Inspiration Books

This is an excellent book to change the course of your life.

Cathy Howell

Joseph Murphy has a wonderfully easy way of conveying information in his writings. I feel that he is to the point in making everything understandable. In The Power of the Subconscious Mind, he brings to light how our thoughts make our life experience what it is. What we believe, we achieve, whether negative or positive. We attract to us what we send out to the Universe. So, if we don't like how our lives are going, we must change our thoughts to correspond with what we want instead. Easy to read, easy to apply. I read this book many years ago and have proven over and over how to apply its teachings. I lost my copy and purchased a new one so that I could re-read it. I am a spiritual counselor and his teachings are wonderful to use in helping others to over come their situations. I have given this book to several people, who have discovered a new way of thinking, thus a better way of living.

This book was simply Awesome! I had gone online to read the reviews before I purchased the book; And found that most people felt the way I do after reading this powerful book. I would recommend it to anyone that is looking to see life from a different angle. Enjoy!!

This is my favorite edition of this book. I am so much more satisfied with Dr. Murphy's words, rather than the rewritten version that the other publisher has. I don't understand why you'd want to rewrite such a wonderful and well written book. The original is almost always the best, certainly it is in this case. The power of positive thinking is alive and well!

The revised edition has a pleasant writing style that that made it easy for me to apply what's taught in the book. It also uses the word "prayer" for the technique we're encouraged to employ. I find this helpful because it assists me to avoid my biggest pitfall when I use mind techniques: I push too hard and try to force outcomes. I find the style of this book promotes humility while still enabling me to be positive towards a specific outcome or goal. What I'm calling "humility" is actually getting my conscious mind and ego out of the way by aligning my intention with the transcendent power of a loving God. There are specific examples of the types of "prayers" that have been used successfully. I find that when I apply these principles my mood is better, my health is better and my life is better.

Most of those drawn to practice have had the experience of being moved by the open perspective of a teacher's words. While words alone can be supportive of practice, this work also provides a very clear introduction to the practice of inquiry. The reader who is willing to spend time with the questions at the end of each chapter will have the opportunity to gently shift their perspective with regard to self and life.

Broadly speaking, Almaas has written two kinds of books. His Diamond Heart series is an easy to read survey of the practice perspective of the Diamond Approach. His Diamond Mind series provide a detailed and scholarly examination of critical aspects of practice. In terms of flavor, this book is as approachable as the Diamond Heart books. For those who are unfamiliar with this approach or perhaps even new to any kind of practice, this book is a wonderful introduction. In addition to mindfulness and meditation, the Diamond Approach uses inquiry as a support for practice. While inquiry isn't the subject of this book, the short chapters are followed by a series of gentle questions. Working with these questions individually or with a partner not only gives a flavor or this form of practice, but also allows the reader to move beyond the tightly held assumptions about self and life that we all embody. Even those who are familiar with Almaas should find freshness in this work that is supportive of their practice.

I can see that the author is very wise, and many people think he is a fine teacher, but I'm just not swept away by this one. The sense that I got is that Almaas is subtly making a Doing out of Being.

We spend so much of our lives trying to get somewhere else. This book revealed to me how this habit of striving interferes in my inner experience of what is happening now. Learning to truly experience what is happening now does not mean being passive. It does not mean that I refuse to take action. It means that if I am sad, I experience that sadness, rather than rushing to cover it up with wishing for a different inner experience. I can take action to change circumstances without denying what my experience is with the current circumstance. Wanting my experience to be different is subtly different from wanting external change. I can work to improve communication and understanding in my family or community without denying my own inner experience at each moment whether it be frustration, anger, fear or joy. Almaas teaches with great clarity the "how to" of being present and tells us that being ourselves, being real, means being our True Nature.

