1 comments about Chicken Soup for the Horse Lover's Soul II: Tales of Passion, Achievement and Devotion (Chicken Soup for the Soul).

1. Another great book of stories about horses & how they have affected the lives of the humans that care for them!

5 comments about We Can Work It Out: How to Solve Conflicts, Save Your Marriage.

1. This book has changed my life! It was a very emotional read for me, I read so many examples of relationship communication problems I had throughout my life. I closed up or withdrew when relationship problems surfaced. I was afraid to talk and held everything inside. The book explains communication difficulties, it tells you how to effectively work through them and also how to prevent it from happening in the future. The book relates to any relationship you're in, whether you're married or dating. I wish I found this book years ago, I didn't seek help until it was too late. I recently dated someone for a little over two years, we broke up once and got back together, but we had the same problems, poor communication. If I knew about this book sooner, I know my outcome would have changed! Don't make the same mistake I did and think it'll get better, read this book now to become a better person and learn how to effectively communicate with your mate.



2. My husband and I separated after years and years of the same problems that we couldn't resolve. Realizing that perhaps it's not just what we are saying to each other but HOW we are saying it, I bought 6 books on communication. This was hands down the best one.
   
   The first part of this book is a little slow, as it deals with research on couples and commonalities among happy and unhappy couples, blah, blah, blah. The 2nd and 3rd part of the book are the real meat of it. This book is excellent at not only helping you identfy the dysfunctional communication patterns you and your partner use, but also to determine WHY you use them. Most importantly, once you understand what NOT to do, this book tells you exactly what to DO in order to have successful communications with your partner. This book was an absolute eye-opener and my perception of my husband and his perspective has done a complete 180.
   
   Now don't get me wrong, this book isn't going to do the work for you. You still have to commit to being open-minded enough to see YOUR faults in communication, not just be looking for everything wrong with your mate. However, I did see a lot of my mate in this book but instead of giving me ammo against him, this book really helped me understand him better. Also, this plan will be work. Changing old habits is ALWAYS hard work. But, my gosh...isn't it worth it? I can't stress enough though the importance of taking a hard look at yourself first. You have to be willing to consider that your partner has been just as hurt in your relationship as you have...and that you have caused as much destruction as you feel your partner has caused.
   
   I have asked my husband to read the book. I don't know if he will. If he does, this book may very well save our marriage. Either way, I'm going to implement what I've learned into my own every day life. Because, if things don't work out with my husband, I need to be a healthier partner for any future relationships...and I need to be healthier for ME. I do have to say though, that reading this book has given me real hope that my marriage can be saved. Sadly, it shows me how unnecessary a lot of our pain has been. Every therapist tells you to talk about it but no one ever teaches you HOW to talk about it. You will be amazed how much HOW you talk is really what's going on in your relationship conflicts.
   
   Every couple should have to read and discuss this book before they are allowed to get married. In fact, I may make this book my standard wedding gift from now on. In the end, where did all of those china place-settings ever get anyone? This book would be a real gift! I can not recommend this book more highly. If you are searching for books on this subject, than you need this book. Buy it now. Read it with an open heart. Share it with your mate. Good luck.
   
   (Also, another great book to read to just better understand the many dynamics of all communication is Messages by McKay, Davis & Fanning...this book was also very helpful and I recommend it as a companion to We Can Work It Out. If you are dealing with an affair, "Not Just Friends" was the best of the several I read. That one deals with emotional affairs (which was my situation), not just sexual affairs.)



3. This book is easy to read, easy to understand, and offers a lot of hope. It gives you real tools to use. I wish it had focused just a tiny bit more on how you can only take care of yourself and your own point of view and emotions - or perhaps it would have been nice if they recommended a companion book on that subject - since it is such a large factor in relating. But overall I'd say it's a great buy for anyone looking to find ways to start improving their communication with anyone, right away.



4. This book is based upon an innovative, revolutionary twenty-year study. It is a simple-to-understand and clearly-worded guide that provides you with straightforward, scientifically demonstrated techniques that can help you make your relationship work.
   
