5 comments about Conversationally Speaking : Tested New Ways to Increase Your Personal and Social Effectiveness.

1. This is a great book. I bought this book because I attend many work functions during the year and I find it hard to keep conversations going after the initial introduction. This book made it easier for me. I love that the book is thin and the advice is succinct. I was able to use his techniques at a black tie gala right after reading only half of the book. Even though it's a thin book, the author asks you to read one section and then go out and apply it before reading the next section. It really works. It's easier for me to start conversations now and to steer conversations to new topics when I feel like a topic is drying out. Very useful.



2. Good info. You can use it like a workbook. It discusses things such as how people see you and how to sharpen your social skills. It analyzes examples of people's social interactions and shows you how to do better. It even teaches you how to converse with others who may not be very skilled conversationalists.
   
   After reading the book I was able to recognize improvements I needed to make and I felt I had the necessary information to make those improvements.



3. This book is full of easy-to-digest and act-upon suggestions for improving your conversations and putting yourself and others at ease. I wouldn't describe myself as shy, but I often have awkward moments where I run out of things to say. This book helped me realize that I ask a lot of close-ended questions, and I've noticed a positive difference now that I ask more "why" and "how" questions. I also found chapter ten (requesting change) to be particularly useful. If you are very shy or have trouble being assertive, you may find chapters 12 and 13 (reducing your anxiety in social situations and organizing your efforts) especially helpful. Overall, I would definitely recommend this book.



4. This book is fantastic for adding to your ability to start up conversations or help one continue when the conversation kind of dies off. Many many good suggestions on how to avoid one word answers and boring conversation.
   
   Highly recommend.



5. You know, when I first found out about this book it was at a Barnes & Nobles. I just randomly pickup this book and start reading because I feel like connection with other people via conversation area of life can always be improved for everyone.
   
   For some reason, once I started reading this book, I was hooked. Most book I flip through once but this book made me keep going back and finish reading it.
   
   After I finished it I shall move on to another book, right? NO, this book actually has some much content and actual examples of conversations and I MUST BUY IT. It is one of the MUST BUY book on your bookshelf if you want to learn about the art and science of having conversations with others.
   
   There is another book I DO NOT recommend is How To Start A Conversation And Make Friends by Don Gabor because it only tells you WHAT TO DO and never mention the HOW TO DO IT part.
   
   Conversationally Speaking give you a little WHAT TO DO part and massive amount of HOW TO DO IT part to back it up.
   
   Want to get all your money worth and more, GET THIS BOOK ~ ~ ~
   
   P.S. By the way, this book is my initiation into the self help/self improvement journey. Thanks to the book and thanks to its author.

5 comments about Sippy Cups Are Not for Chardonnay: And Other Things I Had to Learn as a New Mom.

1. I was looking forward to reading this book, but after reading a few pages of gratuitous cursing, I closed the book. I admit that Wilder-Taylor is funny, but I personally got distracted by the foul language.



2. I see responses from parents complaining about the use of language in Wilder-Taylor's book(s). The truth is, if you're a parent who doesn't swear in real life you may also want to shy away from a book about the realism of kids (and by proxy, things that might eventually make you swear). Hint: if you are into attachment parenting, holistic birthing, and keeping things au naturale, you will most likely read this book with a grain of salt. Does that mean you'll hate it? Maybe, maybe not. But even though I gave birth naturally I embraced this book with open arms and laughed my arse off.



3. I read this when I was pregnant. It makes you laught out loud...and it's the perfect book if you aren't one of those "What to Expect When You're Expecting" moms...



4. Stefanie Wilder-Taylor's book "Sippy Cups are Not for Chardonnay" is a refreshing find in the world of baby texts and parenting narrative. Straightforward, modern, and completely human, Wilder-Taylor's take on motherhood is a great find for first-time-moms and veterans alike. You won't agree with everything she has to say, but the beauty of the narrative is that you don't have to - one woman offers her experience as a new mother, and shows that not everything has to be "by the book."



