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Summary: Thank you so much Dr.Phil!
Review: This book, The Alchemist (Paulo Coelho), Who Moved My Cheese (Spencer Johnson),Self Matters (Dr.Phil) and The Butterfly (Jay singh) were my favorite books of the year. I got many books in my stocking and I must say this was my favorite! Buy this book, you won't regret it.
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Summary: Lots of sizzle, very little substance
Review: I got through about 3 of the 5 CD's in this audiobook, before giving up. Dr. Phil has an entertaining and charismatic style of reading his own material, so I'd recommend the audiobook over the print version. Unfortunately he doesn't say very much that's useful. His delivery makes you think an important point is just about to be made, but it never seems to come. After listening to the first 30 minutes of him describe what he was about to talk about, I found myself frustratingly muttering, "Get to the point already!"The main theme seems to be that we need to unearth and live our "true selves" rather than what those around us would like us to be. The author talks a lot about "self esteem" and makes some valuable points. But if you're interested in these topics, you'll learn more elsewhere. For example, you'll get far more valuable insights from listenting to Dr. Nathaniel Branden in just 10 minutes than you will from hearing Dr. Phil babble on for hours. Those who are big fans of Dr. Phil's plain-talkin' style will probably enjoy going along for the ride in order to get the few pearls of wisdom that he has. But if you're looking for fresh insight, motivation or valuable advice, don't waste your time or money.
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Summary: More Psychobable
Review: I did not like this book at all, and I have read more self-help books than I can count. Although I agree that enless examination of the past is not all that useful I also have a hard time believing that 10 events in your life have defined who you are. I rapidly became tired of the so-called "in your face" style, and found his approach to be just as couched in "psychobable" as any other book of this type I have read. I think his approach is overated and this volume has convinced me to give up this type of self-help book forever! Get out there, live your life outloud, and stop waiting for someone like Phil McGraw to make your life what you want it to be.
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Summary: useless book
Review: this is the most useless book I have ever bought, Phillip C. McGraw is a good salesperson but if you read the book you hope to find at least one useful sentence. I am sorry to say the book was a total waste of time
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Summary: Tough Self-Love
Review: Whatever the given human experience may be, I am convinced that what we invest in it will determine the nature and extent of the value we derive from it. That's certainly true of our relationships with others and especially true of the relationship we have with ourselves. Phillip McGraw is only the most recent of countless media celebrities such as Bishop Fulton Sheen, Esther Lederer ("Ann Landers"), Pauline Van Buren ("Abigail Van Buren"), Joyce Brothers, Ruth Westheimer, and Laura Schlessinger. My hunch (only a hunch) is that their staunchest admirers are those who have made the greatest effort to apply in their own lives what these popular psychologists have advocated. Second hunch (only a hunch): Many of those most critical of them are (at worst) envious of their fame whereas others are concerned that complicated problems will be trivialized by what they view as simplistic solutions. McGraw may be the most controversial of them all because he seems to be (intentionally) the most confrontational of them all. This is the latest of several books he has written. In it, he insists that self-esteem really matters and explains why. That got me to thinking again about The Golden Rule. More specifically, about all of the recent inhumanities (other than acts of terrorism) which the media have publicized so extensively. It seems logical to me to assume that if people are consumed by self-loathing, they will be following The Golden Rule when they "do unto others" as they would have others "do unto them." Is not most dysfunctional behavior directly or indirectly related to self-esteem problems? Of course self matters! It matters a great deal. In many situations, it could quite literally determine matters of life or death. In this volume, McGraw answers two questions of special importance to me. First, what must I do to increase my self-esteem and then sustain at the highest possible level? Also, how can I be most helpful to others who do not a high level of self-esteem? It would be a disservice to both McGraw and those who read this review to indicate what I think his answers are but I will say that the first answer places full responsibility on me...and on no one else. Period. No news there, you say? Not so fast. The book's subtitle is "Creating Your Life from the Inside Out." Easy to say. (I think he means Re-Creating" rather than "Creating.") Think about it. What will it take to get "inside"? He seems to ask: How much time and effort, concentration and determination, patience amidst frustration and discomfort are you willing to commit? More to the point, how serious ARE you? Obviously, McGraw cannot make that journey for us. (No one can.) But he can certainly help to prepare us for what awaits. Hence the importance of three questions he asks his reader to answer. Thus far, 1. What have been the ten (10) most defining moments of your life? 2. What were the seven (7) most critical choices you have made to place you on your current path? 3. Who have been the five (5) most pivotal people in your life and how have they shaped you? Try answering these three questions (with total honesty, of course) before you read the book. Then review your answers after you read the book. To reiterate, whether or not you buy and then read the book, the value you derive from this exercise will wholly depend on how much you invest in it. And that, McGraw insists, is also true of your life. Where can you find the answers you seek to your questions? Where can you find the solutions to your problems? Inside you, waiting for you to complete the journey to locate them. In your self. Yes, your self matters but if only if you are convinced that it does.
