5 comments about The Age of Miracles: Embracing the New Midlife.

1. I was so excited when I heard about this book, having just turned 50 and looking for some positive inspiration. Although I'm generally a fan of Marianne Williamson's books, this one was sadly disappointing. She seems focused on grieving the loss of her youth, beauty & energy in most of the book which I found depressing. Then she reverts to the same thoughts & prayers we've heard in all her previous work to try to reassure herself. Nothing new, uplifting or inspiring here. I returned the book before finishing it & got my money back-which I can now use to buy some rope to hang myself! (just kidding, but really, I did not like this book)



2. Over the years, Marianne Williamson's books and lectures have helped me to find and focus the central truths of my life. This beautifully written book is a reminder that midlife can be rich with wisdom and confidence. Midlife is a time of doing, creating and becoming on many simultaneous levels. My husband bought the audio version for me, and I resonated with it so strongly, I immediately bought a print copy for my mom.



3. Bestselling author, Marianne Williamson, in "The Age of Miracles" is pointing toward a radical and ageless wisdom that can only arise, when we are willing to slow down from all of our thinking and doing to consciously engage the contemplative life.
   
   Just as we physically mature through the many stages of human development - infancy to old age - we deepen in spiritual maturity. Truthfully, our calendar age and the appearance of the aging form do not play a role in our ability to realize the sense of joy that lies in the core of our being. Nonetheless, life is slower and we are wiser. This provides the perfect opportunity to turn inward; a type of going home to the heart.
   
   Katie Davis, author, Awake Joy: The Essence of Enlightenment



4. This book totally met me where I'm at as my son is a teenager and I'm looking to my life when he has flown the nest and I'm older and grayer. She has a great persepective on growing older and embracing it. Her book really helped me to not be so afraid of growing older as is so prevalent in our society, but to embrace my greatness as I get older. Her last two chapters left me bewildered. She totally moves into a rant about the world and politics and the only way to combat the bad stuff going on in the world is with LOVE. I don't disagree with what she has to say, but how did this book move in this direction? The last two chapters left me a little disappointed in her book in general.



5. I am familiar with Marianne's popularity as a spiritual teacher and speaker and this is the first of her books that I've read. Here's what I enjoyed. She has an easy flowing writing style, a nice way with words. I sensed the entire book as her personal prayer for a greater embodiment of love by herself and hopefully others. I find this inspiring. However, on the whole, I don't feel that this book lives up to its title. Her contemplation on spiritual maturity seems merely hopeful, and thus shallow. She talks too much story for me and while reading it, I sometimes felt as if I was listening to her daydreaming about the meaning of her life. I didn't sense any real presence in this work. I agree that by and large the baby boomer generation is still fast asleep and waking up now would surely bring more light to play in our world. Yet, I am not confident that this book is a true wake-up call for the midlife reader. It reads more like an interesting coffee house conversation with an intimate friend. Those who enjoy waxing philosophical might like this offering. Sundance Burke, Author Free Spirit: A Guide to Enlightened Being

5 comments about Stumbling on Happiness.

1. Gave it a 3 as it seems to have good ideas. Can't get through it though. Every damn sentence has a joke or parenthetical cute remark. Blech.



2. Of the many books that I have on my shelves, this one is in heavy rotation. I have read it twice in the past 18 months and referred to it countless times in between. Dan Gilbert's writing style keeps you engaged with humor and relevant stories without skimping on too much substance. Put it this way, you'll laugh but still will respect yourself when you're done!



3. Stumbling on Happiness by Daniel Gilbert opens a view of happiness that is not in the normal range. Anticipation, imagination and rationalization are each responsible for much of our happiness. Mr. Gilbert disects the reasons we are happy, the times we are happy, and how we visualize our happiness. Great book - makes a person think about what they really have, want to have or don't really need.
   Prudent Pam



4. I was not very impressed.
   I had to force myself to read the second part since I lost much of interest.
   Author's inclination to try to be funny and insert lame jokes everywhere became a turn-off.
   This book is overrated.



5. The book is witty, interesting, and an overall fun read. It takes a more-or-less scientific approach towards how the brain perceives its current reality, how and of what it constructs memories, and how it attempts to construct possible futures. Throughout the book, Gilbert references scientific studies that appear to support his hypotheses.
   
