5 comments about Happiness Is Free: And It's Easier Than You Think!.

1. Happiness is Free written by Hale Dwoskin and Lester Levenson is a self-improvement book that relies heavily on Buddhism. I don't think the Buddhists of India are any happier than the secular people of America, but apparently the authors think that one should go east spiritually for happiness.

   The book starts out with an interesting account of the first half of the life of Lester Levenson who had all his material and romantic needs fulfilled at least at first glance, but alas, he was still unhappy and deathly ill even though he was successful in a worldly way. He examined the source of his unhappiness and found that it was because he wanted to change the world, but couldn't. He found in his unhappiness that the best way to become supremely happy was to imagine himself loving other people selflessly, even his enemies. He also put this selfless love into action, doing for others, but wanting nothing in return. He states that there is no need for politics, although it seems important, if everyone has love for each other since we are all basically one. That's what the new agers say, but I must say critics can come with some powerful arguments against such reasoning or lack of reasoning. Indeed, a left-brainer could easily dismiss much of the philosophy in this book as irrational and naive.

   The book goes on to explore how we can create our own reality. Since we are the 'All of reality' and not really separate from it, the authors come up with Zen-like paradoxical mantras to help one achieve enlightenment such as "I am separate from the All, I am the All; or "I am loving, I am love"; or "There are problems, everything is perfect" and other such new age mind games. The authors encourage us to be skeptical, which I have no trouble being. There is also a mind exercise of loving and then hating a person, place, or thing as much as possible by asking yourself, "Can I hate (whatever) as much as possible?--Can I love it as best I can?" This supposedly makes one feel happier. After trying the various exercises, I can't really say I'm feeling it. Maybe a little. I'm fairly content right now anyway. Hey, but if this your bag, grab it.

   I think that I've been happiest experiencing some pleasure, which usually costs money to indulge in. I don't think I've been happiest loving people, although every once in a great while, I meet some charming person whose pleasant company and mindset I like, at least for awhile. I think it is best to not indulge oneself too long in sad feelings, otherwise you going down the road to destruction. And don't expect more than life can give. That's my pragmatic advice, anyway.




2. This is a very nice book. This should appeal to those who read several books on Spirituality, because it provides several pointers directly, and very concisely, in simple sentences. No complicated philosophy or logic. It is a communication from heart.

   For the beginner this is a great starting point. For example the following two sentences on page 107, are quite revealing:

   "All thought are concepts of limitaion."

   "Thinking is just relating things to other things, connecting things together. Knowing every thing, we know the unity, the one-ness, and there is no necessity for relating things by thought."

   (I am particularly impressed by the thoughts presented on page 107)

   The book presents the pointers on our Goal, Right action, Indicators of Spiritual Growth, Where to look for Happiness, Expression of Self as Love, Importance of Direct realization than Belief, and Spirit of givingness.

   Book is very well edited. The comments of Hale Dwoskin are helpful. Hales's hints on polarities points to subtle differences between not-Being Vs Being. It cuts through subtle confusion surrounding the goal by dwelling on the closely resembling ideas which are in fact opposing the truth.

   I would keep this book, and revisit several times, for its simplicity of comminication.




3. "Happiness is Free" is a combination of teachings, aphorisms, dialogue and pure wisdom, gleaned from the life lessons of Lester Levenson. To fully appreciate the book, it would be a good idea to read "No Attachments, No Aversions" by Lester Levenson, to understand more about him and how he came to these simple, but profound, revelations about life. Hale Dwoskin, a student of Lester's, compiled the book and added his own valuable insights gained from working with Lester and his material for over 20 years. Some of the main points...
   
   We are unlimited beings. (I had always believed in scarcity and the need to compete)
   
   Our happiness comes from the awareness of our "beingness" - something no one can ever take away.
   
   Our "problems" are really just illusions we create by holding on vs. letting go.
   
   On the surface, some of the material might seem simplistic, but the more I read it and absorb it, the more profound it becomes. It must have really impacted Lester, since he was supposed to have died at 42, and instead, with these revelations, lived happily to age 84, in great health.
   
