Rating: 
Summary: Dare to look inside?
Review: This work stopped my daughter short. She said, "Dad, I'm already happy!" I was glad to hear that. I kept picking through it anyway, and have found it to be an important book in my life. The book proffers the idea that following four basic ideas could make a difference in your life. It's an idea I accepted, and its already had an impact in my life. The agreements are some concepts I was already exposed to, such as the power of your word. The explanation of the agreements is clear and simple. The timing of this book coming into my life withstanding, the impact it will have on tomorrow remains to be seen. But I agree it will be quite more interesting than yesterday, as I look to see the difference a few agreements make.
Rating:
Summary: Perfectly simple
Review: Looking at some of the reviews for this book it is easy to see that there is quite a bit of disagreement here. Some say that the book is too simple, some say the book is too complex, and some say that it was a complete waste of paper. Well, I agree with all of these claims. First off, the book was very simple and that was the genius of it. The simpler the book the larger the audience. I don't think that Toltec wisdom could have been explained to the everyday man any better. Secondly, the book was too complex and aside from the actual four agreements, I am not sure that everyone could follow his examples and concepts without some prior reading. Finally, I can agree that this book was a waste of paper. There is nothing new in this book, except for maybe the stories. The four agreements could be regarded as the cliff notes to Carlos Castaneda's "Journey to Ixtlan." But keep in mind, Ruiz isn't exclusively talking about Toltec wisdom in his books, he pretty much is just explaining his philosophy and practice. Why five stars then? I found the book to be entertaining and a light refresher course on the points in "Journey to Ixtlan." Aside from that it was also a quick pleasure read that is easy to practice as soon as you put the book down. I can't recommend a better spiritual book to the general public.
Rating: 
Summary: you can find wisdom in a porn magazine too if you look hard
Review: 1. This book is supposed to be about ideas derived from Toltec mysticism but aside from a few vocabulary words (mitote, for example) you don't learn much of anything about the Toltec or what they believed. Ruiz starts by using the Toltec beliefs as an introduction on what he means by the term "agreement", but it appears he did it completely out of a need to make what he is saying sound credible and new. But in all reality he doesn't really offer anything new, nor does he sound that credible. His generalizations and promises (If you do this...this IS going to happen) sound more like a car salesman then a mystic. 2. The 4 Agreements are just that: agreements because almost every world religion agrees with Ruiz and puts forth some form of the four agreements in their dogma. "Always do your best"? I heard that one from my little league coach who's wisdom was about as abundant as ice cubes are in hell. I mean the stuff in the pages of the book are just platitude after platitude. I am really shocked that I have heard good things from so many people about the book. I have to be honest and say that i have lost some respect for the people who have suggested this book to me. Of course I don't have any problem telling them that they lost respect because they know "not to take anything personal". I mean...its like they watched sesame street and declared it the most profound thing on television. Not that the truth has to be complex either but Ruiz has actually ruined the wisdom of the agreements by taking them too far and going from one extreme to another. 3. The book is illogical and anyone with a healthy degree of skepticism is going to see that the book is irrational. Take for example the third agreement: "Don't make assumptions". Assumptions are not evil and very neccesary just to wake up in the morning (gotta assume you aren't still asleep and dreaming right? of course ruiz will tell you that you are still dreaming); as a matter of fact you cannot read his book without making assumptions. You have to assume Ruiz isn't just some lazy schiester who wanted to make a few extra bucks, and recycled a little mother's wit and marketed it as ancient wisdom. You have to make the assumption that you understand the writer clearly and that he knew exactly how to express himself. Don't get me wrong...there is a time and a place for everything but a time and a place to NOT do things. The author does make a strong point for why assumptions get people into trouble, but we all know this. Every episode of Seinfeld teaches what happens when we make assumptions. the problem is that its not that easy. We have to assume the sun is going to rise tomorrow or we won't plant corn and we will go hungry. We have to assume that rain and inclement weather will come or we don't build shelter and we suffer. We don't KNOW anything. 4. Back to the people who find this book enlightening and life-changing...People want life simple. They don't want complexities and nuances and uniqueness. They want a simple moral code that they can print on a 3 by 5 card and use in every situation without having to think or feel fear or hesitation. Just like the Bible, Torah, and Koran cannot be taken literally neither can The Four Agreements. (On a personal note I find this book to be very much like the Bible, Koran, and Torah in one sense. If you seek to argue with someone over the validity of the book...it contradicts itself enogh to give you plenty of evidence.)The first agreement asks you to be perfect (impeccable with my word and thought?) Sure it might be impossible, but its easy to remember eh? The truth is that there is wisdom behind what Ruiz is saying but Ruiz fails to mention that its not really possible to be impeccable on a constant basis...the nature of us being human dictates that we cannot be perfect much less maintain perfection. (perhaps it is possible to be perfect in some regard, but i have yet to meet a reader of this book who has accomplished