Truly Inspirational

I really enjoyed reading The Secret by Rhonda Byrne. Bringing awareness to my own life, I could see how many of things Rhonda writes about has happened to me. What stood out for me is the very first chapter. It is summed up on page 25 in Secret Summaries."Your current thoughts are creating your future life. What you think about the most or focus on the most most will appear as your life. I can see that when I believe I can do something I do and when I think I can't I don't.<br /><br />The chapter, The Secret to Relationships, was also an eye opener. Dr John Gray says"You become the Solution for you" It was an eye opening idea that if my relationship isn't working the other person is not to blame and that I need to look at me. This brought to mind another book I've read and highly recommend:How To Create a Magical Relationship" Ariel & Shya's book is brilliantly written and guides the reader in how to have a Magical Relationship and how having a magical relationship is up to you and not your partner.<br /><br />Thinking of both these books makes me smile. I highly recommend them both!

Excellent

This book is based on the NLP principles that work so excellently in"The Ultimate Guide To Cosmic Ordering, Empower Your Destiny: Take Control of Your Life" by Andronicos Andronicou. I found it to be full of insight. It is written with clarity and simplicity. I believe it to be a must have if you want to change your life.

Truely amazing

This book really does work. I've read some of the negative words and all I can say is reading the book alone will not make you confident. Using the techniques and the CD provided with the book makes you confident. The second half of the book is a motivational section which really makes you want to go out and sort out your life, in every area. Buy this book.

Wasn't what I was expecting..

Having read many self-help books over the years, this one kind of passed my by... maybe it was the title that seemed specifically to concentrate on fear etc, or maybe because I know it so popular.. Anyhow.. the book surprised me, it is far more a Self-reference bible with a wider compasss. By the time you are well into reading it, you are taken on a metaphysical journey into the realms of Abraham Hicks territory and Psychosynthesis, and introduced to concepts such as the Higher Self, the Law of Attraction, and letting the Universe guide you. This book seems to distill Jeffers life path as it was written in 1987, and is literally jam packed with nutritious wisdom, and very practical advise for changing your life around and becoming fulfilled. There was only one chapter called 'Just Nod Your Head - Say"Yes"' that did not quite gel as I believe intuition has to be balanced with intellectual caution - from personal experience! But this book is definately one of those primers if you want to learn to live your life the way you want.

Covey's Four Quadrant!

This is must-read and a book that you will want to keep on your bookshelf and re-read time and time again. Its crammed full of interesting stories, reflection and guidance on life. Seven habits of highly effective people teaches so much and provides a brilliant lesson on how to achieve what you want out of life and how to get the most out of life. I found it life-changing and it had a big impact on me. I particularly liked advice on time management and how to plan your time daily. He provides some excellent templates to copy.One example - Covey talks of a four quadrant to-do list. He talks of how we spend so much of our time doing things because they are due tomorrow but not important. thus the important stuff gets left behind. He advises to plot your to-do list in a four quadrant table - (1) important and due soon, (2) important and due later (3) unimportant and due soon (4) unimportant and due later. <br />Plot everything you have to do in this order and ensure that you carry out tasks in numerical order. This means you'll always do what is important to you first! <br />Covey's advice can apply to everyone. <br />Read this book, it will change your life forever!

A practical guide to coping with anxiety

I read this book from two perspectives - that of a person who has suffered from anxiety and panic attacks for many years. And also as a person who is now helping others to manage their own anxiety.<br /><br />This book provides a very practical way to cope with anxiety. It uses the Cognitive Behavioural Therapy approach which is proven as a successful therapeutic method for treating anxiety and panic. The book is very action oriented and, through numerous worksheets, encourages the reader to try the techniques for themselves.<br /><br />The exercises are deceptively simple but are very effective. I found that I had already used some of the techniques and this book helped me to develop them further and also reassured me that I was on the right path - both in how I cope with my own anxiety and how I support others who are in the same position.<br /><br />This book is easy to understand and gives you the building blocks to manage anxiety and make the changes that will improve your life - highly recommended!<br />