   Some people just "get it". I think Lester was one of them. I enjoy reading his works and feeling his positive energy. It just seems soothing and reassuring, especially from someone who lived it and touched so many lives.
   
   So I recommend the book and his other autobiographical one, "No Attachments, No Aversions". Hope that helps.



4. This book is not a book on mood psychology but propoganda for monotheistic religion, refering to God, always capitalized, on nearly every other page. If i were into such concepts I could easily dilude myself into any state of unphoria without needing a book to help me. The Power of Now by Ekcart Tolle is a much better book that sticks to the topic without promoting any particular faiths or religion.



5. This is Book 1 of what is advertised as a 5 book series, but I haven't come across the other titles. The authors are pioneers of The Sedona Method for releasing feelings as a means of attaining peace. This book contains 7 chapters that are designed to be read on a weekly basis, with blank pages for notes and observations between each chapter. There is some good advice in this book, that should fit pretty well into many belief systems. Although much of the book can be described as monotheistic, the philosophy is fairly inclusive. Some of the terminology is a bit dated, since the book is based on workshops that Lester Levinson conducted around 30 years ago. If you want a more comprehensive approach to this topic, you might explore the book, The Sedona Method, by the same authors.

4 comments about Don't Sweat the Small Stuff for Men: Simple Ways to Minimize Stress in a Competitive World (Don't Sweat the Small Stuff (Hyperion)).

1. I am a female who recently bought this book as a gift for a relative. Before wrapping, I skimmed the book to see if it had the same Richard Carlson quality. Indeed it does!

   This book, just like the other don't sweat the small stuff titles, includes ways to overcome difficult times. It will give you a positive attitude and help you gain peace with yourself, and uprooting events.

   Good Christmas gift!




2. Enjoyed reading DON'T SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF FOR MEN by Richard Carlson . . . this is the latest in Carlson's "small stuff" series, and it does not disappoint . . . he continues to offer simple ways to minimize stress in a competitive world . . . they seem to make sense, at least to me, and can be applied to virtually any situation . . . although directed at men, I think women would also benefit from reading it . . . by the same token, methinks men could benefit from reading the companion DON'T SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF FOR WOMEN (written by Carlson's wife Kristine) . . . I know that I'll be looking for it.

   I liked many ideas that I got from the book; among them:
   Have an affair. . . .The idea is to reignite your passion for living, and to see the extraordinary in the ordinary. Remind yourself how precious and how short this adventure really is. I read a great book called A PARENTHESIS IN
   ETERNITY . . . What a great way to think about the duration of your
   life--as a blip on a passing screen. We're here for a moment in
   time--and then we're gone. Why waste one second of self-pity,
   frustration, and all the rest? Our lives are so much more important than that.

   Consider how you would respond to the following two sentences spoken by a spouse, lover, or friend. First, "I hate my stupid job; (its bad)." Or, "Do you know what I'd really love to be doing?" Wow--what a difference. In the first sentence, you, as the listener or receiver of the complaint, want to leave the room. Your instinct is to pull away. In the second, however, you want to hear more; you want to engage in the conversation because it brings you closer to the person who is sharing.

   Be for something rather than against it. . . . You can see how easy it is to be working with very positive intentions, yet still find a way to drive yourself nuts. Some environmental activists, for example, are doing great things-choosing to be vegetarians, picking up litter, cleaning up the beaches, planting trees, recycling, and raising awareness as well as money for the causes they believe in. Others, however, yell and scream, block traffic, chain themselves to trees, and starve themselves in an attempt to accomplish their goals.




