5 comments about You Can If You Think You Can.

1. Dr. Peale's book "You Can If You Think You Can" is a brillent reminder for us in being consciously aware of what thinking patterns we focus on during our waking hours. This book is recommeded for anyone who may be going through difficult times and needs some place to start to get back on track. It is also a brush up on our thought process for the rest of us.



2. I read this book in the spring of 1990. It saved my life. At the time I was a junkie, in jail, and facing charges of armed robbery. I had been to rehabs, NA, AA, church, you name it. Nothing worked. What this book did was to convince me that I really could take control of my life and become the person that I always wanted to be. I actually quit smoking half way through the book to prove to myself that I could. I got out of prison in the Summer of 1994. I have been drug, alcohol, and cigarette free ever since I read the book. Dr. Peale saved my life. Today, I have a wonderful family, a thriving business, and I am a respected member of my community. I couldn't have done it if Dr. Peale hadn't convinced me that I could. I wish that I could have thanked him personally, but he has passed on. The best way to pay my respects is to pass on my experience.
   
   Read the book and discover the power within to become everything that you ever wanted.
   
   Best of luck,
   
   Mark Owens



3. Peale is the master at comprehensively and clearly describing the process of achieving results through spirituality and positive thinking. Read everyone of his books and the information will be embedded into your soul and will literally push you toward success. The power of the human being is incredible and his books are vthe guide to apping into this immense force. Go and discover genuine and lasting success and peace in your precious life.



4. what a person gets from this audio cd is the same thing you can get from any thing else you learn throughout life - you have to apply what you learn and make it work for you. nothing really new here. worth a listen.



5. If you have a particular goal in mind. This book will help you focus on suceeding at your goal by positive thinking.
   This book arrived in a timely manner as promised and was in good shape.

1 comments about Life Overflowing, 6-in-1: 6 Pillars for Abundant Living.

1. T.D. Jakes breaks down the book of Ephesians in such a way that it is so easy to understand and apply it to your everyday life. I am constantly learning fron this book. I even bought one for my mom!

5 comments about A Perfect Mess: The Hidden Benefits of Disorder - How Crammed Closets, Cluttered Offices, and on-the-Fly Planning Make the World a Better Place.

1. I've read very few life changing books but this is one of them. It gives plenty of case studies where being disorganized is advantageous. Amusingly it tries to tidy the study of messiness by classifying mess behaviors and messy people.
   
   If you are a messy person you'll feel more productive and rethink your priorities after reading this book.
   
   The economic cost of tidying up was presented afresh. I've analyzed getting the lowest cost labor to do the job and always thought that was why you had a cleaner or filing clerk or janitor, but I hadn't really considered other behaviors that are associated with alleviation of messiness and really incur enormous economic and psychological costs.
   
   After starting with domestic issues, the book turns to serious business situations - making the book a fine subject for corporate training seminars.



2. I chanced upon this at the library and read almost all of it in 1 sitting. Its that
   interesting. The real life examples given are eye openers. The next time I feel compelled to hyperorganize my receipts/coupons/desk I will weigh the time cost versus benefit. Right now I am recycling as many outdated/junk mail/etc papers as I can though so there wont be much of a mess to deal with.



3. Commuting to work, I listened to the audio version of this wonderful book and, with every mile, found myself more relaxed with my own clutter. The examples and insights into messiness--from personal to professional to political mess--are fascinating. The authors explode many of the cliches about the virtues of extreme organization and the vices of mess. Highly recommended!



4. The premise of this book was great; those of us who do not thrive in the world of color-coded file boxes should not feel anxious and less successful because we aren't organized enough. In America's constant quest for progress, we have defaulted to a rigid standard of neatness and organization.
   
   People who have a more creative style and organize information differently from what is touted in the popular television shows and de-cluttering books will enjoy the validation; however, the authors wander off-topic, state conflicting conclusions, and throw in everything they have, including the theoretical kitchen sink. By about chapter 5, I was reading this more as a parody of the initial theory, which made the rest of the book great fun. I think it was the Arnold Schwartzeneger piece that took it over the top for me.
   
