Book Description
With clarity and deep spiritual insight, this religious bestseller offers today's Christian a perceptive, systematic plan for living the spiritual life achieving union with God.
Customer Reviews:
Reaching Out.......2007-10-01
I read 3 Nouwen books at once, and while all of them were excellent, "Reaching Out" was the best of 3 great books for spiritual reading.
Centering Prayer.......2007-06-10
After doing 20 minutes of meditation our Centering Prayer group discusses a spiritual book. The group has found this book to be excellent and it provides a base for a lot of discussion
Touch- feely.......2007-03-06
Though I enjoyed reading the book, my final thoughts on it were that it was too "touchy feely" and perhaps addressed to the non-Christian who is seeking healing of his "wounds" or to a new Christian. During my recent difficult times I had already used what is mentioned in this book to overcome my loneliness and get closer to God on my own with the help of prayer and the Holy Spirit, which is available to all believers. A lot of us Christians turn to self-help books to find answers to our problems instead of the free resources we already have as I mentioned above. I am thankful to Henri Nouwen for reassuring me that I was on the right track to healing and spirituality.
Simply Transformative.......2005-10-31
Nouwen is at his very best in this classic work. Readers will be captured by the spiritual depths of this book as Nouwen probes the three movements of the spiritual life. I have taught this in a small group format several times with great response and discussion. This book ranks in my top five favorites of all time, a book complex enough to provide fresh meaning each time it is read. Highly recommend!
A countercultural classic.......2005-01-19
In a culture of distraction, agitation, and surfeit, Nouwen's classic work on the dynamics of spiritual development offers wise, gentle and welcome guidance along the way of simplicity, peace, and mindfulness... truly countercultural.
Book Description
Reformation is the continual reforming of the mission of the church to enhance God’s command to reach out to others in a way that acknowledges the unique times and locations of daily life.
Customer Reviews:
Radical Reformission.......2007-10-08
Without compromise of core Christian doctrine, Mark Driscoll has captured, lived, and articulated the essence of biblical mission... and lived to tell about it. I particularly appreciated his honesty and humanity in both the struggle and the joy of serving and loving the next generation (in Seattle) and doing so with intregrity before the One who first served and loved him. His follow-up book is equally engaging.
MUST READ!!.......2007-09-17
I never heard og this pastor before, i read that book, and it really touched my heart, GREAT BOOK - MUST READ.
please help!.......2007-08-18
I was given a copy of this book when it first came out. I sent a letter to the publisher asking why they had chosen to publish this less than great piece of work.
Some stories are good. That's then end of my praise. Mark's hyper-conservative Calvinism comes out. His lack of compassion comes out. His less than Christ-like attitude toward others who disagree with his theology also is evident.
I simply have a hard time reading a book from Mark. I met him about the time Mars Hill was getting started, and he claimed to not know where his next meal was coming from. I was ready to empty my wallet for his next days expenses. It was only a bit later that I figured out most of his stories are a bit like fishing tales...
Do yourself a favor and read something good... A New Kind of Christian / Blue Like Jazz / Simply Christian / Justice in the Burbs / The Secret Message of Jesus / Hardy Boys / Nancy Drew (nevermind - she was a girl...)
True Driscoll.......2007-07-05
I have heard and enjoyed many of Driscoll's sermons from the Mars Hill website, so I wanted to see how he was as an author. The style is definitely him, and I could almost hear him reading the book to me. A good deal of his material I had already heard in sermons, but the points are strong enough (and humorous enough, at times) that it didn't matter. This is a very good and easy read that any Christian wondering how to best live their life in today's culture should pick up.
Relevance meets Reality.......2007-06-27
I have recommended this book to numerous people and all of them (without exception) have gone out of their way to express their gratitude. This book finds its epicenter at the intersection of relevance and biblical reality. This book helped me find such a freedom in my walk with Christ and yet it challenged me to live radically. This book restores my hope in the idea of a modern day church that will do more than just be a remnant. This book helped me to see that you can believe in absolute truth and still reach a world that is dying to meet Truth. You can still believe the Bible to be "truth - without any mixture of error" and still appeal to this generation. Driscoll is honest and refreshing. Hands down one of my top 10 books of all time.