   The book gave many opportunities for introspection, was easy to make relevant to my own life, and gave me some useful ideas for dealing with other people. It's less prescriptive, as other reviewers note, but it does a good job of being descriptive: why is a person happy or unhappy? Just knowing the answer to that question opens a lot of good doors when dealing with a spouse, child, parent, colleague, or friend. Know why they are sad, why they are happy, with different events.
   
   You see? It's not my fault I can't remember our first dance...I just remember that I LIKED it!
   
   I'd recommend the book. Best if you can share the anecdotes with someone!

No comments about Money, and the Law of Attraction 8-CD set: Learning to Attraction Wealth, Health, and Happiness.

5 comments about Driven To Distraction : Recognizing and Coping with Attention Deficit Disorder from Childhood Through Adulthood.

1. This book was recommended to me by a doctor. It has lots of real life stories about people with various types of ADD. As I suspect my son and I may have some symptoms of ADD, this book has been extremely helpful. I highly recommend it!



2. I read it and it helped me make an informed decision on the type of treatment I wanted.



3. The ADD/ADHD "Owners Manual." Understand how your "engine" works, what kind of fuel it needs, how to tune-up, rev-up and just plain operate your race-car brain to it's highest potential! This book clears up myths and gives you the low-down on what ADD's all about. Great for parents, spouses and teachers as well. Knowledge about this often confusing and misunderstood subject will give the reader new hope and a brand-new outlook on their lives or their child's life...past, present, and future.



4. I have two nephews with ADD/ADHD and possibly more undiagnosed relatives which made me curious that maybe I had ADD/ADHD. I read this book and I really related to a lot of the stories and it gave me hope that there could be help for me. I wasn't really a problem student, just got in trouble often and had problems reading but I excelled at math and science (although teachers said I was an underachiever). Fast forward, I have a masters in electrical engineering but had problems in classes I had to read a lot (English, Psychology, etc.). The book also points out that Attention Deficit Disorder isn't really accurate since deficit isn't accurate. The book points out that with ADD you have difficulty paying attention most of the time, BUT you also have the ability to hyperfocus on some subjects which makes everyone different.
   One con/pro about the book is it written before DSM-IV (which has small set of criteria) and it lists its own criteria. I found this books older more expansive criteria more helpful than the DSM-IV criteria.
   Since I read this book, I've been officially diagnosed with ADD/ADHD and am hopeful about treatment (haven't started yet).



5. A well written book which listed case studies but did not fulfill my expectation with assistance for solutions to this problem of ADHA.

5 comments about Tickle His Pickle: Your Hands-On Guide to Penis Pleasing.

1. This book helped me. Of course I'm a beginner and this was a breeze to read and it kept me interested without feeling bored or lectured. I'd recommend it to anyone, it's more information than they let on.



2. This book is one of three I would recommend to learn all about oral sex. Taken from a couple's point of view, I would recommend this one for fellatio and The Master's Guide to Cunnilingus: How to Perform Successful Oral Sex and Provide the Highest Degree of Pleasure Possible for cunnilingus. To complete your library and for an interesting switch, try Was that an earthquake? The Sensuous Couple's (Flip Over) Guide to Seismic Oral Sex. This is a fantastic flip over guide for COUPLES that contains virtually any information you might want to know. Cunnilingus is covered on one side and fellatio on the other. These are three great books, fun to read and heavy on content. Try all three!



3. I added this short but pleasing little number to my library of sexual manuals that I purchased to spice up a five year old marriage. I found it informative and entertaining and especially fun to read!



4. I ordered this book thinking it would help me with the tricky task of preserving a hoard of over-ripe vegetables, recently harvested from my garden.
   
   I imagined reading about the merits of low-temperature pasteurisation, drooling over pictures of crab apple jelly and studying recipes for spiced red cabbage.
   
   To my horror, this book contains none of these delights. It is, in fact, dedicated to the non-reproductive, carnal pleasuring of men.
   
   Am I the only person who was fooled into purchasing this lewd handbook by the opaque title and the misleading cover - which clearly shows a pickle-waving housewife beaming with pride at her culinary success?



5. Even if you're sexually skillful, you can stand to learn more illustrative and explanatory things about penis-fun.

5 comments about The Power of Infinite Love & Gratitude: An Evolutionary Journey to Awakening Your Spirit.