   Overall, A Perfect Mess was an amusing diversion and a refreshing departure from the "buy a million plastic boxes, hide all your stuff in them, and stack them alphabetically by label" world of organization. I gave it three stars because I was looking for more substance and less fluff. As a parody, I probably would have rated it four stars.



5. Fun read. Waste of paper. If you are looking for some proof that mess, even possibly your mess, is good, do not expect to find the proof. The book is mostly full of anecdotes about the success of messy scenarios. Some examples are backed by studies and evidence, but most are not. I could easily see a separate book that would contradict the evidence in this book, as well as plenty of anecdotes explaining failed scenarios because of too much mess. Also, the book is not well-written in places where sentences end in a preposition.

No comments about Write to the Top!: How to Become a Prolific Academic.

5 comments about Parents, Teens and Boundaries: How to Draw the Line.

1. An empowering book for parents. Written in an easy-to-read conversational text, this book has plenty of good ideas. It teaches how to raise children without using anger, judgment or manipulation. It even includes suggested exercises so that you can use what you learn in a very personal way. I'd recommend it! Elizabeth Pantley, author of Kid Cooperation, Perfect Parenting, and Parent Tips Newsletters



2. I have been doing family therapy for 15+ years. This is by far the best book I have ever seen for parents of teenagers. I almost always recommend it. And I sure wish I had had it to read when my kids were teens. The biggest problem is it's hard to find. Now that I see that Amazon has it, that's no longer a problem.



3. I found this book to be more of a self evaluation of oneself. I found it frequently brought up memories from my childhood experiences , some O.K., some not. Lots of self evaluation questions. It made me think some of the difficulties I was experiencing with my childs behavior stemmed from my own reactions based on my experiences. It is very hard to detach oneself from your own history. It does bring up some good points but I do not agree with a few items. It seems to refer mostly to older teens and not as much to younger teens ( 13-14). It does get you thinking though and so one can get good things from it.



4. I have been a therapist in private practice for over twenty years working mostly with teens and their parents. This book is very well written, and I would recommend it to struggling parents. Setting limits and finding the strength to set them, with today's demanding teen takes work! Ms. Bluestein shows us how.



5. Not helpful for me. It contained mostly definitions of terms, no useful follow thru information. Other books I have found are more percise.

5 comments about When You Eat at the Refrigerator, Pull Up a Chair.

1. as a person on the way from recovery from anorexia, this book offered helpful advice in a fun demeanor. would definitely recommend this book to everyone--on either sides of the spectrum.



2. I originally checked this book out of the library. I loved it so much I bought a copy and am reading it again. I also purchased two copies to give to good friends. This book may or may not help me to loose weight, however, it is so uplifting and encouraging it has really helped to change my attitude towards food and not to be so self-loathing.



3. No matter how many times it happens, I'm always amazed when I find that there are other people in the world who go through some of the same things as me. This book really did it, it really showed me that I'm not alone in the frightening world of body-image. By the time I finished the second chapter, I had decided that I was going to get this book for my best friend for her birthday, and by the time I had finished the sixth chapter, I realized that I was going to buy it for every single one of my girlfriends for their birthdays.
   This is a really amazing book, and the author really knows how to talk to women who are in need of reassurance as well as a little shove (or a big one) in the right direction.
   I suggest it for women of all ages who struggle with any sort of body/self-image, no matter how long that struggle has been going on.



4. I read a few books by Geneen Roth, including this one, in the beginning of 2003. After reading them, I gave myself permission to stop "dieting", and allowed myself to eat the food I like, thinking that if I didn't feel deprived that I would eat less and lose weight. I also kept away from the scale. The result was I gained 30 pounds in 9 months, before stopping myself from this upward climb. Its taken over 4 years to lose those 30 pounds. To this day I still regret reading those books. While I don't think its healthy to obsess about food and counting calories and body image, I do think we need to be careful about what we eat.



