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Summary: I Get It ...
Review: Very little of what happens to people in life - good, bad or indifferent - has anything to do with deserving. While it's true that we are, in part, responsible for how we act to adversity, to perceive, as MacGraw asks us to do, the reality of the ups and downs, the good and the bad, the successes as well as the failures and disappointments to be anything but the reality of what life really is - a journey not a destination - is ludicrous. MacGraw would have us believe it's all there for the taking. Just take a number, get in line, and manipulate others in order to get what we want. He who dies with the most toys wins, no matter who we step on on the way. Dangerous reading if taken to McGraw's extreme.
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Summary: Attain All Your Life Goals Through Manipulation of Others
Review: This book, and books like it, are what's wrong with our society today.Dr. Phillip C. McGraw solves all of life's problems through his Ten Laws of Life. For example, Life Law #6: There is no reality, only perception. Translation: Feelings, your own as well as the feelings of those around you, don't matter - ignore them. Should you come home to find your spouse in bed with someone else, deny your feelings of hurt and betrayal. Instead, perceive your feelings concerning the reality of your spouse's infidelity as something else ... perhaps something wonderful. Life's Law #3: People do what works. Dr. McGraw's strategy for this gem is "Identify the payoffs that drive your behavior and that of others." Translation: find out what motivates other people and push their buttons to control and manipulate them in order to get what you what. What of the simplest law: treat others how you would expect to be treated in return? Of course that lesson comes from the Bible, and our society has become much too sophisticated to believe that a book two millennium old might contain any lesson of value. Life Law #9 has its merits: There is power in forgiveness. Yet McGraw says nothing about forgetting. I suppose I'm old fashioned. I further suppose that in our me first, immediate gratification, what can another do for me today? society, this book holds its place. If you believe that it's better to receive than to give, and that it's safer to take than to be taken, buy this book - it certainly will help you attain your life's ambitions, but at a price. Life Law #10 says it all: You have to name it before you can claim it. McGraw's strategy: Get clear about what you want and take your turn. Yet if you hold, as I do, more traditional values and ideals, you'll find this book leaving an empty feeling in your stomach, along with a hopeless, helpless feeling about where our society is headed. McGraw seems to preach irresponsibility for our actions, and also that we no longer need to hold ourselves accountable in how our actions affect others so long as we get what we want. Certainly former President Bill Clinton seems to have read this book and practiced its laws to his advantage. In our society, we freely admit our values to be in decay. Can it be possible that this book and books like it might in part be responsible for that decay?
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Summary: Life Strategies: Doing what works
Review: To my surprise a tell it like it is- take responsibility- get out there and win one- look at life. I'm so glad he didn't go into the "well your parents did this to you". I've preached these lessons to my family and now I can just hand them the book. If you want to get it and win, buy this book.
Rating: 
Summary: Better than I expected
Review: I didn't expect much from this book, because it was reccommended to me by someone with very different views than myself with regard to self-help and personal growth. I did find the author judgemental at times, and he did seem to oversimplify, but in general his life laws make sense. The activities were great, but I thought the chart in the final chapter might have been better in the beginning, to help guide the reader. Worth reading, but I'd suggest taking it out from the library first to see if you like it.
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Summary: Very Useful Information
Review: As an avid reader of self-help books, I really enjoyed this book and feel it contains a good deal of information. I felt empowered by Dr McGraw's views that we are all responsible for our own actions. Although this is not a new concept to me, the manner in which he explains this was powerful, for example, "if you chose thoughts that demean and deppreciate you, then you chose the consequences of low self-esteem and low self-confidence". Also, his discussion of filters and his ways of helping the reader uncover their own filters was empowering. Take heed though, do not waste your money buying this book if you do not want to put in the time and do the work. There are a total of 18 personal growth/get to know yourself "assignments" throughout the book and you must take the time to write your thoughts related to each assignment. These assignments are extremly useful however it is certain that if you do not put forth the needed effort, you will not acheive maximum results.
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Summary: Good direct advice, suitable for many people
Review: "Dr. Phil" provides sound, basic advice: no matter why you are in the situation you're in, your best strategy is to try to improve it. His language is a little inflated, and some people may not find it appealing. Likewise, there's a lot more to helping others (or yourself) than just the 10 "Life's Laws" in this book. Never-the-less, for many people his advice to face life clearly and take action is valid.
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Summary: Take Charge of Your Life!
Review: I really enjoyed LIFE STRATEGIES by Phil McGraw! Great Book! I really think that there are some very potent insights and principles that Dr. McGraw presents in the book. It really helped me become more effective and accomplish more. It also help me get some insight on how to get out of some unproductive habits I had. I also feel like I can take on more challenges than I could before. I really like his no nonsense approach to things. Other books I love and highly recommend are: * "Habits of Highly Effective People" by Covey * "Working On Yourself Doesn't Work" by Ariel & Shya Kane * "The Power of Now" by Tolle I especially loved "Working On Yourself Doesn't Work" by the Kanes. It is a great book, simple yet with gems of insight. Reading it has really made a big difference in my life! These are all great books I recommend to readers seeking solid, practical yet profound advice on how to be happier, more effective, and more fulfilled in life!
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Summary: A must to read!
Review: Dr. Phil has a very down to Earth way of making you see how you, and only you, can change your life and helps you realize that you are responsible for the choices in your life that you make. He explores hidden family issues and what role you paly in these. He takes a realistic look at abuse. He has a loud, clear message to everyone who reads the book to stop blaming others and helps you take a closer look at yourself. The more I read the better this book got. I bought 6 copies for friends and family. I read a lot and feel this is the best book I have ever read!
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Summary: It can be that simple
Review: I found that this book was very helpful to me, primarily because I don't have any one big problem, just a desire to improve an average life. And it has indeed helped, in a very short time. I agree that if you have a significant psychological issue, reading the book and following the "Life Laws" to fix it may be insurmountable. One-on-one counseling on how to use the life laws would probably be necessary. However, if you want to tweek your life a little like you would the settings on your computer...the book is worth its weight in gold (to me anyway!). I always felt that I wasn't really "happy" even though I didn't have anything making me particularly "unhappy". Dr. McGraw has helped me realize that I never pin-pointed what I needed to do to give myself the feelings that signal happiness to me. And as Life Law #10 proclaims "you have to name it to claim it". All of the "Life Laws" are really basic common sense, but all of us need to be reminded every now and then.
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Summary: It's not that simple
Review: This book is basically saying "pick yourself up by the bootstraps!" It's not that simple. We all have problems in life that are obvious to those around us, but not to us. The reasons for our inability too see the obvious are many and complicated. It is absurd to just tell people to wake up and do what they know is right. This type of philosophy just comes out of the frustration of not having simple answers to complicated problems. We do hold the ultimate power to make our own choices, but it is important to consider the factors involved that influence our decisions to do the right or wrong thing. I do believe that we do need to examine our lives, and take action if you are not happy or satisfied, but you must do it on all levels, not just the obvious. Dr. McGraw's approach is more than direct, it is without tact. He belittles people in need of understanding, and makes them feel as though they are stupid for not accepting reality and doing what society feels is right. He does all of this without regard to the many issues the person is battling. The "Just Do It" Nike ad may work in athletics, but it is not applicable to all situations in life.
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