Title : The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens: The Ultimate Teenage Success Guide
Author : Sean Covey
Rating : 5 Stars out of 5.
Summary : Excellent
This book really is well written, and perfect for a teenager. Sean Covey has got it spot on, and it actually works. Its very easy to read, and also very enjoyable. I have recommended it to many friends, and they have taken a lot form it. This beek also makes a perfect gift. None of us seem to have much "life-management" in this day and age, so this beek can really change a person for the better, whilst they are in their youth. Its good to see that the writing skills were passed down in Stephen Covery's family.
Title : The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change
Author : Stephen R. Covey
Rating : 2 Stars out of 5.
Summary : A number of years
I read this book a number of years ago as part of a semester long class with it as the main teaching tool. From what I remember it provides good insights into time management, prioritizing tasks and breaking down a goal into bite size pieces so that a person isn't overwhelmed by the size of what needs to be done.
Title : S.U.M.O. (Shut Up, Move On): The Straight-Talking Guide to Creating and Enjoying a Brilliant Life
Author : Paul McGee
Rating : 5 Stars out of 5.
Summary : Does what it says on the tin!
How refreshing to read a 'motivational type' book that doesn't pretend that everything in the garden is rosey but one that takes an honest, humourous and practical look at how to get the most from our lives.The author's openess about his own everyday challenges gives the book an easy to identify with feel, whilst also providing some moments to pause and reflect. I have to say what drew to the book in the first place was it's title... superb!( For once I can read a book on the tube without feeling embarrassed by the title). In summary, it's readable, practical, realistic, humourous and inspirational...AND in the midst of the busy lives and hetic schedules that many of us lead, this won't take an age to read. I look forward to the next offering from the SUMO Guy!
Title : Sink Reflections
Author : Marla Cilley
Rating : 5 Stars out of 5.
Summary : Get rid of your clutter and your cleaning lady...
Discovered the Flylady.net website last year, and bought the book soon afterwards. Since then, our house (and world) has been turned around. A simple system to keep the house clean and uncluttered. Nothing extraordinary, not rocket science, just common sense. But it makes keeping house fun and easy - never thought I'd say that!!! The system might sound a bit crazy at first (drying/shining your sink every night), but give it a shot for a week and you'll be converted. Buy the book to keep by your bedside, but make sure you sign up for the (free) e-mail service, to get you truly on your way. www.flylady.net
Title : Unleash the Warrior Within: Develop the Focus, Discipline, Confidence and Courage You Need to Achieve Unlimited Goals
Author : Richard Machowicz
Rating : 4 Stars out of 5.
Summary : Some good ideas here, worth a read
It's not that easy to evaluate and review `self-help' books, as what I find useful is probably not at all useful to someone else. I guess it depends on what your perceived `problem' is, or more positively, what is `your area of desired improvement'.
I liked this book, I found it very helpful. This book deals with fears that are preventing you from becoming the person you wish or be or attaining a target that you are aiming for in your life.
The approach is very aggressive as you would expect from the title and front cover. Machowicz encourages you to `live life aggressively'. Machowicz draws on his experience as a Navy SEAL, and tells us about how he went through some very extreme situations that inevitably lead to fear and how he developed mechanisms to cope with and conquer that fear. It is a macho approach and in some places reads very much like the true to life novel by Andy McNab, `Bravo Two Zero'. However, I don't think that should put readers off, there is some very useful insights here. Take the CARVER matrix for example. This is a target evaluation method of military origin. Machowicz applies it to everyday life. If you enter `Waging Project Management Warfare' into a search engine you will find an article where an attendee of one of Machowicz classes applies the principle to software development!
There is definitely as much value in reading this as in relying solely on the works of desk bound psychologists.
I also liked the fact that it was written relatively recently, 2002. The context is relevant. I have read seminal works that were written nearer the turn of the last century, and although the content of these is beyond reproach they are very dated and increasingly hard to relate to the present and the type of problems encountered in today's world.
Some of the author's quotes come from such diverse works as Dune, by Frank Herbert. He refers to the training of Paul Atreides where he is taught that `fear is the mindkiller'. As a part-time Sci-Fi fan, I am encouraged to read a self-help book that values some of my favourite literature.
Throughout the book Machowicz refers to his self-defence style called Bukido. This comes across as a bit of a blatant sales pitch, but does nonetheless encourage the curious to enter `Bukido' into a search engine to see what it is all about. You might want to do that before you buy the book! Machowicz seems to be aggressively following his own advice, and is also now a TV star I believe hosting `Future Weapons' on the Discovery channel. Maybe that in itself should suggest that there is something of value in this book. However, reading the output of famous people telling us `how to become successful' does not always work. I'm thinking of the book by Noel Edmunds, `Positively Happy'. It is also very hard to determine if you should take the cynical, and possibly accurate viewpoint, that the author is more interested in selling his product, in this case his book and his training courses, than he is in the altruistic intent of making you a better person.
The author's intentions and motivations aside, I picked some ideas from this book that I liked and am actively making use of them. Although I have completed the book I still want to review some of the sections at a later date. So for me there was some useful ideas here and so I give it a four star rating.
Title : Quantum Success: The Astounding Science of Wealth and Happiness
Author : Sandra Anne Taylor
Rating : 5 Stars out of 5.
Summary : No other book will beat this one!
This is the best book i've ever read! Ladies and gents, achieving success is not as hard as we think! All I can say; read this book, you will NOT regret it!
Best wishes to all of you!
Title : You Can Heal Your Life
Author : Louise L. Hay
Rating : 5 Stars out of 5.
Summary : brilliant
I read this book some many years ago, and as i was writing reviews i thought i would do one for this. At the time i read this book i thought it was tremendously good. A great value to anyone looking at healing of any nature. Also of value to anyone who needs some inspiration. Well done Louise. A great book.
Other Related Resources:
1: http://nutrihealth.in/2008/06/eat-and-write-how-to-maintain-weight-with-a-food-diary/
2: http://www.clickonf5.org/microsoft/how-create-signature-outlook-branding/2001
3: http://www.infomercial-hell.com/blog/2008/12/22/this-motivational-cd-may-be-the-most-depressing-product-ever/
4: http://www.news.magznetwork.com/captivating-winery-websites-for-your-inspiration.html
5: http://www.tjwalker.com/2007/12/28/why-is-motivational-speaking-so-hard-to-do-well/
