Self-Help Books

This book is filled with life-changing insights, and easy-to-use tools to help readers change their lives. I use this book with many of my clients and am honored to watch them heal, change, and become fearless!

This book was wonderful! I learned the different types of FEAR and was able to work thru so many of my issues. The workbook format was wonderful!! I'm just so happy I found this book. It really does help you to step up and thru your fears so you can live your life.

Britten writes her dramatic story to get to the fundamental conclusion that we make the life we want.

Her method is fantastic, her story quite tragic. My hat to her.

What I found most interesting was her concepts of what takes energy from you and what gives you energy. Not necesary the opposite.

This book is fanstatic for coaches and leaders who want to bring out the best in people, as well as for those who want to learn more about how to become the best us.

Her life story could be a whole book in itself. Her method another, different one. I think that her story distracted from her method.

While, the concept of "fear" and how it drives us unconsciously is an excellent channel of examination, I was very disappointed in the book.

Based on reading this book and discussions with numerous coaches recently, I believe lifestyle coaching is seriously out of date and does not do a service to individuals when the main focus is on the spiritual aspect of a person's life. Life has become exceptionally unpredictable and the world complex. You cannot tell me that someone who gets cancer got cancer because of a hidden fear or that a person who lost his job through layoff, had a fear of success.

I think it is time for the coaching world to examine the UN principles of exercising precaution and sustainability to get real about the complexity of approach it takes these days to earn a living, sustain and protect and care for one's health.

Motivational speaking or lectures on how to overcome fear are simply not sufficient anymore.

This is a phenomenal book by an incredible woman who learned the hard way to become fearless! After being a huge fan of TV show 'Starting Over' and her books it lead me to continue my personal journey of hope.

Rhonda Britten is an inspiration to us all from her teachings and personal wisdom of 'tool's and hope. Thank you Rhonda for sharing a part of you with us!

Merna Throne

Pocket of Pearls: A 30-day pocket workbook to start hearing a softer voice inside of you!

There are many well known techniques for developing new ideas; however, producing high-quality and effective ideas is not always so straightforward. Jack Foster provides effective methods for producing valuable ideas in a very enjoyable book packed with examples, applicable stories, real world applications and a good deal of humor.

The advertising/marketing field is among the most idea intensive industries requiring a steady supply of inspiration for mere survival in the profession. Foster details his numerous experiences in advertisement agencies as well as his management roles in marketing firms providing significant insight on how ideas are formed for profit in the business world. Foster and his associates have often had to dig deep to continuously develop high-quality ideas and he shares the tactics and devices that proved most effective.

This book is not long and can be read in short order, but do not let this fool you; the content is packed with many useful tidbits on generating ideas that if put into practice will have your mind actively producing effective ideas at once. There is no doubt if you are just searching for a better way, are stuck in a rut, or looking for that life changing idea, then this book will be an asset.

This book is a great book to read, the best thing it includes are quotes of famous people, which are mainly funny. Personally I do not believe that this book provided me with any new ways or measures of thinking to get more ideas, it's more of a different theories of people on how to think!!!!

If you are interested in having a good read buy this book, but don't put your hopes up high......

I tend to be skeptical of titles suggesting easy answers to broad problems, but darned if this one doesn't really deliver! Foster's guidelines often fall into the category of "That's pretty obvious, why didn't I think of it?". And therein lies its real beauty: his suggestions are practical, accessible, workable, and often downright ingenious. And not at all limited to his field of advertising.
Furthermore, the book is a delightfully entertaining read. That man can write!

"Albert Einstein said his best ideas came to him while he was shaving," Jack Foster writes in "How to Get Ideas" (2nd ed.). When I read that line, what could I do? I put the book down for a moment and went to shave.

That's about the only time I stopped reading though, and you won't be able to put it down either. For boosting creativity, this book is a lifesaver.

Foster's advice is simple -- have fun, think like a child again, open your mind to new possibilities -- but not necessarily obvious. Most of us do the same old things and think in the same old ways. Foster aims to help us spot these unhelpful patterns, then break out with easy-to-follow tips and stimulating exercises.