Book Description
Want to put together a terrific adoption profile?
Based on extensive interviews with social workers, adoption attorneys, agency personnel, counselors, and birthparents, REACHING OUT will help you know your audience, clarify your goals, and have confidence in what you present.
It's a tool kit for self-expression that anyone can use.
REACHING OUT takes the fear out of the process of writing about yourself. Chock full of valuable tips and strategies, it will help you speak your heart... authentically, clearly, and with impact
CONTENTS INCLUDE:
• What birthparents look for in a good letter
• Common mistakes and how to avoid them
• Tons of examples, samples, and styles to spark your imagination
• Step-by-step writing and revision techniques to help anyone write well
• Secrets of selecting photographs that work
• Hints for good graphic design
• Tips for writing with your partner
With a foreword by nationally known adoption counselor Carole LieberWilkins, M.A., REACHING OUT also teaches you the keys to creating and sustaining a positive mental outlook throughout the adoption process.
Customer Reviews:
Great book for ideas.......2006-03-02
This was a great book for ideas about your dear birthmother letter. The only negative I found was that all the sample letters were seemingly written by very rich families, making adoption seem more out of the grasp of reality for regular families. But the info and advice that the author gave was extremely helpful!
Essential Reading!.......2005-11-24
I highly recommend Reaching Out to adoptive parents who are told by their agency, attorney, case worker, etc. that they must write a Dear Birthmother Letter. This is the only source of the many that I investigated that had any help for writing a DBL. The one other book that comes up when you search for "Dear Birthmother" cannot compare to the wealth of information in Mr. Handel's book. He covers everything from the details (check your spelling) to philosophies (be yourself) to methods of writing (the I, we, or us letter). Mr. Handel also supplies many writing tips. I found the book to be a great source of inspiration. This was also one of the only adoption-related books my husband read in its entirety. He enjoyed it as well!
Insightful, Entertaining and Informative.......2003-08-13
As an adoption professional, I recommend this book to all of my clients. The author turns the daunting task of drafting an outreach letter into a manageable and enjoyable process. Written with insight, sensitivity and humor, the book guides you from initial idea to final product -- an outreach letter that speaks honestly and compellingly to potential birthmothers.
Great title, great book.......2003-04-09
The "reader from San Jose" has unfortunately never read this wonderful and sensitively written book. In the Foreword, the author clearly explains the use of the term "Dear Birthmother Letter" as the common reference term for these very important letters of introduction. He also directly acknowledges that expectant parents are not properly termed "birthparents" until after they make a placement, and speaks supportively of the expectant father's role in adoption decisions.
This is an extraordinarily helpful book, full of authoritative research, clear guidance, warm humor, and genuine sensitivity to everyone involved in the adoption triad. It was highly recommended to me by both my attorney and my adoption counselor. In the process of helping me write a letter that truly reflected my heart, it also dispelled many of the fears I had, born of misconception. To judge it without reading it does this book, and the adoption community, a grave disservice.
There is something very wrong with the title.......2003-03-24
When I was looking at books on the topic of adoption, this one caught my eye. There is a big mistake, and it's in the title. The parents that prospective adoptive parents write this letter to are NOT birthparents. In fact, they may never be. They are people who are considering an adoption plan. They may choose to parent. Additionally, the father may be quite involved in this process. To ignore him completely by writing a dear birthMOTHER letter seems a little insenstive at best. However, my biggest complaint is with the assumption that the pregnant mom is already a birthmother. For anyone involved in adoption (birthparents, adoptive parents, counselors, attorneys, facilitators) to fail to recognize this important fact leads me to, quite honestly, question their understanding of this process. She is a mother, plain and simple, until the papers are signed.
Customer Reviews:
Must read.......2007-05-13
This is a must read for all Christians who care about meaningful worship.
Marva is marvelous!.......2007-04-28
Marva is marvelous and if you cannot have her as a guest speaker then this book is the next best thing. It will help you resist the temptation to dumb down your worship in order to "attract" new members.