3. let me begin by saying that there is good advice in
   this book, no question about it. if you are looking
   for some help in getting a better perspective on life,
   then there is help in this book. why do you think the
   series is so popular? however, i dont think that the ideas
   are original. you can find the same prescriptions for
   a better attitude---such as more sense of humor, less
   attention paid to difficult people, things are not as
   bad as you think, the future is unknown and so do

   stress yourself too much over it---in so many other
   books in the self help section. it is old wine in a
   new bottle. you can even get the same advice from a
   wise old relative if your family is fortunate enough
   to have one. it is also like listening to a friend
   who knows something of life that you havent realized yet.

   the format is easy. the book is pocket-size. the
   chapters are very short, and the phraseology
   non-technical. the cost is minimal. practically,
   the lessons contained in this book can apply to
   both males and females.

   if you are looking for your first self-help
   book, then you have found a good one.




4. let me begin by saying that there is good advice in
   this book, no question about it. if you are looking
   for some help in getting a better perspective on life,
   then there is help in this book. why do you think the
   series is so popular? however, i dont think that the ideas
   are original. you can find the same prescriptions for
   a better attitude---such as more sense of humor, less
   attention paid to difficult people, things are not as
   bad as you think, the future is unknown and so do
   stress yourself too much over it---in so many other
   books in the self help section. it is old wine in a
   new bottle. you can even get the same advice from a
   wise old relative if your family is fortunate enough
   to have one. it is also like listening to a friend
   who knows something of life that you havent
   realized yet. the format is easy. the book is pocket-size.
   the chapters are very short, and the phraseology
   non-technical. the cost is minimal. practically,
   the lessons contained in this book can apply to
   both males and females. if you are looking for your
   first self-helpbook, then you have found a good one.

5 comments about Constructive Living (Kolowalu Books).

1. I was lost. It seemed to me that Western psychological theories were largely speculation and confident assertion and not much help. Krishnamurti made some great sense but I'd been unable after years to put his teaching into practice. What a welcome relief to find David Reynolds and "Constructive Living".

   The emphasis on doing what one can do may seem simple. However, I had become so complicated and Reynolds' teaching set me straight and has kept me that way for 14 years now. This book and another early book by Reynolds, "The Quiet Therapies", provide tools that don't depend on any guru, including Reynolds. Unlike other teachers, Reynolds teaches! and then gets out of your way.

   Reynolds' teaching draws from Japanese sources that were influenced by Buddhism. There's no need to become a Buddhist, but it was a good start for me in learning about Buddhism. Reynolds big contribution has been helping me learn to stay grounded. A day doesn't go by that I don't apply what I learned from "Constructive Living". Reynolds is prolific but this one of his many books on Constructive Living has been my favorite.

   Reynolds is an excellent speaker as well. The 3 audiotapes available for "Constructive Living" are a fresh presentation on the subject with many new anecdotes and not a reading of this book. The book and tapes have complemented each other well for me.




2. This is one of the most effective self-help books ever written. David K.Reynolds offers practical, simple, wise advice to people who have lost their way in this complex world. He advises his readers to accept their feelings, but to take the necessary actions to take charge of their lives. Dr. Reynolds write in a clear voice that eschews unnecessary psychological terms and victimization. He advise that the reader to take charge of his/her own life by facing reality and taking action. This is a practical, valuable guide to overcoming emotional trauma and the inevitable obstacles everyone faces in the course of everyday living. It is a rare book written by a wise man. I have given several copies of it to friends in distress and they have also praised its value. Dr. Reynolds has written a small book with heaps of wisdom.



3. I first came across "Constructive Living" in an audio catalog -- it stood out among the self-help and spirituality offerings for its practical, straightforward title. His book(s) and work have had a major influence in my perception of reality. In a world of confused and suffering people looking for ways to feel better, Dr. Reynolds offers "reality's reminders" that we have more control over our behaviors than we have over arising feelings or passing thoughts -- and that it may be more realistic to focus on behaving in a grateful, kind, positive way rather than waiting to have those feelings first. In this, his first book, he offers many such reminders that help us see ourselves, our relationships, and our world more clearly. One of the most helpful, sane, and realistic books I've read.



