Self-Help Books

Have you read "Good to Great" by Jim Collins? If the answer is "Yes", you don't have to spend a lot of time in reading this book. At least, 50% of the book conveys what is already told in Good to Great. Of course, with different stories as example.

I liked two concepts from this book - "Have everyone think and act like an owner" & "Choose your competitors". It is hard to institutionalize the first concept, though.

Choosing your competition is something that many companies forget to do (or) they don't do it right. Many of them aim to reach the sky and at the end, do not even take off from the land.

If you are wondering how to keep the startup spirits alive in your giant corporation, this is a good book to read.

I loved this book. It's an easy, enjoyable read, and very rich in information on how companies we know and love have made it through difficult times and the habits and beliefs they live on a day-to-day basis. Very interesting and insightful. I plan to re-read it in case I missed anything the first go-round.

This book reminds us to set aside our own egos when managing a business or a department. It is a quick read with a clear message. I would recommend that all senior managers and those who aspire to be a senior manager read this book.

The book covers the study of 10 companies that have had an increase in revenue and profit of 10%, or more, for 10 consecutive years. There are many similarities with "Good to Great", however, this book deals with smaller companies and the leader at the helm is written about in more detail than "Good to Great". Like any great book on leadership and business you will find that the key to greatness is, you guessed it, FUNDAMENTALS. I particularly enjoyed the study of Koch Industries. Mr. Charles Koch guiding principles are outlined well in this book and I believe they are worth studying and implementing. They certainly have produced incredible results for his business conglomerate. Overall this book was well written and I was able to get some great nuggets of practical information from all 10 of the companies studied. I really enjoyed it, and got enough out of it to give it the 5 stars.

This is a great business practice/philosophy book. It doesn't throw numbers at you or tell you how to hit your quarterly target. Instead, the stories of nine culturally healthy and monetarily profitable companies are told. The format is interviews with the company leaders and other key players. Jennings expounds on the interviews and builds similarities among the companies. For instance, these companies don't acquire customers or clientèle, they build communities and fans.

The stories are inspiring because they truly start from the beginning. For example, Dick Cabela purchased fishing flies in Chicago for only pennies apiece. When he returned home to the Midwest, he put an ad in a sportsmen magazine and the orders started to roll in. He and his wife filled orders on the kitchen table and their first warehouse was the shed in the backyard. Today, Cabela's is one of the largest outdoors specialty merchandisers/retailers in the US, grosses more than $1.5B, and their stores are considered tourist attractions.

One more story: Charles O'Reilly and his son Chub worked at an automotive parts store for years. Charles was let go at the age of 72 and Chub was transferred out of state by some higher-ups, as I like to call them. So Charles decided to open a competing store. Chub was a cofounder and they also hired 10 employees from their competitors under one condition, "anyone joining the new company had to make an investment and become and owner."

These companies don't make big 5-10 year plans, instead they focus on today through next year and sometimes two years ahead. They claim making big plans never work because trends, business, technology, etc. change too often and you lose site of the fundamentals and current goals and neglect suppliers (partners) and customers (the community). Additionally, resources are wasted trying to achieve something that might never be. However, they do focus on being extremely adaptable; ready to refocus the entire company or invent new businesses in short notice.

Bottom line, all the stories and lessons are inspiring and invaluable. Considerable focus is placed on the cultures of these companies. Basically, they don't worry about making money and acquiring customers. They concentrate on building a healthy culture, make sure employees are happy, and provide solutions to problems; gaining wealth and customers is only an axiomatic consequence.

The nine companies interviewed are PETCO, Koch Industries, Sonic, Cabela's, Medline Industries, O'Reilly Automotive, Dot Foods, SAS Institute, Strayer Education. The companies presented have grown revenues by at least 10% for 10 consecutive years.

This is probably THE most concise and well written book on self improvement EVER. I've been to the motivational seminars of many of the greats, but this book touches on what they all have to say and in a succinct and understandable way. Recommended for anyone serious about self improvement and reaching their full potential. If you're looking for one book, this is it.

This book helps the reader keep his/her mind up and fight low self-esteem. However, chapter 1 says it all. After that, the books constantly repeats everything over and over again: "You can do anything you wanna do in life". That's all this book says only written in different words. Therefore, there's little knowledge to be gained here. This book is more like a treatment reminding you to always think highly of yourself. That's it.

This book is incredible. Makes total sense and easy to read even though the content is pretty deep. I've read it 3 times and highly recommend it. Recommend reading some of the book every day.