Instead of the thoughtless quick fix method to filing pews (which has a mixed record of success at best) Marva makes the case for quality worship with outstanding, scripturally sound content that will last the week for one and all.
Do buy this book. Share it with the worship committee, your pastor and your governing board of your church. Indeed it would be a great adult education study book or circle study. Before you and your church toss out all that is good and faithful, read why what we do in worship matters so much, in this, the best rationale I know for staying a faithful church.
If you find this review helpful you might want to read some of my other reviews, including those on subjects ranging from biography to architecture, as well as religion and fiction.
A one-sided attack.......2006-12-27
Though a great deal of her book deals with a one-sided attack against what she sees and trivial and "dumbed down" modern worship music, Dawn correctly warns us against going to either of the extremes of traditionalism versus contemporary worship and falls us instead to hold a "dialectical tension of traditionalism and reformation" (Page 93).
While appropriately trivializing some of the more trivial modern praise songs, Dawn seems to ignore the fact that a good deal of modern praise music is simply a verse or two from the Psalms being put to music.
Dawn endorses Thomas Gieschen's criteria for acceptable worship music. First it must not give an invitation to repent or believe the gospel. In support of this point, it is argued that worship is for edification rather than for evangelism. However, all edification necessarily begins with the cross and does not stop short of our appropriation of it. Secondly it rejects any form of synergism that pictures man as searching for God. I would conclude that this means we cannot set Deuteronomy 4:30 or other similar passages of Scripture to music.
Dawn quote Gaddy as stating that "worship is for God. Only!" She then concludes that this foundational criteria would eliminate most battles over worship styles. While it is true that we must never lose sight of the vertical relationship of worship, 1 Corinthians 14 points out a horizontal dimension to worship when it speaks of the legitimate concern we ought to take when an unbeliever attends a worship service.
The place where I agree with Dawn is in her endorsement of a variety of styles that can be used in worship (page 180). She is not inherently opposed to any particular style, but only against limiting worship to one style (Page 187). She quotes Martin Luther's rhetorical question: "Why let the devil have all the good tunes?"
Re-Educating Youth Through God's Intervention........2006-10-31
By the 1990s, the dumbing down of the educational system had infiltrated and become a quandry for the religious establishment. In the thirty years since Johnson had started this dumbing down process for all of the children to be equal in America, they must talk alike whether they think alike or not. The churches had to intervene and train children who did not live in the ghettoes that what they had been learning was brainwashing and they had to reach out to put some semblance of intelligent design to the thinking of most of the population. We are not all New Orleans where they've always talked that way.
The church schools had to try to put matters straight so that upper class and middle class students could return to the level of their parents in the educational system. Our Methodist college in Pulaski never did dumb down as we had only a few foreigners who wished to be taught proper English and not the dumbed down slang out of the projects of America. It took a dumb and stupid person in authority to make this country into the uneducated nation it has become. Drugs and crime proliferated as the language skills hit skid row. Movies were as bad and apparently the teachers were forced to teach in an inferior way. Surely, their higher education courses did not use that kind of language.
Some of the lower classes still don't know grammar in this enlightened age of history. We have a lot to answer to as a person who only pretended to be a historian was only a creative writer. Now, the local daily newspaper has one named Jamie Satterfield, could be female or male, who uses adjectives for complete sentences and uses opinions instead of facts in front page articles. It riles me no end and I complain. But trying to get anything done properly in this town is almost impossible.
Churches have the most influence on young people than the schools these days and the trend can be reversed with the right leaders. Tutors can be used to show them proper English. Now, I understand why the Orientals who come to this town refuse to speak English. Today's version of English grammar is not correct in any language. They prefer to talk in their own dialects and funny-sounding fast talk so that we can't understand what they are saying. The churches could do the same by teaching the old way of Bible talk.
Don't Let Worship Be Flushed Down America's Cultural Toilet.......2005-07-16
This book, along with Thomas Long's "Beyond the Worship Wars" is a must read for all committed Christians, particularly those who are worried about where both Christ-centered worship and church membership numbers are headed in the current wasteland of contemporary culture.