1. You don't want to miss this book. As some saying goes, "You know what you know. You know what you don't know. And you don't know what you don't know." This book introduces you to material that may open you up to ideas and concepts that you never conceived. Thought viruses, interconnections of meridians, chakras, emotions leading to subconscious holding patterns in the body, mind and spirit and much more. It is simple, yet complex and thought provoking. When I first bought the book, I read it from the index in order to look up areas that were of great interest to me. Ultimately I did read it from cover to cover. I recommend this book to assist you on your "Journey to Awakening Your Spirit."
   A special THANKS to Dr Darren Weissman for the gift he has give to mankind.



2. Yes, yes, yes...there can never be enough out there on the importance of living life with gratitude.A great book that brings home this message in an easy-to-read and enjoyable fashion. Also highly recommended is Living The Secret Everyday: My Secret Workbook, a practical and daily way to incorporate these principles into one's life.



3. i trudged through the whole thing, waiting for the explanation of the Lifeline technique. as i got closer and closer to the end, i realized that it was not coming. the author gives anecdote after anecdote of how the Lifeline technique heals people, but he never explains how to do the technique. read Louise Hay instead.



4. Imagine, Believe and Be: The Blueprint for Creating Your Life
   The Power of Infinite Love and Gratitude is amazing........... I've been a Bodywork Therapist for 25 over years and I can honestly tell you that "The LifeLine Technique" is the most complete and profound healing technology I have ever witnessed. There is no limit to the healing power of Infinite Love and Gratitude. Any aspect of the mind, body or spirit can be healed and harmonized by utilizing this incredible technology. I highly recommend this book if your searching for health and balance in your life.



5. Weaving together the latest scientific discoveries in the field of energy medicine with ancient healing traditions and arts, Dr. Darren Weissman has created an exquisite reflection of his own passion for bringing peace and healing to the world -- one person at a time.
   
   This clearly written work is simple enough for any interested novice to understand and utilize, and in this simplicity, experienced healers will discover the powerful depth of it's potential.
   
   You will discover the individual elements which Dr. Weissman has masterfully and elegantly combined to create his unique healing modality, The LifeLine Technique. This technique utilizes the energy of Infinite Love and Gratitude to facilitate immediate energy shifts in your body and in your life, creating the opportunity for deep healing, expanded awareness, and greater life choices which allow one to see the unlimited possibility truly available to us all.
   
   As mentioned in earlier reviews, this book does not present the step-by-step process for executing this amazing technique. It does however present all of the underlying principles the technique utilizes, describing why they are used and what their connection is to uncovering the emotional blocks which prevent us from living our most passionate, joy filled life.
   
   Whether you are interested in connecting to yourself in a deeper way, or are already companioning others on their journey of awakening, discovering the LifeLine Technique and the simple and magnificent power of Infinite Love and Gratitude will enhance your life, and the life of this sacred planet and every being living here.
   
   Holly Perry
   Love Heals You
   St. Johns, Michigan

5 comments about Full Catastrophe Living: Using the Wisdom of Your Body and Mind to Face Stress, Pain, and Illness.

1. My boss suggested this book. He was correct that it would help me manage a personal crisis.



2. Thich Nhat Hanh is infinitely better than Zinn.
   
   Zinn's book is WAY too long at 450 pages, and it is also way too detailed, as one might expect from a graduate of MIT - which is what Zinn is. By contrast, the OTHER authority on Mindfulness (there are only two according to the online encyclopedia - Wikipedia): Thich Nhat Hanh has written a book on Mindfulness entitled: The Miracle of Mindfulness which is only 140 pages long.
   
   After I studied Zinn, Hanh absolutely blew me away with his simplicity, and his clarity, and his positivity. And Hanh quickly left me wondering whether he does in fact speak with the voice of the Buddha. And an example of Thich Nhat Hanh's positive approach to Buddhist Mindfulness meditation is that he emphasizes practice of the "half-smile;" as in: "Breathing in I calm my body. Breathing out I smile." - There is no such happiness orientation in Zinn's writings.
   
