Rating: 
Summary: I Love Me
Review: With this book Dr. McGraw hits the nail on the head ... so to speak ... or does he put a mirror of truth in front of your face? Well, anyway, as usual McGraw is blunt and as direct as he can be and once again his advice is not for the faint of heart, because the reader may discover something very special or perhaps sensitive about himself/herself. This is McGraw's strategy and through all of this his advice is helpful and beneficial as he motivates to face the truth about one's self. Great book! Another book that has a more gentle approach, but is just as direct touching sensitive areas of one's life, and I highly recommend this book, is Dietmar Scherf's "I LOVE ME: Avoiding and Overcoming Depression."
Rating:
Summary: Phillip C. McGraw's latest book tops them all.
Review: Phillip C. McGraw's latest book tops them all. Self Matters helps get to the core of what's keeping you from a fulfilling, happy life. His tell it like it is style helped me take a good hard look at myself and how I could begin the healing. I have been going through a rough time in my life and Self Matters has helped me to stop feeling sorry for myself and start feeling good about what is good in my life. For the first time in a long while things don't look so bad. When I'm working at my computer I use Neurosync behavior modification software that Dr. Phil mentioned on Opra. I'm impressed that their are products like this and books like Dr. Phil has written that can really make a difference and change your life. This book is money well spent.
Rating:
Summary: A new Level of Understanding Self
Review: A coworker urged me to buy and read two books this summer. The first was "The Child Whisperer" by Matt Pasquinilli(and even though I have no kids, after reading it, I was enlightened about why I do some of the things I do and had some tools to change myself.) The second book, of course, was "Self Matters" by Dr. McGraw. Wow! Some say "the truth hurts", but as Dr. McGraw tells it in his book, the truth really can set you free. Seeing things for what they are - understanding why I act and think like I do - gives me the knowledge I need to make some positive changes. Like my coworker, I suggest getting two books this summer: "The Child Whisperer" by Matt Pasquinilli and "Self Matters" by Dr. Phil McGraw. You can have a new outlook on life and start immediately to improve how you act and how you think and feel about yourself.
Rating: 
Summary: Get to the point already...
Review: Dr.Phil is a funny, insightful guy. And his basic theories about achieving a satisfying life are seeminly sound. He has some truly useful guidance to offer. Unfortunately, Self Matters suffers from the same malady that afflicts so many self-help books: it takes forever to get to the point!
The problems these books all face is the same. The concepts they set out to explain aren't really all that difficult to grasp.
An explanation and perhaps a short example would be more then enough for most readers. Unfortunately this wouldn't make for a very seductive, impressive looking tomb or justify a hefty cover price. The authors therefore (most likely at the behest of their publishers) pad their subjects with redundant examples and obvious commentary. Most frustrating is their tendency to repeatedly tell the reader what he or she is GOING to learn at some later point in the book!
Rather than go on and on about what one is going to teach, why not just teach it?
While McGraw doesn't induge these tactics nearly as much as, say, the Mother of all Self-Help Padders, Tony Robbins, he still does it much too often. I was really up to read this book, but because of its repetitive, round-about manner I gave up three of four chapters into it. A slim volumn that gets to the point would be MUCH more effective.
Rating:
Summary: I didn't want to like this book.......
Review: I don't have anything AGAINST Dr. Phil, I just hoped it wouldn't
have a lot of really good food for thought, practical applications and wisdom in the straight, no nonsense approach that makes up Oprah's buddy, Dr. Phil. Well, I couldn't help myself: this book is chock full of good stuff. Not only that, Dr. Phil's voice rings through his writing so clearly that I can literally hear him talking to me as I read! The approach in the book is very much a step-by-step approach working with a foundation of gathering evidence from defining moments in your life and then creating a plan of action through taking action upon positive, empowering choices instead of being "stuck" in the quagmire of your negative life history. Dr. Phil reminds us to "Know your history so you can walk out of it." He tells on himself more than once, describing his own episodes of "creative stupidity" which had me howling with laughter. Another lightbulb moment for me and a pure "Dr. Philism" was the
reality that we are, in every moment, contributing or contaminating our relationships. Wow. That alone is worth the purchase of the book: especially in reading the supportive paragraphs. Like I said earlier, I didn't WANT to like this book. The main problem there is too much tangible substance that I can use to apply to my life in a positive way that I can't help myself in giving it a high rating.