5. This book takes all the normal cliches and overplays the jokes - it's dumbed down "entertainment" that's not all that entertaining.

5 comments about Living Fully with Shyness and Social Anxiety: A Comprehensive Guide to Gaining Social Confidence.

1. The author clearly explains how shyness is a normal human emotion which sometimes becomes excessive in ways that block the fulfillment of personal goals. This book provides significant insights into how and why contemporary North American culture can be a particularly difficult social environment for shy people. Erika Hilliard advocates an approach through which a person can accept what is positive about being shy while at the same time learning how to work through excessive shyness, one step at a time. Her many years of experience as a leader of groups for shy people shine through in her rich examples and warm tone that help the shy reader feel not only informed but also truly understood. Her concluding chapter is an outstanding guide to how a shy person can use this book as a resource for renewing and maintaining motivation in spite of setbacks that might be encountered.



2. The book begins with the usual discussion about the symptoms of social anxiety. But then the author goes into presenting some ideas that are novel to the broader discussion of social anxiety. An example of this is how anxiety is a process rather than a fixed thing. Yes, this is a simple idea and yet it provides a new perspective on social anxiety that makes the condition less monolithic and more changeable.
   
   The author also presents a must-read section that ties in information that has come out of recent scientific research about how the brain works.
   
   The author's insights and information are easier to hear and therefore easier to apply in our own lives thanks to her easy and fresh writing style. She writes with a natural feel that is strikingly authentic in the face of the more dry, scholarly writing of other social anxiety books.
   
   The second half of the book then offers solutions in the form of goal-setting, visualization, therapy options and skill-building. Her emphasis on action takes more of a coaching approach than the traditional therapy models and this keeps us from just dreaming about what we want and actually forces us to move forward.



3. This book contains all you ever wanted to know about social anxiety, and is sure to help you understand the condition. However, I would have preferred more focus on solutions rather than so much reaching (about 300 pages). I might suggest starting with a shorter book or course (I used the program at mc2method.com which was great), and then reinforce your efforts by following up with this book. Good luck!



4. If you are going to buy only one book on social anxiety, this is it. This book that not only compassionately presents various perspectives on social anxiety, but it also offers a vast array of solutions. These solutions are divided into easy to follow areas of mind, body and action. Once you've figured out how social anxiety affects you most, you can choose exactly which solutions suit you best. For extra guidance, there's an excellent appendix item full of goals that you can choose from, again, divided into areas of body, mind and action. I highly recommend this book.



5. This was a very well written book, with no questions left unanswered. It helped me immensely in dealing with social anxiety and shyness, and I've incorporated alot of the suggestions into my daily life. It turned out to be more of a "self help" book than I expected in more areas than just shyness. It has helped me extremely. The author had experience in social anxiety, so she really hit home with things she expressed.

5 comments about Not Manifesting? This Book is for You!.

1. I have read much on the LOA. This is a good summary in 84 pages of all the principles of the Law of Attraction but there is nothing here that hasn't been revealed before. I think manifestation only occurs when you start living your life, practicing being happy and cleansing yourself of the obstacles holding you back.The best manifestation tool for me that I have and continue to use successfully is Living The Secret Everyday: My Secret Workbook. It shows you step-by-step how to do it.



2. I just loved this book. It contained all of the things I already know since I am a student of metaphysics, but it was all things that I needed to hear again and put very simply and user friendly. It is a book that I will refer to over and over to remind me to stay on the right path.



3. My book shipment came in a very timely manner. Yeah!
   I loved the book. It was very precise. I'd say it isn't for beginners. You need to be up on the subject of meditation and manifesting in the first place. She gave some great tips and advice and I liked the book very much. I've already loaned it out to a friend to read. It's that good.



4. Admittedly this book is a lot of what you already know, and a lot of common sense, but really... are we always aware of the way we think and speak?
   
   This book drove home to me how some of my words and thoughts might not be all together 'positive'. After all, we all have times when we think negatively. For instance when things aren't going well at work or in your relationships.
   