4. "Achieve the goal of Constructive Living - to do everything well," says the book cover. Sounds impossible! In fact, the goal might be better phrased "to do everything with full awareness." That's what Reynolds espouses in this deceptively simple and extremely useful book.
   
   Reynolds is the foremost Western interpreter of Morita therapy, a therapeutic protocol that has Buddhist underpinnings, but is applicable no matter what your religious beliefs (or lack thereof) might be.
   
   Constructive Living (CL) has no use for Freudian therapy. Understanding the past doesn't change it and means little if you're still having trouble getting through your day right now. CL is also nothing like the therapeutic techniques that urge you to express your feelings fully at all times so that you may be "transformed" by releasing your emotions. Acting out can be cathartic, but if unchecked, it also can be destructive. More significantly, it allows your feelings to control you.
   
   The CL approach doesn't want you to deny your personal history or repress your feelings. It wants you to transcend them. It wants you to focus on now. Not how you feel now, but what you can choose to do now that will be appropriate to your situation. What a refreshing but challenging way to live!
   
   CL does not a guarantee of a state of blissful happiness, though you may feel moments of joy more deeply than ever before. It is not an easy discipline to follow simply because it does require discipline, something not regularly exercised in our society. It does not ensure that you will master every task placed before you, though you will learn greatly from your failures. It will, however, make you an adult, a responsible, sensitive, totally aware human being living a constructive life. - I have a long way to go!



5. "There are no neurotics or geniuses or failures or fools. There are only neurotic moments, flashes of brilliance, failed opportunities, and stupid mistakes. But these moments, pleasant or unpleasant, can never fix us into rigid, immutable characters. We cannot help but change. This book is about choosing the direction of your changingness and acting upon your choice." ~ David K. Reynolds from "Constructive Living"
   
   "Constructive Living." It's a book a friend and favorite author of mine, Dan Millman ("The Way of the Peaceful Warrior," "Everyday Enlightenment," etc.), recommended to me. I've always admired Dan and his work for his ability to blend East and West with an ultimate focus on ACTION. And, now I know why he recommended this book to me: it's an incredible manual on how to master ourselves and learn to take consistent, impeccable action.
   
   "Constructive Living" is based on the fundamental notion that, although we can't control our feelings, we CAN control our behaviors. And, as a result, craft our ideal life. Or, as Reynolds says so poetically: "Our behavior is controllable in a way that our feelings are not. There is a very special satisfaction for the Artist of Living who works within life's limits to produce a fine self-portrait. The more control we develop over our actions, the more chance we have of producing a self we can be proud of."
   
   That, in a nutshell, is what Constructive Living is all about. :)
   
   I have no doubt you'll enjoy this book. It's a quick read--only 120 pages--and I highly recommend you jump in now!

5 comments about Occasions (New Series of Lifestyle Books).

1. Or she would have spared me (and other buyers) from paying for her advice, information, opinions, and knowledge on her version of "entertaining". Most of the information is irrelevant - unless you have your own caterer, florist, maid, bellman, limo driver, party organizer and an unlimited amount of cash. Dispensing advice on how to entertain using caterers and servers is hardly applicable to most of us who do not entertain in a posh Manhattan apartment. The section on "Weekend activities in the Country..." is perfect insight in to how contrived and artificial the life of Kate and Andy must be.

   Although one might try and find the book humorous - in order to justify its ridiculous overpricing. The real joke is on me the purchaser of the book as I was the one duped and the Spades are laughing all the way to the bank.




2. I bought this book as a gag gift for a friend, assuming that it would be full of cutsie little ideas for parties... maybe a few recipes and quotes and bits of ettiquette.

   I read it on the way home, and was bored to tears. There's nothing I love more than entertaining and pretending to be sophisticated, but this book was niether. It told me almost nothing that even barely related to reality, and that which was complete common sense that any 5 year old could tell you about having friends over.

   I ended up returning the book. It wasn't even worth it as a gag gift.