This book is one of the best and clearly defines what it takes an individual to be successful in their own life. Easy to understand, clear concepts to follow through and think straight to be successful! I know it is one of the best out there! I GIVE THEM AWAY TO MY CLIENTS AND FRIENDS!

If you're looking for the ultimate in self-development books this book is a must buy! Dr. Staples is a master at his craft and seeks to help you understand that the way you think about yourself and your life is a direct correlation to the outcomes you're receiving. If you are on a track to truly improve your life by undertanding the way you "think" about it, this book will definitely pave the way to acheiving all that you desire and deserve! I whole-heartedly thank Dr. Staples and hope he writes more!!

I thought this book was really great, it made me cry. It touched my heart!

It is such a gift when we have the opportunity to see life through the eyes of a child. This book gives us that gift. Such simple words with such powerful images.... Thank you Jack, for sharing yourself with all of us.

This is a truly wonderful book for both siblings and parents who have experienced loss. The thoughts expressed both warm and break your heart all at the same time. Jack's innocence is touching and very realistic. Bereaved children will certainly see themselves in his story. It is a beautiful tribute to grief and loss.

I recently read this book, published in 2000, written by Annette Simon's son Jack, age 5 (and illustrated by Annette). The rather lengthy title of the book is "This Book Is for All Kids, but Especially My Sister Libby. Libby Died..." The book chronicles Jack's comments and questions to his mother after the death of his younger sister from a rare disorder. Despite the sad topic, the book is surprisingly upbeat and filled with humor, though it brought tears to my eyes, too.

Even more so than in Mocking Birdies (Annette Simon's other book, which I also reviewed), the fonts and colors and illustrations make the book really stand out. Some words are in a huge font, like shouting, while others whisper from a tiny font at the bottom of the page. Clever touches abound, like the question mark that has a picture of the Earth for the period beneath it (on a page with oversized text asking "In heaven, are you as big as you were on Earth?").

Jack's questions and observations range from the mundane ("And when you die, you don't even have food"), to the humorous, to the profound ("And when you die, you're set free"). Overall, the book is uplifting and positive. The Amazon reviews are all highly enthusiastic, too.

I think that this book could help any child to understand and deal with loss. Though the book is focused on the loss of a sibling, I think that it speaks to anyonewho has lost a parent or grandparent or other loved one. And I think that the simplicity and faith of Jack's responses will help adults, too. Which is a pretty remarkable achievement for a 5-year-old.

This review was originally published on my blog, Jen Robinson's Book Page, on February 18th, 2006.

This book is wonderful. We are sharing them with all of the children at our grief and loss camp and we hope it gives them comfort during such a difficult time. It is important for children to know that they are not alone in their grief and we will use this book to open up dialog so they can begin to understand. We will keep copies of the books at our hospice for all of our families to read.

I think I have now read all of the book on perfectionism and OCPD. This was the best yet as it was the first time that they were not just focusing on perfectionism but being obsessive. It was the only one that mentioned Obsessive Compulsive Personallity Disorder instead of perfectionism. Perfectionism is one form of OCPD and this book covers it all with great recommendations on how to get over each form of it. This should be the only lay persons book you will need from a secular stand point.

I tend to be rather obsessive and perfecitionist about many things, and have often suffered from this (though I'm not a typical obsessive-compulsive). This book has given me great insights into my own destructive ways of thinking and behaving. It was a lot of fun to read and very encouraging and comforting. Insight is one thing of course, changing your behavior (for which the book gives several tipps) is another. But this book is a great start.

Normally I would not be writing a review for an item. I always thought it was because I was lazy, or that I didn't care. After reading this book, I have come to realize that it was in large part because subconsciously, I could not meet my own perfectionist expectations. There are a lot of low-risk undertakings in life that I have not attempted for the same reason.
This book, for me, has brought to my conscious awareness all of the subconscious obsessive thoughts that were creating immense frustration and anxiety in my life. Of course, I realize that changing perfectionistic thoughts is not a quick fix. It takes time and effort, in both cognitive and behavioral aspects.
Of all the books I've read on CBT, NLP, perfectionism and the like, this book has meant the most to me personally than any other book I have ever read.
If you have perfectionistic tendencies, in ANY area of your life, then I hope this book will bring you waves of insight and comfort, like it did me.