   I find I'm a lot more selective in how I word things.
   
   Useful!
   xox
   MEF



5. While it was short, most of the book was fluff on the flaws of why LOA does not work and you have to wait until halfway through the book for this author's solution to making it work for you.
   
   The typical New Age type of writing, nothing really original. She could have made her point in 3 pages and elaborated from that point on.
   
   Still, it is a "feel good" book if you want those warm and tingly feelings without much substance. The price is satisfactory, but if you are truly expecting something different, you will be disappointed.

5 comments about The Impossible Will Take a Little While: A Citizen's Guide to Hope in a Time of Fear.

1. If you are not already a leftist committed to shoving your ideology down everyone else's throat, don't go anywhere near this book. Utter trash.



2. This book managed to be easy to read despite the large amount of information within its pages. I found it to be inspiring without being too heavy, and informative without leaving me wracked with guilt and anxiety.



3. Good things are possible, keep at it, it will take a while, but, it is not impossible! Even the review here at Amazon by Ms. Nina Rosenberg shows the uphill distance we have to go. Let's all keep walking, and even invite Ms Rosenberg along, maybe offer her a cup of tea. Anyhow, I loved this book and feel that we need to sometimes focus on what is good, and what HAS been accomplished and try to understand how it was acomplished so that we too may pave the way to greater peace, for all. Yes, not just for the USA, but for all citizens of the world. If you liked this book, I suspect you might also enjoy a book on non-violence called "nonviolence: twenty five lessons" by Mark Kurlansky.
   
   Don't give up, keep at it, keep the faith, ward off despair!



4. Received on time and in a very well condition. Very Satified.



5. The Impossible Will Take a Little While: A Citizen's Guide to Hope in a Time of Fear
   
   I read this book several years back and was just recommending it again today. I was giving up hope for America every recovering from the abuse of power we were suffering under the BushII administration, I came away realizing that little things done by everyday people do make a difference.
   
   I don't understand why one reviewer thinks this is a "leftist" book. It's about standing up for your rights as a citizen and learning from others who have done the same thing.
   
   I guess people who buy into "be afraid, be very afraid, 9/11, 9/11... if we don't fight them over there they will come here.." won't like this book. But I think that is a very small fringe minority.
   
   Anyone who believes in Democracy and is proud to be an American will understand that our contry and other country's struggles give us common ground.

5 comments about The Enabler: When Helping Hurts the Ones You Love.

1. I bought this book, The Enabler, for my mother-in-law because the title and description seem to fit her perfectly. However, as I read the book from cover-to-cover I quickly realized that there were some enabling "issues" that were in my life as well. This book is written in friendly, easy terms; it doesn't use language that is over the average person's head. Since the author, Angelyn Miller, wrote about her personal life, I felt that I could connect with her on a personal level, and I am hoping that my mother-in-law can do the same. If a person who is an enabler would truly take this book to heart, it could literally change that person's life - for the better. The book is very straight-forward, and it even has "worksheets" and exercises to help the reader become the person that he/she would like to be.



2. This book is a good read to start to unlock those hidden doors in our lives.



3. A very open and honest book. You may not have exactly the same family life but you can gain excellent lesson of how not to help too much. Learn to make your kids more responsible and happy and don't overstep your helping mark.



4. I really enjoyed this, and found it a good way to get myself back on track. Anyone who loves someone struggling with addictions could greatly improve their own lives as well as the lives of the addicted loved ones. This, along with Codependent No More by Melodie Beattie, is a MUST READ.



5. We purchased this book for our family and for other family members. It is a good read to help family members who have Enablers in the family (parents) and is also good if you have children growing up and don't want to Enable them into becoming co-dependent. A good read to make sure your children grow up to have strong self esteems and to become responsible adults. Author could expand more into this area - the parent/child co-dependency area to help families out more in that area.

5 comments about The Richest Man Who Ever Lived: King Solomon's Secrets to Success, Wealth, and Happiness.