   And although Zinn graduated from MIT, which is impressive, - Thich Nhat Hanh, is infinitely more academically impressive. Thich Nhat Hanh studied Comparative Religion at Princeton, and then he taught Buddhist Psychology and Literature at Cornell and Columbia after having taught this at a prestigious private university (which he himself established) in Vietnam. Hahn also wrote over 70 books, approximately 40 of which have been translated into English. Also, Martin Luther King nominated Hahn for the Noble Peace Prize. Also, Hahn established relief agencies for war victims in Vietnam; as well as having established monasteries in Vietnam, in France, and in the United States.
   
   Also, Thich Nhat Hanh has been endorsed by two of the greatest living Buddhist authorities alive today, namely by the Dalai Lama; and by Sogyal Rinpoche - who said of Hanh: "Thich Nhat Hanh writes with the voice of the Buddha." By contrast Zinn has been endorsed by NO living Buddhist authorities other than Thich Nhat Hanh himself - who endorsed only Zinn's most recent book: Wherever You Go, There You are.



3. You need to give this book and information time to work. I saw results after 10 weeks. It helps to get the CD's that go with the book. Makes application of ideas and processes easier to accomplish.
   Results -- lower blood pressure, healing of some stubborn issues,and most important relaxed happiness.



4. I bought this book in the middle of a year-long battle with insomnia--not the typical life-changing trauma that brings many others to this book, but insomnia destroyed me both physically and emotionally. My doctor suggested anti-depressants, and a friend suggested Full Catastrophe Living.
   
   I never touched the anti-depressants.
   
   Jon Kabat-Zinn is the voice of calm all throughout this book, never imposing his method on you but simply making suggestions that he's seen work in his practice, both personal and professional. The first section offers mindfulness activities that you can immediately put to practice: meditation to help separate your self from your thoughts; a body scan to simultaneously connect you to and release you from every section of your body; and yoga to strengthen your muscles and flexibility, both physical and mental.
   
   The second section shows how those methods have been proven to work, through both scientific research and anecdotal evidence. It is a section for those still reluctant to give themselves over to what they may perceive to be the "new age" or "weird" practices in the first section. If you've been practicing as suggested in the first section, the second section will verify to your head what you feel moving in your heart and body.
   
   The third section offers a variety of lifestyle and anecdotal advice for specific ailments and disease, from insomnia to headaches to cancer. Through all this, Kabat-Zinn is at once compassionate and scientific, speaking to and reassuring all shades of his audience.
   
   Together, these sections taught me to listen to and have faith in myself. The book showed me that mindfulness is not some new-fangled craziness but a path to peace and self-knowledge. Eventually, my sleeplessness went away, but that was more a side-effect of the practice, a natural reaction to the peace I learned from myself through this book.



5. I am about half way through this book - it was a little bit of a culture shock to get into this way of thinking and acting, but I am enjoying the challenge and think that it has already got me thinking about how I deal with stress and everday events - I have been dealing with some serious medical issues, and need to reduce my stress - I believe this will help - the psychologist who recommended it to me thought very highly of it and was convinced I would benefit from it - I think I will....

5 comments about Happy for No Reason: 7 Steps to Being Happy from the Inside Out.

1. I found this book to be easy reading. What I particularly liked was that the author says that happiness must come from within and gives you a step-by-step approach. This theme is similar to one of my favorite books on The Law of Attraction, Living The Secret Everyday: My Secret Workbook which aims to also give you that joyful, abundant life.
   Read both and they will open up your eyes.



2. Happiness is a core state we all seek to achieve. Thanks, in part, to the Positive Psychology movement, happiness has taken center stage and is now the focus of a significant amount of attention. On a recent visit to a large, chain bookstore, I noticed one whole table devoted to books related to happiness. It appears that a happiness movement is underway.
   
   If you are just starting out on your happiness journey, or you would like additional guidance in this area, this book would be a good book for you to read. This book is both engaging and easy to read. The authors combine research findings, tools and techniques and stories to introduce the reader to the concept of happiness and more importantly, the steps you can undertake to achieve greater internally driven happiness and therefore, unconditional happiness in your life.
   
   The seven steps to being happy and the happiness habits laid out in this book are certainly a good place to start. Read this book and get started towards developing a happier you. You will be happier and so will those around you.