I had trouble finding a good book about obsessive compulsive personality type (most were about obssessive compulsive disorder) until I found this one. It was so fascinating that I flew through it in one night! I had many "ah-ha" moments while reading the book, and recognized certain traits in my spouse, my mother, and myself. I found the book to be well written, easy to read and understand, and amazingly informative. It had many positive things to say to balance the negative and included constructive suggestions for changing behavior patterns. I highly recommend reading this book.

This is one of those few books that is a fast read for the therapist, and an effective read for the client. I found I was able to use it right away with a client, and the client latched onto it, used it, and benefited immediately. It provides useful discussion and ideas for progressive change, without attacking the client.

Really gorgeous, very easy reading and I was translating some parts to my mother. It is a pleasure reading it, so excuse my enthusiasm, but I am sure it deserves to be translated into Spanish.

this book is simply the best on this subject!.it discover all the types of vitamin e:the first 4 polimers and the other 4 polimers known as tocotrienols,but the main issue remains the potent d-alpha tocopherol.absobtion is very important and it is discovered in details including ways to improve it.how vitamin e operates in immunity,and in autoimmune diseases such as:cancer,aids, arthritis, and also asthma,and inflamation.there is also a superb outstanding chapter that showing new researches with a great promise about neurological diseases such as: altzheimer,huntington,parkinson,lou- gehrig's disease,heart disease cataracts,macular degeneration, and other diseases are discovered and explain not only the mechanisms of disease, but also how the vitamin e is operate in those diseases and suggested approximate doses recommandations. diabetes,crohn- disease ,cystic- fibrosis, and many other diseases and illnesses are well explained very simply.as a orthomolecular nutritionist that do treats those dd (degenerative- diseases)wich actually are ortomolecular diseases because they have a vitamin and or mineral dependency because of a bad genes, and or submolecular nutrient\s, i can tell you that the knoledge that represent in this wonderful book is very much scientific and it is very valuable. i realy think that this book concerning vitamin e is the vitamin e bible!

Excellent book and good web references; nice to have medical terms well explained - a rare thing in popular books.

Thank you you for such a wonderful book, The Vitamin E Factor. I have learned so much I am again reading it for the third time. I only wish that every person would read this book. When you have an updated version I would hope you would let me know. Again, Thanks for such a well written book. Yes, some of the information was repetitive, but sometimes we need to read it several times to absorb all the information. Debra M. Kowalski, Dayville, Oregon

This is one of the best books I have ever read. The author is a fantastic teacher. He is able telling complex things so everybody can understand it. He is also very balanced in his teachings. If you are looking for a book about vitamin E, there are no better alternative.

An incredible book for spiritual/meditative practice. It answered so many questions and tied up so many loose ends, with clarity and gentle guidance. An absolute must read for a contemplative, especially if you're practicing solo.

Having been a big fan of Adyashanti and Peter Fenner (Radiant Mind), I found this book by Stephan Bodian to be very easy to understand and follow. If you are on the path and exploring non-dualist practise, this book is a must! After putting into practise some of the suggestions in this book, I have felt a quantum change in my meditation practice. Highly recommend!

Stephan is a gifted writer that has managed to distill the essence of the spiritual 'pathless' path into this single book. He covers what happenes both before realization and after and sheds light on several false beliefs surrounding spiritual practice, covers what realization really is, offers numerous practical tips that do not over engage the mind, and much more. It is a wonderfully practical book as well as offering the theory in practical terms. And most importantly, the reader feels the vast consciousness with which the book was written in every sentence and the more we read, we begin to realize the book it helping to put us with that same consciousness within us. A valuable book for those on any spiritual path.

There is a new way of awakening that is happening to human beings outside the confines of traditional teachings and institutions, and there are few teachers skillful enough or experienced enough to guide seekers along this pathless path. Stephen Bodian is one of them. As far as this way of awakening can be described and mapped, Stephen does an excellent job. For those who are ernest about true awakening and post awakened life, "Wake Up Now" is an essential guide book.

Stephen spent his life searching for the truth and finally found it where it always is. He studied and trained with great teachers in Zen, Advaita Vedanta, and Mahamudra. He is a trained and experienced psychotherapist. He spent a number of years as editor of Yoga Journal. Finally, his search ended with Adyashanti, a very skillful and iconoclastic Zen teacher. Adya asked Stephen to teach and this book is Stephen's teaching gift to us. I highly recommend it to those beginning the search, those half-way along the path to no-where, and those who are "done." Thank you, Stephen, for this gift of grace.

