5 comments about If You Could See What I See: The Tenets of Novus Spiritus.

1. Being gnostic means to understand spiritual things. The religion Sylvia Browne claims to have founded is ancient. There is nothing new under the sun, the old Cathars were agnostic and for that wiped out by the Catholic Church of Rome. The fact that Jesus never died on the cross is old knowledge being brought back from ancient times. It is very clear by the bible that Jesus never died on the cross because he was taken down shortly by Joseph of Arithmea as the bible states, and he walked around in flesh and blood. But I do applaud her to continue the old tradition of truth and opposition with the Roman Catholics. The time is ripe for such. This book is boring and not well written, but it is gutsy. I don't think she copied from the book "Holy Blood, Holy Grail" but read it.



2. This was the very first Sylvia Browne book I read. I suppose I was a bit slow at realizing how amazing she is. Before reading her I had come upon Doreen Virtue and read almost everthing by her, including one of her first books, "Constant Craving" which is amazing at curing our cravings for almost every food. However, I'm glad I stumbled upon Sylvia's book at the public library that day. I can't stop reading her books. Everything she says is pure sense.
   
   Everything to me is validation of what I already knew in my heart. I love hearing it come from her with all her wisdom, as she is on her last life on Earth. I have learned so much from Sylvia, she has changed the lives of many including mine. The only tugging question I have, and by no means do I hold it against her, it is what seems to be her disbelief in Incarnated Elementals as Doreen Virtue has written about. I really wish somehow Sylvie would open up to this information and share and write about it. But if it isn't meant for her then I completely understand and will leave it at that.
   
   I am entirely greatful for all of Sylvia Browne's works and will always wish to read her new, upcoming books. Right now I'm completing her Journery of the Soul series.
   
   Best wishes to you on your spiritual journey.



3. I Loooooooooove Sylvia Browne, but felt this book to be a bit difficult to get through. There is knowledge to be gained from reading the book, but I don't think I would recommend it as a "must read". Mostly it is about the tenants of her religious organization; so, if that is specifically what you need to know about then this book may be the right one for you.



4. Too many books coming out --- quality not up to that of her first few books it seems to me.
   Have discontinued getting her books for the time being---
   is there a ghost writer lurking somewhere?



5. Her first book, Adventures of a Psychic, was never that good. There was a lot of vagueness regarding her family life. In this book, we now know why Sylvia Browne doesn't talk fondly about her mother as much as her later father. She does try to explain how abusive her mother, Celeste, was to her mostly psychological and verbal and always putting her daughter down as not being pretty enough. I'm sure Celeste had her own demons being that her daughter, Sylvia, and her mother, Ada Coil (who Sylvia fondly remembers being supportive) are both psychics. Maybe Celeste was but she never admitted it. When Sylvia writes about telling her mother that her beloved father was seeing his girlfriend, Virginia, who lived three blocks away, you can only imagine how that must have felt. Besides there is no excuse for Celeste's treatment of Sylvia, maybe she was jealous because she wasn't psychic. Her sister Sharon is mentioned as suffering from her mother's abuse but not as well as her sister. She also writes about getting married at 16 to Joe which was annulled anyway. She writes about the abusive marriage to Gary Dufresne who she hopes has reformed and her marriage to Dal Brown that didn't last long but the friendship and relationship. She doesn't blame her former husband for her financial problems as much as stupidity rather than vindictiveness. Still, I find Sylvia has grown and matured as she approaches her 70s but I also find her to be the candid person who isn't afraid to tell the truth if it hurts. She never sought out fame and fortune but it has come and it is richly deserved because she shares her gifts with us. It's not easy being psychic or paranormal like Sylvia Browne, she has lived a life filled with the same problems like everybody else-marriages, divorces, raising sons as a single mother, bankruptcy, relationships with men, her grandchildren, etc. Sylvia Browne tries to lead a normal life as possible. Just because you're psychic and help people, doesn't mean that you can't help yourself. That's the problem, psychics don't necessarily fair any better than those who are not psychic or paranomal enough. I only wish Sylvia best because I am a fan of hers and always will be. If she helps people without hurting them or fleecing them of their life savings like some people, she is completing her vocation in life. It is because of Sylvia that I feel more comfortable with the paranormal and psychic world which exists before us.