And anecdotes. Foster draws on decades of experience as a top creative hand in major advertising agencies, where he encountered guys and gals driven by curiosity -- people who found out how much a ten-gallon hat will hold (three-quarters of a gallon) and how many times per day an African elephant will defecate (16). Illustrating how to solve a problem by stepping around it, Foster tells the story of the woman who solved the slow-elevator problem in her building -- by mounting mirrors in the lobby. (How did she do it? See P. 134.)

You'll discover how to overcome the fears that keep you from thinking creatively ... easy ways to gather information ... combining unrelated facts for new ideas ... the five steps for getting great new ideas ... and how to put them to work for YOU.

You'll finish reading "How to Get Ideas" in an hour or two. But you'll benefit from its advice for the rest of your life.

This is a really good book. It was entertaining to read while also educational. The first edition came out in 1996 I think, and this edition just came out earlier this month. The new edition has two new chapters, 5 and 8, which were added because readers thought the information they contain was missing from the first edition.

The book is split into two parts. The first part covers 10 ways you can "search for ideas." And it is by the far the longer of the two parts. The second part explains the five steps of how to get ideas:

1. Define the problem
2. Gather the information
3. Search for the idea
4. Forget about it
5. Put the idea into action

Theoretically, I suppose, the book could have been set up so the second part was actually the first. And the first part could have been relegated to the end. I say this because the first part is really just an expansion of the "third step" of the five steps.

I enjoyed the humor, the quotes, and the stories included in the author's discussion regarding 10 ways to search for ideas. And thus it made perfect sense to me why he put that material at the front of the book. I read the book to see if it would have some practical use to my SCORE clients who are wanta-be entrepreneurs and small business owners. I think there is a practical use, and I recommend that my clients and similarly situated people read this book. It will help them create their business plans and revamp those plans as time passes. 5 stars!

"Am I doing the right thing?" Every adult child of a family member requiring eldercare asks this question. The Complete Eldercare Planner will help today's busy caregivers with medical, financial, and personal issues by condensing hours of research into a concrete plan of action. In one volume, readers will learn about emergency preparedness; how to tell when your elder needs help; talking about sensitive subjects; sharing the care; long-distance assistance; money and legal matters; health and wellness; insurance; housing; safety; transportation; maintaining quality of life; aging with a disability; death and dying; and more.

This carefully designed guide also presents material in an unusually accessible way, with dozens of checklists, step-by-step mini-planning guides, lists of low-cost/free resources, website index, questions to ask with places to write down answers, spaces to record elder's vital medial, financial, and personal information, and more.

This book is full of clear, common-sense talk, just the thing I needed when I bought it. Dealing with an aging parent can be tricky in the best of circumstances, and at worst can threaten the whole family structure. The level-headed advice in this book can help to keep things on track, and can help family members to develop the best plan for dealing with their particular situation, as it did with us.

I did a "speed-read" of the book in the 24 hours before a family conference. I did note a fair amount of repetition of ideas in the book, but that is not necessarily a bad thing: if you're reading just the chapters that seem most relevant, then that's where those ideas need to be mentioned. One bonus: reading the book made it clear to me that I need to be doing some elder planning for myself, and with my own children, to make things easier for them later.

For those who have been, or will be, managing the health and financial welfare of your elderly parents, this book provides very helpful and detailed guidelines on how to do this with tact and compassion, as well as providing numerous resources. I ordered copies for all of my siblings. Best resource I found on the subject.

7-22-05 -- Recently I found myself along with 3 other siblings and spouses thrust into new uncharted waters in a totally new season of our lives. Suddenly and without any training we were and continue to this day having to take care of my aging parents. I for one will freely admit that as a child I was never trained, prepared, nor exceptionally gifted to undertake such a task. It is just not the type of thing that you can ever really get to a line and say ready...set...go...and do it very well. Elderly health care in 2005 does not always afford us the luxury of any long preparation either emotionally or financially.

Suddenly unmercifully and usually without warning you hear over the phone in the midst of a busy American routine those words you dread. It's Cancer, a stroke, or replacement surgery, just minor or major operations which means weeks of homecare and hospitalization's, etc., You are suddenly no longer swinging a few bats warming up in the on deck circle there in safety at a bit of distance. But you find yourself thrust into the batters box. You are no longer the stand by just in case fill in player who dressed for the game just in case you would or might be needed. But suddenly with a phone call, you find yourself thrust without any prior warning into the batters box. You are to take charge with 3 others voices and votes, your parents primary healthcare.