1. This is based on the Book of Proverbs from the Bible, so the information is good...obviously, but like any of these self help tapes, books, etc, the secret is sticking with it...I even bought the extra Journal but haven't completed it yet. Setting Goals is a GOOD THING...always has been always will be...you just have to do it...if you do, you probably don't need this book anyway.



2. This is the greatest book ever. It is so inspirational, and teaches all of us to be grateful for what we have. I bought this book for many of my friends as a Christmas gift. What a great gift idea.
   Kandice



3. I loved the book and have recommended it to many people.
   
   The only thing that would make it better is :
   
   1. an index for scripture references,
   2. a cross-reference for topics and
   3. a general index.
   
   It would really be a great help.



4. This book is a wonderful book. I read it and purchased another for my son and son-in-law. Anyone who wants success in everyday communication with people in general or in business needs to read this, and live it.



5. I received this book quickly, read it quickly and was blessed by it quickly. I believe this book has been one of the best reads I've had in a while.

5 comments about Rules of the Red Rubber Ball: Find and Sustain Your Life's Work.

1. Whenever I need a pick-me-up, I read through this amazing little book...and then I'm ready to take on the world! Kevin Carroll has a great story about growing up and pursuing his life's passion. (He eventually became a trainer for the Philadelphia 76ers and a world-traveling inspirational speaker for Nike.) His insights and encouragements in "Rules of the Red Rubber Ball" are helpful for anyone who knows what they love to do but aren't sure how to make a living out of it. My wife and I buy a bunch of copies of this book every year as a gift for graduates, but it also makes a perfect gift for anyone with a dream they want to pursue.
   
   This book is short, and it's full of colorful artwork and creative layouts, making it fun to read. The cover of the book actually has a cut-out circle of red rubber ball material. It's great!



2. I have read this book several times...it is engaging, fun and rejuvinating. I have given copies to my sons,my son's friends, friends, family and co-workers.
   
   If you have the opportunity....buy this books, share it, give it as a gift!



3. I loved this book which is cleverly illustrated. It put a big smile on my face! Certainly inspirational in a very light but profound way Kevin Carroll takes us through his journey with the Red Rubber Ball (pages have colorful drawings and excellent design) and how he has found inspiration to shine in his life while making a difference in the world and going for his dreams. With his seven simple rules he has accomplished a lot (along with well-being), Carroll is an athlete, one of the first afro-american NBA's trainers, speaker and has a leadership position at Nike. All because he followed his passion for the Red Rubber Ball... He talks about every day being a chance to look for something unexpected and about making life our playground to have fun in whatever we are passionate about. I say that is a pretty miraculous way to go through life and reminds me of the work of Ariel and Shya Kane. They are catalysts for having a brilliant life regardless of the circumstances, their books Working on Yourself Doesn't Work: A Book About Instantaneous Transformation, How To Create a Magical Relationship and Being Here: Modern Day Tales of Enlightenment as well as their 3 Principles of Transformation are excellent guides to live a fun fresh life full of opportunities, right here right now no need to wait for the future. If you're interested in having your life be magical and fun, creating opportunities and living to the fullest, I highly recommend checking out both Carroll and the Kanes.



4. I picked this book up in the lobby after one of Mr. Carroll's presentations. After the speech, the Q&A, and speaking with him in person I was thrilled to finally sit down and read through the book. With that kind of inspiration, the text is incredible - you can really feel the emotion behind his words!
   
   Unfortunately, that seems to be lost on anyone not already familiar with Carroll's work. To them, the shortness of the book (particularly in comparison with its price) is a serious negative. Looking back at the book after a year, though, I have to agree. It's short, not much content, and if the deeper meaning behind the book layout and message isn't fresh in your mind it's difficult to pay attention to.
   
   All in all, it's a phenomenal piece of work and a priceless vessel of inspiration. I can't give it a full 5 stars, though, because it isn't quite as exciting the second time around.



5. This book was smaller than I realized, but it is a really cool book with a lot of great illustrations and a unique format!