5 comments about The Hoffman Process: The World-Famous Technique That Empowers You to Forgive Your Past, Heal Your Present, and Transform Your Future.

1. Have you ever noticed that no matter how much you know ... it doesn't make a difference? Have you struggled with very long-standing childhood-based hurts that no amount of seminars, workshops, support groups, or counselling has been able to help resolve 100%?
   
   If you find yourself on a seemingly endless search for healing without permanent measureable relief then the Hoffman Process may be for you. The Hoffman Process has been described as the world's best kept secret. Presented in an 8-day residential retreat around the world, the process has been endorsed and advocated by many medical doctors, psychologists, and others in the healing profession. Known for its breakthrough results and ability to gently "crack the hardest nut (no pun intended)", the Hoffman Process helps participants achieve a connection with self by releasing decades of hurt, anger, resentment, vindictiveness, and other destructive negative emotions and behaviors. People from all walks of life have benefited from this remarkable loving program.
   
   I am a graduate of the Hoffman Process and truly believe this is the only method that fully releases people of the roots of pain, anger, and the torture of negativity. The beauty of the process is that it connects the head and the heart while removing destructive self-sabotage patterns that one has believed ingrained in themselves. Hoffman produces a powerful relief. It is not a cure-all, and one has to do the work to get the benefit, but nothing else I have tried has brought to me such a sweet place of serene tranquility and joy. For those of you who have tried all sorts of healing methods and still are plagued with inner struggle ... I highly urge you to consider the Hoffman Process. The Institute in the US offers scholarships and there are financing options in both Canada and the US. There is a fresh air of sincerity, open-hearted, and authentic realism in the Hoffman Institute staff and its teachers.
   
   Unlike some programs of positive thinking or human potential peak performance, there is no hard sales tactics, no manipulation to take more courses, no fostering co-dependancy, no coercion in getting your friends to do courses, or any other uncomfortable tactics.
   
   Hoffman is a a gentle, loving, cleansing, mind-body-soul techniques endorsed by some of the most prominant names in medicine and psychology today. There is a freedom of choice and a freedom to be, that in itself is a journey of gold!
   
   This is a must read for those committed to self-growth and/or are Hoffman graduates.
   
   Isn't it time to be free of unhealthy core issues rather than just successfully coping and palliating them?



2. I did the Hoffman Process almost three years ago and have referred many people to it since then. I can, with an open heart, honestly say that doing the Process was the biggest gift I could have ever given myself, my parents and all the people I love. If you have a voice within that is searching for something and you just don't know what it is -then consider the Process. The only way I can describe it is as the imperative missing link to the million piece puzzle that made up me and my life. The Process is loving and very powerful and was the key to organic lasting change for me.



3. I recommend this book all to my clients and friends. It is a must read for parents who honestly want to be the best parent to their children and who really want to show up in this life as the best they can be. I always keep a few extra copies on hand to give away.



4. Funny thing is it works. A few simple questions and BOOM! Clarity, honest to God!



5. I just bought this book a few days ago because of the glowing reccomendation on the front cover by Joan Borysenko, and because it claims to contain "the world-famous technique that empowers you to forgive your past, heal your present and trasform your future." I have been on a healing path for 5 years and I've read many books---and there's nothing new contained in this book. It's a pretty typical primer for basic life healing. If you are brand new to any form of therapy, or self-help techniques you will probably find this book helpful, but if you are already on the path or you have particularly agressive ego defenses in place---this book will feel (and be, because I have already done everything the author suggests) simplistic.
   