In Wake Up Now, Stephan Bodian presents a wonderfully clear and true explanation of awakening and offers many exercises to facilitate the experience of one's true self. I highly recommend this book for those who are awakening or who have awakened and who want to understand that process better--because, as Stephan explains, for most people, awakening isn't an endpoint but is followed by a continual deepening and unwinding of conditioning. Stephan is a trustworthy guide in this and knows what he is talking about.

Gina Lake, author of Radical Happiness: A Guide to Awakening

This book is an incredible resource for women struggling with depression. I wish I could give it more than 5 stars; I credit it with helping me save my life. The research is current, thorough and on point. It is particularly useful if you have post-partum, are pregnant or are trying to get pregnant. My husband also found it extremely helpful in learning more about my situation. This is absolutely worth the investment because it is a resource you will use time and time again.

This was the best book I have ever read on depression.

This book was easy to understand and very helpful. I myself already had some knowledge about depresssion so it was not as useful to me as it would be to most people. I really learned some very interesting new things though. It clearly described the types of depression and how to know the difference. It gave me some new knowledge about hormones and their role-which is KEY. I definetly recommend if you have a relative with depression(like me) or you feel you may be depressed- even if you don't want to admit it (like me.)

I have suffered ppd for the last 1.5 years. It was so bad I had to go on medication and since then had to up my dose. This book has helped me see why this has happened to me and how a person gets depressed in the first place. IT is NON judgemental and also validating but besides that it tells you how to RECOVER! It is a wonderful book. It doesn't leave anything uncovered. I want Valerie Raskin to know THANKYOU for saving my life and my marriage from the demon of ppd. I also got your book This isn't what I Expected and it is a wonderful addition to this one for the PPD sufferer. Big hugs and big thankyou to you Valerie.
You changed my life :)

I have suffered ppd for the last 1.5 years. It was so bad I had to go on medication and since then had to up my dose. This book has helped me see why this has happened to me and how a person gets depressed in the first place. IT is NON judgemental and also validating but besides that it tells you how to RECOVER! It is a wonderful book. It doesn't leave anything uncovered. I want Valerie Raskin to know THANKYOU for saving my life and my marriage from the demon of ppd. I also got your book This isn't what I Expected and it is a wonderful addition to this one for the PPD sufferer. Big hugs and big thankyou to you Valerie.
You changed my life :)

Think of all the good things you wish for your children -- health, happiness, safety and love must surely be on the list -- and then realize, if you are an alcoholic, what you may in truth pass on: fear, grief, rage, an inability to love or be loved, and the terminal disease of alcoholism itself. Mr. Erdmann explores his heritage of alcoholism, passed down from his grandfather to his father to him, and the legacy he gave his children. Burdens too big and confusing for their small trembling shoulders, fear, confusion -- so so sad, and so so common. If you are or think you are an alcoholic, do yourself and the people you love a favor and read this. And even if you don't want to quit drinking, find an AA meeting, shut your mouth and open your ears; give your children a chance, even if you never got one.

Alcoholism is not an emotional disorder per se, but it does sometimes have emotional triggers. When my dad started drinking in beer joints, he was in his thirties and had buried two wives and five children. I suffered inconsqentially as a result of his stopping at the nearest joint from our house on the way back for Saturday movies on the town, and I would have to hide in the backseat of the car. Since we had to traverse many curves for the few miles to get home, I remember praying all the way there for God to let us live.

You can tell the children whose dad drinks alcohol, because he carries a load of guilt and pain, thinking he caused the abuse he would later reap by, looking at families who walk by and look at the young ones' faces. It is devastating.

This town has a long history going back to bootlegger days before prohibition of brewing their own 'spirits' openly and for a long time on the main street of town (which they do again in this modern, accepting age), and the men are proud to be drinkers. They look down on those who are not addicted to alcohol. They are the dummies. One local writer told me recently, "You think I am just a drunk." I replied, "If I did that, why would I ask you to show me how to drink?" which he refused to do as I have liver disease. He was his usual 'confused' self and asked "Why did you choose me?" My honest answer, "I trust you because I know you won't touch me" and I thought he might feel enough responsibility to not let any of the other drunks take advantage if I started acting silly. But he told me that he can't control his own drinking, so he ended up not even offering me a drink of water. Ever! Now, I know water is not going to cause this hemangioma to burst, but it seems that something else did. Probably the pain pills I have taken for a chronic nerve pain I have had since 1994. Feeling sorry for me yet, Arthur Hardaway.