The Key

We've all heard about The Secret and at least for some it seems to work. They simply focus on what they want and draw it to themselves. How come it works for them but not us? When it comes to fulfilling our deepest wishes, our goals, and our fantasies, often the only thing holding us back is ourselves. <br /><br />The Key builds on Joe Vitale's book The Attractor Factor (featured in the The Secret). This book looks to the reasons why manifesting our dreams sometimes fails to work. The key to this is our beliefs. We may really want a million dollars or a new car but deep down we feel it is wrong to be so materialistic. We feel that anything we get must gain through hard work and sacrifice. Then, we wonder why we must struggle to get money. Simply put, our beliefs are actually counteracting what we say we want. <br /><br />The Key details a variety of methods that we can use to explore our beliefs, see how these ideals interfere with our dreams, and then cleanse our system of obstacles that keep us from being happy and content. The exercises are simple to undertake. They are also surprisingly effective for self knowledge purposes and for understanding why how we unconsciously create obstacles for ourselves. <br /><br /><br /><br />

Flexibility is one key to life's success

As a Bear Stearn's employee the timing of my reading this simple yet profound book could not have been better. If you are not aware of current financial news, Bear Stearns, a private investment bank was recently purchased by JPMorgan Chase and at this time is going through a merger of both of their businesses. It's a time of uncertainty for many folks working at Bear as well as at Chase. In reading this book, what I appreciate most are the ideas that come through the simple story of two mice and two humans in relation to their attitudes and actions for and against changes that come about in their environment. It's a refreshing and inspiring story that can have positive life altering effects. I can honestly say even in this challenging environment I have found myself to be centered and focused on my work at hand. By not worrying about the future or the past but being aware of completing current tasks, staying flexible and open to changes I have found a way to support myself and others. <br /><br />Another wonderful book full of real life inspiring stories is called Being Here: Modern Day Tales of Enlightenment and is written by Ariel and Shya Kane. In this day and age, life is fast and full of changes, be they in our family, living or work situations. And with supportive books like these two, we are able to navigate a path through life's sometimes bumpy roads with ease, grace and enjoyment. I highly recommend both these life inspiring books

A wonderfully written, user-friendly guide to this effective therapy

Having taught the methods these authors recommend to groups and individuals over the past three years I know that they work. But it's not always easy and one can find oneself caught up all sorts of dead-ends. The authors are well aware of that and take pains to make their points with clarity and a deep sensitivity to the issues involved. The result is a work that is highly effective and very approachable. I can't recommend it too highly.

One of the best books so far

It did help me to look at things in life objectively.<br />I will highly recommend this to anyone who is feeling stressed in today's fast moving world.<br />

Introducing NLP Neuro-Linguistic Programming

As with most books in this field it promises much and delivers very little.<br />Quite a lot of Psycho-Babble that really means very little.<br />By all means read it but it wont change your life or reprogram your brain!<br />Derren Brown's recent book has some information about NLP in it and is quite sceptical

Applied NLP

This a rather delayed review.I had read this book several months ago. Paul McKenna,shares in this book,some really useful NLP techniques. The accompanying CD is mind blowing and I have experienced positive changes after having read the book and listening to the CD,which I still listen to quite regularly. I found it quite useful to do the exercises in the book,which helped me do some introspection which was quite valuable.To people skeptical of an ex stage hypnotist writing a self help book, all I can say is that the proof is in the pudding. Try reading it,you will enjoy it!

A must read for everyone over 15

I have read several books of this kind over recent years and discovered this book in a friends holiday home that I occupied in Spain this month.<br /><br />Though written in the 1930s this is one of the best written, simply laid out and communicated guide to getting on with other people effectively and successfully ever written.<br /><br />It may be old but the language and examples and the simplicity of the principles are as relevant and easy to understand now as they must have been in the 1930s.<br /><br />As Carnagie says in the book, this is NOT a book of tricks and techniques - it is about changing your way of life. Anyone thinking they can cherry pick a few tricks and 'use' them on people will fail as miserably as they deserve.<br /><br />I gave it to my 15 year old son after I read it and he found it revalatory. He asked me to buy him his own copy and plans to make major changes to his attitude to people. Fingers crossed ;)

Enlightening easy read, on the beginning of a complex subject.