Rarely do teachers reveal the essence of practice in incredibly clear and simple words which penetrate the veils in those of us who are still deeply longing to understand the truth of our nature more. For me this book has quenched a profound depth of that thirst. The quiet nature of this teaching in the diamond approach reveals itself incredibly slowly, but as it does, if one is sincere enough, the unmistakable feeling of finally being at home abides. As I see it this book is Hameed's attempt to reach out to a wider audience with the core of this diamond approach path. Beyond any means that I can understand Hameed, a man of incredible intelligence and mind boggling spiritual sophistication, speaks to us newer students with remarkable clarity simplicity and 'in-touchness'. Never have I heard a teacher communicate so clearly and gently about the task, from the beginning, of the soul learning to find itself again via; this practice of learning how to be real, letting go of judgments about 'real-ity', and then simply existing, calmly, as yourself unfolding now. It seems as though Hameed is saying all suffering is caused by us not simply being where we are, as we are. Various mind conjured resistances, unconscious and conscious, keep us from Reality, which is all the time displaying itself right under our noses. This is a step by step guide in learning to start, stabilize and deepen the being philosophy which the diamond approach offers. A manuscript of value I have trouble putting in to words. A clear, simple, spacious and detailed talk about this journey, told by a man, who if listened to, can not help but awaken ourselves.

Living the Creative Life is challenging me to look at creativity in many new ways. The approach taken from the viewpoint of many different artists in many different media shows the versitality of our innate creative spirit. The idea that all humans are creative if they allow that part of the whole person to flourish is not new to me, but the way this author discusses the creative spirit is fresh. The book is beautiful to look at and I love the format -- small size, lovely illustrations and great ideas for jump starting creativity.

By asking several artist's the same question, it shows there is no "right" way. Everyone comes to their art with their own style. Great idea's to jump start the muse. The imagery was beautiful.

You can't but be inspired after reading this wondrous book! I will admit first hand, I personally have no intention (nor the talent), to ever become a world class artist by any means. I do have passion to create however, and this book along with another I received around the same time, Your Home A Living Canvas: Create Stunning Faux Finishes & Murals with Paint, by Curtis Heuser, have almost convinced me to rethink my day job. How rewarding (and envious), it sounds from all these talented souls, to be devoted and fortunate enough to get to spend their time without a doubt, doing what they love. Not to say it is without effort, but the pure joy and love for expression, explodes off the pages and simply can not be denied in both of these glorious titles.

Unlike the various first hand artistic testimonials featured throughout "THE CREATIVE LIFE..." - "YOUR HOME..." follows just one decorative artist's amazing creative journey, leading to the publishing of his extroidinary first book which documents the rebirth of his ordinary historic home, through must see mural and faux painting techniques and decoration. In addition, Heuser's book is full of beautiful before, during and after photography, and inspiring how to do the same for your own home-projects. There are similarities in both of these titles however, as the reader will discover and can almost touch the often unexplicable creative passion in the hearts and spirits of these diversely talented artistans.

There appears a special kinship between the artists and authors of both these books - as each are driven by the undeniable desire to express themselves through a wide range of interesting art mediums. I want to personally "Thank" both authors for so eloquently and unselfishly sharing their work and individual views on creativity with us! Both books offer rare insight and are worthy of our every penny! ENJOY!!!!

It is hard to imagine anyone could read this book without stopping multiple times to experiment with some form of art explorations of their own. The author makes it seem natural and oh so inviting. The only drawback is the small print on busy pages. It is sometimes difficult to read the suggestions.

I know a couple artists that submitted their work to this book and I was happy to see them included!
I think any book that helps people with inspiration is great.

I do think this book is a bit fluffy. At least for me. I was hoping for something different maybe. Something meatier ~ Thanks

There are times when it is difficult to understand the book. The instructions can be as convoluted as the systems in the body, but once you figure them out they work very well. I have a greater feeling of wellness and better understanding of my body. I am more in tune with the interconnectedness of the body and have more to integrate into my yoga classes. It is better than the cover, even. I recommend it

Often overlooked, the pelvic floor is the key to core strength and feelings of power and self-control (or powerlessness). In every one of his books, Erik Franklin gives the most beautiful metaphors and excellent instructions to reclaim your body. These exercises are particularly fun.

