Rating: 
Summary: Something More - rationalizing selfishness
Review: Susan Brathnach's book is targeted towards women. It basically exhorts them to "excavate" their authenthic selves, and then to live by those selves. It exhorts them to shut the door on their inauthentic past.While I love the idea of unmining the passions and interests I had in the past, I'd hoped for more insight on how to bring them into fruition without just tossing aside my current life and all of its responsibilities, which is one of the main messages I got from the book. One way to see how gastly parts of the book are is to imagine it was written by a man, for men. What would we think of a man telling other men to abandon their lives, their spouses, their children, in order to search out their own authentic selves? In her book she exhorts women to cherish themselves above all others, and calls self-sacrifice one of a woman's seven deadly sins. What would you think of a man who believed that sacrifice (i.e., compromise, doing for others first, etc...) was a sin and that he was to be valued above all others? She also says that women who think they are happy in their marriages may be deluding themselves, rationalizing away problems, etc... I swear at one point I thought she was basically trying to say that it is impossible to be your authentic self in your FIRST marriage. Another peeve is that she doesn't believe in being a victim of circumstance. "We don't have to be, become, or stay victims of circumstances forever unless we choose to do so." Tell that to a mother with a downs syndrome child. Yes, it may be her choice to raise that child and provide that adult with a home rather than institutionalize him/her, but is that REALLY a choice? I mean, can staying with her child and abandoning that child really be granted the same moral equivalence? And if one choice is less moral or even immoral, then its not really a choice. Plus, there is no guidance for really knowing what is authentic, and what is wishful thinking or an illusion. I'd love an update in 10 years to know how the authentic lives were progressing in all of her examples of women who threw out one life for another. Or maybe, an interview with the children of mothers - or fathers - who abandoned them in order to search out their authentic lives. The book did make me think. Much of what she says does ring true. And I loved all the quotes from other women of other times. How universal many of our woes are. Just fascinating. But I do wish she'd explored other options of how to nurture our authentic selves other than close the door on anything "inauthentic". Doing laundry for me is "inauthentic". Picking cheerios off of the floor a jillion times a day is "inauthentic". Telling a whiny 2 year old 10 times a day to use her nice voice is just not what I ever envisioned for myself when I was young and "authentic". But closing the door isn't an option. But what about setting aside 1 hour a day for just me?? To explore those activities and interests that make me feel alive? Or hire a babysitter 1 day a week for 5 hours where I can do whatever I want? Those are more realistic options for me, and probably for a lot of other women. I also wish the book had been less free consciousness style, and more structured and organized. All in all a frustrating book.
Rating: 
Summary: Something More
Review: Something More is a book that every woman should be given by the time she reaches her 40th birthday. With more women coming to terms with their own lives after being there for everyone else, it's time to think about themselves and start thinking about where you want to go now. What path in life is the right direction for you. This book gives us the encouragement and pep talks that we haven't had our whole life. I've read this book at least four times already, and I know in my future I'll be reading it a few more times especially when I need that certain push to obtain the life I'm searching for.
Rating:
Summary: Disappointing, and a little dangerous
Review: This book seems to be the author's written justification for her own quest for self-actualization. That's fine, but the residual anger left over from her own divorce permiates this book, and, if the autor's message on marriage is to be believed, 1) self-fulfillment can not be found in a happy marriage, 2) in order to find one's self, one must stike out alone (divorced, of course), and 3) husbands, no matter how pure and genuine their motives may seem, actually only want to control their wives. Granted, this book is not only about marriage, and in many ways, it is good, in that it encourages introspection. But if one's desire for SOMETHING MORE is based in problems with a marriage relationship, there are MANY better, more objective books, including Iris Krasnow's Surrendering to Marriage.
Rating:
Summary: One of the Best!
Review: I found that reading "Something More" was one of the best things that I have done for myself in a long time. I found comfort, understanding and empathy with the author as she told of life experiences. It taught me alot about myself and actually saved me from an increasing state of depression. The book is a must have for anyone that is suffering from emotional depression and loss of themselves.