Enlightening easy read, on the beginning of a complex subject. Shines a light on all those social niceties and pointless interactions. The roles played by each person in their daily script. Combines the psychological insights with the added bonus of incidental humor. <br /><br />Whilst reading through this on the train, I could identify what games were going on around me, most amusing.

Horrific and Despicable

I agree with another poster - if I could give this book ZERO stars, I would.<br /><br />My mother has cancer, and reading this book which says that she brought this vial illness upon herself is just despicable. What on earth gives the author of this book the right to tell people who are dying of cancer and other terminal illnesses that they did it to themselves????<br /><br />This book isn't just mumbo-jumbo, it's a smug, self-centred, holier-than-thou piece of fictional rubbish which tells the reader they are a bad, bad person and their illness and any other problems they have in their life is their well-deserved punishment.<br /><br />That's not mumbo-jumbo, that's extremely dangerous claptrap that will only serve to hurt those people who need help the most.<br /><br />PLEASE DO NOT BUY THIS DESPICABLE BOOK.

Psychology is taking a positive turn

= POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY =
Until recently psychology has mainly been working within a disease model: a strong emphasis has been placed on discovering deficits in human behavior and finding ways to repair this damage. Psychologist hardly focused on in doing studies acquiring knowledge about healthy functioning and building strengths. In other words: they have focused solely on taking away something negative (the disfunctioning) instead of adding something positive (increasing mental and behavioral health). The result: psychologist know little about healthy and happy functioning. This situation has been changing now since the rise of positive psychology a few years ago. What is Positive Psychology? It is a new movement in psychology, originated by Martin Seligman and a few other prominent psychologists among whom Mihali Csikszentmihalyi (author of FLOW). It aims to be a psychological science about the best things in life. Main topics of study are: positive emotions, positive traits and positive institutions. This book, Authentic Happiness, is the first book on positive psychology. Seligman is its main spokesperson.

= HAPPINESS =
This book mainly deals with the phenomenon of happiness. According to Seligman your enduring level op happiness results from three factors: 1) your SET RANGE ( the basic biologically determined range within which your happiness normally will be), 2) the CIRCUMSTANCES OF YOUR LIFE (some conditions - like being married and living in a democratic country- somehow seem to contribute to happiness, and 3) your VOLUNTARY CONTROL ( the things you can do to get your happiness to the upper part of your set range. Ok, then how to get this done? Before answering this question Seligman explains that happiness/positive emotion can refer to three domains: the PAST (satisfaction, contentment, fulfilment, pride and serenity), the PRESENT (joy, ecstasy, calm, zest, ebullience, pleasure and flow) and the FUTURE (optimism, hope faith, trust). Then the author comes up with suggestions to improve your happiness:

= HOW TO INCREASE YOUR HAPPINESS =
1) to be happier about your past, you need to: 1) let go of the false belief that your past negative experiences determine your present and future, 2) increase your gratitude about the good things in your past and 3) learn how to forgive past wrongs.

2) to be happier in your present, you need to distinguish between PLEASURES and GRATIFICATIONS. Pleasures are delights that have clear sensory and strong emotional components that require little if any thinking. Gratifications are flow-experiences. They are activities we very much like doing but that are not necessarily accompanied by any raw feelings at all. The gratifications last longer than the pleasures and they are undergirded by our strengths and virtues. The key to happiness in past and future lies in enhancing gratifications.

3) to be happier about your future, you need to change your explanatory style in order to become more optimistic and hopeful (for an explanation read my review of Seligman's book LEARNED OPTIMISM).