Anita Boser, author of Relieve Stiffness and Feel Young Again with Undulation

This book takes pelvic floor understanding and excercise to a new level. the power of visualisation to heal does help the process

This book is a gem, though I agree with several reviewers that the cover illustration is a poor choice. Luckily, it was one of the few poor choices that the author allowed into this book. The sequence of exercises, the illustrations and the well constructed mental imagery make a topic that is very difficult to "wrap you head around", feel accessible. This is a difficult task because few persons that have any grasp of the material covered in this book would even attempt to teach it without a hands-on face-to-face access to a student. Teaching this material is made even more difficult since our culture imparts many social difficulties in even speaking about this portion of the anatomy.
I teach taiji and various moving meditations and have some knowledge of numerous martial arts and meditative body works that all consider subtle control of the pelvic floor muscles to be a critical step in internal energy work. Teaching or coaching a person to mentally discover, and then actively work with these muscles can be very difficult, for all the reasons Eric Franklin outlines in this book. If the only thing that I got from this book was improving my repertoire of images for working with students it would have been a great find. However, the most important aspect of this book was that I found his exercises helped me to improve my own connection with, and sensation into, these important integrators of my internal somantic space. I wish to express my sincere gratitude to the author for this book, the gratitude that a student feels towards a teacher when new learning blossoms. Thank you

I am a Pilates Studio owner and instructor, and a lot of my female clients who have had children, suffer from incontinence. It's just something they cannot control. It is very embarrassing. Every time they sneeze or cough they lose control of their bladder. This book helps them to understand how to work the muscles of the pelvic floor to stop incontinence. It is very informative. It has also given me other ideas for exercises specifically for this problem. I would recommend anyone with this problem to get this particular book.

this book is soo insightful .... i just breeds compassion for everyone else
out there, who doesn't do things "your way" .... now you understand
their motivation ..... weather it's fear, love, curiosity .... ect. It also
helps you understand where you go under stress .... and when you are in
alignment .... you can see why 2 people who have had the exact same experience
can see things COMPLETELY differently ....

This book makes it easy for beginners to understand the nine types of the enneagram. Illustrated with a number of simple cartoons, this book makes an excellent companion to more in-depth works such as the introduction by Richard Rohr and Andreas EbertThe Enneagram: A Christian Perspective or by Helen PalmerThe Enneagram: Understanding Yourself and the Others In Your Life. The book includes quizzes for readers to use in identifying themselves or others; I found these to be quite helpful. It's a fun book, both textually and visually, but don't think that it's shallow; it contains a great deal of excellent information. If I had one criticism, it's that the book struck me (a male) as written primarily from the female point of view. Then again, that in itself might be a valuable source of insight! This book is well worth the price and a great addition to one's library.

For me this book is delightful (I am a type 7). I already had a couple of very dry and informative books on this topic and then my friend and I were introduced to this book at an Enneagram training session. I makes us laugh, helps us to understand the types in an easily accessible way and I pick it up often. Have just ordered copies for friends and other books by the same authors. Enjoy it for what it is, the clue is in the title. It does not cover all aspects of the Enneagram, you wil need other books for that.

True, this is not going to be one of those dense and scholarly tomes footnoted with information on the deep spiritual history of the Enneagram - but that's okay. In fact, it's a good thing. These authors have decided to put a new spin on the Enneagram and serve up information in a fresh new way. Basically, they're bypassing the reader's formal, conscious mind which has a short attention span and is probably hopelessly burdened with information-overload, and are appealing to one's sense of play.

You open the sturdy, oversized trade paperback and immediately see the cartoon drawings: fun and appealing. Look closer, and you'll notice their insightfulness. Many illustrate all nine Enneagram types in the same setting (such as a dinner party), having distinctly different reactions. The opportunity to compare and contrast the types is funny and illuminating.

Meanwhile the text organizes a chapter for each Enneagram type. Within each chapter is a helpful quiz to determine if you are that type, plus capsule descriptions of that type that emphasize the practical rather than the abstract. For example, How to Get Along with a Four, What I Like about Being a Six, Eights as Children, Twos as Parents, What's Hard about Being a Five, Typical Thoughts of a Seven.