Dawn goes into how we got into the current cultural mess in our society, though given the book's age it is a bit dated as it refers primarily to "Boomers" (from what I've gathered in other research, the situation is similar for GenX, just worse). She then critiques the well meaning (I hope) attempts to reach America's dumbed down, short attention span, commitment phobic generation with worship styles that would be attractive to them, no matter the cost to the Gospel.
Dawn critiques not only contemporary worship but traditionalISM as well. She sees the function of worship (quite correctly, I might add) not as means of attracting numbers (AKA "worship evangelism"), but of having a personal experience with part of God, forming the character of the worshiper, and building community. Both extremes are the antithesis of this.
I have two minor criticisms of this book. Dawn, who I guess has no training in science or technology, tends to present as scientific fact the results of single research studies which appear to be unverified by independent work (to be fair, some are unlikely to be reproduced anytime soon) and might not have had significant peer review. Second she, unlike Long, is a little vague when it comes to solutions, though they seem to be there somewhere. In other words, she can ramble a bit.
Book Description
One of the most important yet difficult skills for children with autism to learn is effective social interaction. Reaching Out, Joining In introduces social skills programs to parents of preschool- and kindergarten-aged children diagnosed with one of the Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD), including Autistic Disorder, Asperger's Disorder, and PDD: Not Otherwise Specified.
Reaching Out, Joining In is based on the authors' decades of clinical experience using Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), a proven educational method, to teach social skills at home and school. This book focuses on four broad topics: Play skills; The language of social skills; Understanding another person's perspective; Functioning in an inclusive classroom.
Reaching Out, Joining In helps parents work with their child's strengths to improve social skills. Following the suggestions and exercises in this book, parents can teach children to: pretend-play, use toys appropriately, know when to use conventional responses like "excuse me," tell jokes, recognize that others' feelings and thoughts are different from their own, and initiate social interaction with peers.
Included are tips for using games, modeling, rewards, role play, videos, activity schedules, and social stories to teach social skills and make the learning experience fun for parents and children. A case study of one family's efforts and successes provides a real-life example that's informative and reassuring. Appendices listing resources such as books, games, and activities give parents additional material to explore.
Parents, teachers, and therapists will find Reaching Out, Joining In an excellent primer to help children with autism become better adjusted socially at home and school. Use this book in conjunction with other Woodbine House titles such as Right from the Start to understand how to use ABA and Activity Schedules for Children with Autism as a teaching tool.
Customer Reviews:
Well written, just not what I was looking for........2002-04-30
My son is on the higher end of the spectrum with at least some rudimentary play skills. This book didn't hold my attention, because I couldn't get through the first few chapters. Having some functional use of toys, I grew tired of explanations of how to get my son how to push a car or roll a ball. GREAT if your kid is at a lower point on the spectrum and needs that level of instruction. There may be areas of interest for higher functioning individuals... I just didn't get there!
Systematic approach to help with social skill building.......2002-03-22
Two expert behavior analysts have produced a very fine work that should be a fixture on every behavioral programmer's shelf. Written in a style that will be easily understood by professional and layperson alike, Weiss and Harris systematically lay out considerations and plans for helping students diagnosed with autistic-spectrum disorders to develop social skills and move towards mainstream activities. The task can seem daunting. Where do you begin to help students to develop social skills? Begin with this book.
Book Description
By investigating the lives of Job, David, Jeremiah, and Jesus, Michael Card reveals how lament can be a cathartic completion of our worship and love of God.
Customer Reviews:
A book you didn't know you needed.......2005-10-09
Mike has crafted a work on an issue of critical importance that nevertheless is largely ignored by the church. "Sacred Sorrow" is not so much a theological treatise as an intimate study of the vital place of lament in the lives of God's people in the past and today.
True lament always leads toward worship, turning one's focus from self to God. A way to true healing of soul and spirit.
In addition to the core material the author has included extensive resources giving insight and direction in learning the art of biblical lament.
His investment in careful study, meditation and writing make this book most worthwhile.