Now, if you call a frantic call for "HELP" in the middle of the night when just the week before things were okay a warning, well then, you're doing better than we were. You find yourself suddenly up at the plate with bases loaded, two outs, bottom of the ninth your teams behind 3 runs. To top it off you're facing a 94mph fastball pitcher who also throws a mean slider called the reality of life. You have never been good at hitting these kinds of pitches. Much less being the homerun hitter the team needs at this moment and are all looking to you now for. Then you hear through your wife there is a book available on just such a thing. It allows you to calmly and logically check out all of your options. It tells you in simple language just how you go about walking through this difficult mine field you've been thrust into without training or any real prior warning. It tells you how to do this without losing your mind, your family unity, and most of all your parents dignity.

I found myself literally reading the pages of Joy's, "Elder Care" wonderful "How TO" book on the plane going headed to Florida. I was then going there for my Dad's 80th B-day party as well as a visit to help out for 10 days at my elderly parents. Little did I know then, that I would see those 10 days turn suddenly into 46 long and hectic days I ended up spending there. Little did I realize as I paged through this how to book on Elderly Care that it would be like a daily Bible to me. I was literally reading a chapter ahead of the events as they unfolded in the next days. It was giving me the answers to question I had not yet asked, but found myself doing so in the next days to follow.

As a former Eagle Scout, USMC SGT., Police Officer, Business owner, 20 years as a Lay Minister and being Happily Married to the same woman for over 26 years now, I'd received lots and lots of great training. Even you will have to admit that this background covers a lot of diversified and really good training. But nothing, absolutely nothing, but my Faith prepared me emotionally, physically, or all of us financially for the events that would suddenly and totally unwelcomed show up in the middle of the night. They just seem to attack you without ceasing on these issues when it's "Your Mom or Dad."

Thank you Joy, for the time it must have taken you and the wealth of information this book contains. I personally know that it was truly a Godsend at a time of crisis in our lives. It still today continues to guide us along these slippery slopes. But because of this well timed work of Mercy and Grace, we have maintained as a family, and continued to allow my parents their Dignity and somewhat their independence. I believe this book will help answer the question of the heart on elderly care and give you practical and timely information to steer you to through the minefields of elderly care life. You should have a copy on the shelf in your own homes and be reading it now, if your parents are near or reaching retirement age.

We waited and it caught us totally by surprise. But it didn't catch Joy by surprise...I personally believe that she was obedient to the Spirit of God to produce this work for a time such as this. Our generation will Thank Her one day I believe for her unselfish actions in writing this Elder Care "How To Bible" for the uniformed. The Word of God says that "...my people perish for a lack of knowledge..." I believe that this book is full of knowledge that will help us all in our moments of crisis and bring life and health to all who read it.

Thanks for listening to my lengthy review and a very special Thanks to You Joy. You just keep on writing Joy and we will keep getting filled with the great knowledge we all need and can practically use for our loved ones. God Bless you and again... Thank you from our families hearts to yours.

God Bless You,
David D. Spaulding

My mother in law needs so much care and we had no clue on what to do. We bought this book and we bought the 36-Hour day. We are completely sure now that we are making the right choices because of the tips in both of these books. I recommmend this book highly.

I am a college student studying Business and I've had a long history of anxiety and panic with being "In the Spotlight." I finally got sick of living in fear-- that a teacher would call on me or that I would have to give a presentation. If a presentation was listed on the syllabus for a class I would have a panic attack right there just in anticipation! I was finally fed up and joined Toastmasters about a year ago. I then set a goal to start the only Speech club on my college campus. At this point, I was still VERY nervous about public speech and decided to read this book in preparation of the first Speech club meeting.

This book helped me in many, many ways. It helped to go forward with that first meeting for the Speech club-- something I had been dreading for months and months! There are many positive and useful techniques: positive thinking, reassurance training, breathing techniques, getting to the source of the anxiety... The list goes on!

I still get nervous giving speeches and continue to have small panic attacks when put on the spot in a class. I know that if I continue to face this fear and use constructive techniques such as the ones in this book, I will slowly grow out of it. Good luck!