3. As a teacher of Laughing For No Reason I loved the practical tips and strategies in the C D set of Happy For No Reason. The information was well researched and the personal stories were relevant and inspiring and illustrated the points raised in the CD set.There were practicla exercises for each of the steps to being Happy For No Reason.The CD set mentioned PDF files which I was not able to locate or access which was disappointing as they were the worksheets for the very valuable exercises.



4. There are many viewpoints on how to achieve and live in a happy state. In Marci Shimoff's 7 steps to "Being Happy from the Inside Out", she focuses on making adjustments to our "happiness set-point" to achieve a state of being happy on the inside. She discourages us from having our happiness directed by external experiences such as personal achievement, reaching goals, obtaining money, etc. She believes that lasting happiness must be independent of what is happening in one's life.
   
   The book presents researched, practical information with the 7 steps to follow, illustrations, exercises, important points to remember, and the stories of 100 people. The author reports that scientists have identified that we each possess our own happiness set-point, which is described as our genetic and learned tendency to be at a certain level of happiness. Just like any "set-point" theory, the good news is that it is possible to adjust our individual happiness set-points. The book provides specific exercises that can be employed to raise our happiness set-points. The book's stories from happy people describe how they learned be grateful, happy people. These inspiring stories show people overcoming difficult and would-be devastating circumstances. Are you unhappy, happy for a good reason, happy for a bad reason, or in a neurophysiological state of happiness that is independent of your circumstances? The author advocates the latter. She also says happiness is a choice, which I agree with. Author of THE 3:00 PM SECRET: Live Slim and Strong, Live Your Dreams



5. It makes me unhappy to read a book this lengthy about how to be happy:-)...but the exhaustive detail of the book's contents is impressive...WOW! Was anything left out? I think not! Perhaps the book's message can be summed up in the words of a colleague, who reminded me again just yesterday..."Let's remember the good news: Anything that ever bothers you is in your mind; and anything that is good for you is in your mind. Being happy is all about reframing...CONTINUALLY." For those who want/need/like more, Shimoff's book gives the reader a truckload of excellent tools to get the reframing job done over and over and over...and over. She has generously included something here for all shapes and sizes of minds.

5 comments about The Feeling Good Handbook.

1. This book was extraordinarily helpful to someone close to me. She was clinically depressed and had just been released from the hospital after a suicide attempt. We read it together in small bites for the first few weeks, and then she was able to do it on her own. A therapist helped, loving family helped, meds helped---but this book was literally a lifesaver. The title suggest that it is useful for those of us (all?!) whose moods and lives need a little brightening. It is that---but is also useful for very severe mood disorders, including "borderline, "and gives control back to the reader. A truly essential book.



2. As a book on cognitive therapy, this book is well-reputed and worth reading if only for the sections on communication. However, this kind of therapy depends a lot upon the patient's thinking process and the theory that feeling follows thought. While I agree with optimistic thinking, maintaining positive thoughts, and having a disciplined thought life, I do not agree with the idea that suppressing emotions by using pseudo-logic to dismiss and discount one's feelings to be any better than lying to yourself and denying what you feel. Burns demonstrates this problem himself in his book with the contrary advice he gives in the "Ten ways to untwist your thinking," and the advice he gives in the sections on communication where using techniques to untwist thinking is the wrong thing to do when trying to communicate with someone else. Thus, he wants you to talk to yourself in ways that he doesn't advise using with your friend which results in a self-inflicted hypocrisy where finding "what's true" or valid in the other persons communication is completely ignored in analyzing your own communications with yourself.
   
   The critical aspects of untwisting your thinking are mostly valid from the standpoint of logic if your thinking is illogical to begin with, but it doesn't follow that the illogical thought causes the feeling in as much as the feeling causes people to form thoughts about their feelings using irrational thinking to demonstrate its emotive quality, which gets expressed in a language that can be corrected by logic. (That is, the fact that it is illogical (usually by universalizing or by moralizing) is what conveys the fact that it is a feeling being refered to, and that the feeling is the cause of the universalizing or moralizing conclusion.) For example, if a person says they feel like a failure, Burns' technique is to put the lie to the statement by looking at the person's successes as compared to failures and looking at the failures as learning experiences. Yet, the person may not be referring to specific failures exaggerated out of proportion to successes, but rather to a consistent failure to make himself happy even when successful; thus the person is saying that they are a failure at being happy. Consequently, the fact that we think with an acquired language, and that language is the media of expression, does not mean that the expression has a necessary identity with the emotion referred to. If so, then we would not be able to refer to an emotion, only express it. Thus, the thought/language may be formally incorrect in logic and composition simply because of an error in precision, yet still be a valid attempt to construct a language/media to express the emotion, much like bad art or poor grammar. Burns implicitly admits to the limited success of his "ten ways to untwist your thinking," when he discusses the problems he had using these techniques with patients and then goes on to effective communication techniques where the feeling is validated despite any irrational composition of the language expressed.
   
