Rating: 
Summary: Instruction Book for Living the Life of Your Dreams
Review: I read this book when I was struggling with my job, but didn't know for sure what to do next. This was the first book I read that really helped me to break out of my limited way of thinking about my career. The first half of the book encourages you to suspend reality for a while, just like watching a great movie! You can dream as big as you like and get real excited about the possibilities of a life beyond the one you are in. Then the second half brings you gently back down to reality, but provides you with real tools for capturing the essence of your dream and finding a way to start moving toward it. For me, I've always dreamed of "making a difference" in the world. But I spent my time helping companies market their websites. This book helped me to see that if I could find some companies that are "making a difference" and help them with my interactive marketing skills, then I too would be "making a difference"!
Rating:
Summary: Simple, easy to read, down-to-earth, fun and empowering.
Review: I teach a workshop series titled "Sabotage to Success" and I recommend this book to all my workshop participants. I read Ms. Sher's book about seven years ago and still find it to be one of the best books I've read. If you want to change you life and have fun doing it, this book is a must.
Rating: 
Summary: A Fun Addition to Your Tools of Self-Discovery
Review: I truly love this little book. I was originally introduced to it years ago when I was not sure I wanted to stay in mental health, and a mentor suggested I check it out. I found the exercises a blast and very original. My favorite: the one in which Sher suggests you play a spy in your own house or apartment, taking notes on what "the occupant" wears, how they decorate, etc.,in order to find out more about them. These tasks were just as good at increasing my own self awareness as finding career direction. They also reminded me of things I loved or wanted that I hadn't had the chance to do or missed doing....such as living in the town I wanted, getting a particular degree, community theatre, and musical performance.Interestingly, I remained in mental health, but with a higher degree, working in a different area, and with changes in other things in my life that were important to me. The book was a big factor, though not the only one, in that choice. I'm still glad I made it. One very practical suggestion in the book is, if you can't have all of what you want right away, get as much of what you want as you can. If you can't afford a trip to Paris yet, put a picture of the Eiffel tower up in the living room and play Edith Piaf music and keep saving. In my case, I wanted to move to a town 100 miles away; so I started spending weekends there, or even taking day trips to shop there or attend seminars at the university. Sher includes a fairly elaborate time management system. It consists of flow charts,to-do lists, a bulletin board, and pictures of sort of a cheerleading family she encourages you to formulate from characters you admire and believe would understand and be supportive of you (this can be anyone, dead or alive...Einstein & Paul McCartney adorned my board! Hokey, I know, but I found it helpful). And this is my one complaint. Barbara never upgraded. I kept on hoping to see an edition which incorporated Outlook or Palm Pilot or something like that, or even its own software, but that hasn't happened. She does have a webpage, but the only thing of interest there is a message board in which members share their experiences and she announces appearances. Since I now organize online, it's hard when I want a "review" of some of these exercises...or even when I want to go back to my original plans....to get excited about tacking up paper on a bulletin board. Nevertheless, I do go back and do the odd exercise now & again, not because I'm dissatisfied with my life, but because there are other plans that have popped up, such as new hobbies and relationships. I also have had to purchase a new copy once in a while because I'm frequently giving mine away to younger relatives or clients. I would recommend the book...not to stake your life on, but as an amusing & user friendly means of self-discovery, and a way to either confirm your life choices, or to help you get the gumption to put on the brakes if you need to.
Rating:
Summary: A Fun Addition to Your Tools of Self-Discovery
Review: I truly love this little book. I was originally introduced to it years ago when I was not sure I wanted to stay in mental health, and a mentor suggested I check it out. I found the exercises a blast and very original. My favorite: the one in which Sher suggests you play a spy in your own house or apartment, taking notes on what "the occupant" wears, how they decorate, etc.,in order to find out more about them. These tasks were just as good at increasing my own self awareness as finding career direction. They also reminded me of things I loved or wanted that I hadn't had the chance to do or missed doing....such as living in the town I wanted, getting a particular degree, community theatre, and musical performance. Interestingly, I remained in mental health, but with a higher degree, working in a different area, and with changes in other things in my life that were important to me. The book was a big factor, though not the only one, in that choice. I'm still glad I made it. One very practical suggestion in the book is, if you can't have all of what you want right away, get as much of what you want as you can. If you can't afford a trip to Paris yet, put a picture of the Eiffel tower up in the living room and play Edith Piaf music and keep saving. In my case, I wanted to move to a town 100 miles away; so I started spending weekends there, or even taking day trips to shop there or attend seminars at the university. Sher includes a fairly elaborate time management system. It consists of flow charts,to-do lists, a bulletin board, and pictures of sort of a cheerleading family she encourages you to formulate from characters you admire and believe would understand and be supportive of you (this can be anyone, dead or alive...Einstein & Paul McCartney adorned my board! Hokey, I know, but I found it helpful). And this is my one complaint. Barbara never upgraded. I kept on hoping to see an edition which incorporated Outlook or Palm Pilot or something like that, or even its own software, but that hasn't happened. She does have a webpage, but the only thing of interest there is a message board in which members share their experiences and she announces appearances. Since I now organize online, it's hard when I want a "review" of some of these exercises...or even when I want to go back to my original plans....to get excited about tacking up paper on a bulletin board. Nevertheless, I do go back and do the odd exercise now & again, not because I'm dissatisfied with my life, but because there are other plans that have popped up, such as new hobbies and relationships. I also have had to purchase a new copy once in a while because I'm frequently giving mine away to younger relatives or clients. I would recommend the book...not to stake your life on, but as an amusing & user friendly means of self-discovery, and a way to either confirm your life choices, or to help you get the gumption to put on the brakes if you need to.