If you have asked God, "Why?" look for help here.......2005-04-30
I have loved Michael Card's music for years.His songs are not just musically interesting, but spiritually challenging. They make me think about who God is, who I am in Him,what does He want from my life, and how do I respond to the gift of salvation through Christ? I should have known that his books would be the same. He is not just a singer, not just an author, he is a scholar - and, fortunately, an eminently readable one. I came to this book through a recent personal tragedy. I thought I had long gotten past asking God "why" but this time, I asked, I cried, I accused - and reading this book, I find I am in good company. Card takes the lives of Job, David, Jeremiah, and Jesus and shows how desperately they use lament when communicating with God during times of great suffering. Each of these men had times in their lives when they asked either "why, God?" or "where are you, God?" I was challenged to see these men's lives, their faith and God's love for them and for me in ways I could never have imagined. In today's modern world of Christianity we have shortchanged God and Scripture by leaving out crying to the Lord from the very depths of our pain and souls. We instead settle for shallow answers such as "well, it must have just been God's will," "God must really love you to allow you to experience such a tragedy" and other really (in my opinion) stupid responses. When a child dies, for example, the family does not want to hear that "God needed an extra special angel," they want to cry out to God in the pain - why did you take our child? where were you when this happened? When we take the time to give voice to our pain through the lost language of lament, only then are we open enough to God for Him to reveal Himself to us and teach us how to worship Him. Life as a Christian was never promised to be easy, we are guaranteed to suffer - and we have to go to the author of life with the full force of our pain to ever find any peace. By our definitions, it was not fair for Saul to want to kill David, for Job to suffer his horrific losses, for Jeremiah to see the destruction of that which he loved, and especially, for Jesus to go to the cross. It is through lament and reaching out for God's grace and loving kindness THROUGH their pain that God could reach them, teach them who he is,allow them to return to worship and accept His will instead of theirs.It is through our lament that God can reach us and teach us more of who He is and remind us that we cannot see enough of what He sees to begin to define "fair." Some of these concepts are hard and need prayerful study, but the time invested is worth every second. Besides the Bible, there are three books which should be on every Christian's reading list - What's So Amazing About Grace by Philip Yancey, Don't Waste Your Life by John Piper, and A Sacred Sorrow by Michael Card. There are other WONDERFUL books and I can't stop reading, but these books can teach us to reach new, higher, and deeper levels in faith and love for God.
A Faith-Building Experience.......2005-03-31
Michael Card has written another excellent book that can strengthen your faith. He always has insights that first, make you think, "Where did he get that?" and then, after you check with the scriptural text, cause you to understand the concept better. He points out that some of the most towering figures of the Bible, notably Job, David, Jeremiah, and even Jesus poured out their laments before the Father. These laments often included feelings that even 21st century Americans have. It is comforting to know that these natural feelings can be expressed and have the potential to make a person stronger. How does my faith compare to these Biblical giants? I think I know now.
Book Description
Proven, compassionate ways to comfort the wounded with practical tips on how to say the right things to friends and loved ones.
Customer Reviews:
A great resource for anyone who wants to make a difference in the lives of those around them........2007-06-06
Have you ever had something difficult happen to a friend and struggled with what to say? If so, then Helping Those Who Hurt by H. Norman Wright is a must read! This practical, insightful resource walks readers through ways they can be an encouragement and a help to someone who has experienced a devastating loss. Whether a friend is going through a divorce, lost a spouse, has been diagnosed with a deadly disease, or experienced heartache or trauma, the question is not whether or not to help but rather how and when to get involved and show that you care.
As a licensed therapist and certified trauma specialist, Wright shares his own story of losing his son at a young age. Thus, his perspective is personal and his advice highly practical. He writes:
"Helping others includes experiencing genuine interest and love for the individual. We can listen and rely upon the power of God for knowing how to respond, but we must also have a genuine interest and love. If it's not there, you can't fake it, and your friend will know if you are. It's so easy to rattle off an answer that's superficial and doesn't meet you friend's need... To help someone else, you need to know when to speak and when enough has been said."