   For example, the author described a long-term smoker who wanted to quit, who had lots of reasons and was clear that he hated the habbit, but who just couldn't do it. The author suggested that everytime he had a cigarette, he sit and explore the circumstances that triggered his desire to smoke. After a few days the man realized he wanted to smoke whenever he felt nervous or socially uncomfortable. The smoker then decided to start throwing dinner parties to counter his social discomfort and as a result he soon quit smoking. Just like magic. Does that sound liek something that might help you? If so---this is your book.
   
   The author basically lays out the process like this: Figure out what you want to chang in your life and what your personality defect are (he has a list to choose from if you're coming up short). Analyze where you got the problem to begin with (the book assets point blank, your parents) forgive your parents, forgive yourself, decide what you want for your future, visualize it, give back old habbits to the people who taught them to you via declaration that you don't want them anymore, and you will naturally change. There is nothing more than this.
   
   The author writes, "when we are finally able to come to terms with blocked or unhealthy emotions and to replace them with loving acceptance, the healing process will have worked deep within us. We will be able to love and accept love, the untimate lesson of our lives." --Not what I would call a profound statement, but this is the depth of advice you should expect from reading this book. Lots of feel good, catchy little quotes from other authors (the author is not a therapist or guru) who seemed like their books would be better, and generic advice meant to cover a broad spectrum of issues, and to make you feel better about yourself. But transform your future? I don't know about that. But I do know that if I had not hi-lighted a few sentences in the begining of the book, before I realized it was not going to address my issue with any depth, I would have returned it for my $$ back.

5 comments about Forgotten Among the Lilies: Learning to Love Beyond Our Fears.

1. Ronald Rolheiser has many gifts he brings to spiritual writing. First he is a person of deep faith. He is also aware of the world we live in today, both its good points and its flaws. Combine this with a keen insight into people and a Catholicism that combines the best of the Catholic tradition with current insights into what feeds and nourishes people and you get an idea of what he brings to the table.
   
   FORGOTTEN AMONG THE LILIES is a departure from some of his other works. Instead of being a monograph about a certain subject, it is a collection of essays based on article sand columns he has written over the years and talks he has given. He divides them into thirteen categories and in each category there is a selection of essays. Most are short and can be read in one sitting and used for reflection. The themes of Rolheisser's earlier works such as the emptiness we can experience without God, the need for a fruitful prayer life, and the importance of belonging to a community of believers can be found in this volume. His writings reflect the concerns of the time including the aftermath of September 11, 2001 and the clergy sexual abuse scandal facing the Catholic Church but are focused solely on the two situations.
   
   At times I have been in discussion groups where articles by Rolheiser have been used to begin the debate. I have found that lively and interesting conversations have followed reading his works. This book which is ideal for either individual or group reading will certainly enliven a reading group or adult education class.



2. This is a wonderful book for readers who have enjoyed other works of Ron Rohlheiser. The title comes from the last stanza of the pem "Dark Night of the Soul" and assures us that we can leave our fears, guilt, anxieties, compulsions, etc. to be "forgotten among the lilies" when we rest our heats on the bossom of Jesus. It is a contemporary book on Providence.



3. I found this book to be very helpful and one to reflect on. I think this is one of Rolheiser's best.



4. This is a wonderful little book of short, easy to read essays which encourage us to find a deeper relationship with the God Who is Love. Fr. Rolheiser encourages us to step away from the cultural madness of a Western society which has lost any ability to think beyond the dollar sign and the idea of personal comfort at all cost. He urges us to take God's love seriously and stop to experience not only a deeper level of relationship with God, but a deeper level of living out that relationship in both appreciating the world around us and living Christ's love to that world and those in it who need that love.
   
   The only unfortunate point in this otherwise fine book is that Fr. Rolheiser, like Richard Rohr and others of the liberal Catholic bent, cannot help himself but to use his writing to stump for women's ordination in the Catholic Church. For this reason alone I was unable to give it the full five stars it would have gotten if Fr. Rolheiser had been able to restrain himself from beating the dead horse of women's ordination. I find his attitude strange inasmuch as in the book, in the chapter SOCIAL JUSTICE AND CONTEMPLATION, he admits that one of the problems with liberalism is that liberals are not pious people. Then he goes and commits an act of impiety (rebellion against the Church). Sheeeeeeeeesh!!! Go figure!!
   