5. This is a fabulous little book. It's a series of fifty very short advisory essays all about how to love yourself when you hate yourself. Specifically, Roth's work deals with compulsive eating, and this is her focus here too, but unlike some of her other work, this book is clearly meant to be more broadly applicable to any and all situations in which one might find oneself swimming in a sea of self-hatred. Roth is a humorous writer. She has a similar sort of wit as Anne Lamott, who has written the introduction to this book. Overall I found this book hilarious and moving. I stayed up all night to read it.

5 comments about Now What?: 90 Days to a New Life Direction.

1. Living by an inner compass is easier said than done. Laura Berman Fortgang provides sound advice, homework, and a mixture of intellect and intuition in outlining how 90 days of focused intent towards a life direction can unfold. What impressed me most about this book was that Fortgang shared her own story of risk when changing her career from actress to life coach. If you want to read about someone who has done the groundwork she prescribes, this book is a great choice. The content is broken down in week-by-week and offers feedback so the reader can self-manage a transitional program on their own. Fortgang also provides a variety of resources the financial nuts and bolts of a career switch. The tone is very down-to-earth, humorous, and engaging. A fluid and insightful read for people who feel like a caterpillar in their careers and are ready to commit to a 90-day cocoon period. Caution: if you want to emerge a career butterfly with this program, you must have a self-discipline to do with full force and enthusiasm what Fortgang suggest. Her book is not a passive self-actualization process ... but a "get off your ass and go for it with measurable results" career planning workout.



2. Laura Berman Fortgang really gets it...and knows how to give it back. Having read all of her books, I love that Now What? guides us through the process of discovering how our own truths yield meaningful, productive results -- for ourselves and our clients. She reminds us, "It's not what you do, but who you are when you are doing it." To learn from Laura's years of experience as a Master Coach, industry pioneer, author, and mentor is the best gift I have ever given myself. Everyone will discover something valuable for themselves at the end of their 90 days. Thanks, Laura.



3. Many of the examples the author used were of people who already had more than most people do (money, education, connections, high paying salaries that they are just tired of).
   
   Check out Claire on page 11. She lives in London, wants a second home, is planning a weekend trip to the South of France, has a great job and benefits. Has a nice husband and home. What is her problem? Maybe she needs a shrink to figure out what her unhappiness really stems from but that's another book.
   
   The author should have used cases concerning more ordinary folk. She seemed to be appealing to upper class, globe trotting, burnt out executives who are whining because they feel they are missing out on something. Maybe that cute little pony they didn't get as a child.
   
   Claire...try yoga, buy a pony....get a grip.



4. I am a professional life coach and my primary focus is on life purpose and career. "Now What? 90 Days to a New Life Direction" is one the best tools out there for those seeking to find heart and meaning in their lives and work. I have been so impressed with the book that I have recommended it to clients ever since it first came out in hardback. This new paperback edition has even more valuable additions and I continue to recommend it highly.
   
   I have been so impressed with the body of the author's work that I underwent specialized training with her to become an authorized Life Blueprint® Facilitator, coaching individuals and groups through the step-by-step NOW WHAT?(tm) program of intuitively guided questioning, exploration, and action designed to create the foundation for a more fulfilling life.
   
   With or without a coach, this book will help guide you to finding your own "Life Blueprint" and a life of greater meaning, purpose and joy. This is a tremendous gift not only to you, but to the world!



5. This book is definitely one of the best in this subject category - self-help to get your life and career in focus. I've read many books similar to this; books that try to help you define your interests and career path, but none have been as well written and easy to understand as Now What? The book is geared towards those of us who might struggle with finding "IT" - that career or life direction that we want to take. Through a series of helpful exercises, Fortgang helps you get to the heart of your desires and uncover some of your interests. I was really surprised by what I discovered about myself through this book and would definitely encourage others who are "lost" to read it. The exercises are particularly useful, and the book was very readable and encouraging. Did I find "IT" through the reading of this book? Well, no. But, I did help gain clarity about separating interests and hobbies and that, for me, was a big issue. The only thing that seems unreasonable is the 90 day period of time; you'll want to read the book much faster and will likely find yourself finished long before 90 days has passed. That was the only problem with the book, placing a time frame on it. Otherwise, it was really helpful.