   From one point of view, the techniques to untwist your thinking model a parental role like that in transactional analysis and can be successful for those who lacked parenting where logical thinking was modeled as a skill for problem solving. This is much like Alcoholics Anonymous where the program and a sponsor become the parent. The success of such techniques depend much on a persons susceptibility to authority and a degraded self-concept where they need someone else (whether a program, guru, or doctor) to assume responsibility for "fixing" them.
   
   The section on communication is more balanced in that there is more of a co-operative dialogue where mutual dignity and validation is prominent and each person maintains authority over their own feelings and thoughts without having them discounted and dismissed. There is less of a competition to be "right" or superior to another and no "authority" to abuse or bully compliance. The techniques of communication have more relationship value while the techniques to untwist your thinking have a potential as tools for abuse simply because of their logical "authority." Thus, while they are helpful for an individual who can apply them as tools for self-help, they can be misused when used to attain authority over someone else.
   
   If you believe that you feel the way you do because you think a certain way about yourself, this book is useful in changing the way you feel by changing your thinking, or by giving you a rationale for suppressing your feelings. If you think the way you do because you feel that way, then this book can do little more than offer some tools for communicating.



3. Cognitive therapy is a tested, effective treatment for depression. It can be used instead of medication, or to add to the effects of antidepressants. This book is clear and well written. It has helpful worksheets and exercises to reinforce the information. This book can help you break the negative habits that cause and maintain depression.



4. Abstract
   
   The following study investigates the text, The Feeling Good Handbook, by David Burns. Specifically addressed are issues regarding the cognitive-behavioral model of twisted thinking, moral relativism, and the denial of objective truth. It was found that the text provides an inadequate definition and application regarding moral and objective truth issues. Recommendations for revision of the model are included.
   
   
   A Critical Analysis of the Feeling Good
   Handbook: Its Usefulness in Counseling Practice
   
   In addition to the popular text Feeling Good, which became a national bestseller, and The Therapists Toolkit, a resource developed for mental health practitioners, David Burns released The Feeling Good Handbook, a 729-page (including index) guide to cognitive-behavioral therapy techniques. Semantically speaking, the text is well written, in simple (approximately 8th grade level) English, and is specifically marketed as a self-help text, though its usefulness for counselors is evident in that throughout the text the reader is often asked to assume the roll of the counselor, and after Burns describes a therapeutic technique, the reader is asked in a presented milieu, to implement that technique (for example, responding to a hypothetical client in a vignette empathetically).
   
   In beginning to review this text, it is noticed a review can be accomplished in two ways. One, the text can be analyzed in respect to how it communicates the points it attempts to make (presentation), how it facilitates the ability in the reader to implement what is learned into his/her life or practice (application), and it can be reviewed in regards to how accurately the book delivers the ideas of cognitive therapy, mood therapy, empathetic response, etc. In all these aspects the book veers well--quite well--for even Albert Ellis (who holds a reputation of not being impressed with others' therapeutic approaches) critiques the text as "Clear, systematic, forceful."
   
   The second approach to analyzing the text, the approach that will be taken, involves an investigation of one can trust as a suitable methodology the tenets from which the text is written, the tenets of cognitive therapy. It will address where the tactics disclosed by Burns are believed to be useful, and when it is hypothesized they would falter in a counseling practice.
   Understanding Your Moods
   
   Burns begins discussing moods by stating the fallacy clients often share, which is "I just can't help the way I feel" (Burns, 1999, p. 3). He then states a grounding premise of cognitive behavioral theory, which is that one's thoughts create moods. Quoting Ellis, the acronym A + B = C is stated. In this formula, A is the presenting event, B is the thoughts of the client, and C is the way the client feels. This formula is to show As do not create Cs--that is, what happens to a person does not effect that person's mood. The thoughts the person maintains affect the person's mood.
   