= AUTHENTIC HAPPINESS BY USING YOUR STRENGTHS =
These explanations imply what Seligman means by AUTHENTIC HAPPINESS. He says we should not rely on shortcuts like television watching, chocolate eating, loveless sex, and buying things to feel happy. He explains that positive emotion alienated from the exercise of character leads to emptiness, to inauthenticity, and to depression. So we want to feel like we deserved our positive feelings. That's why Seligman says UTHENTIC HAPPINESS comes from identifying and cultivating your most fundamental strengths (so-called SIGNATURE STRENGTHS) and using them everyday in work, love, play, and parenting. This message reminds of the one in Csikszentmihalyi's FINDING FLOW (see my review).

= CORE VIRTUES AND STRENGTHS =
Psychology has devised a classification system (language) for describing abnormal behavior and mental diseases. But it lacked a language describing human effectiveness and sanity. That is why Seligman and a team of scholars researched sources from all kinds of cultures and times in history and found that there is a strong convergence in what these traditions consider to be virtues and strengths. This led to the formulation of a classification system of virtues and strengths. SIX CORE VIRTUES: 1) Wisdom and knowledge, 2) courage, 3) Love and humanity, 4) Justice, 5) Temperance, 6) Spirituality and transcendence. Further they identified 24 strengths corresponding to these virtues. This book contains definitions of this taxonomy and some questionnaires for the reader to complete (the questionnaires can be found on the web too, by the way).

= CONCLUSION =
Some words about the form and style of the book. It is pleasantly written. Seligman writes in a rather personal and honest style which makes the book lively (for instance he exclaims on page 24:"I am a hideous example of my own theory.") I recommend this book to anyone interested in psychology and in happiness (although it is not a self-help book in the first place, I think). The book ends reflectively dealing with the relationship between positive emotions and win-win situations, and speculating that we may be on the threshold of an era of win-win games and good-felling. I enjoyed reading the book and I like positive psychology. It is in many ways reminiscent of humanistic psychology (which I always liked) but has a more scientific approach. I have a good hope it will be a success.

Coert Visser, www.m-cc.nl

Definitely the first step in tackling low self-esteem

I was given this book by my Clinical Psychologist at the beginning of my therapy for depression, anxiety and low self-esteem. Nearly every page that I read shows me where I have been going wrong with my thought process. The book explains clearly why you have been thinking the way you have and how to reassess those negative thoughts. And she manages to do all this while making complete sense.<br /><br />This book has been as important in my therapy as the sessions have been with the Clinical Psychologist.<br /><br />Give it try. It should be the first thing you try to beat low self-esteem.

Essential but not particularly enjoyable reading

According to recent studies, only 30% of all communication is verbal. The other 70% is made up of the non verbal signals and gestures that come from the rest of the body (in other words body language). Assuming this to be true, it's therefore important for anyone interested in communicating effectively to fully understand the implications of body language and learn how to use it to effectively interact with all types of people.<br /><br />The Definitve Book Of Body Language by Allan and Barbara Pease is the international bestseller on the subject of body language and therefore a good place to start. The first 100 pages of the book are great and a journey of discovery into the the world of body language, with every page revealing something new. Many of the points made are logical and obvious if thought about hard enough but it is still fascinating to read how the way we use our body in everyday situations can be interpreted and ultimately influence the outcome of our interactions with others.<br /><br /> The book uses a number of real life examples to highlight the points it makes, some of which provide a shocking insight into events and situations of the past 10 years. One example that springs to mind and thta is regularly referred to in the book is that of Bill Clinton when he was going through the scandal of his affair with Monica Lewinski. The book manages to pin point various moments during that time where the body language of the former US president communicated a resounding"I did it".<br /><br />After the first 100 pages the book becomes a little bit repetitive and was more of an obligation than a pleasure to finish. Nevertheless I would still recommend it to anyone interested in communicating effectively, whether it be to better manage business situations or to attract more women. During the two weeks I was reading the book I became very ware of both my own and other people's body language and a number of the lessons taught in the book I still use on a regular basis.<br />