I would listen to this CD to sleep, not for my anxiety. The best thing for anxiety is Celexa and EMDR. I bought this CD with the book and it's terrible. It states the obvious and is not helpful at all.

Sorry, but it sucks.

The author had first-hand stage fright experience and she shared the techniques that she learned to overcome the stage fright and to go beyond the fright to enjoy being in the spot light. The skills are very valuable for a stage fright person like me, and are also valuable for teachers of music who would want to learn how to help students with stage fright.

The skills mentioned in the book are transferable skills that can be used to reduce stress and to cultivate positive self-esteem. Teachers can use these excellent skills to help their students.

It was by far the best book that offers alternative and possible solutions to shift the stage fright paradigm. The book has been helpful to me as a personal growth tool and in other areas of my life, in addition to the performance anxiety challenges. One day I was feeling down, and reading chapter 10 of the book re-channeled me to something more funny and pleasant and I was uplifted. That was a powerful experience.

The book is easy, fun and enjoyable to read. Once you start reading, it is hard to stop reading.

Reading Janet's book was a revelation for me. It was amazing to find that someone understood exactly how I felt when I found out that I had to speak in public and the torture I imposed on myself leading up to, during and after speaking. But better yet, she not only empathizes with the reader, but provides a clear path to overcoming the torture. So enjoy the empathy, but enjoy even more the tools for success!

There are a lot of self-help books on the market that deal with the fear of public speaking. But I can say first-hand that if you are looking for help in how to overcome this fear, this is the best one you can buy.

The book is more than just speaking tips or techniques---it takes you right to the heart of the issue, which I found to be surprisingly helpful. It helps you understand where the fear is coming from in the first place and how to ultimately overcome it. I read the book about a year ago, and have re-read certain chapters many times since then as both a resource and a confidence booster when I've have a big speech coming up.

There's not much more I can say, other than I bought the book. It helped me. I highly reccomend it to anyone who is looking for help with this very common fear.

Chicken Soup for the Kid's Soul; 102 Stories to Give Kids Courage, Hope, Laughter

This book is more than just a book. My friends and I have read it and we agree that it's an awesome book.

My wife loves this book. I get tired of the same fables with pictures. It's nice to read something that peaks the child's curiosity and allows discussion about meaningful things.

I bought this book for my little daughter, but I ended up reading it, too. It had good, inspirational stories about kids. I really enjoyed it.

Chicken Soup for the Kids Soul
JAck Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Kimberly Kirberger, Mitch Claspy
K. Gan
P. 6

This book is what everything a kid goes through. They go through love, friendship problems, family problems and attitude a justment. Every kid should get this book because this book has the answers to your problems. No matter what situation, good or bad, this book does have the answers. This book shares a lot of problems a kid goes through and a lot of good times in their childhood. For me, i don't dislike the book, i really love it!
As I was growing up, I had a lot of problems. One of my problems was the fact that my bestfriend was moving. In this book, it says "But the more i thought about it, the more I realized I wasn't really losing her. The person taught me so much in life and laughter, the person who had helped me grow to be myself, was just going away for a while, to do some growing and learning up of her own." This quote is really true. The person who taught me so much is still here with me. I think that he just needs to keep learning. He was always there for and he made an impact in my life that no matter where he is, he is always going to be apart of me.
This book teaches a kid not to take things for granted. Lately, I been taking time for granted. Me and my brother has been really distance in the last few years. Me and him are seven years apart and we and him never really talked. In one short story in the family section it says " Hey Tova,It's me Sara. I just called to tell you I love you." This quote is a good quote. In this story, Tova is travaling to Egypt to study by herself. Her sister, Sara, is a few years younger then her. Sara wanted to be everything her sister is, so she copied everything she did. On the night Tova left, Sara noticed how quiet it is without her older sister so she cried all night. She then got the courage to call her and say I love you and she did. I wish that I could do this, so this short story gave me the courage too.
I have no favorite part in the book because everything in this book is really usefull in a kids life. This book covers every aspect in a kids life. Turning from a kid to a teenager, this book has it all. I advise every kid to read it because it's really handy when your in need.

