5 comments about Broken Open: How Difficult Times Can Help Us Grow.

1. I'm not at all into self help books....but this is one i'm glad i tried out.
   So i do highly recommend this book to others skeptical of the self help genre.
   It's one I didn't even feel i needed to hide... :)



2. one of the few books on self improvement and growth that is readable. it is fast, insightful and useful. I read it at a time when things we going great for me and I had no idea how bad they were going to get. Some of the stuff in it came back during hard times and gave me strength and hope. I would definitly give this book a chance. personally i think books such as these, come to you. u shoud read them if u can relate to them, or else u will get bored or feel they r useless.



3. "Broken Open" is the first book I read after losing my husband. Indeed, I felt broken open, so it seemed an apt buy for me. I really appreciated the honest, open tone of Elizabeth Lesser's style of writing. "A heart made crooked through loss and change is a heart that can love the world and its less than perfect people." So true. After you lose someone, you appreciate so much more what you have. You're less willing to waste time on the petty and look for the more enriching experiences in life. Change, as difficult as it is many times, brings those experiences. Life is so much more if we're open to receiving it. Elaine Williams



4. This is one of the best books I have read. Highly recommended for those who what to find ways to get through difficult times without wallying in the mud to get there!!!



5. How I am enjoying this book! Elizabeth Lesser can communicate, so thoroughly, to the heart and soul of our humanity. I can only hope she will grace us with more of her written word. Thank you, Elizabeth. P.S. I love the Wavy Gravy quote!

5 comments about Before You Say "I Do"®.

1. I have liked this overall, but sometimes it feels like there are sooooo many questions!!! I would definitely suggest breaking up the chapters, some of the questions are a little more involved then I expected



2. This is an essential resource for anyone assisting couples as they prepare for marriage. Covers topics on expectations, love, communication and conflict resolution. I would also recommend his related resources: After You Say I Do and his book for re-marrieds.



3. It"s a great book...but remember...only if you mean what you say and only if you answer in truth, and only if you mean to stick with what you say. EAsy it is to answer the way you suppose you should, then drop it all after the "I do" has become an "I did"



4. My husband used this pre-marriage book 22 years ago when we got married so it must work (LOL)!! As a Marriage and Family Therapist, I use this book with my Christian Couples for pre-marriage counseling. This workbook discusses all the potential trouble areas that contribute to most divorces. I highly recommend this workbook.



5. If it can go wrong in a marriage, this workbook brings it out. I have used it a number of times, over 10, in pre-marital counseling and it is the best program I've seen. Everything that needs to be discussed is at some point. Well organized and easy to follow. Strong Christian doctrine.

5 comments about The Cognitive Behavioral Workbook for Depression: A Step-by-step Program (Workbook).

1. I am finding this book a great help it makes think about my life and what I must do not only what others do to help me. I must want to change
   and help myself.



2. This book was more of a disappointment than the managing thoughts and feelings, which is slightly better. Not well presented but can be used as a psychoeducation resource as it explains cognitive distortions well and provides good worksheets. Not sure if it will be very useful as it is cery simplified and aimed at the individual who perhaps wants to work through their depression independently rather than with professional help.



3. I have used this workbook professionally and would recommend it to other professions as well. This is also a wonderful aid for people who would like to do some work independent of their therapist.



4. this is a great workbook. it has a lot of examples and even more ways to try to help. I found it very useful



5. This book is an excellent self-help resourse for anyone fighting depression. It would be most helpful when used in conjunction with individual CBT sessions and appropriate medication.

5 comments about Paths to Recovery: Al-Anon's Steps, Traditions and Concepts.

1. This is the basic text of the Al-Anon program, and in it you will a new freedom and a new happiness in your life. If you were raised in a home affected by alcoholism, or in a home affected by depression or co-dependency, where you were unable to form healthy boundries, then this book will help you So Much.
   
   I love what someone said in it when they commented on the 2nd Step "Came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity." Someone wrote, "Restore me to sanity? How about introduce me to it!" The book is filled with other such gems. Get it today...
   
   Michael Z, author of The Wisdom of the Rooms "A Year of Weekly Reflections"



2. If you are working the steps, this book is a great guide. It offers Insight on the steps, members Experience, Strength and Hope, and some guiding questions.



3. You want recovery? Work the Steps and Traditions. This is the book that will help you do it if you have been affected by someone else's drinking, thinking and/or behavior. As one other reviewer has already stated, if I could have only one Al-Anon book, this would be it. This book is truly a blessing.



