Rating: 
Summary: Excellent Book
Review: There are a lot of self help books out there. I found Life Strategies the most practical.Dr McGraw explains that you create your own experience. In chapter 8,Life law # 7, Dr McGraw teahes that life is managed, not cured. You must take control and Dr. McGraw provides real life strategies to do just that.I also liked all the quotes. Along with Dr. Covey's excellent work, this is the best personal development book out there.Another book that I suggest is Direct from Dell by Michael Dell. This great book by Dell is very motivational and inspirational for business/management people and like McGraw, Mr. Dell provides strategies, not just rah-rah.
Rating:
Summary: The Truth, The Whole Truth and Nothing But The Truth!
Review: ...I have used this book many times, to help victims of domestic violence who have not yet come to grips with the seriousness of their situations or what part they may be playing in the destruction of their own lives.I have especially appreciated the chapter, "You Teach People How To Treat You." In this chapter, Phil uses the example of a woman he is called to interview, who is on the examination table in the emergency room. Her face is cut wide open - the description was pretty gruesome. Phil initially thinks she is a victim of a car accident and begins to ask her where she was when this happened to her. When she says "my living room", he discovers that her husband did this to her and it wasn't the first time. Although he is blown away by the woman who lies before him as she professes to love the man who did this to her, Phil is able to feel compassion for her and bring a message home to millions of other women who are going through the same sorts of horrors. His message is very, very powerful and a must read for all victim of abuse. Phil doesn't bang us over the head with blame - but he does tell it exactly like it is. He encourages us to step out of the victim role in all areas of our lives. He urges us to take a real, honest look at the problem and he shows us how we got there in the first place. He then teaches us how to climb out of the holes we sometimes dig ourselves into. He shares how even someone like Oprah can be so completely shocked and overwhelmed by something that has happened to her, that she needed a reality check to help her step out of shock and into positive action on her own behalf. If you are sick of being stuck in a rut, would like a positive change in your life and don't know what to do, ask Phil. He's here to tell you how it is! I have the book and the tapes. I would recommend either.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointment !
Review: I found this book quite disappointing. It's not as good as it sounds when Oprah Winfrey talks about it. It's her shows about the book that are good, not the book itself. Some bits are quite useful but I find it really strange when Dr. McGraw "attacks" some other self-help approaches implying that his is the only real one. Throughout the book you have a feeling that he thinks he is the only one who knows the meaning of "get a life".
Rating: 
Summary: "TELL IT LIKE IT IS" DR. PHIL
Review: What I appreciate most about Dr. Phil is his straight "tell it like it is" approach in his writting and his appearances on Oprah. When a couple or any individual are doing something that's not working for them Dr. Phil is there to guide them to a starting point from where they can take a look at what's not working and from there have an opportunity to transform their lives. I noticed another reviewer recommending the book " WORKING ON YOURSELF DOESN'T WORK" by Ariel and Shya Kane. THANK YOU FOR YOUR RECOMMENDATION TO A GREAT BOOK! THIS IS THE BEST BOOK ON PERSONAL TRANSFORMATION I have read. The Kanes' book is a practical, easy to read, insightful and humorous guide to my own self discovery and as the title states without working on myself. My life, including my work and relationships, has become and continues to be much more fun, satisfying, and rewarding. I too whole heartedly recommend the Kanes' book to anyone interested in having A WONDERFUL AND SATISFYING LIFE.
Rating:
Summary: A highly effective guide to producing positive results
Review: I bought this book 3 months ago hoping to finally find a practical guide to living a happy and successful life. I read the best-seller CONVERSATIONS WITH GOD last summer and found myself living in a delusion of what we all wish the world was like, and making tons of excuses for my shortcomings. Dr. Phil's book is full of reality checks instead of dreams. This is not a feel good book that produces results as soon as you read it. You must do the exercises and implement the ideas into your life in order to see changes. As soon as I started reading it however, I could see the truth in the life laws in everyone and every circumstance I encountered. As much as I like the approach of the book, I think that one can get too caught up in finding fault in their lives and themselves. It's useful to outline the simple changes you wish to make before you begin the exercises, because it gets depressing when you start questioning the things in your life that are working. The book can also seem a bit too far-reaching at times. We don't all need to have everything and be everything, and noone is perfect. Simple enhancements to my life and a more positive and productive outlook were all I was looking for. It's easy to read the book and see where other people are not following the life laws, but more difficult when it comes to yourself. Take the book slowly and re-read each chapter before moving on to the next. I've already seen changes in myself since I started reading the book and I feel that my relationships have been enhanced. Buy the book, and good luck!