Jack Daniels' Whiskey from right here in Tennessee is internationally known and sought after; people come from all over the United States looking for Lynchburg, Tennessee, as if they were seeking the Holy Grail. I heard a bigoted preacher get all emotional about the difference in immersion vs. sprinkling. He said that sprinkling is like scattering a little dirt on top of a dead person instead of burying him in a grave. Since I am a Methodist, I told him that he 'hit below the belt.' He also proclaimed that only immersed Baptists will enter Heaven. For years, I thought it was Seventh Day Adventists who preached that. My sister Evelyn belonged to that group for awhile until they betrayed her.

Jack Erdmann has written othre books because I have reviewed one or more. He was the son of a jazz musician and an ex-chorus dancer in St. Louis. His reminiscing starts in 1934 when, as an altar boy, he drank the communion wine. Then, like this local writer, he drank because of loneliness. He even thinks his son should be allowed to buy beer when he is old enough to 'serve his country' in war but not yet old enough to vote. How dumb can you be!

Co-writer Larry Kearney, a poet who settled in San Francisco (where Jack lives), was born in Brooklyn in 1943. Both are recovering alcoholics.

An unusal accounting of a whole bunch of ingested liquor. Happily with a happy ending. Sadly, though, a between-the-lines documentary of a beat poet who coulda been a contendah. Then again, he's still here now, and b.p. can be thought of as re-manifest in such pubs as McSweeney's where Mr. Erdmann (via Mr. Kearney) might consider submitting manuscript.

Whiskey's Children is a great book, period. While it chronicled the casual horrors and quiet heartbreak of a family damaged by alcohol better than any book I've read, it also tells a universal story of human frailty and persistance. It is shocking, depressing...and funny. Read it for any reason, and then read 'A Bar on Every Corner' by the same author.

Jack Erdmann's story of his long struggle back from the strangling grip that alcoholism held on his life, as well as over members of his family for four generations, is a tour de force. This book is not just for alcoholics, or for drinkers who feel that they "don't have a problem," it is for everyone who is willing to accompany Erdmann on a harrowing journey.

For those readers with alcoholics in the family, they--we--find ourselves nodding with recognition, and ultimately uplifted by the knowledge that there's a way up from the bottom. They will find assistance from now-sober alcoholics "with kind eyes, offering hot cups of bad coffee," in the words of Anne Lamott, a recovering alcoholic herself, who wrote the foreword.

You want an "easy, feel-good" book--well, there are plenty of THOSE. You want one that will change your life, or that of someone whom you love, or that will give breathtaking insights into the lives of the alcoholics you know, "Whiskey's Children" is the best effort I've found. There are pathos, self-degradation, guilt, self-loathing, and even a quiet humor in these pages.

If Amazon offered more than five stars, Erdmann and his co-author Larry Kearney would have earned them many times over. Not just for writing, but from their phoenix-life resurrection from the ashes of an alcoholic life.

This is a wonderful book.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I was looking for a program to use to set up my goals. I had already read "Goals" by Brian Tracy and it was nice, but didn't give me the best starting point. After reading, "What to Say When You Talk to Yourself", which was also a great book, I decided to read this one. It gave me exactly what I was looking for. The first part of the book was on self-talk, which I was familiar with after reading Helmstetters other book. The second part was on goals, which I was very easily able to apply, and I am currently using this program for all of my goal setting. The third part discusses having a personal coach. Highly recommended!!

A lot of the other reviews about this book have said that the author, Shad Helmstetter, has clearly done it again. I agree -- only this time, even more so! He's done it! I not only love this book -- I receommend it to everyone.

This book goes beyone the self-help books I have read or reviewed in the past. First there were other great authors like Napolean Hill, Maxwell Maltz, Dr. Peale, and Dale Carnegie. Meanwhile, Shad Helmstetter was doing research in the field of personal growth and motivation and writing great books on what he found. When Dr. Helmstetter wrote "What To Say When You Talk To Your Self" he wrote a classic (which I still highly recommend), and with that book he entered the rarified field of exceptional authors in personal growth.

After reading the next ten books he wrote, when I learned Dr. Helmstetter had released a new book, I was personally hoping for his "final answer". The new book, "Who Are You And What Do You Want?" not only met my expections, it blew me away. I have never read a book on personal or business growth that is more practical and to the point.

In "Who Are You Really And What Do You Want?" he brings the best personal growth ideas together, for the first time. You'll find that it makes so much sense that you'll be trying out the ideas while you're reading the book. I was amazed at what I found out about myself, and about what I wanted to do next.

