Rating: 
Summary: Free Time
Review: If you have high hopes of completing all of the exercises that Ms Ford wants you to do, you better have alot of time and quiet. I am a Mother to 4 young boys and the only time I have to concentrate on these exercises were after they were all in bed. Then I felt the exercises were too much effort. You are suppose to be able to have a clean slate in your mind and go deep within yourself. I did not have the time or energy to put so much work into finding my "evil" side. I did not agree with alot of stuff she wrote in the book.
Rating:
Summary: This book is not for everyone. Is it for you?
Review: The gist and purpose of this book is "A+". The author's knowledge of the subject matter is an "A". The format, context and presentation of the subject matter is a "C", but the direction Ms. Ford takes her reader can be considered nebulous or indirect.Everything on this earth plane is relative to each of our own experiences. For those familiar with karma, reincarnation, and the purpose of life and our existence, this book may appear dry or elementry. For those trying to find themselves or the role they play in the overall mix of things and for those trying to understand why life has to be so difficult and frustrating, maybe this book is for you. I say maybe, because this book will not give you all the answers. But read in conjunction with other books (see "About Me" and the other books I have evaluated) this book can be helpfull to those who question why life is so full of ups and downs and idiocyncracies. Personally, I appreciated the first half of this book but started to lose interest thereafter. I was familiar with most of the subject matter and put the book down before the 3/4 mark. But that did not stop me from recommending this book to others that I felt could learn and benefit from its lessons. The Dark Side of the Light Chasers is a real catch title and its a good book for those who want to better understand the flow of karma and the laws of the cosmic. So, is this book for you? I hope I have helped to define the segments who may find this book helpfull.
Rating: 
Summary: Embracing both worlds
Review: I guess in many ways this book shows us that embracing both the dark side as well as the light side of our persona, will lead to heightened awareness of who we are as individuals. As an Oprah fan here in England, I read this book as a recommendation from her show. Debbie Ford captures for me the concept of Yin and Yang...whereby to be whole must get in touch with all aspects of the inner self. Things we don't like in others, suggests Ms Ford, are actually traits which we suppress about our selves, i.e. our dark sides. This is a fascinating relevation, as I've always disliked people with arrogant tendancies...but what I'm actually saying is that I don't like the arrogant part of me...so I suppress it. AMAZING! This book does open up new ideas, however alot of the ideas seem to have been adapted from Jungian Theory (Karl Jung). Only four stars as it didn't quite capture the imagination as The Journey: Where Seagulls Dare To Fly. Another book which talks about getting in touch with oneself, but from a more fun, spiritual and adventureous manner. Ms Ford could well learn a thing or two herself!
Rating: 
Summary: Almost free insights on reclaiming your lost self..
Review: This book is so very reasonabley priced it is an almost free treasure. Debbie Ford is so gentle with her reader and yet absolutely powerful in these seemingly gentle approaches to reclaiming your true self. I think this is the easiest and cheapest help avaliable to the self improvement mission many of us are exploring now. I would highly recommend this well written easily understandable book!
Rating:
Summary: Reclaim Your Life!
Review: Debbie Ford's book is a practical guide to reclaiming your life through helpful exercises, journal writing and self awareness. Debbie writes of how denying aspects of yourself you see as negative you deny yourself a meaningful and authentic life. While reading this book I had a repeating thought of "You only live once, so make it as great as it can be." Great book with some great insights. Other Personal Transformation books that I highly recommend include: Working On Yourself Doesn't Work by Ariel & Shya Kane The Power Of Now by Eckhart Tolle The Four Agreements by Miguel Ruiz
Rating:
Summary: Freedom from Judgment by Surrendering to Wholeness
Review: Odds are that you judge yourself quite frequently. Imagine if a loud speaker could be hooked to your brain to broadcast your private "self-talk" and innermost thoughts. Among other things, we would hear your self-criticism, and your criticism of others. Imagine if everyone could immediately hear your "dark side". People would also hear your "light side" come in, trying to defend and bring balance. They would probably experience how your more "loving parts" would come in and try to change, or shut up, your "judgmental parts". Paradoxically, your "light side" would actually be judging your judgement; light judging dark. Just more judgement. The "good" might even temporarily win out over the "bad". But the "bad parts"--those wounded and wonderful aspects we all have--would simply wait for another opportunity to come forth. Then this vicious cycle would repeat itself once again. Sound familiar? If so, you're not alone. If not, you may not be ready for this transformational book. Debbie Ford offers a wonderful way out from this war between light and dark. If you read this book, and do the exercises, you will have taken a great leap forward toward self-understanding and wholeness.
Rating:
Summary: Removing the blinkers.
Review: Sometimes we are unable to see something because it is too close. Other times, our blindness is caused by the object blending into the background or succeeding in disguising itself. This book provides a process by which one refocuses one's vision on the well-hidden and supressed parts of our personality. It further gives us permission to actually embrace those 'dark' aspects and stop the life-long process of 'stuffing' them back in the deep corners of our psyche. We use the word 'integrated' too loosely when talking about our full personality. Debbie's book gives us a primer on how to actually realize it.
Rating:
Summary: I'm not in this world, I am the world.
Review: This book had been a huge wake up call for me. I must say that I was truly scared to face my darkside at first fearing that I would discover a person whom I could not live with. Suprisingly enough, the words and experiences that I felt belonged to my darkside have actually taught me who I really am, and what my beliefs truly are. I have come to realize that the way I interpret a word or experience is totally up to me, and this has been very exciting. I am the polar opposite of everything in this world. How could a person know good without bad, fat without skinny, smart without stupid? And I am all of these plus MORE! Like my title says, "I am not in this world, I am the world". Realizing that I contain every quality of this world gives me wholeness, and has taught me SELF-LOVE. To conclude, I see how my life experiences (good or bad) have shaped and molded me; how they have given me my belief and value system. Everything in life happens for a reason. The key is, it's all up to YOU on how to interpret it. There is no right or wrong way to perceive something; it's what makes you feel good and whole.
Rating: 
Summary: Been there, done that
Review: A repeat of numerous books and seminars on the subject. Could have been more "user-friendly" written. The author will find out more as her life unfolds. The paper quality of the paperback version is pathetic. As it is written, it does not hold reader's interest. It's all over the place. You have to hunt for the good stuff. A zillion people are acknowledged for helping to get the book out there - were they asleep? It could have been so much better. Good subject though.
Rating:
Summary: Profound, from the heart, and tremendously beneficial
Review: This book helps the reader to gently, but meaningfully explore her or his shadow side - a somewhat daunting prospect to many, including me. But the book so wonderfully shows the way, that all reluctance and resistance is cast aside as Debbie so expertly leads the way to meaningful self-exploration. Debbie's personal integrity, loving heart and passion to assist and aid others comes through loudly and clearly. This is a book that made a profound difference in my life. If someone sincerely wants to do some significant personal growth work, this book is a tremendous tool to take you there.
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