   At the heart of the concepts presented by authors Clifford Notarius, Ph.D., and Howard Markman, Ph.D., is their "Better Talk" program. This program is unique among communication improvement practices. Better Talk builds upon the foundation set up in the introduction of the book. It permits couples to understand how to communicate using respect and shared understanding, especially when having conversations of a problem-solving nature. Instead of arguing with one another, couples discover how to work together to tackle their problems. Couples learn how to work on the same team, and to use constructive interaction instead of anger.
   
   What truly stands out about this book is that instead of focusing on what makes a relationship fail, We Can Work It Out instead looks at what makes a couple succeed. To determine what the key elements of successful relationships actually are, the authors dedicated 20 years to studying relationships and what makes them work. Their key finding: A happy and successful relationship is based upon the couple's capacity to work through their differences, not actually on the individuals themselves.
   
   By using diagnostic questionnaires, examples, and easy-to-understand explanations, We Can Work It Out very practically and realistically helps you to identify your problem areas and patterns, and to use the techniques outlined in the book in your own unique situation and relationship.
   
   Though this book does tend to feel as though it is dating itself on occasion. The authors frequently refers to their findings and writing in the early 1990's. However, the lessons here are in no way obsolete. The findings of We Can Work It Out remain just as accurate, relevant, and current as they were when they were first printed.
   
   This book provides you with a useable, optimistic, and realistic management approach for dealing with the issues troubling your relationship. It provides a levelheaded, sensible way to find your way back to the happiness you were once able to enjoy when your relationship was better fulfilling your needs.



5. After being with my husband for 7 years, we seem to row over the silliest and smallest thing. I knew my relationship is not going well. Having found this book on the internet, I decided to give it a try.
   
   I have to say this book is purely based on research on what makes couples happy or unhappy. Communication is very important and I liked the "relationship bank account", which I found very true. I have applied the knowledge and recommendation and even after a week, my marriage has turned around for the best and we are enjoying a very fruitful relationship now.
   
   It is a very good book for couples and I think it should be mandatory to people prior to marriage. I will certainly highly recommend it to friends and family.
   
   Another good book : Joseph Bailey "Slowing down to the speed of love".

5 comments about Shibari You Can Use: Japanese Rope Bondage and Erotic Macramé.

1. My favorite beginner's ropework book. Down-to-earth, funny, and clear; a warm introduction to what can be an intimidating subject.
   
   As a bonus, the models in the photos are cute without looking like models; they are just normal folks having a good time. Glamour shots of Beautiful People in complex bondage (coughMidoricough) are great eye-candy, but when it comes to translating those pictures at home (or wherever), I find something with a more conversational/ approachable tone to be more effective.



2. I think this book is okay. If you are into rope art and are a beginner, I would recommend The Two Knotty Boys, Showing You The Ropes. This book breaks down the different knots and such, also, more detailed photos, in my opinion.



3. i wasn't that impressed, but it was a pretty good book to check out for bondage.



4. This is a nice beginners book on shibari. Pictures are clear and it has all the popular shibari positions for you to learn. Excellent purchase.



5. When I was looking into getting this book, I read the reviews and ordered it. After getting and reading this book I don't agree with the other reviews. I agree it is an excellent book, but I don't think this is the book to get if this is your first time doing rope work. If you have never done any rope bondage before, I would suggest getting the book "Two Knotty Boys Showing You The Ropes: A Step-by-Step, Illustrated Guide for Tying Sensual and Decorative Rope Bondage by Two Knotty Boys". The color photo's and the way they are placed next to each other make it a much easier book for a beginner to learn, in my experience and my opinion. Now if you already have that book and want to learn more techniques, designs and styles then definitely get this book. If you have been interested in rope bondage for a long time and are finally getting the chance to learn and you know that you are going to love it and continue to do it, then get them both if it's in your budget. This book if full of great information, very well written, has a great way of wording things. Although the black and white photo's, as well as their spacing onto several pages made it hard to follow. While on the bed while working the ropes and having to turn pages at the same time is a task I am good at or enjoy. For example, the chest harness starts on page 52 and finishes on page 61.

5 comments about Entre Nous: A Woman's Guide to Finding Her Inner French Girl.

1. Entre Nous begins by the author describing the first French girl that she was in contact with. She dressed well, was intelligent, had style, was sensual, and she felt comfortable in her own body. She didn't really gossip, and she kept her secrets until she knew her for many years.
   The author goes on to tell you how to cook, shop, play, work, and love: like a French girl.
   