   For the first two thirds of the book, his liberalism was a well kept secret to me. But towards the end, it comes to full bloom with this paragraph which opens the chapter ALIVE WITH PROPHETIC PAIN
   
   I HAD A LENGTHY TALK WITH A FRIEND OF MINE WHO IS A CATHOLIC FEMINIST. ARTICULATE AND NOT AFRAID TO EXPRESS HER ANGER, SHE TALKED OPENLY ABOUT HER PAIN. SHE IS FRUSTRATED WITH INEQUALITY IN THE CHURCH, FRUSTRATED THAT SHE CAN NEVER BE ORDAINED. THE TEARS FLOWED FREELY, SHE WANTED TO LEAVE THE CHURCH SHE HAD GROWN UP IN, BUT SOMETHING HELD HER BACK.
   
   One wonders if Fr. Rolheiser counseled this young woman at all regarding the numerous covenantal, anthropomorphic, and thological reasons that a woman simply cannot be a priest. Doubt it. Most likely he commisserated with her, agreeing that the Church is an organization of eklessiastical bullies who have no regards for her deepest needs.
   
   Oh well! :-(
   
   Otherwise, a fine book with many chapters that should set you to thinking about how one should properly live out one's Catholic Faith in the decadence of the West.
   
   Just be wary of the liberal landmines in it!
   
   Ed



5. I received this book in a timely manner & in great shape. The book is an easy read with very helpful information.

5 comments about Mariel Hemingway's Healthy Living from the Inside Out: Every Woman's Guide to Real Beauty, Renewed Energy, and a Radiant Life.

1. Mariel Hemingway gives very sound advice in the areas of food, exercise, silence and home in a clear, concise and inspiring manner. I have tried most of the recipes in this book and have found some true favorites- especially the breakfast shake and the purple puree! My favorite aspect of the book are the quick fixes and tips she has scattered throughout that offer breathing, meditation and stress relief exercises. Excellent book.



2. I bought this book at a book fair for charity because it was the best offering they had. I was surprised at the depth of information and how easy the options for healthier living were. Very in-depth and complete all around help for eating, exercising, meditating - taking care of the entire body and soul.



3. We all strive to have a complete and healthy lifestyle, this book helps to bring that together. It includes a section on food, mind, exercise and the home with basic feng shui techniques. Can't wait for the cookbook!



4. Mariel Hemingway is honest in sharing her life in this book. She makes it clear that healthy living is a process that affects every aspect of one's being. But she does it without being preachy, as so many books do. She is real and she simply shares what has worked for her. This book is well organized and easy to read, and full of simple changes a person can gradually make in their lifestyle. It is a common sense approach for the average person.



5. I really liked this book because it gives great and simple ideas on how to change your way of life. I am 62-years old and will start the 30 day program Mariel offers after I return from vacation next week.
   
   The meals are easy and the exercise is suitable for everyone. I also like the suggestions about silence and improving living space.
   
   I higly recommend this book and will give several copies to friends.

5 comments about Storms Can't Hurt the Sky: A Buddhist Path Through Divorce.

1. This is a wonderful book. The author describes the end of his marriage, how difficult it was to cope with, how he discovered buddhism at some point along the way and how he was helped by what he learned.
   Some books on buddhism must be read slowly in order to understand and absorb what is being said. This author skillfully interweaves his own story with buddhist ideas presented in simple terms. He's just a regular guy going about his life, and struggling, at times, the way many of us do. He's not trying to convert us to buddhism, and anyway, buddhism doesn't really conflict with other religions, it enhances them.
   Even if you're not in the middle of a divorce, this book can help you get a handle on the things we all struggle with, in a fairly easy to understand way. In addition to the author's personal story, there is useful advice at the end on how to get started on your own path to understanding.



2. this book did not discuss anger management which i thought the author seemed to need based on his description of his relationship with his wife. the discussion of buddhism seemed very superficial to me.