5 comments about The New Talkpower: The Mind Body Way to Speak Without Fear (Capital Ideas for Business & Personal Development) (Capital Ideas for Business & Personal Development).

1. I've tried it all. Self-help books, Hypnosis, Yoga, breathing exercises, voice lessons, public speaking workshops, Toastmasters... nothing ever worked, and I never understood why.

   Finally, I took Natalie Rogers' weekend workshop on Public Speaking, and at last I understood. Public Speaking isn't like other phobias out there, like a Fear of Flying or a Fear of Heights. Conquering Public Speaking requires you to do more than just overcome fear; it requires you to:

   1) Learn how to WRITE an effective speech

   2) Learn how to BREATHE and SPEAK well

   3) Learn how to PERFORM under stress

   When you have a Fear of Heights, you can curl up in a little ball and wait for the fear to pass. Therapists call this "extinction therapy"... if your patients expose themselves to the situation which triggers the fear, the phobia eventually goes extinct. This actually works for basic phobias... but it DOESN'T work for phobias that require you to actually do more than just curl up in a ball.

   Natalie does a sensational job of 1) and 2) above, by giving you speech templates that really help you write a quick and effective speech... and then teaching you how to breathe and use your voice. That in itself would be worth the price of the book... but Natalie actually has developed a breakthrough approach to performing under pressure that is so powerful it is worth calling out.

   Basically, the idea is this - it is IMPOSSIBLE to be nervous if you are concentrating on something. You know that feeling you get when you are really focused on something? You lose track of time, you lose yourself in your work... and in that moment, it is actually physiologically impossible to be self-conscious or nervous. Well, Natalie takes advantage of this physiological fact and taps it to help you neutralize speaking nervousness. And she's found a way to trigger concentration that doesn't require mental energy... and so you can actually achieve focus during a difficult speech, and take advantage of this physical phenomena to eradicate nervousness.

   I know, I know - it all sounds too good to be true. I'll admit - I haven't recovered 100% from my public speaking fears. I can speak to groups or to someone important... but put me in front of a group of important people, and I'll get nervous. But here's where Natalie's techniques really come in handy. Before I speak, I prepare a speech using her templates. I practice my breathing and make sure that I've got my speaking voice working in the privacy of my home. Then, I use her concentration technique to mitigate the nervousness of speaking. The first few minutes are still tough, but the nervousness passes... and I am calm, confident, and comfortable.

   It's such a strange feeling to be able to say that I'm calm, confident, and comfortable in front of a crowd. It's been a couple of years since my first panic attack in front of a group of colleagues, and being bad at speaking has almost become part of my identity. But, it's really true... you really CAN overcome these fears to become not only a non-phobic speaker, but a really good public speaker!

   If you can afford to go to Natalie's weekend seminars, then by all means that's probably the easiest way to learn all this. But I've been to the workshop and I've read this book, and the fact is that all of the information in the workshop is right here in this sixteen dollar book. The book really is beautifully designed, and the binding actually holds up well - which is a good thing, because you'll find yourself returning to the book again and again.

   I can't recommend this book highly enough. Good luck conquering your public speaking fears!




2. That learning a technique can overcome such a powerful fear, but it did! Very well written, and the techniques are fully explained in both the "how to" sense, and the underlying basis for them. Highly recommended.



3. I teach a public speaking class and I'm a longtime member of Toastmasters International. This is the best public speaking book I have ever seen. I am planning to make it the required reading for my public speaking class. The author, Natalie Rogers in an actress and psychologist and has helped people overcome her speaking fears for many years.
   One thing Toastmasters does not teach is the psychology behind public speaking and the fear of it. I found some articles to cover this. This book does an even better job. There are templates for speeches in the book. You can read it through once, then refer to it when you need it. It is also easy enouch to follow to keep ones interest. Dr. Rogers is a very gentle teacher and I recommend this without question.