   There are many tips in between, like: "Borrow a page from the French girl's book: Self Possession." Or, Le Film, Le livre (the book) and French Girls We Love. All of those little tidbits contained some great recommendations, and there were other fun side notes like: who gets vous (formal) and who gets tu.(informal)
   
   Ollivier has created a book that brings out some our defensive qualities. "I love Farmers Markets! I don't wear sweatpants!" I'm sure that not every French girl loves to read, nor does every French girl accept her husbands indiscretions. Maybe not every French man chooses to cheat, either!
   You can't write a book about an entire culture and be correct about all of it. Besides, maybe one of the reasons that the French girls have a strong sense of self is because their cultures and traditions have been handed through many generations. Their country has existed for such a long time, whereas, our country is still very new compared to theirs.
   
   Either way, Ollivier ends her book going back to California, so if you are worried that she chooses "them, over us," she must love America as well. She also ended the book with a list with "What the French girl loves about us."
   
   So, don't worry. Put the defenses away. It's a fun, well written book, with some great ideas on how to be a self possessed, strong, stylish woman in general. She gives some good advice. I've read it more than once because it's that enjoyable!
   
   Recommended!



2. Of course this book is full of superlatives and portrays French gals in that better-than-ourselves version. Just as we know that not all Brazilians look fabulous in bikinis and dance samba with grace, we also know that not all French are graced with fashion sense and the Amelie impish grin.
   
   What I enjoyed about this book is that it reminded me there is that better version of me, a more poetic side that I can tap into. So ignore the hard-to-believe parts, especially those that tout French women as hostesses who know exactly how to consider every party details while looking amazing and flitting about the room with brilliant words on their tongues. No way.



3. This book is incredibly TEDIOUS. Maybe because I ready after How to be imposibly french wich is great!.
   
   
   I find the little quotes and film notes more interesting than the book itself. But very distracting.



4. Entre Nous is an innovating book that captures the femininity and admiration of the French woman. From tips to ways of life, this book focuses on the importance the French girl puts on food, life, and play. Throughout the text, the author recommends books and films that capture the essence of the topics at hand.
   
   This book will help to change the way one thinks of her work. It will also help one to encourage relaxation, to take life slow, and enjoy the pleasures life has to offer.



5. I had high hopes for this book when I bought it, and I was only a little disappointed. The first half of the book gives examples and ideas about how French women act, how they see themselves, and how they present themselves to the world. She adds in examples from women she's known in France, and overall I found it delightful. The second half is a little less useful, as it touches less on attitude and fashion to house decoration, presenting meals, and work lives. I think she stretched a little bit in the second half, but its still a delight to read - and her film and books suggestions are gold. This was well worth the price and it provides easy, enjoyable reading, as well as good advice on how to carry yourself with confidence, whether French or not. I know many French women who fit her ideal, and many who do not - but she certainly gives us something to aspire to.

5 comments about The Writing Diet: Write Yourself Right-Size.

1. "The Writing Diet" offers a creative approach to food and life issues, centering on paying attention to them by daily mindful journaling and this author's signature "Morning Pages". Cameron takes a leaf out of many different body management techniques, with numerous personal stories including her own. The general mood is gentle, uplifting and positive. I was able to minimize my tendency, when watching my eating habits, to regard every small tumble off the wagon as a catastrophic failure. My favorite motto from the book, to be pasted on the refrigerator, is "Eating Clean" -- which points toward a good way of eating rather than concentrating on deprivation like so many other dieting methods do.



2. If only it was as easy as writing your way to weight loss (typing does burn calories, right?!), then everybody would become a William Shakespeare overnight. But alas parting with that myth is such sweet sorrow. However, there is merit to the idea of getting your mind off of eating when you really don't need to by putting your thoughts down on paper. Gee, imagine that! The concept behind this book is a good one because it forces you to share thoughts with yourself that you may not even realize were there before. Being honest with yourself about how you choose to live your life, including the foods you stuff in your mouth, will open your eyes to a reflection of YOU that may have never manifested itself before. This book reaffirmed for me one of the major reasons I enjoy blogging so much--it's a creative release that allows me the chance to lay it all out there while taking my mind off of idle things that could drive me to eating that high-carb junk again. So maybe writing is a great way to weight loss after all!