Rating:
Summary: life-changing
Review: Before I bought this book, I wasn't quite sure what the big deal was about Dr. Phil. Now, you might say, I get it. I also understand a lot of the things that I have been thinking and doing that have been holding me back from becoming the person I really want to be. His advice is matter-of-fact and applicable to real life, and he breaks it down so people without doctorates in psychology can understand what he's talking about. He also has a sense of humor, which is important. This book has a lot of "homework"--writing exercises you're supposed to do to help you figure things out--but it's useful and revealing, and really helped me to get to know myself. Even if you've tried similar self-help books, I suggest you at least give this one a glance. It really could change your life; I know it changed mine.
Rating:
Summary: One of the books that will change your life!
Review: This is one of the books that changed my life. Like everyone, I first heard about Dr. Phil on TV and found that he had some interesting things to say. So I decided to buy this book because I thought I might learn some valuable things. By reading this book I learned so much about myself that I am now a completely different person. I am more aware of my inner desires and feelings and I am more aware of my instinctive responses. It is a new life! Once I got to this level, I was ready for a little more and so I read another great book called "The Ever-Transcending Spirit" by Toru Sato. That book took me to a totally new level! It gave me the answers to almost all of the questions I had about what was going on in my life. I hope that everyone can learn these valuable things to change their lives in a positive way!!!
Rating:
Summary: life from the inside
Review: Dr. Phil im sure you hear this alot but here goes i was on pain medication for 6yrs from oxycontin to fentynol as of 1month ago i currently stopped all drugs not just for me but for my family I heard about your books from friends and the show but couldnt afford all of them so sharing helps. You have an insite to people that only one person could be given. I watch your show for insirational insite I cant say i am without pain but its fifty times better than being in the clouds 24-7. thank you for your show and for you i dont know where i would be right now if i was still taking the drugs because i had become addicted to the fentynol without my family I may be a statistic or ALONE. i am loosing weight and feeling better excersise is hard but NO PAIN NO GAIN. THANKS FOR MY LIFE BACK KAREN MARNATI
RR4 BOX 74
FRANKFORD DE.19945
Rating:
Summary: Self Matters by Dr. McGraw
Review: Dr.McGraw's work covers the dynamics of personal planning and
knowing oneself. He explains why it is crucial to identify life's goals and the pursuit of them.
His chapter on the authentic self explains the importance
of understanding motivations and reactions to external
events-including the perceived expectations of others.
He quotes Emerson: "What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us." This statement attests to the importance of knowing the inner
self and having the all-important internal dialogue frequently.
A chapter on "defining moments" forces us to examine the bottom
line effects of these events on our own concept of "the self". A part of the book reviews alternatives in terms of choices
presented, choices made, alternatives given up, the concept
of self before and after making the choice, the long term
residual effect of the choice, the distortion of the choice
(if any) on your self image and your reaction to the critical
choice. The book forces us to take an internal inventory
of many critical factors including appearance, work,
outlook, competence, skills, abilities and worth. The five-step
action plan provides a superstructure so that we can assess our abilities, evaluate
learning history/experience, examine external factors,
internal dialogue and the resolution of the authentic self.
Finally, the author deals with putting a plan of action to work
and dealing with routine problem areas/challenges in executing
the plan. Too often, we tend to
avoid taking decisive action because of "analysis paralysis".
i.e. We spend so much time analyzing a choice that the opportunity to act constructively is gone before a definitive
decision to act has been reached. Resultingly, many good opportunities are lost due to inaction or untimely action.
Analysis paralysis is a natural instinct arising from fear of the unknown or risk-taking. There can be no meaningful progress
in a forward direction without taking calculated risks. Most people do not have the level of organization and enforced
discipline outlined by the author. A beauty of this work is that the
author provides readers with an important framework to analyze
the inner self including goals, motivations, reactions,
perceptions of the self and a whole host of factors which
individuals are rarely conscious of in the conduct of everyday
life. The work is a solid investment in the behavioral side
of personal planning. Many of us spend time planning for the
financial dimensions of life with little or no focus on the
behavioral dimensions that motivate us to act as we do. The work is a good investment in the area of personal growth,
goal achievement and the dynamics of motivating factors which
govern a multiplicity of behaviors and critical incidences.
Rating:
Summary: thank you doctor
Review: This book should be on everyone over-forty's reading list. It's a quick read and written in understandable language. Phil changed my attitude and got me thinking about what's really important. He's my guru. He puts things in perspective with this fantastic book.
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