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Summary: Sometimes the Hardest Thing to Hear is The Truth!
Review: Thanks Dr. Phil. Your straight talk and simple wisdom has helped me to grow once again. The more I grow, the more Dr. Phil makes sense. In Self Matters, we are introduced to Dr. Phil's "10 Defining Moments" that shape who we are today. This reminds me of a "The Child Whisperer" by Matt Pasquinilli; only Pasquinilli is a lot more gentle in his use of straight talk. Dr. Phil comes out swinging and hits us right between the eyes with a knock out punch. I like to read both books for the sense of balance I get with the calm of "The Child Whisperer" and the kick in the pants of "Self Matters." Dr. Phil asks: What are the seven most critical choices you have made to put you on your current path?, and, Who are the five most pivotal people in your world and how have they shaped you? Answer these questions with honesty, and Dr. Phil will help you to define the person you want to be. Good luck and good reading!
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Summary: Good Cheerleading, But Doesn't Cure Emotional Problems
Review: Dr. Phil's books fall into the category of "cheerleading" books. This book is no exception. What do I mean by "cheerleading"? Well, he makes us feel good - for a while. He gives us advice (some sound). Problem is, he doesn't actually offer people a cure for mental/emotional problems. Rather, his advice is more like "move on with your life and get over it". Problem is, you can't change the affects of past traumas and abuse, unless you can discharge some emotional aspect of the original trauma/abuse - such that it no longer affects you in the present. You can make better decisions, but the affects of the trauma will be part of you for a lifetime, unless. . . . . In thirty years of practice, I have not seen one person cured unless they successfully **discharged** some emotional aspect of the original trauma. If you are truly looking for a **cure** to resolve all past traumas, you will find that answer in Redirecting Self Therapy (RST), as discovered by retired neuroscientist Elnora Van Winkle. This therapy is actually **curing** thousands and bringing people to full recovery. This is a new breakthrough therapy and it not widely known. It has **cured** everyone in my practice who uses it correctly, inluding me (the therapist). It is the only method I use now. I can't provide a link here, but you can do your own "search" later. It is absolutely free - and no one is making money off of this discovery. If the world could understood this discovery, we could free the world from dependency from psychiatrists, and psychiatric drugs. While Dr. Phil may have a good heart, he does not have knowledge to cure people.
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Summary: Save your money!
Review: I checked this book out at my local library. Thank God! I usually like watching Dr. McGraw on TV and maybe he's a good counselor, but this book was awful. First of all, it was boring. Secondly, it was poorly written, and thirdly his advice seemed to me to be heavy handed and simplistic. There are better self help books out there, there just have to be. And for those other reviewers who wondered how it got to be a bestseller. Can you say Oprah?
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Summary: superficial and self-serving dr. phil
Review: I had hoped for more substance and useful strategies from this book. The man comes across as superficial and as if he is more focused on coming up with "catch phrases" that he can use to take advantage of people. As a self-help book this was next to useless. It bothers me when this type of item makes it to the top of best seller lists and people will end up buying it instead of more thoughtful and thought out books.
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Summary: AMEN
Review: AMEN to Self Matters. One of two of the best self help books out there. This one and The little Guide To Happiness. Bottom line of the message of these books? Happiness is a matter of perception. This is simplified. These books however are not simplified by any means. It takes very seriously these issues and realized how hard they can be to overcome. But you can overcome lifes struggles with a little effort and retraining your mind to right thinking.
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