3. I had the opportunity to read Occasions about two months ago... and I'm still thinking about it! This book (as well as the others in the series) was a quick read with concise, sweet bites of information. More than finding any concrete information about throwing parties or dressing correctly, I found inspiration in the pages of these books. Instead of merely telling me HOW to throw a party, the vivid colors and witty drawings in this book made me WANT to throw a party. These books are succint, bright, and happy--just like the author's handbags.



4. Looking for an in depth book on entertaining? This IS NOT IT!
   
   But who would think it would be? As usual ms. spade turns out a delightful book full of darling sketches and cute ideas. It is inspirational for gifts for a hostess (such as a wrapped up stack of towels at a bbq party) and setting a table (mix and match with different pieces of china). It reminds me of little thoughts and sketches I would keep in a journal: fun ideas and notes to bring out for parties, but nothing too serious or study worthy.



5. This book has great ideas. I think anyone who thinks otherwise doesn't know how to throw a good party!

5 comments about How to Become a Great Boss: The Rules for Getting and Keeping the Best Employees.

1. Several weeks ago I was re-organizing some books on one of my bookshelfs and picked up "How to Become a Great Boss" for the first time in several years. I love books like this one: easy to read, concise points and actionable. I grabbed a cup of coffee, sat down and read it again. It took less than an hour to read the book cover to cover. Re-reading this book helped me remember why I liked it so much the first time.
   
   Reading the book again refocused me on the example I set for people who work for me and how my actions impact their actions. Fox makes the point that the Boss gets paid for the performance of his employees so it makes sense that if my actions hinder my employees' ability to perform then I'm not doing my job as the Boss.
   
   This book will remain in my library.
   
   Jeb Blount
   Author of PowerPrinciples: Do You Have The Winning Edge?



2. This book or audio is great source for anyone that is in charge of people. A wonderful guide to get the best of those employees and to prepare you to be happier more motivated leader. I would recommend this read to anyone, it will make you a better person if you take his advise.



3. This book packs a lot of very good leadership advice and maxims into 50 short one to two page chapters. Short is good when it comes to management books as managers don't typically have a lot of time. Much of it is common sense, but regrettably it is not common practice. This book can help with that. All the chapters hold value, but readers will latch on to some more than others. Get a copy of the book to learn more and begin your journey to become a Great Boss.
   
   Nick McCormick - Author, Lead Well and Prosper: 15 Successful Strategies for Becoming a Good Manager



4. "How to Become a Great Boss" is unlikely to transform your organization - too many books have been written on this subject to miss something large - but it is a great read nonetheless as it reiterates many of the principles that we often forget about in our daily grind. Jeffrey Fox organizes his material into 50 brief chapters, the contents of which include:
   
   - Hire slow, fire fast
   - It's always about the customer
   - Don't hire a dog and bark yourself (hire A-people, and get out of the way)
   - Spend time with the superstars
   - Delegate, not relegate down
   - Set the example: don't complain, be reserved, thank your employees
   - And many others
   
   The book is a quick and an enjoyable read - a great title for your next flight or a quiet evening at home.



5. How To Become A Great Boss is a book of rules and anecdotes. It's easy to read - in fact it only took me about 2 hours from cover to cover. All the rules mentioned by Jeffrey J. Fox are appropriate and if applied, would work well for all bosses. Now there's the rub - "if applied". There is no suggestion in How To Become A Great Boss as to how one might apply these rules, merely a description of the rule and an anecdote to illustrate.
   
   I liken How To Become A Great Boss to a New Year's resolution - fine, valid and admirable on the 1st of January, but forgotten by the 31st!
   
   If you are looking for a reminder of what makes a great boss, then this book may appeal. If you are looking to find out "how to" become a great boss, then this book falls short of the mark. There's a place for vicarious learning, but not in such an important topic as management.
   
   Bob Selden, author of What To Do When You Become The Boss: How new managers become successful managers

5 comments about 30 Days to a Simpler Life.

1. This book did not change my life, but it contained clear cut ways of simplifying. If you are already a hard core simplifier then this book is probably mostly a review. It is best for beginners or for those of us that need to be reminded that less is more. I got a lot out of it and I think you will too.