Wright goes inside the mind of both the person who wants to help and the person who has experienced the loss. He explains the struggles of each party. The one who wants to help may be confronted by someone who is suffering from PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) or experiencing the different stages of grieving. Handling the various emotional responses can be challenging and exhausting. At the same time, the one who has experienced the loss may be disoriented, disengaged or trying to distance themselves from those they need. Understanding the responses can go a long way to strengthening the relationship in the long term. He writes:
"What can you expect from a friend who is hurting? Actually, not very much. And the more her experience moves beyond a loss and closer to a crisis or trauma, the more this is true. Sometimes you'll see a friend experiencing a case of the `crazies.' Her response seems irrational. She's not herself. Her behavior is different from or even abnormal compared to the person not going through a major loss. Just remember, she's reacting to an out-of-the-ordinary event. What she experienced is abnormal, so her response is actually quite normal."
One of the best sections of the book offers a list of words better left unsaid. It highlights topics and comments that should be taboo. Comments like "Time will heal" and "God needs him/her more than you do" often do more harm than good. In addition, friends should avoid any clichés that discount a person's feelings, such as "I know just how you feel" and "If there is anything I can do, just call me." Instead, those who want to help should be willing to listen and offer specific services, whether it's making a meal, cleaning around the house or helping with errands.
Helping Those Who Hurt is a great resource for anyone who wants to make a difference in the lives of those around them.
--- Reviewed by Margaret Oines
Good advice.......2004-01-19
H. Wright has had experiences of losses himself so he does no what the person who lost something is thinking. The book is mainly for people who have lost a loved one, but it talks in general statements that include other issues like losing a job. He talks about what the person is going through, what they are thinking, how they will react, and how to handle. He talks about how you can help that hurting person, but usually there's not a lot to do, so he talks a lot about what you shouldn't do or say that might hurt the person more. This is a good book if you really care about someone who just lost a loved one and you want to do the right thing. He also puts each specific topic in each chapter so you can just go to the chapter that you need instruction on and that will help the person, so you don't have to read the whole book before you know what to do (because obviously the needs you right now). And even though this was written by a Christian and it has Christian perspectives, it is just as effective for a secular person, because the only advantage of the person that died is that if he is a Christian then he is going to Heaven, but H. Wright says that most statements about that assurance doesn't help, so it will help the secular person the same it will a Christian.
Average customer rating:
- Excellent primer on niche marketing!
- A forward-thinking informational and instruction guide
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Reaching Out: The Financial Power of Niche Marketing
Doris Barrell , and
Mark Nash
Manufacturer: Dearborn Real Estate Education
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ASIN: 0793161142
Release Date: 2003-06-06 |
Book Description
Authors, Doris Barrell and Mark Nash recount their own experiences in the real estate industry and share others in this practical guide for reaching a particular market segment. Whether targeting first-time homebuyers or empty nesters, all real estate professionals will find Reaching Out an indispensable marketing tool.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent primer on niche marketing!.......2003-10-28
That's the basic message in this excellent primer on niche marketing. Although the words "real estate" are not in the title, that's what the book is all about. An interesting plus to this book is an Afterword Essay by real estate educator Marcia Russell titled "Fair Housing Law in Practice." There's also a useful appendix which includes Web sites that would be helpful in exploring niche markets. Dr. Kenneth W. Edwards, GRI, Book and Video Reviewer, The Real Estate Professional Magazine
A forward-thinking informational and instruction guide.......2003-10-10
Doris Barrell and Mark Nash are real estate experts with years of experience in the field. They draw upon their considerable expertise in Reaching Out: The Financial Power Of Niche Marketing which was specifically written to bring to light changes in the evolving real estate market. Reaching Out stresses that the era of focusing on a specific piece of territory has passed - that for the successful real estate agent or investor, it's now about making connections and relationships with clients, buyers, and individual people that matters, and not merely limiting oneself to a specialization in a particular geographical area. Reaching Out is commended as a well-written and forward-thinking informational and instruction guide appropriate for anyone involved in the contemporary real estate industry.
