Rating: 
Summary: DON'T BUY THIS BOOK!!!!
Review: I have to tell you this is nothing but an extension of the tabloids/"rags". They have just decided to elaborate on the Enquirer's stories. My guess is that Sophia and Lisa were just looking to make money!! I want my money back!!
Rating: 
Summary: This Dr. Phil Fan Loved It
Review: I just finished The Making of Dr. Phil by Sophia Dembling and Lisa Gutierrez and must say I very much enjoyed it. (...) the book points out some of the negative sides to Dr. Phil (such as how hard he is to work for and the fact that not all of his business ventures have succeeded). But the book overall is quite favorable to Phil. It traces his entire life. Indeed, his brush with Oprah doesn't appear until toward the end of the book and is a rather small part of the overall book. (If anything, I would have liked to have read more about their relationship.) The authors clearly did a lot of research in writing this story, traveling to his hometowns in Oklahoma and Kansas City and talking to those who knew him best growing up. There are many fun stories about Dr. Phil's years in private therapy, when he practiced with his dad and began marketing seminars. They detail how his trial consulting business started and what led to Oprah hiring Phil for her cattle case. Having gone to one of Dr. Phil's live Get Real seminars, I liked the chapter that talked about his live shows and what goes on behind the scenes. The chapter about his TV show, how it started, what it's like to be a guest and audience member, was also very interesting. And, because I'm a big fan of his book Life Strategies, I really liked how they ended the book by detailing how Dr. Phil lives by his own set of Life Strategies in his own life. I'm not sure I came away from the book liking Dr. Phil any more or less than before. But I feel like I know him much better and really admire all that he's accomplished. I plan to give all of my Dr. Phil fan friends a copy of this book for Christmas, hoping they enjoy it as much as I did.
Rating:
Summary: These authors should be ashamed
Review: I learned in grade school that we couldn't take credit for other people's work, or in this case other people's made up stories. That is exactly what the "authors" of this book have done. This is nothing more than a hard cover version of the tabloids. Wylie Press should have better product control than this, not only would I NEVER buy another book written by these two ladies but I also don't feel confident buying another book from this publisher! The "authors" provide a source directory in the back of the book and most "sources" are either anonymous emails sent to them (yeah right) or quotes from Dr. Phil's books.
Don't waste your money! I feel like I have been ripped off big time by buying this book. What a joke.
Rating:
Summary: DON'T BUY THIS BOOK
Review: I read this book and was extremely disappointed. This is NOT an authorized book by Dr. Phil and these women just want to exploit him. I'm waiting for HIS authorized bio to come out!
Rating:
Summary: Human side of a TV icon
Review: I really enjoyed this well-written, fascinating book that peels off the studio makeup and shows the real man behind the quick psych soundbites of TV. As an entrepreneur, I was very intrigued to learn about the man's stumbles as well as his successes. The anecdotes in the book make it very readable and fun but I was looking for more and found it. I can't understand the reviews here that think the book has a negative agenda. Maybe the man's diehard fans expect that so see it where it doesn't exist. Don't be put off. If you want to learn about Dr. Phil, the real man and business wunderkind, this is your book.
Rating:
Summary: surprisingly good
Review: I really wasn't sure to expect, but was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked the book. It overall is a very positive look at the good doc, detailing his life as a young businessman, years in private practice, and events leading up to becoming a celebrity. Yes, it discusses some of the negative aspects of his life, but it does so in a very dignified way (not at all like the tabloids), and wouldn't be complete without it.
Rating:
Summary: A Solid Book
Review: I really wonder whether some of the negative reviewers have even read this book. It's not a tabloid book at all. It's a solid biography of Dr. Phil's life and an analysis of what has made him successful. I, for one, really enjoyed the book.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointed
Review: I was sincerely disappointed by this book. I was actually looking forward to some juicy stories about the supposed "DR of daytime Television." There was nothing in this book but old news. You can get the same information from the tabloids. I was really, really disappointed. The book was pretty boring; about the only thing of interest were the photos of Dr. Phil when he was young. I think the people who wrote this really didn't do the work that they should have...it was more of a compilation of everything everyone has already said then anything else. I am not an avid fan of Dr. Phil but I am pretty interested about his life and his popularity. And I usually enjoy biographies of all kinds, this is one of the worst I have read in a while because it really didn't explain who Dr. Phil really is or how he became the media's newest star. It sounded like a bunch of vindictive, repetitive, whinny ex-employees to me. I would not suggest this book to anyone- even really big Dr. Phil fans. It just isn't worth it.
Rating:
Summary: Read the book before you review it!
Review: I would rate this book as only four stars but I gave it five to make up for some of the ridiculous negative reviews that have been posted about it!
If you can't believe that Dr Phil is human and can make mistakes, then DON'T read this book!
If you are truly interested in all aspects of his life and can handle reading the truth, then by all means go ahead and buy it.
Some reviewers must have been reading a different book to me because I didn't get an anti Dr Phil bias from this book at all.
When talking to past patients, only one patient claimed disatisfaction with their therapy, compared to several who claimed that he made a huge difference to their lives. How can that be seen as anti Dr Phil?
After finishing this book I still couldn't tell you whether the authors liked or disliked Dr Phil - and that is how a biography should be.
I haven't read tabloid reports about Dr Phil so I couldn't tell you how much of this information is new, but overall this is a really readable book and very enjoyable.
The criticism that McGraws' previous marriage shouldn't have been included is just pathetic! His first wife was part of his life, part of his past, so why shouldn't she be mentioned?
This is a story of Dr Phil from childhood to present day and if you have an interest in Dr Phil or in psychotherapy then I would definitely recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: Great Insights
Review: I'm a big fan of Dr. Phil and really enjoyed reading about his background and how we became so popular. This book is well written and has lots of insights about him I never heard before. There's definitely more to Dr. Phil than meets the eye.
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