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Summary: The Power of Losing Control helps turn myth to reality
Review: As contradictory as the title seems, Caruso's explanation of how and why we should let go of what he calls "myths" about ourselves is indeed powerful. He talks about how each of us has a set of myths that we believe about our lives and that when those myths are harmful to us, we can and should replace them with ones that are equally valid but much more beneficial. His focus is always on "common, simple, basic human truths" that let us change our perceptions of ourselves and our world, and through those changes, improve our sense of meaning and happiness. The personal stories from his own life experience and those of others clearly demonstrate the points he makes. Throughout the book, the reader senses Caruso's warmth and personal strength, even though his suggestions are often brisk and no-nonsense. He doesn't give you a quick fix for all your problems. Rather, he shows you how you can see the possibilities that exist in your life and work to make them realities. Both a practical and enjoyable read.
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Summary: Powerful!
Review: I've always believed that we are responsible for our own happiness and that it's up to each of us to take charge of our own lives. (I don't have much tolerance for "whiners"!) But this book took that awareness to a whole new level, helping me understand that my interest in "controlling" my life was really working against me. In "The Power of Losing Control" there is a powerful message of letting go, of recognizing that I have influence over many things and control only over myself.It was powerful.
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Summary: Do I really have control?
Review: Joe Caruso continues to be a favorite of mine! He has been a guest speaker at several of my Marriott seminars with our sales account team. Joe's great message delivery and he has the ability to help us help ourselves to becoming better. It's great fun to read!
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Summary: The Power of Losing Control
Review: Joe Caruso has provided powerful insights that allow each of us to maintain focus and strength in our lives. This book provides the tools to unlock your "personal power", resulting in a dynamic personal and professional transformation.
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Summary: Simple, powerful tools for living life in joy and service
Review: Mr. Caruso's book defines your ability to take control of your emotions and decisions at times when circumstances are often out of your control. The power of seizing control helps one to make strong and lucid decisions. I find myself reflecting on the insight from the book and appling it to my everyday live. Anyone, either in their personal or professional life can benefit from this book.
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Summary: Do I really have control?
Review: Reading "The Power of Losing Control" helped me understand that delicate balance between what I can control and what I cannot. I learned to recognize many of the control illusions that are driving my behaviors and sapping my energy. I was thrilled to find a manual that helps me let go of control illusions in order to focus on the only thing I can control -- myself! This may sound simple, but it is with Caruso's book that I finally grasped some central concepts about myself -- my contexts, my myths, my driving stories, my attitudes -- that have helped me grow in happiness. It was fascinating to learn, through Joe's many stories and examples, that these same concepts work for businesses too. If Joe could find power while facing a terminal illness, then I can certainly do it in my everyday struggles. I think the first chapter of this book is a must-read for anyone feeling out of control and needing help. It's a great start on a path of self-discovery. Then, the rest of the book gets into the details of real things we can do to help ourselves -- the only person we can really control. I'm glad I found this book.
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Summary: It could change your life.
Review: The Power of Losing Control by Joe Caruso is a book about how the true power of losing control lies in knowing the difference between what you can control, what you can effect, and what you need to accept. When you realize the only person you can change is yourself and stop wasting energy trying to change others you will have more peace and personal satisfaction. Caruso's book gives you an opportunity to experiment with yourself, learn new truths and become more aware of how you can enhance the meaning of your life. He points out how you are the stories you tell yourself and how rewriting your personal driving myths can reshape how you live your life. His book has helpful insights such as the real story of who you are isn't about what happens to you as much as it is about how you interpret it and define what happens. Also the more you repeat the story to yourself the more powerful it becomes and the more you allow the story to determine your behavior and behave as if it were true. My early life illustrates his point. I felt abandoned as a child so I believed I would be abandoned as an adult and I was until I wised up. He says the key to fulfillment is to keep asking, "Is the story I am telling myself serving me?" Caruso's book is packed with other powerful insights and advice: the difference between responding and reacting and a commitment and a decision. Also the 10 ideas and attitudes you need to let go of and the five stages of wisdom. If you use what you read in this book and apply it to the five stages of wisdom it could change your life.
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Summary: It changed my perspectives!
Review: This book shifted my perspectives about "Control". It's one of those books that I come across once in a while that makes an impact on how I work, think and live.
The title itself was interesting - the power of losing control. Sounds oxymoronic, right? How could anyone gain power by losing control? What I understand now is that there wasn't any power to exercise in the first place. As Caruso wrote, what we really have is an "Illusion of Control". That's the essence of what I learnt -- we DON'T have control of many things in the first place, so we're worrying about noting!
The author doesn't preach or anything. What it did for me was to reframe how I could view the concept of control (or lack of). Subsequently, that changed how I viewed things -- my job, my work, my relationship with my wife. I've become a happier person now, and when I cite things from the book, my friends think I'm some genius. I tell them to read the book. : )
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Summary: Help for the inner soul
Review: While the basis of the book deals with the energy consumed on things we have little or no control over, I found far more wisdom than this morsel. From my prospective of the book, what grabbed me most was this insite; We all own images of ourselves based on myths and fears and I own myths about myself that prevent me daily from being the best version of myself at work, home and play. The author does an excellent job of using stories and examples to light a path to self-betterment from within. Most self-improvement books I have read deal with external processes such as setting priorities and time managment. This book deals with the inner set of beliefs we maintain true that hold us back from being the best version of ourselves. One example: Why do physically abused people choose frienships and partners that continue to abuse them? Answer: Until they change the inner belief that say's I'm not good enough, the cycle will continue. The book challenged me to differentiate from precept and preception. The author includes exercises that I found very helpful. This is an extrordinary book, easy to read but challenging to read. It has changed my life. Buy it! Believe that you're worth the $20 investment.
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Summary: Extremely insightful.
Review: Within its genre, "The Power of Losing Control" is a modern classic. Joe Caruso's unique perspective and approach will lend new insight to even the most well-read, jaded seekers of self-understanding. At the same time, his writing style remains so accessible, entertaining and soulful that most anyone could gain a wealth of information from this book. Caruso's focus is simple, yet holistic enough to work on many levels. We live in an out of control world. Therefore, true happiness and satisfaction come NOT from attempting to control it (I get the visual here of someone trying to swim upstream) but rather in developing an internal sense of power--something we CAN control. This comes through looking at the "context" in which we put things. For example, in what context do you view your work? Your relationships? Your friends, etc.? It is through our contexts that we derive meaning from life, and consequently, we need to understand them--and change them, if necessary--to find inner peace. Part of what makes "The Power of Losing Control" so engaging is Caruso's own story, which he weaves into the book tastefully to drive home the material. It's far too long to explain here, but another reason to read this book. "The Power of Losing Control" is one of those rare books that can help anyone with any particular area of their life, be it inner development, business, career, relationships, parenthood and so on. I've heard an audio version is coming out soon, and may be well worth checking out.
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