Life Preservers: Good Advice When You Need It Most

Rating:
Summary: Therapist on call
Review: I became a big fan of Dr. Lerner after reading the The Dance of Anger. This book is different from her other books because it's in a question and answer format. I thought I wouldn't like this format, but I was wrong. Her advice is so amazingly strong and helpful. She answers so many questions and problems that I've talked about with my therapist, or that I haven't had the nerve to share with friends. I loved the section "Women at Work," because work has been a painful place for me, and I can't think of another book that offers so much help about dealing with an impossible boss or gossipy co-worker. You can't get better advice than this and it's a fun read.

Rating:
Summary: Dear Abby with credentials
Review: I found this book to be quite powerful in a very subtle way. Having grown up reading Dear Abby and Ann Landers as my main source of adult advice, I was quite pleased with the Advice Column Format. Actually, this book is a compilation of published and unpublished letters written to Dr. Lerner for the advice column she writes for New Woman magazine. I was impressed with the range of topics and problems that were addressed in this book. Harriet Lerner's advice is open minded yet firm; additionally she is not averse to sharing her own experiences. Since I tend to be so limited in time, I found this book to be a great "meal companion". While spooning down some cereal or grabbing a quick sandwich, this book provided the ideal "dessert". This is the first book I have read by Harriet Lerner and I am now anxious to start the Dance books.

Rating:
Summary: Very helpful
Review: This is a well-written book with terrific advice. Although I believe no one can solve serious issues by reading a book alone, this is a good start to understanding problems many people encounter.
Not a replacing for therapy, but a good guide for many.

Rating:
Summary: Very helpful
Review: This is a well-written book with terrific advice. Although I believe no one can solve serious issues by reading a book alone, this is a good start to understanding problems many people encounter.
Not a replacing for therapy, but a good guide for many.