3. This is one of the most honest and inspiring books I've read in a long time. I loved every single page! Gabriel Cohen manages to artfully - and with a brilliantly dry humor - present a path through divorce that shows, in very practical ways, how one can mitigate the pain and confusion that is inherent in the process and how to ACTUALLY grow from it. If you are going through a divorce - or a loss of any kind - do yourself a favor and read this book.



4. (Disclosure: I went to high school with the author.) I enjoyed this, and it pushed me to read more on Buddhism. It was an easy read, with advice that pulls from sources other than Buddhism (such as Deborah Tannen and John Gray). It is not just a guide through divorce, but about relationships in general.



5. I have read dozens of books since my separation and while many were helpful, this is the one that is profoundly changing how I feel. Gabriel Cohen helped me realize how much I control my feelings about what has happened and how I can react from now on. I read a few pages every day, taking time to digest what were some challenging propositions: understand my ex's pain? fill my heart with compassion so there's no room for anger? This is a great book no matter where you are in the breakup of a long-term relationship; it will give you the insight and tools to create a happier future.

5 comments about The Daily Reader for Contemplative Living: Excerpts from the Works of Father Thomas Keating, O.C.S.O. : Sacred Scripture, and Other Spiritual Writings.

1. This book gives you a short devotional thought each day that gives you a lot to chew on. I am finding this helpful in conjucntion with some other resources from the Contemplative Outreach Center. It is supplementing my spiritual discipline practices and helping me connect with God.



2. The words from sacred scripture chosen for daily consumption are selected from many sources and reach through the page to inspiration.



3. Centering prayer has one primary goal: to transform us into the image of Christ. This day-by-day reinforcement of the means of that transformation is invaluable. I use it every day.



4. This is very helpful for quiet time contemplation. Each day has a different quote and reflective paragrah to use.



5. This is the second copy of this book. The first one fell apart with much reading. Daily excerpts from Keatings works, inspiring, seems to say so much with little words. Looking for something short, and yet informing, this is your book.

5 comments about Transform Your Life: A Blissful Journey.

1. This book is ideal for Buddhist practitioners at any level. It is precious because it gives the reader invaluable practical guidance along the Buddhist path. It is written for people who want to deepen their experience of Buddhism beyond intellectual understanding alone. I would highly recommend it to all readers interested in "transforming their lives" in a meaningful way.



2. Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, in this transformational work on life (from the perception of the Buddhist path), brings before us the core issues that we normally avoid in life such as pain, suffering, and death.
   
   Each of us constantly try to run away from these facts of life rather than embrace them. Geshe Kelsang Gyatso brings us face to face with these issues and brings them up in such a way as to evoke clear-seeing on all of these topics as well as bringing compassion to the way things are.
   
   This book is true to its name as it brings about a transformation of our mind, with practical meditations and pure teachings, so that we can accept the reality of what is and be in peace with it.



3. This book is amazingly comprehensive of Buddha's teachings. If you read 100 books on the Dharma, you'll find everything in here in some way. It is also presented in easy-to-read and accessible language. Whether you are a beginner looking to understand the Dharma or whether you are an experienced practitioner
   
   I've been meditating for about 7 years now and continually turn to this book to find inspiration and insightful teachings. It can be read front to back or you can reference certain sections if you need clarity or inspiration.
   
   I HIGHLY recommend this book. Enjoy!



4. What's unique about this book is that it is as comprehensive as they come as regards the Buddhist path and Buddhist way of life, but at the same time, it is incredibly easy to read. Like all of Geshe Kelsang's books, its language is clear, direct, and easy to understand, without flowery analogies or flippant remarks. From my perusal of the "Eastern Thought" bookshelves in stores like Borders and Barnes & Noble, Transform Your Life stands out as a beginner's book on Buddhism that doesn't "talk down" to its reader. But at the same time, this is no beginner's book: You can read it in just a few days, or you can read it for the rest of your life, because every time you read it, you can unearth yet another layer of meaning.
   