2. Of the hundreds of this type book I have read (and almost 100 I still own) this is my favorite, the most marked, the most dog-eared. It looks like the old friend that it is.



3. The book has some fairly interesting tips, but I am glad I purchased it at a garage sale.
   Shortly after starting it, I googled both Cris and Connie. Unfortunately, this skewed the
   way I viewed the book, as I kept taking everything Cris said/wrote with a huge grain of salt.
   Connie's advice was really helpful and cheerful. Sorry, Cris seems bitter and a bit of a hag.
   Therefore, the point of this lousy review is to warn anyone else to just READ the book, and
   don't do what I did, and become predisposed to disliking one of the authors. It definitely
   had a negative impact on what's actually a pretty decent book. It's quite outdated in some
   respects, being written in the 80's, but still - interesting.



4. I thought this was a good book with many specific suggestions on how to simplify your life. One of the tips I used from the book was to put all of our carryout menus in plastic sheets in one master notebook. That one tip alone was worth the price of the book and has probably saved me hours of searching for misplaced menus over the last year.



5. I suppose this book may work well for type-A personalities who don't have husbands, children, dogs, roomates, etc. I tried a lot of these techniques and it really just caused a lot of tension in my house and got me pinned as a control freak. If you live with others, you cannot force them to change. Period. It's hard enough to force yourself to change and usually you don't succede anyway.
   
   On top that I found the book to be very waste-oriented. There was a lot of "get rid of stuff and then go buy new stuff just like it." For anyone working overtime and trying to make ends meet (you know the people who are really short on time and really need some simplicity in their lives), this is not simplifying, it is frustrating. So I knock off three stars for all the classist bull and not taking into account how some people really live.
   
   I let it keep 2 stars because this book made me realize that this kind of 'simplicity' does not improve my life. There is beauty in having some chaos, and learning to go with the flow is much more about simplicity than being an anal-retentive witch. My life is better when my fride is covered in finger paint masterpieces, my husband cant stop laughing at the sock that got stuck to the butt of the baby's jammies and my dog is passionately cuddling an old shoe like it was her first born baby. Now THAT is a good life.

5 comments about Intervention: How to Help Someone Who Doesn't Want Help.

1. Outstanding. A huge help. A must read for anyone with an alcoholic in the family.



2. Thsi was helpful to read to understand brain disease and Chemical dependency and then great for understanding the best way to stage an intervention for a loved one who won't help themselves.



3. Read this book really quickly prior to a family intervention. Easy read, gives the reader a basic understanding of chemical dependency and how to intervene.



4. I was looking for a book that would help with a family intervention for health issues. I found this book some what helpful; it did outline the mechanics of the process in the second half of the book. The first half was primarily about the psychology of a substance abuser.



5. A must read for anyone who has someone in their life that has the disease of addiction. There is not a lot that can be done to stop someone on their destructive path but a well run and meaningful intervention can be very powerful. It can help them on the path to see reality and take the first step to recovery.

2 comments about The Premarital Counseling Handbook.

1. Interesting points, however, buyer should know that it takes a pastoral, not necessarily a counseling, perspective to couple's work.



2. This is a great book for therapists who need general, well-rounded information regarding how to conduct pre-marital counseling.

4 comments about Fearless: Creating the Courage to Change the Things You Can.

1. A perception, a word, an idea, can change fear to courage. Steve Chandler clearly points the way for the reader to make this transition, this transformation in his book "Fearless: Creating the Courage to Change the Things You Can."
   
   The book's short chapters are filled with illustrations, keys, hints, and instructions that left me as a reader with many "aha" moments. I found myself reading a few pages, assimilating them, reading them again to digest the potent powerful keys to replace fear with courage, reacting to creating, and the fear of insecurity to excitement.
   