I have not read this book, but my nine year old daughter has read and enjoyed most of it. Last night though, she cried herself to sleep after reading graphic stories (near the end of the book) by an incest victim whose father was sent to jail and the daughter of an injection drug user who woke up one night with police pointing guns at her. I'm sure the inclusion of these stories was well-intentioned, but there's no way they are "chicken soup" for the average kid's soul.

This is a great book. I've used previous editions, but the editing and change in text formatting make this edition more user friendly. It is complete and references ways to explore the techniques described. Perhaps the editors could make parts of it avaiable in an MP3 format.

Excellent workbook with many exercises to help teach us how to relax & reduce stress. In this day and age everyone could benefit from this workbook.

An excellent reference book which has worked well for me. It is a professional approach to learning to cope with stress and some of the adverse effects of drugs. It is in constant use, and I have recommended it to friends.

For anyone who has stress- and who doesn't ? - this is a must read. This book gives detailed descriptions but best of all - real help. Example- in so many books I read " breath deeply'. This book gives detailed descriptions how to breath deeply

This workbook is excellent- specific easily understood instructions for different methods of relaxation: you will find something that will work for you: this is important because some workbooks are "one size fits all" and may not be helpful for everyone.

This book was more on target about my issues than any other book i could have read and it told me how i need to improve my weaknesses. It has helped me really see my self and the destructive patterns that i never realized that i am caught up in.. I recommend it highly if you are ready to change and have inner peace of mind

I have read several books on this subject and this is definitely the best so far. Well written and easy to understand.

This is "The Source" of information on the Enneagram.It is also used by Fr. Wm. Meninger in his exploration of the subject. The ancient adage "Know Thyself" is exemplified in this Masterpiece.
While contemplation is extremely important for interior developement,getting to know yourself and the reason for your actions is its external complement. You'll discover through "The Wisdom of the Enneagram" the path to self-knowledge.Self-awareness will lead the true seeker to self-correction and less suffering.
Greater humility,the antidote for pridefulness, is cultivated through self-knowledge.

I had the good fortune to study the Enneagram, as a graduate student in psychology, with Luc Brebion, one of Claudio Naranjo's original "disciples," who brought the teaching of the Enneagram to North America. It was my understanding at the time (1980) that the teaching of it was limited to those who'd studied with Claudio, or his original students, as it was so easy to get it wrong.

I now understand why: the only frame of reference, before the Enneagram, for the study of personality, was a psychiatric one--personality DISORDER (in other words, personality features so extreme or destructive that they were truly pathological, and created major obstacles to fulfillment in both love and work). The great virtue of the Enneagram is that it helps us understand our personalities WITHOUT PATHOLOGIZING. Being able to understand our personality traits and styles can be very useful...but when we feel pathologized in the attempt, it's a turn off (besides not being merited).

Given those considerations, THE WISDOM OF THE Enneagram is the ONLY book I've recommended to clients in therapy over the years, and it has been very well-recieved. It is the ONLY book I've yet read on the Enneagram that really gets it right; I highly recommend it to anyone who wishes to know and understand themselves better. I both helps to locate personality blindspots, and to FORGIVE ourselves for them...while, over time, the greater awareness opens up a broader frame of reference for other possible responses to life. (This is why the hardest people to "type" in this way are those who have done the most inner work; as a result, their behavior, thinking and speech is less predictable, less discernable as having a particular flavor...with the result that who we REALLY are--the True Self or Soul--can shine through the increasingly translucent cover of personality).

This is the best book that I have ever read on personality types.
It even eclipses Myers-briggs in that it outlines WHY we are the people that we have become. Though there is a lot of information, the author leads the reader in small enough steps to not only grasp the material, but to comprehend the potential of our own growth and the way foward in our lives. Un missible for those that work in larger groups or want to understand their families and loved ones better.

Having perceived Jo to be confident, successful and
calm, I was completely surprised to find in her book
the doubts, search and struggles Jo had gone through
to reach the stage of peacefulness. She was
courageous to reveal the secret of her life and the
deepest emotions. By doing so, she not only helped
herself to reconcile with her past, but also helped
many who may be in the middle of the struggle. I
appreciate her candidness and reflection on life in
this book.