Rating:
Summary: Set your goals? Now all you need to do is achieve them......
Review: If you've set all your goals, and need to figure out how to achieve them, this is the book for you. Full of sensible, practical advice and procedures for drafting (and sticking to) plans, it surpasses every other book on goal acheivement that I've read. It's not too hyper, if you like a book with a quiet 'tone of voice', but it's never-the-less inspirational with it. Buy it, read it, apply it.
Rating:
Summary: A book that can change your life.
Review: In 1992 a counselor recommended this book for me when I was seeking advice on changing careers. I thought "Yeah, sure. Like a "self help" book could really be helpful, and sheesh, with a name like "Wishcraft"... Must be a bunch of hooey." Well, it actually is helpful. Get it, read it, do the exercises in it. It can help you change your life. When I look at the changes I've made over the past 9 years due to what I learned from working through this book I'm astonished. I'm actually conscious of "Wishcraft" related approaches to my life almost weekly, even after 9 years. I really should read it again now. I've recommended it to dozens of people, and just came here to buy a copy for my husband (he can't have mine!). I didn't know Barbara Sher had other books out - so I just bought them, too - let's see what else she has to offer! If you are considering buying this book, do it. And buy a spare to loan to friends.
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Summary: The single best career and life planning book I've ever read
Review: Most books on life planning have, to my mind, two fatal flaws: they assume that your "strengths" are an infallible guide to what you "should" be doing with your life; and they then attempt to map this to a "career." Barbara Sher starts with the basics: what is most important to YOU? Given that, how are you to get it? (And this doesn't necessarily translate into "career"!) Sher also takes the planning process beyond self-analysis and shows you, in clear and practical terms, how to get the help you need to achieve what you want. Her subsequent books are all worth reading, but start with this one; it's a breath of fresh air amongst the hundreds of "Find the Right Career For You" look-alike guides!
Rating:
Summary: readable, practical, valuable
Review: Ms. Sher has one of the most accessible writing styles I have found in a book of this type. Her ideas are easy to grasp and practical to implement, and fun! I recommend this book to all my friends who are expriencing general dissatisfaction with their life but who are not sure what direction to take next. The book has excellent goal setting exercises. It can be used again and again to plan and actualize various aspects of your life's dreams. One note of caution: bear in mind one of the other reviewer's comments about accepting everything in this book as gospel truth, especially the case studies and anecdotal results. Then read "Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience" by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi for some ideas with actual scientific backing. (No that's not a typo!) Then take out "Wishcraft" and get to work. The strength of this book is the clear and imaginative presentation of concrete techniques!
Rating:
Summary: wishcraft: How to Get What yOU Really Want
Review: My career took off like a rocket when I read this bobk! It's not just a book that you read, it's a book that you DO. Great exercises, especially if you don't know what you want. Last 1/2 of book is SCHEMES on how to get there! I am a successful, professional speaker and I recommend this book to ALL my audiences. Alyce Cornyn-Selby, author of What's Your Sabotage
Rating:
Summary: Extraordinary; inspiring; life-changing.
Review: Nobody does motivation better than Sher. This classic is divided into two main sections: the "wish" part (wherein Sher assists readers in figuring out just what it is we want) and the "craft" part (wherein we learn some of the most powerful techniques ever described for how to achieve our heart's desires). Full of inspiring advice presented in a folksy, approachable style. Contains one of my favourite Sher quotes (keeping in mind that I've highlighted almost the entire book): "Life is short, but it's wide!" Enthusiastically recommended
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