   Chandler has a gift for telling and choosing stories that illustrate stepping out in courage to serve others. I found the book "unputdownable" as I read of a 93 year old newly widowed author writing his memoirs and a publisher who couldn't put the book down. I went right on to the next story of compassion and community which brought a missing daughter home to her father.
   
   Steve points out that, "Being bold and focused is what creates energy." This means I must make a fearless decision to do exactly what I want to do. An important principle I am trying to incorporate in my life is a revamping of my appointment calendar to include exercise, meditation, and planning, actually scheduling a time for my own personal creativity. I am looking forward to discovering and cultivating the power of solitude.
   
   I have read five of Steve's books previously but always find a fresh newness in his writing, indicting that he is experiencing the personal growth he speaks of in his books. This integrity is important to me as a reader. Steve has earned a high ranking spot on my list of favorite authors.



2. As a coach I am dedicated to helping my clients find resources to move them forward. I am also always reading to fuel my own personal development. Two days ago I came across a book that I just can't put down and want everyone to know about.
   
   "Fearless: Creating the Courage to Change the Things You Can," by Steve Chandler, addresses the one thing, truly the one thing, that is holding you or me back from success...FEAR! This book is remarkable, written in short chapters, and one that you will want to read over and over once you realize that it was written for you.
   
   Buy this book, read it, and you will realize that you have the ability to change the way you think about anything in your life. And then, get up and take action!



3. I just finished reading Fearless by Steve Chandler. The book is written in a highly accessible style, with chapters that are brief but packed with wisdom. I think it is Steve Chandler's best work to date, a book that helped me in some very personal ways.
   
   If you'll open yourself up to the ideas the book presents, you'll find yourself seriously questioning why you don't do the things that you've always wanted to do, why you walk around judging everything to be "good" or "bad," and why you let fear govern so much of your thinking.
   
   This book gave me a very big boost of intellectual and emotional energy. I read it over the course of a week and each day I found myself more energized, less judgmental of the people I live and work with, and more confident in my ability to move into the next phase of my career.
   
   This is a quick read, but you should read it twice or three times so that you give the ideas a chance to change the way you think about the fears that hold you back in life.



4. Ever been in a tall building that has an express elevator? No need to go through all the stops on all the intervening floors...just, ZAP! and you are at the top. In the penthouse suite. That's what this book does for my mind -- gets me full speed to my best, most creative thinking. Freedom.
   
   As a business and life coach, I have been using Steve Chandler's books for several years now and see them impact clients in major ways -- and quickly. What's great about this book is Chandler writes like he talks: clearly, succinctly, and with great humor. He makes change not only possible but FUN. His books make my professional work a whole lot easier.
   
   This is his best yet. Why? Because it addresses, challenges, and shows us how to eradicate the single greatest problem that underpins all the others--Fear.
   
   It's not about prevailing in the face of fear. Or about learning to live with fear and doing it anyway. It's about living without fear. Nada. Take it off the menu. A fearless life. Imagine that.
   
   If you buy one book this year, make it this one.

5 comments about Answers in the Heart: Daily Meditations For Men And Women Recovering From Sex Addiction (Hazelden Meditation Series).

1. I find the positive message delivered by this book to be a tremendous help in my recovery from this debilitating disease.



2. A primary text for our Fellowship of SAA in Tulsa. Most members have personal copies also. Truly an extremely valuable tool for avoiding the "bubble" of addiction and staying focused on soberity.



3. I am totally pleased with how Amazon.com runs it's business. I love ordering books and DVDs and CDs. I have never liked ordering things online, but Amazon.com has changed that for me.
   This book being an example. Each day I have a reminder that I am ok, and that life is indeed great.



4. Just like the 24 hour book for AA or the Just for Today for NA. this is the book for SA, SAA of SLAA



5. Few things start my day better or help slow down an out of control day like taking time to read and absorb a daily meditation from this book. Each day's reading is a short page, starting with a quote, moving on to some written thoughts about the quote and how it applies to me, and to today, and then ending with a synopsis of the thoughts. Very helpful, very concise and very much on point for anyone in recovery.