3. This book is essentially written from a very disordered place. Julia Cameron is GREAT on the creativity work she does, but needs to stay out of this area, as it is clearly a problematic one in her life. I work with people with eating disorders and purchased this book hoping to find a tool that would help them. I would never suggest it to anyone struggling with food issues (or, I guess, anyone at all). She is afraid of and unfriendly toward food. Peace with food must involve acceptance of our appetites and development of trust in our bodies' ultimate knowledge of what we need. We can learn to be comfortable with sweet or salty of fatty foods, and once they are no longer a forbidden enemy, peace is possible. There are many other helpful books addressing intuitive eating (Eating Mindfully is one), compulsive overeating (books by Geneen Roth, or a book called Overcoming Overeating can be helpful), or recovery from eating disorders (Ira Sacker's newest book--name escapes me, Life without ED).



4. I approached this book with an open mind, not particularly concerned with whether it focused more on health or writing. Both are interesting to me, so I was willing to give it a go. Unfortunately, it turned out to be psuedoinspirational drivel. It's incredibly redundant and relies heavily on people being deeply flawed. I really don't think that it's realistic for a relatively normal person to whip out a notebook and examine one's inner depths every time he or she is faced with a dessert menu. I also balk at the concept that the author has restricted her intake of unhealthy foods that she becomes borderline deranged after a few bites of ice cream. It sounds like she needs to see a doctor to have her blood sugar checked. Besides, do I really want to suck that much enjoyment out of my life that I can't come home and have a glass of wine just because I feel like it. Does it have to signify some inner turmoil? Please.



5. It's obvious that the author has not lived in the suburbs or mid-sized city with small children or a full time job. While the dishes sound delicioius, some of the ingredients are not readily available. Her suggestions for exercise, assume that you have miles of interesting neighborhoods with sidewalks or well-maintained parks to provide walking paths.

5 comments about Leading with the Heart: Coach K's Successful Strategies for Basketball, Business, and Life.

1. I read coach K's book when it first came out and recently re-read it. I often refer to it when I need to put things in the correct perspective. This inspirational book makes it easy to "take responsibility for yourself, and never let "it's not my job," enter into your mind. Coach "K" exemplifies "getting the job done/taking charge." Many a time I'm wondering what to do in tough situations, both in sports and business. I truly ask myself a lot: "What would a guy like coach Krzyzewski do?" I can't think of any coach who exemplifies more decency, integrity, honesty, perseverence, dedication, fairness, family values...you get the point. It appears there are many who admire him and, some will envy him. I say learn from him because he's proven beyond a shadow of a doubt, what leading with integrity and values is all about. Many, many, parent's say they want their kids to go to Duke. Why? These parents are specific to say that they hope their children can be part of the positive and integral influnce that "coach Krzyzewski brings to Duke." Major companies have used coach "K"s book to help executives get on the right track. You won't read a better book on motivation for anything in life. Amazing book, about an amazing person. Worth it!!!



2. A must read for coaches and business people alike. Very informative look on how Coach K built Duke into a basketball powerhouse. I am not a Duke fan but enjoyed this book.



3. Some books I have read stand the test of time. Since its initial publication, this book by Coach K stands that test, with stories and chapters that both inspire and encourage. It gives valuable strategies for succeeding no matter what your aim is. It made me much more than a Duke fan, but made me a Coach K fan as well. Well done and it is no wonder the Duke program is so successful.



4. Who thought that one man could do so much in life, have so much success, and still be grounded to where he was brought up. This is a truly inspiring book because it is rare to find a man of this profession who cares so much about character. He is one of the few coaches in college basketball who values a kid's personality more than their talent. Reading this book really showed me how great a guy Coach K really is, and how lucky those kids are to play for a coach like him.
   
   This book is easy to connect with for anyone and everyone. For me in particular, coming from a military background, I found it very interesting to learn about Coach K's time at West Point Academy and the experiences he took from there. Also, as I prepare for my freshman year of college, where I will be playing basketball, Coach K values character traits such as trust, loyalty, honesty, determination, and respect, all of which I will take with me into next year. The real situations that Coach K portrays are an incredible look inside the life of one inspiring and motivational man. The stories about basketball, players, friends, coaches, West Point, Korea, Chicago, Duke, and of course family, are really unforgettable.
   