   Here is a short paragraph from one of my favorite parts of the book:
   
   "When we want a cup of tea, our main wish is to drink tea, but to fulfill this wish we naturally develop the secondary wish to find a cup. In a similar way, the main wish of those who have great compassion is to protect all living beings from their suffering; but to fulfill this wish they know that they must first attain Buddhahood themselves, and so they naturally develop the secondary wish to attain enlightenment. Just as finding a cup is the way to accomplish our goal of drinking tea, so attaining enlightenment is the way to accomplish our ultimate goal of benefiting all living beings."



5. This book is amazing to me as a Buddhist because it is at once a very advanced primer on Buddhist principles for developing profound inner peace but at the same time it is perfect for the beginner.
   
   I know multiple people who have given this book as a gift to many non-Buddhist friends without fear of being preachy or sanctimonious. This book is an extremely practical, light, simple, beautiful, extremely powerful feat of pure wisdom.
   
   I feel we all, Buddhist or not, can recognize ourselves in this book and be able to finally get a glimpse of our real, vast potential. This pure, naturally and blissfully happy us is our potential - Transform Your Life shows us how to recognize and awaken this potential in all our daily actions.
   
   This is the book!

5 comments about Field Notes on the Compassionate Life: A Search for the Soul of Kindness.

1. I found it difficult to even complete the first chapter because of the verbose style of writing. There are so many euphasims, comparions, tangents, etc. that the message is somehow overshadowed and it makes it difficult to recall the main point the author was trying to make. Not sure who the author's target audience was, but reading like this was worse than any graduate level text or professional journal that I have ever read.



2. The author argues that compassion is an evolutionary strategy and that we are hard-wired for compassion, but that compassion can be nurtured. He makes his arguments through stories and "field notes."
   
   I'm pondering two questions posed by the author:
   
   "The focus on another person's satisfaction becomes a lodestone that paradoxically draws us closer to our own (Isn't most envy just our own potential disowned? We are jealous of what we ourselves might become.)" - page 197
   
   In speaking about consumption, he writes, "From that standpoint, isn't that connection love itself? Isn't it love itself that underlies all wanting? Don't we only consume the Earth in our hunger for a love already abundant in our own hearts - and waiting in each other's"? - p. 304



3. I love this book. Read it, then keep it around because you will think of it often. Beautiful.



4. I came across this book in the 'NEW BOOKS' section of my public library. I have since purchased it, read it twice and sent copies to my friends. Barasch's intelligent, wise, and colorful writing style makes this book extremely pleasurable to read. I found it very inspiring. There's no need to detail the content here, as other reviewers have already done that very well. I will add that one of the things which most impressed me was his personal honesty. To make certain points, he does not shy away from showing us details of his own life which are not flattering. Far from this making him look bad, however, his baring of his soul only increased my respect for him. I hope he is in the process of writing another book soon. Very very highly recommended!



5. Barasch really makes you think about how you can become a more compassionate person.
   
   Just overlook the author's verbosity and witticisms because it really is a very good book.

5 comments about Sacred Verses, Healing Sounds, Volumes I and II: The Bhagavad Gita, Hymns of the Rig Veda (Chopra, Deepak).

1. This AudioBook is great! Inspirational, Soothing, and Informative! I have listened to this set a number of times, always finding something new. Deepak Chopra is a true master of pen and spirit.



2. I was disappointed to discover Dr. Chopra's commentary throughout all three CD's. From the write up, I had expected educational commentary in the first parts followed by a more relaxing meditative series. It was not relaxing or meditative because one must listen intently to understand him and the three CD's are almost entirely background music for his educational commentary. Wish I could get my money back.



3. There is more talking than I anticipated, I thought it would be recited verses/songs, but is lots of Deepak talking over background music. I have a hard time listening to it, and would not recommend anyone buying it. This is the first Deepak product I have really been disappointed with.