One of the things that surprised me about this book is how simple Dr. Helmstetter makes his case for what to do next, regardless of where you are now, or what the problems is, or what the goal is. There is not one line of pop-psychogy jargon in the entire book. True to his writing style in his previous books, you get the feeling when you're reading that he's talking to you as a friend who's been there.

As someone who reads and reviews a lot of books in this field, I tend to get skeptical. But after reading the first few pages of this book, I knew I was reading another classic book in personal growth. I read on the cover of the book that Dr. Helmstetter's books are published in 65 countries. This one should make it worldwide.

A number of years ago, when I first read "What To Say When You Talk To Your Self" I thought that was a book that could not be topped. But "Who Are You Really And What Do You Want?" rises above even that. This one gets five stars plus! If you want to get your personal life or your buisness life figured out, and get the clearest picture you may ever read of what to do next, written by someone who you know, in every word, cares about you, get this and read it. It is thiry years of discovery in self-help and personal growth written plainly in two evenings of reading. Wherever your are in your life, or whatever your challenges or what you want to do next, this is one of the most clear and helpful self-help books I have ever read. I agree.
Whether it's becoming more successful in your career, making your family work, or losing the next ten pounds, this one can actually help.

Out of five gold stars, I agree with the other people who have reviewed "Who Are You Really And What Do You Want?" This book gets ten.

A lot of the other reviews about this book have said that the author, Shad Helmstetter, has clearly done it again. I agree -- only this time, even more so! He's done it! I not only love this book -- I receommend it to everyone.

This book goes beyone the self-help books I have read or reviewed in the past. First there were other great authors like Napolean Hill, Maxwell Maltz, Dr. Peale, and Dale Carnegie. Meanwhile, Shad Helmstetter was doing research in the field of personal growth and motivation and writing great books on what he found. When Dr. Helmstetter wrote "What To Say When You Talk To Your Self" he wrote a classic (which I still highly recommend), and with that book he entered the rarified field of exceptional authors in personal growth.

After reading the next ten books he wrote, when I learned Dr. Helmstetter had released a new book, I was personally hoping for his "final answer". The new book, "Who Are You And What Do You Want?" not only met my expections, it blew me away. I have never read a book on personal or business growth that is more practical and to the point.

In "Who Are You Really And What Do You Want?" he brings the best personal growth ideas together, for the first time. You'll find that it makes so much sense that you'll be trying out the ideas while you're reading the book. I was amazed at what I found out about myself, and about what I wanted to do next.

One of the things that surprised me about this book is how simple Dr. Helmstetter makes his case for what to do next, regardless of where you are now, or what the problems is, or what the goal is. There is not one line of pop-psychogy jargon in the entire book. True to his writing style in his previous books, you get the feeling when you're reading that he's talking to you as a friend who's been there.

As someone who reads and reviews a lot of books in this field, I tend to get skeptical. But after reading the first few pages of this book, I knew I was reading another classic book in personal growth. I read on the cover of the book that Dr. Helmstetter's books are published in 65 countries. This one should make it worldwide.

A number of years ago, when I first read "What To Say When You Talk To Your Self" I thought that was a book that could not be topped. But "Who Are You Really And What Do You Want?" rises above even that. This one gets five stars plus! If you want to get your personal life or your buisness life figured out, and get the clearest picture you may ever read of what to do next, written by someone who you know, in every word, cares about you, get this and read it. It is thiry years of discovery in self-help and personal growth written plainly in two evenings of reading. Wherever your are in your life, or whatever your challenges or what you want to do next, this is one of the most clear and helpful self-help books I have ever read.

Whether it's becoming more successful in your career, making your family work, or losing the next ten pounds, this one can actually help. Out of five gold stars, I agree with the other people who have reviewed "Who Are You Really And What Do You Want?" This book gets ten gold stars. It will change the life, in a positive way, of everyone who reads it.

Helmstetter identifies "three breakthrough concepts in the world of personal growth" that he shares in the book:

Breakthrough #1: If you want to do your best, get a coach. Self-help works better when you have help.

Breakthrough #2: Change your Self-Talk and you will change your life.

Breakthrough #3: Successful goal-setting has to be implemented and tracked in the right way.

Helmstetter divides the book into three parts, one for each breakthrough or recommendation. The first recommendation---to find yourself a personal coach--takes the book out of the realm of self-help. It struck me as odd that Helmstetter included this section. In any case, if you're going to hire your own personal coach, you probably won't be needing this book.

