Yesterday I Cried : Celebrating The Lessons Of Living And Loving

Rating:
Summary: Very powerful, thoughtful book
Review: Heard YESTERDAY, I CRIED by Iyanla Vanzant . . . it is a powerful memoir by the best-selling author (known to regular OPRAH viewers) who has had an amazing and difficult life . . . yet I never got the feeling she was ever painting herself as a victim; rather, it seemed she was writing to help work out her problems . . . and, in doing so, she was showing me how I could work out mine.

As she notes, "Life is about clearing up the crap and, while you're doing it, being OK with the fact that you have to do it."

However, she cautions: "You can't get caught up in the crap! If you do, you will surely lose sight of the real meaning of life and lose your self."

The cassette version concludes with a magnificent rendition of "Today," a song written and performed by Terry Bradford.

Rating:
Summary: A blessing in Disguise!
Review: When I first time i picked up the book and began to read the preface and the introduction I felt that this book was to boring for me, so I put the book down. The second time I picked up the book I decided to skim through the book and the little parts that I read made the book seem interesting to me so I started reading at chapter one and by the end of the day I had completed the book. This book really helped me deal with a lot of things that I had piled up in the back of my mind. I had so much stuff piled up that my body began to shut down (which was it's way of telling me it couldn't pile up any more stuff) and I figured that it was time to Remember, Loose, and Let go of those things. From this book I learned that I to was a people pleaser who was afraid to deal with confrontation. I would do What ever it took to get people's aproval. Not only that I had several disorders: attachment, emotional, etc. I also felt the need to be loved, which caused me to do all sorts of crazy things. But reading this book has helped me to confront my demons. It has allowed me the ability to find peace and security within myself that I may become a very successful person later on in life.

Rating:
Summary: So Very Touching
Review:
What a beautiful inspirational book for those that have lived under the clouds of darkness. Whether you have been abused,have self doubts,lack self worth...this book will help to regenerate the spirit.

Also recommending: Nightmares Echo by Katlyn Stewart and Beauty For Ashes by Joyce Myers


Rating:
Summary: Honest dredging
Review: Iyanla Vanzant shares with us her personal past as she digs deep to find out why she is hanging on to and having trouble with a relationship in her life. It seems she has already overcome, found God, found her life's work, found a man who she loves and who loves her, and distanced herself by a form of rebirth.

I do not claim to understand the religious spirituality she turns to, and seems to attain a key role in, so I can't comment. She shares as much as she can, but that is not the focus of her book.

Changing her name to Iyanla works for her; it brings her the chance to be a powerful person with more self-determination than if she remained "Rhonda." And there is a religious aspect to the name change. But in her book, she shows that she has not forgotton who she was. She revisits this past in memories to work out self-destructive behavior patterns that presumably had been eviscerated, but still lurk beneath.

This strikes me as honest and refreshing, as opposed to many others in the self-help movement who say they've left their junk behind or overcome it completely.

Iyanla's honesty extends to admitting that some of the destructive behaviors of her past life are still part of her present life via relationships she cannot dismiss, a son with problems, and for a long time, a man bent on brutal outbursts.

It seems that, if we were mistreated or in a place where self-destructive patterns predominated, we will latch on to self-definitions that may not be in our best self interests. Becoming conscious of those attitudes is the first step to overcoming them. The courage is there for everyone, if they choose to use it.

Rating:
Summary: simply the best!!
Review: I recommend this book to everyone who feels that they have many obstacles that block their way to possessing the goals they want. It is very inspiring and uplifting. This book is simply the best guide for looking inside of yourself for what you have and then using it to pull yourself up by the bootstraps. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and you will too.

Rating:
Summary: I'm glad this was a library book!
Review: I had heard of Iyanla as inspiring and wonderful, so when I saw this book on the new book shelf I decided to give it a try. Expecting enlightenment and motivation as the cover promises, instead I found rather disturbing recollections of her life and constant proclamations of how blessed she is because of it. Not only did I miss the point of the lessons I could stand to read, but I'm rushing it back to the library early.