4. Why did I buy this book? I was hooked at once when I began to read the introduction, where the author, Natalie Rogers, a former actress, acting teacher and behavioral psychotherapist, reports the feelings she had when she attended a class about "Oral Communication" and witnessed the students' ordeal during presentations:

   "Was I the only one aware of the discomfort and loss of concentration? Apparently, the instructor was not concerned. Apart from her command to relax, she ignored the students' profound distress and continued urging them to make eye contact and speak more slowly. `Don't be so nervous,' she'd add, presumably trying to be helpful. `We support you.'

   I was bewildered . This wasn't at all like the systematic training I had received in acting school, where we were given intensive coaching for concentration, relaxation, attention, and awareness. Here, except for the suggestion to relax, the sole focus was on the preparation of the speech, with no serious attention paid to the painful loss of confidence that many students were experiencing."

   Natalie's book gives you the training. It teaches detailed, concrete, step-by-step methods to address the fear of public speaking. I have consulted various books about the fear of public speaking during the past couple of years, but this book provides the most powerful and straightforward step-by-step training approach of them all. Just to give only a few concrete examples of how this book is full of extremely valuable information page for page: It provides a detailed step-by-step instruction of correct belly breathing - all the other books which mentioned breathing techniques left me with the impression I had to take "deep" breathes in order to have the desired effects. Another example: The author writes "The idea of managing or confronting your fear is meaningless ... People with anxiety about speaking in public cannot overcome their problem with cavalier advice. The only reasonable solution is a method that will eliminate the fear and its devastating effects.", and later in the book explains why videotape is not the appropriate tool for beginning and fearful speakers - now I understand why training seminars with video, offered by my company, only left me embarrassed and frustrated, and with an even greater feeling of helplessness! And a last example: I always had wondered why visualization exercises had not the desired effects for me, and attributed it to my lack of commitment - now I know better!

   This book is much more than only a book on public speaking. It teaches a comprehensive, systematic mind-body training approach on how to prepare yourself for performance situations. In the author's words: "Performance is any situation where you feel that you are being judged or evaluated by others. This ability to detach your thoughts from focusing on the audience and their approval, is a skill that you can develop if you commit yourself to the TalkPower program as described in this book." Buy this book - it provides you with the practical methods you need to help yourself.




5. I found Natalie Rogers' text, THE NEW TALK POWER, very useful for a Public Speaking college course. Rogers gives a step-by-step guide made up of "templates" for standard 5-7 minute speeches. She integrates the preparation phases with acting exercises (proper breathing, visualization, etc.)and provides the reader with many examples of speeches. The book is a valuable tool for speech classes. My only quibble is that she might have provided a little more background in interpersonal communication including providing examples and definitions of terms associated with effective verbal and non-verbal communication (i.e., emblems, rhetorical questions, decoding, etc.)

5 comments about 50 Spiritual Classics: Timeless Wisdom from 50 Great Books on Inner Discovery, Enlightenment and Purpose.

1. 50 Self-Help Classics: 50 Inspirational Books to Transform Your Life, From Timeless Sages to Contemporary Gurus
   50 Success Classics: Winning Wisdom for Life and Work from 50 Landmark Books
   50 Spiritual Classics: Timeless Wisdom from 50 Great Books on Inner Discovery, Enlightenment and Purpose
   
   In the first instance, I have bought these three books in one go because I have been fascinated by what the author had done: He has practised what is known as the highest level of reading. Mortimer Adler, in his classic book, 'How to Read a Book', written in the forties, had called it 'syntopical reading'. It's actually reading a number of books of the same genre, more or less simultaneously & then synthesising the key points.
   
   Secondly, the author, who is a graduate of the London School of Economics, somehow impresses me with his ability to synthesise the big picture of each of the books that made up the entire collection. For apparently a left-brain thinker i.e. economist by training, this has been a very remarkable feat, as his synthesising endeavour has been essentially more of a right-brain activity. Well, I must compliment him for a job well done.
   
   Before my final decision on buying the three books, I have been thrilled by the prospect of reading three books, which in turn will give me access to one hundred & fifty books.
   