The second recommendation---to change Self-Talk---is excellent. But in this book Helmstetter devotes only 70 pages to it. A better reference here is Helmstetter's own classic, "What to Say When You Talk to Your Self."

The author's third and final piece of advice---to set and track goals---is sound. But his eight-step system is too cumbersome in some ways (eight steps are a lot to take for each and every goal you set) and too superficial in others (Helmstetter assumes that the *identification* of goals is nonproblematic, which it isn't for a lot of people). A better work on goal-setting, one which is systematic, thorough, and practical, is Barbara Sher's "Wishcraft."

All in all, not a bad book, but not Helmstetter's best.

This book is one of those exceptional new books that actually makes a difference. After reviewing several of Dr. Helmstetter's previous books, (most notably, "What To Say When You Talk To Your Self") I was hoping for the best, but wasn't sure what to expect. His new book "Who Are You Really And What Do You Want?" not only surprised me, as a totally helpful book with new insight, it blew me away. This is the stuff to which all good self-help books should aspire.

No matter how many previous books I had read by Dr. Helmstetter, it is true that he had kept coming up with more of the basic "truths" of "getting better." So in reading this book I was hoping for more of the same (new truths) but not expecting anything life-changing. (After all, how many new "paths to personal success" can there be?) But that is why I was so impressed with this one. What he wrote in this book, for most readers, chould be life-changing.

After studying human behavior and personal motivation for thirty years, in "Who Are You Really And What Do You Want?," Dr. Helmstetter made the great choice to give his readers, in one, very simply easy-to-read book, the best -- and the most practical personal growth steps he has learned in his many years of studying what makes things works for us, and what stops us. In this book he delivers what I suspect may be his final answer.

Instead of a rehash on how and why "success" works, (and Dr. Helmstetter makes it clear early on that this is NOT about just financial success), instead of reading another self-help book, I found myself sitting at the arm of someone who has not only been there, but who talks to the reader as someone who knows you, and someone who has been there. The message he delivers, clearly and simply written, would be a great "life plan" or "daily plan" for anyone who wants to get past the "distractions of every day living," as he calls it, and get on with their lives - and actually DO something with every day that we wake up.

The substance of this book has to do with what Dr. Helmstetter has found to be the "key players" in an average individual's life success. Those are such things as a very different kind of goal-setting, changing our old mental programs with Self-Talk, and, what I believe may be a major breakthrough from the earlier self-help books we have read, "taking the 'self' out of self-help."

What impressed me most about Dr. Helmstetter's solutions to each of these self-help challenges, is that, instead of just telling us to work at the problem, be positive, and get better, (the theme of a lot of other books I have reviewed), he gives the reader steps that are so practical, that I was convinved, even early in the book, that anyone could do them, on an average day, without anyone having to make life-changing choices to try them out.

We've had some very astute self-help authors enlighten and help us during the past two or three decades -- Napolean Hill, Maxwell Maltz, Norman Vincent Peale, and Dale Carnegie to name a few. Unfortunately, though they are no longer with us, their books, and what they taught us stays with us. As someone who has reviewed and recommended their books, I am happy that the torch has been passed. Dr. Helmstetter continues to explore the outer reaches of our potential, and in spite of the scientific side of his research into human potential, continues to write books that bring the best of what he has learned home to all of us. Fortunately, as a tribute to his writing, and the ease of reading this book, (I read it in two evenings), Dr. Helmstetter understands real people. His entire book could was read -- and understood -- by my teenage son.

This book is going to change a lot of lives -- for the better. It is also a great tribute to someone who could have just written another "self-help" book, but he didn't. In "Who Are You Really And What Do You Want?" Dr. Helmstetter gives us an exceptional insight into the world of personal growth, brings us up to date, and gives us the most practical solutions that he has found. Whether you're working with losing weight, getting your family right, or launching a new career, this book gives you a path to follow.

I've read the other reviews about "Who Are You Really And What Do You Want?" on Amazon.com and they all look good. They should. This is one book you cannot miss. Better than every other five star book this author has written. This one is five stars or better.

I love everything about this book--from the quotations sprinkled through each chapter to the upbeat message delivered by each chapter! Aunt Laya covers every possible issue and doesn't avoid the tough ones. This is a "Book of Wisdom" packed full of common sense and delivered with love. If I could give my tween and teen grandkids only one book, this would be the one! Highly Recommended!

my 16 year old niece swiped it and hasn't given it back and isn't about to. I would fight her for it , but it seems to be helping her with her troubles. What I did read was like talking to a good friend.

