystery of sex transmutation" is no longer a
   mystery. The male reproductive system and the brain both
   compete for the same protein tyrosine (with B6, copper,
   iron etc). More tyrosine for one will deprive the other part
   of the body - naturally.



2. There is no such thing as a perfect book. People tend to see things in black and white, well there's nothing completely black or white; there's only shades of gray. You can get some good advice out of most books, even if a little. But there is no perfect book that presents you a complete and truthful view of the road to success.
   
   Many books appear to be unreasonable in some of its content; but lucky us we are born with a powerful tool that helps us discern between what we should take and leave from a book: common sense. I should use it, and you probably should too.
   
   This book is no exception. Personally, I would suggest that you read the first part of the book with a higher focus than the rest. It is very inspirational, and explain a success principle that, even though very common nowadays in other books, is still of major importance. For someone who hasn't read much of success books, these chapters are a good start.
   
   The metaphysics and new age theories that Napoleon Hill proposes should be taken with a measure of healthy skepticism. To believe in them is a personal choice, and you should use your common sense to decide.
   
   To people that has read many success books before, this book proposes nothing new. Though I should state this around, as this book came first than most of the others. It basically tells how you need to have a burning desire to achieve success, and have faith that you will succeed. Mostly, it presents this with an inspirational tone; so if you're looking to get your spirit up, try it.



3. The lessons I have learned in Napoleon Hill's Think and Grow Rich have changed my life forever. Once I learned how to change my thoughts and dreams into burning desires, it seemed there wasn't anything I couldn't achieve. Truly the best!
   
   Tommy Hilcken
   Life Success Workshops
   Ogdensburg, NJ



4. First off - I tell everyone who wants to make money with his
   or her own business online to read this book. The reason is
   because it's easy to find and contains solid principles
   which most business beginners and salespeople are ignorant
   of - or at least too intellectually lazy to remember and
   apply.
   
   Very few people actually bother to read the book. I
   actually use this book as a litmus test for people I coach.
   I tell them to read it before we do anything. Most of
   them just slink away - their desire to make money online
   is so feeble they cannot be bothered to spend a few
   hours reading a PDF.
   
   While the vast majority of people who actually read the
   book will apply it weakly if at all - at least readers
   have been exposed, many for the first time in their lives,
   to the principles which successful people practice,
   whether they have read the book or not.
   
   Read it a couple of times. You can download it easily
   enough. That's why I recommend it. Tell a fellow he
   must pay money for it or go somewhere to get it and
   he will do nothing - give it to him in a link and then
   he has it and can decide whether he will read it or not.
   Most folks are, in my experience, too lazy to bother.
   
   The book is written with hypnotic flair, though some of
   the early chapters are dull. It is populated by stories
   of successful industrialists, who I guess were the sorts
   of guys businesspeople admired in 1937. Today we'll find
   some of the values of Think and Grow Rich sort of old-
   fashioned.
   
   The book's major thrust is the principle of autosuggestion,
   which may have been a somewhat inventive idea in 1937.
   It's just a theroy, so try it out by all means but just
   understand that the book is 70 plus years old and we've
   learned a lot about how we learn and change since then.
   Personally I find the later stuff of Maxwell Maltz
   and guys like Tony Robbins more relevant to us today -
   but their books are under copyright and not to be shared
   freely as this one is.



5. There is one quality which one must possess to win, and that is definiteness of purpose, the knowledge of what one wants, and a burning desire to possess it.
   -Napoleon Hill
   
   Napoleon Hill wrote the classic of best-seller on personal-success. This is the book that began the self-help industry. Study and master these timeless principles of success.
   
   Hill was born into poverty and dedicated 25 years of his life to study and model successful men such as Charles Schwab, Theodore Roosevelt, and Henry Ford to discover the secret principles that would help the average man achieve great financial and emotional wealth.

5 comments about Birth Order Book, The: Why You Are the Way You Are.

1. I took this book to work with me and shared it with a group of managers. We found that the book was surprisingly accurate in the the way that we each demonstrated our management styles. The first born's were very organized and process driven, while the middle-born manager avoided confrontation and tended to be suspicious. We did have one manager who didn't fit the birth order characteristics. He was a middle-born who was very outgoing and was always the center of attention. Proof that the profiles are just guidelines that can give you some insight into personalities, but not absolutes.



2. People are fascinated with any system that explains personality and behavioral differences. Birth order is an enduring system for understanding those differences, especially so when the explanation is as clear and as well illustrated with compelling examples as this. Dr. Kevin Leman does an admirable job of covering the bases, including a chapter devoted to parenting, and one devoted to compatibility in marriage. The insights he shares from his personal life history as a last born bring a special poignancy to the work. Extremely helpful, especially if you remember that birth order provides a prediliction, not a fate carved in stone! I provided additional information on this topic in Letters to My Granddaughters.



3. Absolutely amazing that someone took the time to figure this out .I never realized that we fiut into these little pockets. I was the last born out of five and it placed us in the position that we fit like a glove . after we read it we just looked at each other and laughed.



4. This book was recommended to me and I enjoyed it reading it. The book is helpful in understanding some of the differences between siblings and more importantly, helping parents accept the differences. Whenever I read a book about children and parenting I always wonder why it isn't a required course in High School. One word of caution, after reading this book I have been constantly guessing the birth order of everyone I meet!
   
   While I liked the book, I thought the author spent too much time defending his theories and trying to sell his other books.



5. Kevin Leman is an excellent author and this book is proof of that. It helps you make so much sense of not just yourself but all those around you. Also, there were many concepts he shared that I had never even thought of in birth order. Overall, it is a great book and I highly recommend it!

5 comments about The Wizard of Oz and Other Narcissists: Coping with the One-Way Relationship in Work, Love, and Family.

1. This book is exactly the survival kit for victims of narcissists that I have been loking for. Enlightened, clear, simple, straight to the point.
   
   (I would have appreciated a few words on what kind of personality disorder individuals may end up caught up in the narcissist's net, and more practical tricks on how to deal with them from the specific point of view of the ones who get most easily hurt: bordeline and dependent.)
   
   (Also lacking, the whole sexual sphere: where does NPD cross sexual perversions, where it only appears to do, where it does not, and how to manage all that in relationships. A major theme in love, after all.



2. Having escaped a marriage with a narcissist/psychopath, I've read a number of books on the subject. This book wins hands down. I gave it to my friend, and she swears it taught her how to deal with her difficult boss.



3. I highly recommend this book to anyone searching to understand the narcissistic relationship they may be in. I have been at a loss to understand my own and how I could have fallen into this type of relationship. I think this book was written about our marriage! Now, after gaining insight into the narcissistic / co-dependent narcissist relationship, I understand totally how we "clicked" in the beginning and how after a few years he became dominating and I became the doormat. Now, armed with this information, my husband and I are on a wonderful journey together to separately heal each of our hearts from the past so that we may come back together in a healed, strong, equal and respectful marriage. I pray this is a journey many of you out there experience as well. God bless.



4. The Wizard of Oz and Other Narcissists: Coping with the One-Way Relationship in Work, Love, and Family ASIN:0972072837
   
   The author begins with a wonderful introduction explaining a narcissist and where the termilogoy originated. A wonderful comparison with the story of Dorothy and The Wizard of Oz. This book is well written in a style which is easy to understand.



5. Read twice...Excellent book. You learn how to stop "double binders" in there tracks, GOD willing. Learn how to reintroduce a "one sided" conversation without coming out "victimized". Incredible book. Peace