   For each book, the author has very artfully as well as skillfully selected fifty books to made up one collection. I may not agree with his selection, but I must admit that I can't default him at all.
   
   Take the first book, '50 Self Help Classics', with timeless wisdom, as an example. Out of the fifty books he has selected, I have read only seventeen of them. I have those books in my personal library.
   
   For the second book, '50 Success Classics', I have read & still own sixteen of the landmark books on winning wisdom selected by the author.
   
   For the third & final book, '50 Spiritual Classics', covering timeless sages & contemporary gurus, I have read only & still own three of them, namely 'The Tao of Physics', 'The Way of the Peaceful Warrior' & 'Zen & the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance'.
   
   For those books I have read previously, totaling thirty-six of them (probably stretching over three decades of my life), & upon revisiting them again in the trilogy, which actually took me one whole weekend to complete, starting on Friday evening & finishing on Sunday night, I must say that the seemingly marathon reading experience has been very refreshing & uplifting. It has also given me the opportunity to check & verify whether the author has captured the key ideas or essence of those books. I don't think I can find fault with the author in this respect.
   
   Not only that, in the first book, I am very impressed that the author has cut through the bewildering array of choices to bring the essential ideas, insights, and techniques from the `literature of possibilities'. In works that span the world's religions, cultures, philosophies, & centuries, he summarizes each work's key ideas & finally makes clear how these legendary classics can educate, affirm, & motivate anyone searching for the inspiration to make a meaningful life change.
   
   In the second book, the author is back with his wide-ranging collection of enduring works from pioneering thinkers, philosophers, & powerful leaders, like Napoleon Hill, Stephen Covey, Kenneth Blanchard, Baltasar Gracian & Christopher Maurer; from the inspirational rags to riches stories of such entrepreneurs, like Andrew Carnegie, Warren Buffet & Sam Walton to the leadership lessons of Sir Ernest Shackleton, Eleanor Roosevelt, Abraham Lincoln & Nelson Mandela, just to name a few.
   
   In the third book, I believe the author has captured the very best in spiritual writing: They include personal diaries & compelling biographies of such diverse figures as Gandhi, Malcolm X, & Black Elk & Eastern philosophers & gurus including Krishnamurti, Yogananda, Chögyam Trungpa & Suzuki; & Western saints & mystics such as St. Francis of Assisi, Herman Hesse & Simone Weil. For each book in this volume, the author offers insightful commentary on how these classics can help spiritual seekers everywhere bring personal beliefs, values & practices squarely into the center of their every day lives.
   
   Reading the three foregoing books has been quite a breeze because the meaning of each work is initially captured 'in a nut shell' at the onset, coupled with a representative quote as well as cross-referencing to similar work. In each work, appropriate sectional headings in bold print make it really easy for the reader to follow the author's train of thoughts over some six pages. There is also a short biographical sketch of the author of the respective work.
   
   I must admit that the third book in the trilogy has been the most challenging for me to read as I normally do not go for such stuff. To put it bluntly, it's not my cup of tea. On the other hand, the curiosity streak in me has been too overwhelming, since I relish the thought that I could read fifty spiritual classics in just one book!
   
   Overall, & for all those books I have not yet read at all (some of which I have not even heard of), I really enjoyed digesting the author's bite-sized summaries (in actuality, they are only the main ideas, context & impact of each title, to give a taste of the literature, so to speak) in the three collections or volumes, even though some of the titles are relatively esoteric for me. The entire reading journey has been enlightening, inspirational & yet humbling in some areas. Best of all, there are useful tools & practical techniques to take away from each collection!
   
   For the first & last book in the trilogy, namely, '50 Self Help Classics' & '50 Spirtual Classics', the author has respectively provide a list of additional 50 books. The titles are certainly enticing! Well, all I can say is this: I wish the author will repeat his syntopical reading exercise covering these books & add two more volumes, that will make a quintulogy, for all the readers out there, including me!
   