   However, in reading the text, it is found that the true formula used in the text is not A + B = C, it is B = C, A = 0. The point being, the book extremely minimizes the effect of A. A, in essence, is described as a force that is prone to trying to manipulate one's B to produce unpleasant C's, but is in itself generally insignificant. More clearly, the situations, trials, relationships, and anything else external a person confronts merely challenges a person's thoughts. If the thoughts can be changed, or maintained as healthy thoughts, the person will always report a pleasant mood (C).
   
   According to Burns, "sadness and depression result from thoughts of loss," "Anxiety and panic result from thoughts of danger," and "Guilt results from the thought that you are bad" (Burns, 1999, p. 5). To Dr. David Burns' credit he does state the following, which he titles a disclaimer: that there are times when negative feelings are appropriate and healthy, and that "learning when to accept these feelings and how to cope with a realistically negative situation is just as important as learning how to rid yourself of distorted thoughts and feelings" (p. 7). The reader must ask him/herself at this point, if Dr. Burns believes this amazingly astute point (i.e. equal importance), why then is only one line spent addressing that As are relevant, while 728.5 pages are spent denying their relevance?
   False Sincerity of the Empathetic Response
   
   A rebuttal to the statement that Burns' methodology denies all relevance of coping with a negative situation would probably include the premise that such is accomplished with the use of the empathetic response. The problem with this premise however, is the use of the empathetic response validates nothing. The therapist agrees to none of the truth that the client speaks. The empathetic response simply makes the client aware that the counselor is aware of his/her hurtful thinking.
   
   Reading the text a reader might be perplexed with the question, when is there objective truth in thinking? More specifically, can not hurtful thinking (i.e. I have been a terrible father) be accurate? And if it is accurate, who is to say disposing of this accurate--though hurtful thought--is in essence better for the client than allowing the client to maintain this thought until the client changes his/her behavior so that the client can display another more healthy, and accurate, thought, (i.e. I am no longer a terrible father). However, by Burns' model, the man who states he is a terrible father, even if it is true (by all ability to quantify what a terrible father is), will be handled in the following way.
   
   One, the client would be empathized with: "You are telling me that you are not a very good father, and you are clearly upset with that." Two, the counselor might disclose an "I feel" statement: "I would definitely not want to feel like I was a terrible father. That must be a horrible feeling." Three, it would be suggested to the client that he has twisted thinking which include "Should Statements" (You are wrongly telling yourself you should not be a terrible father), "Labeling" (there is no such thing as a terrible father, just persons who act the roll sometimes), "All-or-Nothing thinking" (surely you have done something that was not terrible--for example you are in therapy), "Overgeneralization" (Being a terrible father is a general simplification. Burns states "there are no Jerks in America" only persons who act like jerks from time to time), "Mental Filter" (you are pretty upset over this whole fatherhood thing. Lets think on things you're not terrible at), and the list goes on.
   
   Burns' model provides no basis for determining what is "twisted thinking" and what is thinking that is the downright painful truth. He states, there are no Jerks in America--just those that act like Jerks. But if a "jerk" does not exist, then from what basis can one state an action as jerk-like? Furthermore, in the 700 plus pages of text on how to handle clients, not once does Burns confront a client because his/her thinking was pleasant but skewed. Therefore, it is a safe conclusion that--though Burns may briefly claim otherwise--to Burns pleasant thinking is correct thinking.
   
   This is further evidenced in text when Burns addresses confrontation. Choices of words include "it was unpleasant when" or "I felt uncomfortable when" (Burns, 1999, p. 156). Both are notoriously relative remarks. There is no claim to objective truth; there is no "what you did was wrong," or "I was treated unjustly." Such relativism can be no more apparent than in the following excerpt:
   You may have difficulty with this idea [that there is not use for shoulds]. You may insist that there's nothing wrong with using the word "should." You may think that it's your duty to clean your desk or to study hard. You may feel it is something you should do!
   
   There are actually [only] three valid uses of the word "should" in the English language. One is the "moral should." You "should" not intentionally take advantage of someone, because this violates your moral code. The second is the "legal should." You should not drive at 90mph because it is dangerous and you'll probably get a ticket. The third is the "laws of the universe should." Things "should" happen because the forces of nature make them happen. For example, if you drop a pen, it "should" fall because of the force of gravity (p. 179).
   