   I had a great time reading this book because you have the opportunity to see what really goes on at Duke University and their highly acclaimed basketball program. Coach K discusses game day routines, pre-game speeches, coaching drills, player development, film work, and coaching, all with open arms. He doesn't feel the need to hide any of his business and welcomes basketball fans around the world to be a part of his story. Through the uses of metaphor and flashbacks Coach K is able to show the importance of character and trust, and not allowing his program to turn into a business like many others. He and his teams have fought through adversity, and despite much criticism, Coach K is definitely one of the best coaches ever. I recommend this book 100% to any businessman, basketball fan, military person, or anyone simply looking to better understand the important things in life, and what should really matter, like friends, family, and religion.



5. This is without question, the best sports and business book ever written. This book also teaches and reminds all us how to be decent, thoughtful, caring, and responsible human beings. Being a good and decent person really works, and will get you somewhere. Take responsibility for yourself, get the job done. Never let: "It's not my job," enter your mind. Get it done and stop whining. Team work, in sports, business, family and life makes all the difference in the world. When you think of the super credible people in this world, 'Coach K,' is, 'one' of those unique great ones at the top of the list. Coach K is a very humble and decent human being, and his 'actions,' positively speak for themselves. Are there Spanish versions of Coach K's books available? The book has a great flow and is a never a dull moment read. Mixing business with sports, makes for a fun academic read. Great, great book - Fantastico y Increible - Vamos a leer!

5 comments about Don't Sweat the Small Stuff at Work.

1. Much of the stress we experience comes not from the workplace but from our reactions to our workplace. Most of Carlson's little book focuses on how we need to change our attitudes in order to minimize stress. For instance, work should be seen as something that we get to do rather than something that we have to do. Enjoy life now--don't wait for retirement!
   
   Problems should be seen as speed bumps to negotiate gracefully, not barriers to be resented. One should recognize that life is full of hassles, and that these should be handled in stride. One should lay off the ego, because constant comparison with others will only raise one's stress. Workplace meetings, instead of being stewed at as unnecessary or boring, should be seen as challenges to learn something new.
   
   Carlson also gives some practical pointers for minimizing work-related stress. For instance, if we feel hurried in the morning, we should get up earlier to give us more time to get ready for work. Long commutes to work, instead of being hated as a waste of time, should be profitably spent listening to books on tape. To avoid the stress caused by constant phone calls, we should have a "no phone" time when we don't answer the phone. Voice mail should be used more often. To dissipate general stress, we should spend ten minutes each day doing absolutely nothing. And, since vacation trips themselves can be stressful, we should spend more of our vacations puttering around at home or visiting local events and places.



2. It is possible to pooh- pooh self- help , power of positive thinking books or to try and learn from them. I take the latter approach. My idea is always that if I learn one good thing from them I have profited.
   This is particularly engaging and helpful self- help book. There are one hundred small essays on such topics as 'Don't Sweat the Small Stuff' 'Relax' 'Breathe before you speak' ' Allow yourself to be bored' 'Repeat to yourself, " Life is not an Emergency" , 'Lower your tolerance to Stress', 'Become more patient' 'Surrender to the fact that life isn't fair' 'Let others be 'right' most of the time' ' Choose your battles wisely' ' Look beyond behavior' ' Become a better listener' ' Set aside quiet time every day' 'Imagine that everyone is enlightened except you' ' 'Smile to strangers, look into their eyes and say hello'.
   What is surprising is though you think you might know most of this stuff you will probably be induced to practice a bit more by reading the work.
   I very much liked this book. Its aim is to make people better and happier. I think it can do that.
   What is nice about it is that the major ideas are given in the chapter- titles and then the small essays illustrate them and slightly elaborate upon them.
   A few more of the chapters are as follows:
   " Practice Random Acts of Kindness' ' Spend a Moment every day thinking of someone to thank' 'Learn to live in the present moment' ''Resist the urge to criticize' 'Choose being kind over being right' 'Search for the grain of truth in other opinions' ' Read articles and books with entirely different points of view from your own and try to learn something''Stop Blaming others' ' ' Get comfortable not knowing ' ' Lighten up'' Don't interrupt others or finish their sentences''Remember that everything has God's fingerprints on it.'
   One problem of course is that a lot of this is easier said than done. 'Take fill your life with love' That's a hard one for many who have been trying and getting nowhere. Nonetheless the intention and direction are good.
   They are in the spirit of my own attitude in reviewing books, " Try to find something good in it, and something good to say about it. And only criticize it if it is absolutely necessary.'