   As usual, all my three books are now scribbled with my own hand-written marginal annotations as well as my fancy colour marker symbols. Additionally, there are also colourful sticky notes in between selected pages. My next personal assignment is to transfer all these notations into mindmaps with Mindmanager Pro.
   
   To end my review, I have one last humble comment to make. Out of the one hundred & fifty bite-sized summaries, I still don't quite get it from 'The Bhagavad-Gita' as outlined in the author's '50 Self Help Classics'. I have not read this work before although I have heard about it. [J Y Pillay, former Chairman of Singapore Airlines, who is credited for building the airline to what it is today, A Great Way to Fly, has vouched for this ancient Hindu scripture as an inspiration for his leadership success during an interview.] However, in the same vein, I found that I could relate quickly to Deepak Chopra's 'The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success' but simply not this one! I may have to explore other avenue.
   
   In site of the above minor short-coming, I strongly believe that the three books in the author's trilogy are really an intellectual treasure!



2. My review can be summarized with the simple statement that this is BY FAR the best book I've ever read so far in the genres of spirituality, philosophy, and religion, and in fact in any genre. It provides truly meaningful exposure to a diverse kaliedoscope of spiritual viewpoints which, for the most part, I find to be complementary and reinforcing, rather than contradictory and conflicting.
   
   The result for me has been profoundly tranformative, and I think that will be the case for many others who read the book, provided that they do so with an open mind. For those who are diehard skeptics or dogmatists, perhaps this book will even open many of their minds.
   
   I'm eagerly looking forward to reading many of the books summarized in this book, as well as the three other books in the "50 Classics" series written by the author.
   
   In short, I can't recommend this book strongly enough, and it's no accident that all of the prior reviewers gave it 5 stars. I've given copies of this book to quite a few people, which is something I've never done before with any other book.
   
   Let me say it in another way: if you were stranded on an island and could have only one book, this would be the one to have.



3. Ghandi once said: "Live as if you were to die tomorrow, and learn as if you were to live forever."
   
   After reading this book, my life went through a profound transformation resulting in a high level of awareness thanks to the wisdom summaries from writings of great sages that Tom Bowdon beautifully summarized.
   
   Tom Bowdon's summary books (4 categories) are by far (!) the best condensed literature I have ever read.
   
   Did you ever fall asleep reading a quality book with a content that you knew was good, but too lengthy? - With these book summaries, you can read in 20 to 30 minutes the essence of a timeless masterpiece AND have eneough brainpower left to reflect upon its practical implications.
   
   After learning from the first few summaries, I started to order copies for friends and relatives as meaningful gifts for special occasions with the intention to bless them with well-written and condensed wisdom that has a profound impact on their lives.
   
   Here are the other 3 Bowdon book summaries that I bought and shared with friends and family:
   
   50 Self-Help Classics: 50 Inspirational Books to Transform Your Life
   
   50 Success Classics: Winning Wisdom for Life and Work from 50 Landmark Books
   
   50 Psychology Classics: Who We Are, How We Think, What We Do; Insight and Inspiration from 50 Key Books



4. If you are expecting a traditional viewpoint with this book, you will not get it in reading "50 Spiritual Classics". It is heavily weighted toward Eastern religion and philosophical thought, which is fine, but it is definitely not balanced. He prefaces his review of the Christian works he presents as being "too Christian" for some. If you are into "political correctness" then this book is for you.



5. This is a great book to start thinking and re-thinking juicy spiritual concepts. I love the format - short and sweet. It's a great conversation vehicle for couples, groups, etc.
   
   Gina Orlando

5 comments about Know Yourself: A Woman's Guide to Wholeness, Radiance & Supreme Confidence.

1. Make no mistake about it, Know Yourself is one of the best I've ever read because it covers it all. Each stage of life, what's been missing inside ourselves, how to regain what we feel we've somehow lost inside, and the chapter on abuse is right on target. That would only apply if you've been abused and the nagging effects of it can make you feel that you're not worth much at all until you discover you are.
   