   The enormity of the errors in the thinking above is staggering. First, the only two claims of truth presented above are (one) that it is wrong believe one ought to believe there are moral shoulds or shoulds caused by one's duty, and (two) that the English dictionary agrees with David Burns. Both claims are false.
   
   It is very possible that someone could have a duty to study. A physician being paid to study the effects of a rare disease infecting his/her patient, for example, is an explicit instance when there is a definite "should" due to duty. One would concur that the situation would not have to be so dire (matter of life and death) to still constitute a legitimate should. Though Burns--in the quote above--states that one "feels" shoulds, and does not know them or objectively understand them (lines 3-4).
   
   Next, Burns' first definition of a true should is logically meaningless, in that he states it is truth that one should not take advantage of someone (a valid should) because it violates the person's moral code. Therefore, Burns is saying, as long as one is not violating their own relative moral code, he/she can take advantage of anyone and not be violating a "should." Burns' second definition, regarding the legal should, is quite depraved in that he states speeding violates a legal should (true) because one could hurt him/herself or get a ticket. In reality, Burns is not addressing a legal should at all for legally the should would remain constant whether on not the violator injures him/herself, or receives a ticket for the violation. What Burns is really stating in his example is the claim that one should not partake of behavior that may cause As that could instigate unpleasant Bs.
   
   Lastly, Burns demotes the laws of physics, to the shoulds of physics! If one drops a pen according to Burns, it should hit the floor. According to the law of gravity however, if one drops a pen, it will hit the floor.
   Discussion
   
   Cognitive-behavioral therapy is effective. Burns does a fantastic job of describing how to implement cognitive principles into one's personal life, even into one's counseling practice. The ideas are useful for healing. However, the theory is weak in that it does not provide the practitioner, nor the client, correct direction regarding what is twisted thinking, and what is true--though painful--thinking.
   
   Final Note: Telephone and Online Counseling may be a good way to provide quick and effective care to clients. Learn to provide Telephone and Online Counseling with this very well done book: The Therapist's Clinical Guide to Online Counseling and Telephone Counseling: The Definitive Training Guide for Clinical Practice



5. If you just want to read "Feeling Good", do not buy this handbook version of the book.
   
   The author uses imperative statements and not so subtle naratives to coerce the reader into doing the exercises. The objective... teach in simple practical terms Cognitive Behavioral Therapy methods for reprogramming out thinking.
   
   Plan to read a few pages and then work on some exercises and ponder over your beliefs and values.
   
   This is not a book for speed reader rabbits. It is more for the the thoughtful, consistent tortoise.
   
   Michael P

5 comments about Think and Grow Rich: The Landmark Bestseller--Now Revised and Updated for the 21st Century.

1. I never had a dream before reading this book. After reading this book, I have a dream and I know how to achive it. Life is about success. This book tells about many great people and thier secrets of success!!......you will love to read it.....and will remember my sugesstion to read it!!:-)



2. Probably my favorite self-help book of all time. Such valuable information
   ...no doubt 'if you think you can, you can.' The power of our minds is incredible and this book clearly explains it. But it is Living The Secret Everyday: My Secret Workbook that is the practical and 'doing' version of its important principles. It has been life-changing for me as it keeps my focused on what I want and on track. Don't read one without the other.



3. "Think and Grow Rich", as is "The Law of Success" by Napoleon Hill, are the grandfather of all self-help books. No other self-help book contains the depth and wealth of information "Think and Grow Rich" and "The Law of Success" contain. If you buy "Think and Grow Rich" you should also buy How to Win Friends and Influence People. These two books together will give you all the life tools you need to truly be successful.



4. This book is simply put AWESOME!! This really is in my opinion the best book out there on self-help and changing your life for the better! I highly, highly recommend this book to anyone willing to live a more richer and abundant life. In all simpleness, once you read this book, your life will never be the same! :)



5. I agree with all the other reviewers that this is the grandfather of all books on personal transformation on how to develop a positive attitude and create your own life. Follow this book up with the workbook Living The Secret Everyday: My Secret Workbook and you too will transform your life to the one you want.