3. 
   The book was sold as great condition and it was not even in fair condition. Book was stained and old.
   
   Shipped from Florida



4. How often have you said "I have to go to work"? Not, I want to.., but I have to. It's the mindset of the slave, whether slave to a boss, a deadline, a stack of bills, or a self-image. Richard Carlson, in his sensible, smart, and kind way, helps to break those bonds. Applying the strategies and principles in each brief chapter will result in true self-esteem, effective interpersonal relations, and higher levels of productivity more effectively achieved. Similar principles are explained in other expert sources, such as Intentional Living: Lessons from the Tree of Life



5. Get it for yourself and your loved ones get it for those you dont even like so they can change for the better

5 comments about How to Have More than Enough: A Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Abundance.

1. I very much appreciate Dave Ramsey's putting financial matters in the context of virtuous behavior. This is not just a "get out of debt" book or a "make real money" book. It is a book that reminds its readers how many of us stray from fiscal health, suckered in by the 'race to get ahead and then fall behind' values common to the vast majority of Americans - materialism, status, name brands, immediate gratification, antagonism, impermanence, gluttony, lack of responsibility, even lack of contentment. Ramsey knows all too well that when it comes to fiscal restraint and good money habits, this is not a virtuous society. He recommends solid values to counteract the mainstream of American life - patience, delayed gratification, humility, cooperation, peace, communication, contentment and, of course, paying CASH. I wholly applaud this philosophy.
   
   But, merely as a qualifier, I do want to let the prospective reader know that Mr. Ramsey's work is not secular. Bible passages, a Christian perspective and religious messages (such as suggesting prayer and counsel with clergy) set the tone much of the way, and the book is geared (not entirely but mostly) toward traditional and fairly conventional nuclear families.
   
   As a more daring and thorough departure from those seemingly ubiquitous American go-getter values that lure so many into dire straits (such as 'the more you buy the more you save'), I can heartily recommend the popular classic "Your Money or Your Life."



2. ********wonderful*******



3. 
   
   
   Consumer debt has long been a problem of most americans. The writer is very explicit about those things which cause us to go into consumer debt.
   One of the things he addresses is greed, not having the patience to wait
   for the money in our hand to purchase items. I am a baby boomer and our generation has been known to want things microwave quick. This book addresses the dangers and pitfallsof that thinking. It will set you free from stinking thinking!
   
   
   



4. Just as he does on the radio, Dave Ramsey guides the reader to a better financial life.



5. The book is well written and explains step by step what is needed to create abundance in your life. Be open and willing to do the work and you too can have more than you dreamed possible. Remember, it takes work on your end and the results are well worth the effort!

5 comments about Burlesque and the Art of the Teese/Fetish and the Art of the Teese.

1. I Bought this book in January... (with another 2 books)
   
   AND SINCE THIS DAY AMAZON SAY TO ME THAT HAD SENT MY PACK 5 TIMES,
   
   BUT NEVER ARRIVED...
   
   So, a book, and a website NEVER stressed me so MUCH....



2. I had this book read through twice with in two days. I loved the photography first and foremost. She really inspires to be glamorous no matter where you go and what you do. She also encourages people to realize they are not alone in some of their more intimate practices. This was an amazing biography/ inspirational piece. Well worth the purchase price.



3. I really like this book. It gives you a lot to read and a lot of pictures. It is very tastefully done. I would recommend this book for anyone at all interested in learning about either side. Plus the book itself is beautiful. It is something you could leave out on the coffee table. Some people might think since one side is about "Fetish" it will be dirty or something to be put away when someone comes over, but it's not at all.