4. I'm an AA. My former wife was an Al-Anon though she is now deceased. I've devoted 19 years to researching the spiritual roots of Alcoholics Anonymous, the Twelve Steps, and the early program. Making Known the Biblical History and Roots of Alcoholics Anonymous: A Sixteen-Year Research, Writing, Publishing, and Fact Dissemination Project. One of the first books I was given by an A.A. oldtimer was Lois Remembers. And I hustled out and bought two Al-Anon books. I believe all of us in the recovery movement should have the perspective of both A.A. and of Al-Anon. My former wife and her sister (both married to alcoholics) believed they never could have made it without Al-Anon. And whether we recover, reconcile, or just make amends, we need to know this family program. I also think Al-Anons and AAs need to know how much the two programs were alike at the beginning. Early A.A. in Akron dealt with families--fathers, mothers, children.Real Twelve Step Fellowship History. They all attended. Dr. Bob's wife Anne Ripley Smith dealt with the wives, and actually counseled Lois Wilson with some frequency.Anne Smith's Journal, 1933-1939: A.A.'s Principles of Success. Henrietta Seiberling was prominent in early A.A. development, and so was Clarace Williams, wife of T. Henry Williams, at whose whom the family meetings were held.Henrietta B. Seiberling: Ohio's Lady with a Cause, Third Edition. Anne Smith started a woman's group a year after A.A. was founded. And Lois herself wrote that Al-Anon people should never forget the important role that Anne played. In one sense, we are all in this together. For those of us who are believers, God is the One with whom we relate and seek to establish a relationship.By the Power of God: A Guide To Early A.A. Groups and Forming Similar Groups Today . And the Biblical principles of early A.A. were applied alike to women and family members. The Good Book and the Big Book: A.A.'s Roots in the Bible (Bridge Builders Edition), and The Good Book-Big Book Guidebook. Excellent reading. Important!



5. My only issue was that it smelled a little old and there was a dead bug in it but I aired it out and it was fine in a day or so. I guess it's the nature of an old used book.

5 comments about Power Thought Cards (Beautiful Card Deck).

1. Excellent positve affirmation cards. I love to have them to give out to family, friends and clients. Beautiful product with great information.



2. If I could give no stars, I would. I'm putting this review on each of Louise Hay's titles to warn people who fall into believing that this is a caring, compassionate person. I met her recently at an event and was about to compliment her on one of the books her company publishes that Dr. Dyer wrote for children. Louise Hay was so incredibly rude to me before I even got to open my mouth that I was shocked. The woman seemed to be only about capitalism, power and ego and, though I had been a previous customer of her publishing company, I will NEVER purchase anything by them again nor will I recommend them. I will not give money to someone so ill-behaved, let alone someone who's telling others to be nice when they haven't learned that lesson themselves. Louise Hay, I hope someone on your team shares this with you. You should be ashamed of yourself for being so nasty!
   
   By contrast, I have dealt with the people at Sound's True a zillion times and all of them are as nice as can be and behave in accordance with their products. I spoke with their people at the same event (and others before it) and they were all lovely.
   
   And, no, I do not work for or am in any way compensated by Sound's True. I simply people should know the truth about who practices what they preach and who doesn't. In my opinion, Hay's behavior was one step down from Cruella De Ville. If you're shocked reading that, imagine how shocked I was experiencing it from her.



3. 
   I USED TO ATTEND A WOMEN'S GROUP, IN WHICH, AT THE END OF THE GROUP EACH OF US WOULD PULL A CARD OUT- READ IT ALOUD, AND THEN PLACE IT SOMEWHERE WHERE IT WOULD BE READ AT LEAST ONCE A DAY UNTIL THE FOLLOWING WEEK.
   
   ONE SESSION THE CARD I PULLED READ, "IT'S ONLY A THOUGHT, AND A THOUGHT CAN BE CHANGED."
   
   I HAD SO MANY NEGATIVE THOUGHTS FLOATING AROUND IN MY HEAD, AND I LOVED ADOPTING NEW THOUGHT CHOICES THAT WERE PROVIDED IN THIS DECK. I PUT THE CARDS EVERYWHERE INCLUDING ALL AROUND THE BATHROOM MIRROR. EVERYTIME I CRITIZED MYSELF IN FRONT OF THAT MIRROR, I JUMPED TO ONE OF THE CARDS AND WOULD FOCUS ON A LOVING THOUGHT INSTEAD. IT WORKS!
   