I have formed many business friendships over the last 30 years but none have been more honest or insightful than the one I have with Jo. I met Jo in the late 1980's, not knowing anything about her upbringing, knowing only her reputation as an excellent businesswoman, motivator and teacher.

After reading about her Mom, Dad, the "hood" in Philadelphia, her first marraige, and then the journey to restart her life, I was in awe. These experiences were the DNA of her wisdom and they are powerful and moving.

For those of us boomers, who survived the 60's and our upbringing, Jo brings us candidness and honesty, letting us revisit all the testing, trumoil, and love of finding oneself.

A generation of women will relate to Jo's situation as a woman in the 1960's who was ready to fly but got no clear signal from the air traffic controller. Jo's powers of description enable you to feel what it was really like to grow up in the Philadelphia of the 50's and to be raised by a Mother whose dreams for her resulted in mixed signals and a Father who liberated her...yet kept her back at the same time.

Jo takes you through a panoply of life shaping experiences and many will recognize their own feelings and fears as she describes the dragons that have shown up on her path.

Her experience as a New Yorker who went through 9/11...on site...as it was happening...was the fork in the road that left her unable to go on without facing the choices she can and must make. The only thing lacking in this touching work is...the sequel.

what a wonderful gift this book is to anyone who reads it. I am in awe of Jo's willingness to share so much with her readers...to allow herself to be so vulnerable. In doing so she allows her readers to connect with her in a soul to soul way that is very rare in books or in life. Her description of her " diving moments" reminds of my own - and how critical it is to be conscious and present in my life.

Everyone's life journey is unique. Reading about pivotal moments and life choices of others can provide insights into our own choices and choice points. To read the unsent letters and journal entries that provide glimpses into most private thoughts was amazing. Thank you for sharing these intimate details so that others can learn. Your journey is an inspiration and I look forward to reading about the next evolution in your journey.

Boynton books have really been hit or miss with my daughter - and us parents who must read them.

Hippos go Berserk is one of the better ones. The rhyming and counting keep the pace moving. It's no "Red Hat Green Hat" in the eyes of my daughter, but much better than some of the alternatives.

This book is fun reading that will entertain you as well as the kid. It's quick, easy reading, but has lots of pages so that the story doesn't end right away. I baby-sat an 18-month old toddler who loves books, and I didn't mind at all reading and re-reading this one. The words flow well, and I didn't feel awkward reading aloud the way I do with some other books. I will definitely buy this one for my niece!

This is one of my family's favorite childrens books ever. It not only completely speaks to our crazy and chaotic, yet incredibly loving extended family, but the last line -- "One hippo alone once more, misses the the other forty-four" -- sums up that poignancy of having to say good-bye. All that, plus it helps teach kids to count. (Both my five- and eight-year-olds still want to make sure that there are 44 actual hippos at the height of it all.) I never tire of reading it and have given it as a gift at nearly every baby shower I've ever been to. If you haven't read Sandra Boynton's childrens books, do so now.

And so do our kids. All of her books are our favorite first books for our kids.

I purchased this charming Sandra Boyton hardbook for an adult psychologist with a penchant for all things hip...po, rather than for a child. She found it laugh-out-loud delightful and insightful and will undoubtedly share the joy of reading it aloud to a growing roster of great-nieces and great-nephews. However, I doubt if she'll part with Hippos Go Berserk!

excellent reference book full of cures I highly recommend Rochelle Moore and her books to everyone

Rochelle Moore's work is so different and so exact. I found this book great to work with and use it regularly. It is the type of book that you can refer back to over and over again. Wonderful author and so original

READ IT - LOVE IT - ROCHELLE MOORE IS A BRILLIANT AUTHOR

This is a "meaning of" and "how to" book for those who have questions concerning essential oils & herbs and their folklore, secrets, meanings, and effects . There are precise directions and warnings concerning specific oils and herbs. This wouldn't necessarily be the best starter book for someone who is new to oils and herbs, but it certainly is a good addition to any herbalist library. It is easy to read and makes a great reference book.

I am learning so much about how essential oils and herbs can help to alleviate everyday aches and pains and also how to use them for headaches, stress, anxiety and so much more.
Very easy to use book and I am enjoying trying out the different recipies