4. If you like Dita Von Teese, the art is great in this book! The pictures are very interesting and it's an enjoyable book. However, I do wish that some of her magazine photos were in the book (the pictures were all from on stage performances and other places, but not magazine shoots). I absolutely love quite a few of the pics from tons of magazines that she has been in, and hoped that some were in the book as well. Other than that, it's a fun book to have!



5. Gorgeous cocktail table book; beautiful pictures, tastefully done, Artfully sexy. Dita is gorgeous; she gives some good tips - but overall - buy it for Art and not for its' literary content

5 comments about Maximum Achievement: Strategies and Skills That Will Unlock Your Hidden Powers to Succeed.

1. One day, a student of Socrates asked his venerable teacher how to become wise. Socrates led the student to a nearby lake and the two entered the water. Then, he held the student's head under the surface as the frantic young man fought wildly. Finally, Socrates freed him. The young man gasped and gulped. Socrates watched calmly and said, "When you desire wisdom with the same intensity that you desire to breathe, then nothing will stop you from getting it." Brian Tracy uses this graphic anecdote to discuss the intensity of thought and feeling that should accompany the work of setting your goals, a potentially life-changing exercise. Every chapter of Tracy's well-written book contains counsel about achieving your dreams as well as practical advice on perfecting your life. Tracy uses plenty of illustrative examples, such as the Socrates story. He reviews many classic motivational tools and techniques. Some self-help authors lure people into wasting hard-earned time and money on books that don't motivate or inspire. However, getAbstract recommends Tracy as a genuine teacher with much to convey about using the power of your mind for personal growth. And if the message here echoes his other books, it is no less valuable for that.



2. Let me first start by patting myself on the back. I have been on a roll with my reading selections. Here is another fascinating book by another great author, Brain Tracy. Let me say it again Brian Tracy really knows how to assist you in performing a self analysis on your past present and future experiences and thoughts. He asks riveting questions that make you use your imagination, exercise your subconscious mind and feed your brain with the most powerful enlightening visions to set you on a path to great success. I believe that in growing up, a lot of individuals get lost in the way of society and the limitations that the world puts on our thinking and life. Of course growing up in this fashion is not at all our fault it is partly our parents fault and I say partly because no-one taught them. Any one that has made several past or present mistakes would benefit greatly from this book. Even to the individual that has not made many mistakes and has been afforded a somewhat decent life would benefit from this book. If you are tired of living within the boundaries of the world and you have reached a point where you want more for yourself but you are having trouble moving past the events that have happened in the past this is the book for you. Or anyone that is having trouble focusing on their thoughts to reach their ultimate goals should most definitely pick up this book. You will not regret it, this book is so powerful. The value of the contents inside this book is priceless. This is another book in which my husband and I sit down weekly and discuss the contents and complete the exercises. Ladies I have been attempting to drill success into my husband's ear for years and it has not helped, not one bit. But since we have begin reading this book amongst others and performing the exercises he is beginning to change, and not because I am drilling him but because he is now able to do a self analysis of himself and see the gray areas that have been greatly affecting his life, which is, inevitably our life. I can't emphasize enough how powerful this book is.



3. I just bought and finished this book and I can tell that it will be referenced often and a big part of my library. The "laws" mentioned in this book are great to read over and over again. The last 100 pages, however, are filler. He seems to repeat himself over and over about relationships, parenting and other issues. If he would have left that stuff out, I'd give it five stars. I would recommend Eat that Frog or The Ultimate Goals Program on audio instead.



4. Quite simply, this book is the closest thing to an owner's manual for humans that I have ever found. It helped me to resolve some long-standing issues.
   
   I have lent it to friends and they always share my enthusiasm, often commenting that one may open it randomly to anywhere in the book, and just start learning.



5. A friend recommended this book to me a few years ago, but I only got to it recently. It really was a turning point for me in many ways.
   
   It offers many ideas you might find in other places, but some I have not seen elsewhere. The one that really helped me is - I am sorry to say I never figured this out before reading it here - that you have to REALLY make up your mind what it is you want before you can really be sure to get it. That is not necessarily as easy as it sounds, since having too many plan B's or not having a REAL plan can swallow you up and you get nowhere.
   
   Wish I had read this a long time ago!