it and I have a feeling that person would stand out to me). Anyway, it just strikes me that people gravitate towards a book like the four agreements because they want it all easy. And Ruiz gives them what they want. People also have a habit of believing that the truly wise people all lived long ago...and died out...and that no modern belief system is worth paying attention to...and so they turn to an ancient belief systems with a blind faith that this ancient belief system (which by the way was later replaced by Catholocism in the case of the Toltec in Mexico) is somehow superior...but the wonderful people who were using it at the time decided to let it fade to obscurity...and we modern folks are the only people smart enough to see what a mistake it was to let go of these ancient belief systems. Hogwash. Let that assumption go and you will being doing better than any dolt carrying around this book like its the New Age Bible. I have a simple thought for everyone who reads this book: All generalities are false. I know its a paradox...but keep it in mind because Ruiz makes generalization after genaralization. He sounds like a cocky 17 year old who has it all figured out. "All you have to do is never take anything personal." Yeah right Donnie. (Personal note: As an African American man I am glad someone took slavery personal). 5. Ruiz is just not a good writer. I can tell his editor tried to keep it readable but this guy just doesn't have what it takes to convey what might be his personal thoughts in a way that make them seem unique. its like he doesn't know how to use his individual experience to really bring forth his perspective and instead just comes off like Moses reading the ten commandments almost as if they aren't even his words. Ruiz is probably a wise man but his ability to communicate his wisdom is limited. I mean, who uses Forrest Gump as an example in their book? Of all the real people who you can allude to when making a point, you pick a fictional character who was unbelievably unaware as an example of how we should try to be. Talk about dropping the ball. There is a small part of me that maybe thinks Ruiz intended for the book to be bad...like he is parodizing the whole new age movement. He did a wonderful job if this is the case.
Rating:
Summary: Behavior Changing Guide
Review: This book gently reminds the reader that the domestication of childhood, if not challenged, can perpetuate a dream world of crisis and confusion throughout adulthood. Since insight never cured anyone, Miguel provides a pathway, agreements, to change the error thinking of the past. A delightful journey down the road of healthy living for anyone willing to give a radically alternative view a chance. A terrific gift for fellow travelers on the journey of life.
Rating: 
Summary: These goals are not impossible
Review: Don Miguel Ruiz is a Mexican native elder in the Toltec tradition, and reading this book is like sitting at his feet and listening to his words of wisdom. It's a small sized book and has only 138 pages, but the essence of it is simple. I couldn't quite follow every single nuance of the spiritual background that led him to his conclusions, but that doesn't really matter. What matters is the message. And the message rings clear and true: (1) Be impeccable with your word, (2) Don't take anything personally; (3) Don't make assumptions; and (4) Always do your best. Of course I agree. How could I not? How could anybody? That, of course, is what is making the book so popular. The beauty of it is that these are not impossible goals for anyone. There's a practical message of hope and inspiration here. And a feel-good feeling after reading it. Recommended.
Rating:
Summary: A great survival aid--enhanced my own beliefs
Review: I do not like books that tell me how to think or what to do, but I look for books that help me by giving me tools to better live my life with the gifts God has given me. This book is full of so much common sense, that I was almost embarassed after I read it because I should have thought of it all myself. Incredibly logical and inspirational. It truly helped to keep me focused during some very tough times. I learned how to handle others negative opinions of my situation and constant critism from my boss without becoming upset with them or myself. This could not have come at a better time.
Rating:
Summary: WOW!
Review: This book is helping to change my life! Following the easy agreements will help anyone achieve personal freedom!
Rating:
Summary: Life changing.....should be read by teenagers and adults
Review: The four agreements are: 1. Be impeccable with your word 2. Don't take anything personally 3. Don't make assumptions 4. Always do your best This is a quick read, yet one of the best guides to living a good life I've ever come across. Just imagine what our lives would look like if we followed the four agreements...or if our neighbors did, or our schools, or government leaders. The agreements are so simple, yet the change that would result from their application is enormous. Please read this book and share it with others.
Rating:
Summary: Inspirational becoming of one's true unknown.
Review: The Four Agreements, one can say, came to me. It is a book that I appreciate in finding because it has inspired me to lean towards a truth about me in which I knew existed, however, never brought to its full potential. It gave me a sense of reality of how one should be towards oneself, those we love, those we don't agree with, and to those we don't even know. It was written productively according to the Toltec beliefs and it was unbelievable to see how just giving something of light a chance could change the entire course of one's self being. Of one's life. I recommend it strongly and would also recommend on reading Mastery Of Love.
Rating:
Summary: Powerful Lessons
Review: "The Four Agreements" truly has powerful lessons to be learned in such a short reading time. The author's messages are clear and concise, with the potential to have life-changing effects if the reader is honestly ready to embrace the change. Quick, easy reading.
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