Book Description
In this compelling and provocative book, Dr. Brené Brown explores the complexities of shame and its silent and secretive influence over women's lives. Dr. Brown spent four years interviewing over 200 women about shame and its impact on the way they live, love, parent, work and develop relationships. The raw honesty and painful truths of these interviews make it clear that shame continues to play a significant and damaging role in women's lives. Yet, through a compassionate weaving of informal anecdotes, thought-provoking illustrations, ground-breaking research and personal insights, Dr. Brown delivers a promising message of hope: We are all capable of overcoming shame and of helping other women and girls do the same.
Throughout the book, Dr. Brown shares information, ideas and strategies for understanding shame across a wide range of topics, including appearance, sex, body image, motherhood, parenting, health, aging, family, addiction and religion. In a clear and accessible format, supported by poignant and relevant case examples, the book identifies and explains four key elements that allow women to transform shame into connection, power and freedom.
Regardless of who we are, how we were raised or what we believe, all of us fight the silent and lonely battles of not being enough, not having enough and not belonging enough. Women and Shame teaches us how to move from isolation to connection and inspires us to reach out to others who also need to hear "You are not alone."
Customer Reviews:
Something for Everyone.......2004-12-13
Shame can be a very powerful and painful topic to explore. I think the book does an excellent job of helping us understand why it makes us feel so alone. We are inundated with messages about the importance of being liked, being accepted and being perfect. Sometimes we know that we have turned a part of ourselves over to those messages, but sometimes we don't really understand why we feel so inferior. This book helps us understand this phenomenon. More importantly, it helps us understand what we can do about it. As I read this book I thought about my sons as much as I thought about my daughter. I thought about all of the messages that teach him what "a man is."
I think the book is well written and the research is well done. I appreciate the author's numerous references to the Stone Center at Wellesley. I think their work tackles many of the same issues addressed by Brown. Brown also references Harriet Lerner, Jean Kilbourne and the research team of Tangney and Dearing. Based on the author's suggestions, I tracked down several of these books and found them to be very informative. Kilbourne's work on the media is excellent.
If I could change one thing about the content, I wish it included Brown's work on men. Based on the lecture I attended, she seems to believe that men and women are more alike than they are different. I also think it might be helpful to have an index. I found myself wanting to go back to certain sections and having to flip through the book to find them. Last, it might be helpful to include the academic references as an appendix in the book. I was interested in the research so I downloaded them from the author's website, but I only knew about that because I attended her lecture.
I think we can all benefit from understanding how shame works and how it changes our beliefs about ourselves. Reading this book is a powerful start. It's based on research but written for everyone. I'm using it everyday in my work as a therapist and I've also recommended to my neighborhood book club.
Thought Provoking, Honest, Empowering.......2004-10-29
As a mom to a young daughter, a researcher, clinical social worker and educator; I appreciate the courage of the over 200 women who shared their stories with Dr. Brown so she would be able to get their voices heard. The tools that the women identified and were articulated in this book provide a base for empowerment of both women and men in our society who are challenged with feelings of shame. The integrity of Dr. Brown's research is sound. I applaud the efforts of this author. It is going to be a great gift for many of my friends, family, and colleagues for the holiday season.
A Must-Read for every teen........2004-08-23
Althouh this book doesn't apply to every woman, every woman should read it. Two therapist friends who happen to be male found it very enlightening as well. It can provide courage & confidence for the teen approaching womanhood.
Honest and Insightful.......2004-07-08
I once heard a theologian say that we should "keep the cookies on the bottom shelf"- in other words, keep the good information accessible to everyone. This is exactly what Dr. Brene Brown has done. This is a book with excellent content that is for normal women rather than academics only. It takes the very nebulous and personal topic of shame and gives us practical ways to think about it and to deal with it in our own lives. Her personal stories and humor really make the book.