   I POST THE CARDS EVERYWHERE AND SAY THEM ALOUD CONSTANTLY. GO AHEAD & HAVE SOME FUN WITH IT! YOUR KIDS WILL GET A KICK OUT OF IT TOO!



4. I recently bought the Power Thought Cards to share with my yoga classes. Before each class I hand out a card to each participant and during the first few minutes of class each person takes a moment to reflect and meditate on the positive thoughts!



5. A friend lent me her box of Power Thought Cards when I had an unbearably painful event take place in my life. Before I was done reading the entire set of cards,I was already on Amazon placing my order.
   
   They are not only beautifully illustrated, but there are enough cards to cover pretty much any situation, desire, or outcome you are looking to improve in your life.

5 comments about Why Can't You Read My Mind? Overcoming the 9 Toxic Thought Patterns that Get in the Way of a Loving Relationship.

1. This book is really helpful and right on target. It seems so many people try to have magical mind reading abilities and this book helps to sort that fantasy out!! Particularly useful to give to others to read as a gift!!



2. This excellent book, written by family therapist Dr. Jeffrey Bernstein, is practical, easy-to-follow, and a quick read. Although it is not an instant panacea for relationship ills it did make me recognize my own (negative) contributions to my relationship with my husband and, later, with other, less integral people in my life. Be open-minded, willing to learn, and spend the time and thought to do the exercises honestly. I read this book prior to choosing Dr. Jeff as a therapist and cannot speak highly enough about him. (Yes, I am fortunate enough to live in the same area as his practice!)



3. Dr. Bernstein has captured the essential elements not only to rebuilding and strengthening a fractured relationship, but really to live a happier life. All it takes is an open mind, and a little dedication to the process, and by reading and practicing the simple tips outlined, you can truly transform the quality of your life. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anybody who would like to improve their relationship with their spouse/partner. What you gain from reading this book is not just a profound improvement in your primary relationship, but a way to create happier, balanced relationships with other people in your life as well. These are practical, real tips that can be applied to everyday situations (I've even improved the quality of my worklife by discovering how negative I was, and how my toxic thoughts were impairing so many areas outside of my relationship issues).



4. This was such a well written and easy to read book. So often, relationship guidance is written in a style which seems to be meant for fellow therapists. This book used humor and everyday language and situations to efficiently get the points across. There is enough repetition of the advice, but not too much. I will end up reading it again and recommending it to my friends.



5. If you have had doubts or conflicting thoughts about your relationship, take a deep breathe, order this book and read it. It will definitely change a lot of your thoughts to more real and concrete truths that will help you and your significant other reach the ultimate calm in relationships. You will change for the better, and even if your significant other reads it or not, they will also change due to you reading this book. Trust me, this author knows what he is talking about. I wouldn't order any other book but this one. It definitely changed my way of thinking and made me appreciate what i have, instead of what i want.

5 comments about Beyond Codependency: And Getting Better All the Time.

1. The truth of the matter is:
   
   We don't want to hear it and we make any excuse to deny it. This book is a denial killer!
   
   I have been in recovery for years and let me just tell you, Beattie is right on top of the root problem. No matter who reads the words, the truth is loud and clear. I would recommend this item to anyone having problems with any relationship.
   
   You don't need to be a doctor or a shrink to see the writing on the wall. Beattie spells it out and even if you don't agree, it will open your mind to change. Worth every penny spent!



2. Melody Beattie's follow up to Codependent No More does not disappoint. I love it. It has fantastic stories and helpful strategies to live a happier life. I love this author.



3. I've been a counselor for a good number of years and I have often recommended this book for individuals who desire healthier relationships where you can respect others and take care of yourself as well.



4. this is a good book to own. my copy is dog-eared all over. and it make a wonderful gift for friends that you know who are having a difficult time. her interpretations of recovery bring everything down to a day to day experience that is very personal and very moving.



5. Beattie scores again with this self-help book. This is more in-depth than her first book, "Codependent No More," and is for those of us who have moved past the beginning steps of our recovery.
   
   Non-Christian Note: The one and only thing that put me off about this book was the constant references to religion. Yes, she says that any form of spirituality is accepted and acceptable for recovering, but when reading her book you can easily tell which one she prefers.