Once you've identified your type, you can turn to the helpful suggestions about improving your health, career, and relationships. You also learn all of the basic information about the Enneagram that one needs to know: the Wing of each type (that is, the neighboring type that influences you), and to which direction on the circular Enneagram diagram you tend to move when evolving in positive or negative ways. Not quite enough info in the book to warrant a five-star review (that would be asking a lot) but highly recommended as an introduction.

I hestitate to place anyone--particularly children--into personality categories, especially because by using the methods taught to me in this book, The Enneagram Made Easy, I couldn't find a single personality type with which to identify whole-heartedly. One minute I believed I was "The Achiever," only to find equal identifications with "The Perfectionist," "The Helper" and "The Romantic." Now, I ask, is that a flaw with the way the determining factors of the enneagram are presented within these pages or a flaw with me/my interpretation? And what do we really gain by placing labels on people? I will say this philosophy is a bit more interesting to me than using signs of the Zodiac. But they're on a par.

With artistic, coloring book-like layout and several simple cartoon depictions, this book serves as a good and easy-to-understand portrayal of what can be a complicated theory. We used it with high schoolers in a Sunday School program and it served as a good springboard for discussion.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS BOOK..IT IS SO EASY TO READ AND UNDERSTAND. ITS WORTH THE FULL PRICE. HIS TIPS WORKS AND HE SPEAKS FROM EXPERIENCE NOT FROM A PHD ....YOU WILL ENJOY THIS BOOK AND THEN PASS IT ON TO YOUR FRIENDS.

This book is insightful and very pratical.. a good handbook to guide parents along..
namaste!

Parenting With Fire: Lighting Up the Family with Passion and Inspiration

I Love all of Shmuley's books. He does NOT give you the "Jewish way" he gives you the human way of doing things. He does not "preach" to you but makes you realize there is a better/different way. I will continue to purchase and take to heart his books and advice.

This was such a quick read and the author has a great down to earth style to his writing. I was very humbled by this book. I think it gives such excellent ideas about living your best life and creating the same for your children. I'm going to 4 baby showers this year and I will be giving this book as a present to every one of the moms!

This is a great and a MUST read! He does have religious references-- after all he is a Rabbi-- but, if you take his religious references as just that, an example, he has a great message of intregity.

I have read all her books and they are all 5 stars, but this is my favorite. This is so jam packed with good information I would love to listen to it over and over while walking or driving.

The author gives very specific, relevant ideas and information that is easily usable. Excellent!

love the book so far. it is very well written and there is a lot of useful information.

When my brother recommended this book, I was skeptical about reading it as I've read many other books on the subject and felt I knew pretty much all there was to know on the subject. I visited Amazon and read the reviews and based on the reviews and my brothers insistence, I went ahead and purchased this book. Let me just say that this was the best purchase I've made in quite some time. This book is unlike any other book that I've read on the subject. Secrets of Success is life changing and discusses the law of attraction in a way that is easy to apply from the moment you start reading. I have recommended this book to everyone I love and care about and everyone has had the same kinds of aha moments that I experienced. This title is highly recommended.

Easy reading and easy to follow her approach on changing your thoughts and emotions and thereby changing your life....the Law of Attraction. Very well done and also would recommend Living The Secret Everyday: My Secret Workbook because this book too has a different approach (workbook to reinforce) and you should read both.

Dr. Myles Munroe is especially Gifted and Called to serve our "today". The Study Guide he authored was led by our Lord and is one of learning the route to a deeper life, experiencing spiritual guidelines for many life changing issues and all is backed with the Word of God. The Study Guide is quite easy to use and any and all should expect spiritual growth when their 40 days are complete.

The "Kingdom Principles Study Guide" is designed as a supplement to Myles Munroe's book "Kingdom Principles" and is made up of 40 lessons to be used over a 40 day period.