5 comments about Owning Your Own Shadow: Understanding the Dark Side of the Psyche.

1. I liked the principle that when I grow fast or experience great excitement, some part of me may experience a rebound. It gave a context for looking more fully at some of my patterns. However, the more I live in acceptance of whatever I experience without making an identify for myself out of it, the less this applies. And, the "rebound" is not an unavoidable part of anything good.



2. I found this book over simplistic. I don't know who Robert Johnson is writing for but from this book I would guess it was for those with learning difficulties. He repeats his points over and over again, basically I think the actual content of this book could be covered in a 5 pages rather than 118. I guess he does have to spread out the plugs he gives for his other books.



3. Most reference books are large. This one, even with all of the information packed inside, is instead, rather small. In doing the work of owning your own shadow, "what is the purpose of my life?" is a question that can be discovered. Paired with Johnson's "Innerwork," readers can learn to be in touch with and find meaning in the deeper regions of the psyche. To be able to map out a life for oneself amidst the rushing pace and excrement of the sewer that can pass for as life can offer hope to readers who want more as we begin excavating the gold in our own shadows.



4. I couldn't quite understand this book maybe because it was too dark. Maybe someday down the road I will re-read this book again and get some understanding out of it but as for today I cannot make heads or tails of it.



5. After reading the back cover, you'd expect this book to be an analysis of the psyche from a Jungian perspective. Well, you will have been fooled. It's actually a Christian sermon, and if you're not a Christian, you may find the book offensive. A few examples:
   Page ix: "Nazareth is now holy to us, the birthplace of the Savior;" Who is "us"?
   Page 5: "This is our legacy from having eaten of the fruit of the tree of knowledge in the Garden of Eden." Whose legacy?
   Page 70: "If one were to possess it, one would likely announce that he was God, or equally outlandish, that God was dead. Nietzsche came perilously close to this and paid for it with his sanity." So if one questions the existence of God, one risks going insane? The more prosaic - and accurate - explanation is that apparently Nietzsche had untreated syphilis and this is what led to his mental breakdown.
   Page 73: " . . . we must stop and honor the divine as the source of all relationship." So if someone doesn't believe in a Christian god, they don't deserve to be in a relationship?
   Page 114: "Christ himself is the intersection of the divine and the human. He is the prototype for the reconciliation of opposites and our guide out of the realm of conflict and duality." Whose guide? Is Johnson saying that because one is not a Christian, he or she is doomed to live in conflict for the rest of his or her life?
   
   Don't say I didn't warn you.

5 comments about How to Save Your Marriage Alone.

1. I got some good tips out of this book. It is bible based, which I like. It is also pretty short, so I can read it many times over, quickly. It references scriptures in the bible, which is helping me to learn more about His word.



2. Buy Dr James Dobson's book, Love must be Tough and don't waste your money on this booklet. They shouldn't have paired them together, as their messages are completely opposite. I applied the advice from Love Must Be Tough and had success, doing what this book advised only brought me more heartache.



3. First off I'd like to briefly touch on a few basic ways to approach this book. One, that the author is taking a Biblical approach to saving a marriage. As is the case with much of the Bible's content it is open to interpretation. I doubt all readers who believe in what the Bible has to offer will agree on every conclusion Dr. Wheat has reached. Still the reader should be prepared for the Biblical content in this book and the fact that Dr. Wheat bases his approach to saving a marriage on his understanding of God's word. I find it odd that so many reviewers complain about this? In my opinion that is like complaining that a cookbook published by P.E.T.A. has no meat dishes??? Even if a reader doesn't share Dr. Wheat's beliefs and totally does not accept what the Bible has to offer I hope the reader can at least recognize that this book is based just those things and accept it as the author's prerogative.
   