Rating: 
Summary: Something More, Excavating your Authentic Self
Review: At first, this book appears somewhat simplistic. It turns out to be the beauty of the book. The content is enhanced by the reader's participation. The results are excellent, the memory is jogged. I plan to use this book with future woman's workshops.
Rating: 
Summary: Pretentious
Review: I read my mother's copy of Simple Abundance, and it was entertaining in a folksy, domestic, cozy sort of a way. Not the kind of book for women who run with wolves or play with intellectual fire, but sweet. This book, however, is pedantic drivel. I read an interview with Sarah B. where she said someone told her that S.A. was a Rosetta Stone for all women (what a load of crap!) and the flattery must have gone straight to her head. Now she thinks she has to stop writing books with recipes and comfort remedies in them and begin translating hieroglyphics for modern humanity. A book full of new age blather, cliches, tortured metaphors and mediocrity. SAVE YOUR MONEY.
Rating:
Summary: A self-help book for the bitter, selfish and the two-faced
Review: I think this book will do good for women with really no self esteem. But for those of you who feel good about yourselves already, it's a book you could do without! I found this book inspiring in the beginning. (That's why I gave it 1 star.) I really think excavating your authentic self is a noble and worthy endeavor for everyone, regardless of sex. However, when it got to the part about marriage and relationships, there was no hiding it! She couldn't be helped! She just had to bash marriage and sacrifice as if they were the devil in disguise! She was reeking with bitterness as if there is no such thing as marital bliss, despite the trials and tribulations normal in any relationship. There wasn't one good marriage in her book. And children? I don't really know what role they play in a mother's excavation project. She sounded though like they were a hindrance to achieving the true self. Especially if you have a lot of them. I found her selection of authors very selective, to prove the premise that probably is the story of her life. Her premise being: Most(if not all) men are hopeless and if you do find one that might be worth your while, in time he'll prove to be a jerk, and at the first sign of trouble, leave him, he's not worth it, there is no such thing as working things out, find another one, or if you've given up and believe what I had been saying all along (which is that most- if not all- men are hopeless) then buy this book to spend the rest of your days in isolation, cutting up pictures, filling your journal, and 'excavating your "authentic" self.' It bothered me that this was a self-help book but was so against self-sacrifice and other exemplary virtues while it spoke about giving and unconditional love and God. It might as well be a self-help book to excavate your authentic two-faced self.
Rating:
Summary: Somewhat "Bitter Divorcee" style...
Review: Sarah Ban Breathnach is a fascinating author to read! This book is inspiring, peaceful and thoughtful. I do notice a bit of "bitter divorcee" in this book however. Which breaks the flow of the book, not as good as Simple Abundance. But worth reading and hanging onto for reference and inspiration.
Rating:
Summary: A time to reflect..
Review: I first became interested in Sarah's work, having found a copy of her book "Something More" at a yard sale, which was my good fortune. I became fascinated having read only the first two paragraphs. I will read and then reread a book capturing every nuance that there is to be captured, and I did the same to this book. I quickly found "Simple Abundance" and then bought my own blank journal and started the exercises. I am over 40 years old, not a spring chicken here, and have been around long enough to know that when an author has something to say, give them a chance. The way I read her books is to read a paragraph, then stop and reflect on what she is trying to say. There are some of the most beautiful passages from contributors in Simple Abundance, and overall I believe what Sarah is trying to say to reach for and to feel the joy in the simple things of life, like a child's laugh. I have felt a subtle difference in my outlook on life since I have been writing down every day five things that I am grateful for, like living in this wonderful country of ours for one.. Her books have put quite a few things in perspective for me, and quite often I have found myself saying "that is exactly how I feel." Wow!
Rating:
Summary: Reader, Be Aware!
Review: I'm fifty, been married 28 years and really enjoyed this book, but would not recommend it to others, expecially young married women. I suspect Sarah was working through her own divorce and there is a good one-third of the book that could be encouraging to others to leave their spouces. If you do read this book, glean from the stories of other women, but be careful.
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