Rating: 
Summary: Seems Easy Enough
Review: Dr. Phil's life strategies seem easy, but they take a true commitment to implement. His advice makes some readers angry, but that is probably an indication that the message of the book is getting straight the the point. As Dr. Phil would say, "You either get it or you don't!" I also found Rat Race Relaxer: Your Potential & The Maza of Life by JoAnna Carey full of practical, easy to implement tips for getting what you want out of life.
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: Keep up the good work
Review: He actually has a lot to teach in a time where the term "common sense" has lost it's meaning, and isn't so common anymore.
Rating: 
Summary: The Good, The Bad, The Details
Review: The Good:
Reduces the complexities of life into a few easily understood guidelines.
The Bad:
Reduces the complexities of life into a few easily understood guidelines.
The Details:
I'm not a big Dr Phil fan. The few times I've watched him on TV I felt he too easily jumped to conclusions after having only limited information about the situation. In fact, that kind of flies in the face of his guidance in this book on planning. That being said, his show is, after all, only a 60 minutes long...so what can you expect.
The best thing about this book is it provides a "framework" of ideas rather than a "methodology". Having been in computer systems development for many years I came to understand why the numerous "methodologies" could not seem to produce a significantly better success ratio than not having one at all. It's not because, as methodology proponents would argue, that the methodology wasn't followed. In my experience it was because the rationale for, or concepts behind, the steps in the methodology weren't readily understood by the people tasked with following the steps. A "framework", on the other hand, provides the basic and essential view of what works, and as long as the detailed approach stays in sync with the "framework" rules, there will be value in each one of the details.
The above statement is essential in order to understand the value of this book. This is NOT about details, but essential concepts, with some EXAMPLES of the kind of detail you might need in order to be successful. The reason many reviewers say this is a book of "common sense platitudes" is most likely due to the fact that it is. However, if you understand that what Dr Phil is providing is a set of clear, unalterable guidelines...beneath which you can develop your own personal success plan detail..then you might have a good chance this book will be a great foundational tool for making you more productive and effective.
What is essential in this "framework" idea is that it is up to you to ponder and meditate upon the meaning of each of his guidelines as it pertains to the details in YOUR life. For example, some reviewers have been at odds with Dr Phil's view on perception versus reality arguing that if everything is perception then there can be no objectivity, which is at odds with Dr Phil's view on viewing the facts of your life objectively. As an instructor I used to teach my students that "perception IS reality" in that the reality you must face in your everyday life is based on yours and everyone else's perception of the actions and results you have produced. The actions and results are absolutely objective, but they produce subjective impressions, which are the things that impact your life.
I only point out the above as an example of the type of ongoing consideration I believe you may need to give Dr Phil's guidelines in order to understand their complexities/subtleties in order to derive some benefit from them.
A personal platitude to those that take offense to Dr Phil's exercises: "There are two types of people in this world, those that plan, and those that fail."
All in all a great book if you're willing to take the time and really ponder the depths of what Dr Phil covers in a fairly light manner.
Rating:
Summary: Dr. Phil is great.
Review: I have read loads of personal development books but there are only two books that I recommmend for life mastery. The first book is Life Strategies. Dr. Phil is realistic and without any fluff, teaches you how to stop being a victim and make your life work. If you use his strategies, you will get your life back. The other book is Optimal Thinking: How To Be Your Best Self that explains why many positive thinking books don't work and how to be your best, master your feelings and make the most of any situation.
Rating:
Summary: Get Real!!!!
Review: This is a great audio book. Eventhough I had this book for years but I didn't read it until I got the audiobook. I enjoy Dr. Phil's texan accent!
There are somethings that I do not agree with, like everything that happens in life is your own responsibility, but generally it is a constructive book.
Rating:
Summary: Pretty Good Advice
Review: The subtitle hints of the practicality of this book: "Doing what works/Doing what matters." Time is a key element in the process of accomplishing what you set out to do. Dr. Phil writes, "I design plans to help get people what they want in life." There are some places in the book that are...shall we say they reveal things about him that he didn't intend. For example he's quite obsequious toward Oprah. Perhaps because she catapulted him to fame. On the other hand he's condescending to other people. He doesn't realize he comes across this way in the book, quite obviously. His arrogance is alarmingly apparent in places. But there are some insights to be found in spite of these weaknesses. For example, he encourages you to "focus on results, not intentions." Do people ever need to hear that! A similar insight is found when he points out people fear rejection, but need acceptance. That means life is a risk. I particularly liked this sieze windows of opportunity discussion in chapter six. Again time is the relevant variable, i.e., certain opportunities have a limited window. Sieze the day or miss the chance forever. To sum it up, I felt the book started weak but grew in substance. After the self-promotion and sense of having all the answers in the first few pages were over he developed some substantive thought on significant issues.
Rating: 
Summary: this egotistic diatribe deserves no stars
Review: This is a wonderful book and Dr. Phil McGraw is totally on point throughout. I noticed a few reviewers disagreeing and blabbering on with their fancy words (evidence enough of why they disagree..) about how a person can't be expected to be held accountable for 100% of their life and how their environment and social, political, etc. influences must be taken into account, etc. You know, the folks that are so compassionate and caring and brimming with acknowledgement of victimization. Obviously, this book isn't for you. Neither is the real world. It's never what happens to you, folks. It's always, 100%, how you REACT to what happens to you. There are countless, countless examples of people in this world who have faced incomprehensible adversity, challenges and difficulties and they simply did what normal people didn't do: Push on. They reacted in a different way than the normal person who would blame the government, their parents, their hamster, etc. There are no victims. Anyway, great book and very highly recommended. Not for people that wish to go to their graves denying that life will give you what you fight for (because they don't have the gonads to fight?). 5/5 Also recommended: Excuse Me, Your Life Is Waiting by Lynn Grabhorn
Rating:
Summary: very clever common sense
Review: There is really not that much to say. Either you get it - or you don't. This book is common sense. But clever common sense. I feel very good about having read it. And I imagine most people would, if they took the time to read it. A great book by a great man. -Simon
Rating:
Summary: The Book WORKS!
Review: If we all followed this advice... we would not need Dr. Phil any longer. Think about it.
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