   Second, this book will most likely be read by those going through a divorce or those connected to someone who is in the process of a divorce. This is a self help book and I doubt many who are not experiencing the pains of a divorce will seek it out. So, in my opinion, many who read this book will be seeking a certain outcome and are emotionally connected to the results. Unfortunately the process to obtaining a result and the result itself may not emotionally or practically agree with the reader. I would encourage all readers to try and set their opinions and emotions aside while reading it. Then compare what Dr. Wheat has to say with his/her own notions once completed and see what parts can be adapted into his/her life. I guess I'm trying to say that readers should be wary of knee jerk reactions.
   
   Like most who read this book I found myself in a broken marriage and wanted to heal it. I liked the fact that this book was short and direct. I read it multiple times. Originally I thought there might be some guarantee from God that my marriage was salvageable. Although that was, as I look at it now, a real pipe dream. In fact I fall into one of the two categories listed by Dr. Wheat as unsalvageable. In my case my wife had taken a lover and totally given herself over to him. For about three months I prayed, read scripture, read this book, and conducted other research trying to find someway to save my marriage. Over this three month period, in accordance with Dr. Wheat's writings, I began to examine my own part in my marital break up. While I still don't believe I am the cause of my pending divorce I do accept my part in many of our marital problems. For me that is the real benefit about the book, it encourages the reader to quit trying to figure their partner out and instead to focus on what they did to contribute to the marital problems and how to ask forgiveness from God and their spouse if given the opportunity.
   
   What I write next may not make sense to those who don't have a relationship with God but it will hopefully make sense to some. When I began reading this book I had hoped to restore my relationship with my wife. This book along with the Bible itself helped me realize that on my wedding day I made a commitment to not only my wife but to God. While my marriage has not been reconciled I do think my relationship with God has been. Marriages break up for many reasons but all the many reasons have a root problem and that is a failure by one or both spouses to remember his/her commitment to God and to seek him first. Dr. Wheat attempts to make this clear but I think the point gets lost in some of his examples. The problem that gets the most attention is that of a spouse becoming an apparent door mat for the cheating spouse. I'll admit that his examples are hard to get past. However, I think the point he's trying to make is that a spouse, no matter if still living in the same home or separated from his/her spouse, can learn to set aside his/her hurt, pain, needs, and wants by focusing on the Lord. Easier said than done, however if a person is able to he/she will find themselves in a better place, one with his/her goals and expectations redefined. For some a complete reconciliation with a spouse, and for others a peace about moving on. Dr. Wheat clearly thinks too many people abandon their marriages without putting in real effort towards reconciliation.
   
   Also, this book does not boast a lot of statistics and figures. It appears to be all anecdotal with no actual detailed studies or comparisons. I was some what put off by this and skeptical. Over time I came to the conclusion that the author was not trying to give us hope by providing a success ratio or percentage guidelines. He is trying to tell the reader that direction, hope and peace can come from God. You can't attach statistics to those types of results.
   
   This review may seem to be a little too much about me and not enough about the book. I agree but after all it is a self help book. How are we to truly critique a self help book other than to tell how it did or did not help us? Like I mentioned earlier, this is a book aimed not only at saving marriages but at improving relationships with God. Please be aware of that before reading.



4. This is the best short book I've found to help get marriages back on track. It's inexpensive enough that I have my church buy them in case quantities and then give them to members to use or to give to people they know who are struggling in their marriage. If you find something similar that works for you, email me.



5. I just wanted to say that this book is written by a Godly man who God has given this wisdom to. Hes much older now but makes the statement somewhere in the book that the only marriages that werent restored...were the ones that the STANDING PARTNER gave up believing. Somestimes you have to take a stand for years. If God can change the water into wine....why isnt he strong enough to restore a marriage! He is! This is the first book God brought to me when my ministry started. The Lord has given me a marriage restoration ministry just like Ed wheats! Gods grace is sufficient and you can love unconditionally and forgive like Jesus did! I have seen many a spouse return because of the forgivness they have seen in their spouse as he/she were standing and believing! They are amazed how they can forgive when they are in adultery! Well they cant..but Jesus is living in them and he is totally enabling them. To God be the Glory!Just know...Its Gods will to restore every marriage!Its all in Gods timing! Are you willing to wait?