Rating:
Summary: Tells it like it is...
Review: This book gives you tremendous power to change your life. Phil really does tell it like it is, and he is not afraid of challenging you. Even more powerful is a hands-on, personal, intense training course based on Dr. Phil's Life Strategies that are in this book. I attended the Pathways seminars in Dallas a couple of years ago, and saw Phil's ideas transform lives right before my eyes. It was absolutely incredible! It even works for "Analyzers" like me. If there is any way you can attend, do it! Get your whole family to go, because it gets you tuned in to what's REALLY important in life, and helps you drop all of that excess "baggage" in your life. It really does open up new "pathways" in your life. They have a web site (pathways-edu dot com) that has info on the training seminars. You really should check this out! It really drives home the ideas in the book, and there is no way to skip exercises, so you have a better chance of "Getting It". You will learn so much about yourself and other people in this life-changing training. The Pathways seminar was founded by Phil McGraw himself, and you know this guy knows his stuff. Who else gets an almost weekly spot on the Oprah show (besides Oprah)? You've got to try it. Go to Phil McGraw's web site (philmcgraw dot com), look in "Links" at the top, and select "Pathways".
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Summary: Phil tells it like it is, always...
Review: If you are not lucky enough to catch 'Dr. Tell-It-Like-It-Is-Phil' on Oprah then you should at least read his book(s). There isn't any 'sugar coating' in this book, he is candid, real, thought-provoking and honest. This book offers you a chance to look at your own role in relationships more closely and see what you are doing or not doing that contributes to your experiences. You are in charge of your own life and all that is in it, Phil will remind you of that. He says, "Life is not cured, it's managed" and "You teach people how to treat you" and he is right on both counts. This is a very powerful book and a great life guide for taking a humbling look at your life.
Rating:
Summary: Dr. Phil "Gets It"
Review: The book is great. It gives you TOOLS to make you life better and I love how Dr. Phil makes the point to take responsibility for your own life. You always have choices....and I'm glad I made the choice to read his book. It was nothing but enlightening and helpful in a realistic way. Thank you Dr. Phil....
Rating:
Summary: YOU ARE IN CONTROL OF YOUR DESTINY
Review: Each of us has the power to make those decisions which ultimately determine the course of our precious lives. "Life Strategies" is one of those rare finds, a self-help book that does not wallow in big words or esoteric concepts. Mr. McGraw outlines his steps for success in life in simple, direct, yet engagingly written chapters. The organization of the book is excellent throughout and reflects an author who has had extensive experience in dealing with people from all walks of life. He deals with concepts such as self-reliance, individual responsibility and similar notions often downplayed (or ignored outright) by other authors seeking to play into the culture of victimization. You will find none of that in Mr. McGraw's book; his main theme is that we are responsible for our own lives and we do not have to allow ourselves to be knocked about like a punching bag on a windy day. Once you pick up the book, it is difficult to put down; you will find yourself nodding your head at what you have always known in your heart, but do not always acknowledge in your daily life. This book is well worth the time.
Rating:
Summary: Life Strategies
Review: This book gives you the tools to look at what is or is not working for you in your life. Dr. Phil McGraw goes straight to the bone - if you are willing to be honest with yourself, you can gain a new insight into why you are where you are in your life. I feel a renewed spirit and motivation to take control of my life and make the changes that I have needed to make for years! I actually read most of the book before I decided it was worthwhile to go back and do the written exercises. I'm glad I did! I feel like sending copies of this book to my whole family and my best friend!
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