5 comments about Juicy Pens, Thirsty Paper: Gifting the World with Your Words and Stories, and Creating the Time and Energy to Actually Do It.

1. The journey of a writer needs and benefits from this book of SARK's...haha...at least MY journey does. SARK's unique and colorful pages reflect and remind that she courageously did it "her way" and she's been inspiring and delighting readers, artists and writers AND HUMANS for many years with sharing her dark corners and bright joy as she learns. With this book, she oh-so generously and gently invites and welcomes me to ponder, to practice, to tweak and to try. She reminds me that my writing is first of all for me. This is a highly practical learning book with rich resources, tools for your chest and en-couragement for your spirit. Thank you, dear SARK, for being here.



2. The title of this book alone is inspiration enough to get our own creative juices flowing, from the author/creative artist/workshop facilitator/coach who has done so much to encourage and nurture the artist in all of us. SARK's magic reaches into the secret place that yearns to share our stories with others. She guides us along the path to the fulfillment of our own dreams. Write from the Heart : Unleashing the Power of Your Creativity



3. I haven't even gotten all the way through this easy to read and wonderful book of SARK's. I've been savoring every page. I used some of her exercises in my journal, and I started writing "pieces," based of her inspiring words. Then I couldn't stop writing. This book has become my personal coach. I already have two stories about to be published! Susan, you are so inspiring and empowering!
   
   Abby Caplin, MD, MA
   Mind-Body Medicine and Counseling
   San Francisco, CA



4. I have had writer's block for years, it seems, and this book snapped me right out of it. Simple advice and inspiration are the key - I felt accomplished with small steps instead of trying to write a certain number of pages, and I was able to silence my inner critic.



5. The SARK book, Juicy Pen, Thirsty Paper has brought me a new creative spark. I always enjoy wrting but have lost interest over the years. I had the priviledge of meeting SARK. She is an inpiration and a wonderful mentor. (and she's cute to);-)
   I don't want to go on to much it will go to her head.
   This book, Juicy Pen, Thirsty Paper is a great guide, both practical and inspirational, for anyone who wants to get in touch with their creative side. We all have our stories, I thank SARK for being the guide to help me tell mine.

5 comments about The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari: A Fable About Fulfilling Your Dreams & Reaching Your Destiny.

1. I enjoyed this book, with reservations. It's an odd blend of (mostly) Buddhist philosophy with the sort of self-help pep talk preferred by corporate go-getters. At times it reminded me of reading the Dalai Lama, at others, a Franklin-Covey leadership session.
   
   The parable is a little facile, and the dialog naive-- but the overall thrust benign and even helpful. It may well be a doorway to a better path for many who read it. If you've never encountered Eastern philosophy before but are already a fan of corporate pep talks, you may find this a real treat.



2. International best-seller, "The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari" is a short fable or story about a high powered lawyer who suffers a personal loss and embarks on a life of workaholism, materialism and emptiness. When he suffers a life threatening heart attack he determines to put the essential luxuries of purpose, peace and happiness back into his life. He travels to the Himalayas and spends time with the Sivana monks, who teach him wisdom of life.
   
   This book is chock full of simple habits and rituals to include in one's life to nurture your body, mind and spirit. The advice within is compellingly framed and concise, making use of symbolism to remember the key concepts.
   
   Picture the following sequence. What can this mean?
   
   You are sitting in a wondrous, beautiful flower garden. In the middle there is a red, six story lighthouse. Suddenly, there is a creaking from the base of the lighthouse and out comes a 290lb Japanese sumo wrestler. He is wearing a simple, pink wire cable sheath. The sumo wrestler spots a shiny stopwatch. He picks it up and immediately falls to the ground. It appears that he has taken his last breath, when suddenly he comes back to life. He then gets up and looks over at a beautiful group of yellow roses nearby. Finally, he exits the garden by a path of beautiful diamonds...
   
   How can you draw upon your deep reservoir of mental fortitude and inner strength that you possess? As most accomplished people know, never stop learning and actively expand your wisdom about life. As many great leaders do each and every day, take time out for reflection, including self-reflection. To not do so is akin to being too busy driving to put gas in your (beautiful) car (you). Awaken with the sun and cultivate a positive mindset and an attitude of gratefulness. Savor the present. Make music an integral part of your life. Build your character by taking specific actions. Simplify your life as much as you can for enhanced peace of mind. Thus, you will leave time for the things that matter most. Specifically, those things that will make the most difference in the long run. Always cultivate your virtues of industry, compassion, humility, patience, honesty and last but not least, courage.
   