Wow, buy this book. It could change your life........2004-07-02
I am glad that I bought this book. I found it to be engaging and thought provoking. The author reveals some of herself in this book in a "down to earth" way. I am thankful for her honesty and find it refreshing. Her interviews with hundreds of other women and their quotes speak to power of this topic. Those quotes are worth the price of the book alone. I could not put this book down. Not only did I enjoy reading this book (which we all want in the summer time); I don't feel guilty for reading it because I laughed while learning about myself and the painful topic of shame. You should buy this book so you can feel empowered. I am changed for the better since reading Dr. Brown's book.
Book Description
"A must-read book for any committed adventurer of the heart. Dr. Jeffers provides clear, specific strategies to have the love and life you always dreamed of having. And much more."
HAROLD H. BLOOMFIELD, M.D.
Author of HOW TO MAKE PEACE WITH YOUR PARENTS
We've all felt it. Unsure. Alone. Anxious. Unworthy. When it comes to reaching out to others, we've all heard the little voice inside our heads telling us to stop. Why face rejection? In this empowering book, bestselling author Dr. Susan Jeffers reveals to us the heart and soul of connection. Her insights and tools pave the way for ending isolation and loneliness and creating a sense of belonging anywhere we go. We learn that this is a world where there are no strangers and we never need to feel alone.
Customer Reviews:
Absolutely fantastic.......2002-08-28
This is one of the most important books I have ever read, and I know it has been so for many of my friends. I say this because I started a weekly discussion group centered around this book and many people would tell me how profoundly grateful they were to be exposed to the concepts here.
I don't think it's fair to try to compare this book to her earlier "Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway" because that book is about overcoming fears that inhibit you, and this one is about new attitudes to make your social life flourish. There are a few parallels, but the books only compliment eachother.
The most important concept here for me was that of "everbody training" - the idea that social situations become more rewarding and less stressful if, instead of trying to create external successes, you focus on creating positive situations for everyone around you. Instead of pressuring yourself to get a woman's phone number at a party (getting something for yourself), make a point of helping her to have a good time there, even if it isn't with you (giving to the community). The neat thing about this is that it becomes easier to make contact with new people AND makes you a more desirable friend at the same time.
The author does NOT present gimmicks or strategies that only work for confident people in unusual situations: it ALL applies to everyone and helps build your confidence about yourself and your abilities in social situations. One caution: don't think you can read this book and suddenly go from being a shy nerd to a confident person with dozens of friends overnight! It takes time, practice and may need to be integrated into one's self-improvement efforts.
Dare To Connect.......2001-02-16
I didn't think "Dare TO Connect" was quite as good as Susan Jeffers' book "Feel the Fear". But she gave me many ideas to think about in communicating with others. The main idea of the book is to understand yourself and reach out to others. It is also a spiritual book about our Higher Self. It has given me a better understanding of how to treat others as part of God's plan. We are all here for each other.
Books:
- Redefining Black Film
- Rising Sun
- Streetwise Washington, DC (Streetwise)
- Syndrome X: Overcoming the Silent Killer That Can Give You a Heart Attack
- The Big Sea: An Autobiography (American Century Series)
- The Collected Poems of Langston Hughes
- The Color Purple
- The Dark-Thirty: Southern Tales of the Supernatural: (Newbery Honor Book, Coretta Scott King Author Award, ALA Notable Children's Boo k) (Coretta Scott King Author Award Winner)
- The Dreamkeepers: Successful Teachers of African American Children
- The Easy Way to Play 100 Unforgettable Hits (Reader's Digest Songbook)
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- The Seventeen Traditions
- Lean For Life: Phase One - Weight Loss
- Crossing Bully Creek
- Embroideries
- Girl Crazy: The Art of Michal Dutkiewicz
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- Backyard Pets: Activities for Exploring Wildlife Close to Home
- Creating Hawaii Tourism
- The apartment manager's desk reference
The Inner Voice of Love: A Journey Through Anguish to Freedom
Life of the Beloved: Spiritual Living in a Secular World
The Wounded Healer: Ministry in Contemporary Society
Integrative Approaches to Psychology and Christianity: An Introduction to Worldview Issues, Philosophical Foundations, and Models of Integration
Psychology, Theology, and Spirituality in Christian Counseling (AACC Library)