   One of my favorite passages comes from page 46 during the written exercise part of the book. It says in quotes:
   "The choice of what to put on your list is all yours. No one on this earth can create your life. No one other than you knows exactly what you love, what brings you joy, and what fills your entire being with passion. What you are about to write is the real you that lays beneath should's, societal expectations, cultural attitudes, and what you have been taught that opposes what you feel is true for you. Now, it's writing time to bring the real you to up to the surface on the following pages."
   
   Know Yourself taught me how to turn my attitude about myself around. It did its job and then some. It has been a gift to me that I'm sharing with friends.



2. I'm sorry but I found this book extremely unhelpful. It was very disjointed. It wasn't even clear what you were supposed to be writing in the workbook pages. It just seemed like a stream of consciousness of trite phrases like "everything happens for a reason". Maybe it's helpful to people who have never thought beyond their nose for their entire life. I don't know. I couldn't find anything redeeming in the entire thing. I ended up just skimming the second half so maybe there was something redeeming in there.



3. In "Know Yourself" Barbara Rose did an outstanding job of bringing insight where I previously had confusion or uncertainty. There is a chapter covering abuse that helped me un-do more hurt from the past than I thought it would, and for that I am grateful.
   
   I wanted to quote directly from the book from page 98 because I feel this can help anyone, which is the purpose of this great book.
   
   "Letting Go of Criticism
   Another part of cherishing others is to, with loving compassion, let go of any criticisms made of you; blame the criticisms on illusions the people had at the time; for had they had healthy and pure minds, they would not have taken anything out on you. Instead of blaming them, cherish them for being your teachers--and for teaching you how to feel self-value despite anything they may have said or done.
   
   Do not ever take to heart hurtful comments others make. Do not make them a part of your being. Know yourself and you will know truth.
   
   Know who you are. What you believe in. What feels right and true for you.
   If you dream of changing your career because of the passion you feel for a new field, enjoy the process; never let anyone stop you with their illusions of so-called failure or impossibilities.
   Nothing is impossible.
   
   I learned this saying: "Whether you believe you can or you believe you can't, you're right!"
   
   If your heart is pulling you in a certain direction, then this is a part of your truth, and you must honor it.
   
   This is where a solid sense of self comes from. It comes from knowing your truth. You can be sixty-five years old and decide you want to go back to school to become a doctor because you have always really wanted to help people. Go back to school!
   
   Don't ever let chronological age hold you back. Many people, both men and women, have uplifted countless lives and have achieved their greatest self-actualization later in life.
   
   Wisdom is the hallmark of a life lived from the heart, without judgment, and with compassion for all others.
   
   No matter what it is you want to do, do it because it is a true expression of who you are. The joy you will experience by honoring what your heart and soul came into this life for will far outweigh the pain and disappointment you will feel if you don't honor your truth."
   
   There is much more that I can quote from, much more that has helped me.
   
   While doing the written exercises, simply and clearly spelled out in the beginning of the book, I experienced what many people call "A-Ha" moments. Each one brought more about what was holding my back into my awareness, and then following the guidance in the book I was able to un-do the old, and replace it with truth that feels much better!
   
   I read this book twice so far, and am now re-reading it again. It's an excellent book for anyone male or female!



4. I purchased this book because a phrase was mentioned in my daily meditation. I was so moved to further my inquizative, hungry mind & soul. I was very excited to receive the book and begin it imediately, as i did. I was not dissapointed as it kept me at my edge. I wanted to read more as i digested all the wonderful, hearty visions and fueling words and messages. This book lead me to my next and then to another and i realized i was on a journey of no return. Thank you both the author for providing me with the resources to feel whole and motivated and complete. :) Penny



5. I'm maybe a third of the way through the book and I just had to write a review: this book is absolutely amazing! It had me in tears by the second chapter. It is unbelievable just how wonderfully intricate we are and I commend Ms. Rose for outlining this and gently guiding the reader to shed the negativity and create his/her own dream life.
   
   The key is, it's all WITHIN us and within OUR OWN POWER to make these fundamental changes for the better, which will indubitably improve and enlighten our lives.
   
   Thanks for writing such a meaningful, wonderful book! I will purchase a few more copies for my friends.