   This little gem of a book is inexpensive. It's entertaining. It's a quick read. It will be three hours of your valuable time very well spent. You might learn nothing new. Or, perhaps you will see your life more clearly than ever before. Perhaps you will be pleasantly surprised and this book will unexpectedly improve the quality of your life.



3. I Had previously read the book and I loved it so much that I bought it from Amazon.com. It is an excellent book to have on your night table and a tool to implement good things into your life. Certainly brings you enlightment and help to improve your life!



4. Its amazing that all of these books say the same thing the Bible says but people would rather trust a human for advice than their maker. I give this book 4 stars because it does follow the Bible. It may sound off the wall to some but that would depend on their desperation.



5. If you ever need to read a self-help book, you only need to read this one.

5 comments about The Proper Care and Feeding of Marriage.

1. EVERYONE should read this book! Ladies, it's a great follow-up to The Proper Care & Feeding of Husbands. It has saved my marriage and changed my attitude!



2. If you want to improve your marriage, buy a book from someone who is qualified to talk about the subject. (She isn't qualified ... don't believe me? do a quick internet search.)



3. I waited a long time to get my hands on this one! It was very very good! I have loaned this out to family and friends!



4. I love Dr. Laura. I am an ex-feminista, reformed Socialist and voted Republican for the first time in 2004. See what you have to look forward to when you wise up?
   I was on her show about 6 years ago and I actually MADE HER LAUGH! This is a very exclusive club I belong to.
   I am finally in a loving,nuturing relationship for the first time in my life and I give her and her books a lot of credit.
   My husband and I took turns reading a chapter a night to each other. We both became invested in this book and in "The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands" doing this.
   I used to work as a housekeeper in a very exclusive, "snooty" Pac-10 sorority.I would find soft-bound copies of Dr. L's "10 Stupid Things...."at garage sales and thrift stores and leave them in the common rooms and lounges of the house ...they disappeared like free candy. I like to think Dr. Laura made a difference in the values and attitudes of girls lives that hinged on peer pressure, status quo and PC.Of course, all those little sweeties in "women's studies" programs and classes would NEVER admit that they had read anything by her. Ha.
   This woman could revolutionize relationships,child rearing,family dynamics, morals and the trickle down effects of having them if people would put away their egos, attitudes, politics and entitlement issues and pay attention. Make it real.
   Yay you, Dr. Laura. I recommend everything she has written and espouses.
   Thank you for your time.



5. Background: Dr. Laura seems to believe that life was just rosy before the feminist movement began (and I am happy for her aunts and her mother, since they must have been doing OK to give Dr. Laura that impression). She is a staunch believer in 50s-style traditional gender roles as the answer to today's problems.
   
   Cons: See above. A lot of Dr. Laura's advice just won't work unless the wife stays at home or has some little, low-stress part-time job. It over-generalizes, patronizes men, and puts the burden of making a marriage work on women. She recommends wives participating in sex whether they feel like it or not, but offers no corresponding advice for men to help their wives free up a little time for loving, or even the practical suggestion that making sex good for their wives would tend to yield more nookie for them. On the flip side, men are encouraged to work like crazy with no concern for balancing the need to make a nicer living for their families against actual family time or health or quality of life.
   
   Also, as pointed out elsewhere, Dr. Laura really is 'Mother Laura', as she refers to herself at times. Her advice is just her advice. Her doctorate is in psysiology, and her counseling certification is lapsed. Just so you know.
   
   Pros: Any book that helps people see and focus on their own shortcomings is going to help their marriage. Advice to be nicer to each other can't go wrong either. That's not new information, but what Laura Schlessinger does is illustrate that we're often meaner than we realize to our spouses and she points that out in a way that we can't shrug off or dismiss. That may not be worth $17, but the book will be available (used) for less in fairly short order, if it isn't already.
   
   Conclusion: The book isn't fair to men or women. Unless you buy into Schlessinger's world view, it's hard to even read the thing. But it's worth slogging through if you are a grown woman who can filter through the bad and the ugly to find the items of value. And if you are a decent woman married to a decent man and you want to treat your spouse fairly, there is value in this book.
   Men should probably only read this book if they are able to see Schlessinger's advice as applying to both parties, or they just want to be told that they're pretty great people (even if fairly simple -- her words, not mine) and that none of their marital problems are their fault.