4. Sacred Verses is very abstract. It is a recording of selected ancient Veda literature translated into English. The verses are very simple. I could have just read the Vedas in book form. I do not receive any benefit from listening to the Vedas on CD form other than becoming familiar with the content of the Vedas. I would not have purchased this CD had I had a chance to preview it first. It is useless knowledge unless you have the intent to study the Vedas. I had initially purchased the CD set to learn about the Vedas, but all I have learned is that the Vedas are simplistic prayers (my prayers are more meaningful). There is nothing to really benefit from listening to this CD set.
   
   Chopra, however, presents a clear voice and diction.



5. You will love this CD, if you want to progress on your path to awakening by this CD.
   If you want to have a greater understanding of the Bhagavad Gita and broaden your horizons this is essentual to your sound library.
   I now have this on my mp3 player and love it!

5 comments about Choices: Taking Control of Your Life and Making It Matter.

1. Like Billy Pilgrim, the protagonist in Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse Five, Melody Beattie has come unstuck in time. When Billy Pilgrim ceases to experience his life in chronological order, he learns from the invisible inhabitants of the planet Trafalmadore that life is a collection of moments, and that our job is to concentrate on the good ones and try to ignore the bad.

   Melody Beattie is wiser than a Trafalmadorian. With Choices, she takes us on a journey, skipping from one moment to the next, in her own life and the lives of many others. And whether the moment is about celebrating a victory, dealing with a child's death, jumping out of an airplane, taking a horseback riding lesson, or simply being indecisive, Melody will convince you that every moment is important, and that every moment holds the potential for choice.

   As a psychotherapist and author (Embracing Fear, HarperSanFrancisco 2002) I frequently emphasize to clients and readers that there is an important difference between being "in control," and being "in charge." Melody's new book is a wonderful collection of lessons about how to be in charge even when we seemingly control nothing.

   These lessons are not really unstuck in time; they transend time. They are timeless, and well worth reading.




2. Choices is a series of short essays, each two or three pages long, each illustrating a point the author wants to make. Some are New Age-y: A woman closing her business is surprised when someone says, "I feel that I should speak to you..." Others are more straightforward and down-to-earth.

   I couldn't relate to all -- even most -- of the stories here. If you haven't had the experience, the story is meaningless. Several involve getting tough about relationships.

   Two essays were especially powerful: "She saw a monster in her bedroom" is about a woman who realizes she must leave to escape a "monster" husband -- at age seventy-one. Beattie concludes, "It's hard to be a newcomer at anything."

   "He had to backtrack" is the story of a young delinquent who turns his life around after a gifted counselor roots out long-buried feelings.

   I see each episode as a turning point rather than a choice: each time the protagonist hit bottom, his or her life changed. It's not always about choices: the delinquent doesn't face a crossroads.

   I'd probably recommend this book to clients whose lives felt out of control, who wanted role models and examples of taking charge, or who wanted to understand the concept of change.

   One negative: Each chapter ends with a small lesson that could be omitted. It's overkill. The book's power comes from the stories and the way Beattie tells them. The lessons themselves are not particularly new or original. Leave them out.




3. This is a book of short essays written for the average person who doesn't care or simply doesn't know the psycho-babble terms written by professionals that only other professionals can comprehend.
   No matter what your life experiences or level of education there simply has to be a short story that hits home . I have read many books on relationships,psychology etc, and this book is just great.
   For someone just getting started in self help and rebuilding
   relationships and personal growth this is a great book.



4. I'm a big fan of Melody Beattie's "thought for the day" type books, so this was disappointing. It was a quick read and fundamentally great words for better "choices". It repeated itself ALOT. But, of course some of us need to be reminded over and over....



5. A series of short chapters, most of them just three or four pages, gives us meditational gems in Melody Beatty's characteristic warm, fearless and personal style. Each one is the personal story of a real person whose experience illuminates a facet of a learning experience. One of my favorites is her account of her visit to the dying Elizabeth Kubler-Ross, herself a pioneer in the understanding of humane death. In just a few words, she paints an unforgettable picture of a life well lived. The author's immediate and engaging persona shines through, like a trusted friend, telling us that if we keep moving on our path, no matter what the obstacles, all will be well.