'YOU DON'T HAVE TO LEARN EVERYTHING THE HARD WAY: WHAT I WISH SOMEONE HAD TOLD ME'
by Aunt Laya Saul

I love to read - & also learn from - books on life skills, especially those that have come from the 'University of Hard Knocks'.

This particular book is one great example, & I must say that it certainly lives up to its secondary title, "What I Wish Someone Had Told Me".

Although it is intended for young adults, the book is definitely relevant to anyone who wants to make his or her life a grand project.

I would even say that this book is a distilled version of Napoleon Hill's 'Law of Success', since it covers a very broad spectrum of proven success principles, from A (accountability, action, assertiveness, etc.) all the way to Z (zestful living [take time to enjoy; connecting with loved ones], zen [be quiet, just listen], etc.).

What I like most about the book as a reader/reviewer is the author's deliberate prefacing of key sections or passages of each chapter of the book with pointed questions for introspection.

From the way I see it, especially for a young adult venturing into a fast-paced, rapidly-changing turbulent world, this intended pause as envisaged by the author certainly serves as a strategic reminder of one's constant need to probe, reflect & ponder before making the next move.

Also, the author's writing style is succinct, with warmth & candour, especially when she touches on sensitive topics like BGR (boy-girl relationship), sex, alcohol/drug abuse & even suicide.

From the standpoint of reader friendliness, the book is spiced with many inspiring stories ['The Butterfly Story' is great!] & interesting anecdotes [I like "Be Nice"], as well as jam-packed with wise & witty quotations [e.g. "Anyone who thinks they can't make a difference hasn't been alone in a room with a mosquito"] to drive home the author's overall message that life is what you make of it.

In other words, life is a life-long do-it-yourself project.

Also, success is a function of 'The One Per Cent Adjustment', to paraphrase the author.

This book will readily serve as your appropriate field guide. As the author puts it, "this book is about mapping some of the terrain of life & showing you a few hot spots."

Her choice of 'Attitude' as the beginning segment, 'Gaining Attitude' towards the end, plus A Final Word with 'The World is Your Oyster', is refreshingly apt for a book on life skills.

I always hold the view that attitude is the #1 success attribute for anyone who wants to survive & thrive in the 21st century.

Overall, I have really enjoyed perusing this wonderful book, & I reckon this is partly fueled by the author's oft use of short staccato bursts of sentence crafting, which makes reading a breeze.

For companion reading, I would recommend Sean Covey's '7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens' & 'The 6 Most Important Decisions You'll Ever Make: A Guide for Teens'.

After just finishing an extremely rough sophomore year, i desperately wanted someone to talk to and get advice from. I never expected that that "someone" would turn out to be a book, but it was.

"You Don't Have To Learn Everything the Hard Way" by Aunt Laya Saul is an inspirational and realistic book that truly touched my heart. It was like a heart to heart talk with the aunt i never had, but always wanted. It gave me hope for life and helped me realize that i will get out of my little "slump", i just have to believe that. I may not be able to stop hardships from occurring, but Aunt Laya helped me see that i can change my attitude and way of dealing with them, when they do occur. Even on the darkest days, there is always light, and now i see it too.

Aunt Laya talks very realistically and shares many stories that have a huge impact. I will carry those stories with me for the rest of my life and i will pass them on to others. This book should be read by everyone. Young or Old. Guy or Girl. Everyone. It is a book that sticks with you for the rest of your life. I am 15 years old and i am very glad that i read this book. My future looks a lot brighter because of it. If you have not read it, read it. If you have read it, read it again! ~*KJ*~

This book was written primarily for young people. I am a middle aged parent of children aged 9 - 26 and a grandparent of 2. Aunt Laya speaks to all readers, young and old. She speaks with wisdom and respect and from a place of understanding. Reading this book was more than a place to receive advice and information. The reading itself was something experiential for me. It covers so much necessary stuff - stuff not too many think about until it's too late. I highly recommend this book for teens, their parents and even their grandparents. I believe it should be required reading for school counselors. It is excellent material for workshops. Adults can gain a lot by taking note of Aunt Laya's approach when addressing young people. After all, we want more than to talk AT our kids. Aunt Laya does a wonderful job at being the voice that gets heard.