Each daily lesson includes: A scripture verse for the day, a daily devotion based on an excerpt taken from the book "Kingdom Principles," several related thought provoking, application questions, and a meditation. These include principles for contemplation, concepts for consideration, and distinctiveness of the Kingdom of God to experience.

I found the devotional thoughts motivational and inspirational, the application questions stimulating and compelling, and the meditations to be rich with a moving, and meaningful focus.

This is an important, comprehensive study guide that will help the reader expand their kingdom living experience as they reflect anew on "Kingdom Principles."

Great study guide about the Kingdom and how God wants us to set up His Kingdom here on earth. God is our King and we are to rule under Him. This 40 day devotional will encourage and enlighten your life.

Great Book and was enlightening because this book helps you understand your place in God's Kingdom. Very inspirational and very good read.

All of the Kingdom books by Myles Munroe are a must for anyone and everyone seeking the truth about the Kingdom of God

I loved this book and want to read it again. When I first read it, alone in my living room, I nodded, grunted, and laughed out loud. A few sections made my eyes fill with tears. I kept thinking, "I've got to buy a copy of this for so-and-so."

Todd begins with an anecdote about buying a lovely antique. When this item turns out to be a fake, Todd wonders why this should even matter. After all, the object is still beautiful; it hasn't changed. He then goes on to explore both the nature of authenticity and the history of our yearning for it.

He follows a meandering path, which is a large part of the book's charm. I loved the asides and byways, many of which left me with a desire to travel further along them. I also loved the details contained in these asides. I'm grateful, too, for the specific titles that Todd mentions. Most of all, though, I loved the tone: kind, thoughtful, inclusive, and deeply human. Todd does not make this an abstract discussion. He personalizes it in ways that will help every reader know just what he means.

I read this quickly so I could pass on my copy to my brother. Now I need more copies to give as gifts. I guess the first person to get one will be me.

I am the brother who received the gift of Mr. Todd's book . Its excellence and wit has produced within me, among flushes of admiration and enjoyment, a few ominous polyps of envy; the sneaking suspicion that Mr. Todd is simply "better" than I am. Because my sister and I are both writers, "better" in this case, maps not only the geography of witty and elegant prose; but also a writer's envy of ideas so admirably turned as to make one suspect that Mr Todd possesses the sole example a lathe designed to express them as perfectly appropriately as the leg of a fine Queen Anne chair. An idea appears, is isolated for examination, and then twirled and turned around and upside down, until every perspective and permutation has been considered. Other readers, like myself, undoubtedly hold opinions about kitsch, Disneyland, authenticity, antique fairs, Yuppie suburban interlopers, wilderness, personal failings and cultural collapse, but I'll wager that by the end of this book those opinions will have been revised and certainly better articulated. Mr. Todd's genius is that he can make you laugh while he forces you do this. I'll think better of myself because I have bought and shared copies of this book with friends and resisted the temptation of inserting his observations into conversations as my own. Yet having admitted that, I can see that even this dishonorable impulse, is part of the terrain this wonderful book maps.

This is the most awesome book for people living or working with someone with Aspergers. I have an adult son with AS,and if I had this wonderful resource when he was small, it would have been MORE than helpful. It is the most comprehensive book I have read on the subject, and I have read a good number.
It covers general info about Asperger Syndrome, what it looks like, how it is diagnosed, options and interventions, medication, special ed basics,and the child's emotional life, to name just a few.
It is well written and easy to read and understand.
I highly recommend this book for parents of children recently diagnosed with Aspergers! A wealth of good info!

This book is clear, insightful and informative. It also provides great support for parents. I love how it covers the whole child.

I checked this out at my local library and knew I needed a copy for my resource files. Excellent reference with lots of good information and insight as advertised. Resources available in book may be outdated, but it is worth having if you are interested in learning more about this condition. Shipping was quick and arrived in excellent condition as a new book at a great price.

The OASIS Guide to Asperger Syndrome: Completely Revised and Updated: Advice, Support, Insight, and Inspiration

A helpful guide to recognizing and dealing with this syndrome.

Very informative. Very detailed. This is a must have for Parents just starting to discover Aspergers.