Real Therapy

Rating:
Summary: I've never been in therapy
Review: A friend suggested I read this book. I was not sure about it, because it seemed geared for people who either are in therapy or do therapy. But, I was completely surprised. Sure, it has a lot of inside stuff on what it means to be a shrink, which I found kinda voyueristic and informative. But, while you get the inside stuff you also learn a lot about yourself and things you can do to make realtionships, work, family, love more satisfying.
This is a book about life. How to live it fully. How to be the person you are with all the baggage you have and the good and not so good parts. It was funny at times and sad at others and most importantly, helpful. I got a lot out of it and would talk to my friends about it and turned a bunch of people onto it. We have our own little "real" language thing going.
When I first got it, I would read it before I went to bed. When I was done with it I put it in the bathroom so I could read a page or two now and then. It may sound weird to you, but only the best books make it into my bathroom.

Rating:
Summary: Self Help Will Never be the Same
Review: I was totally surprised and enthralled by this book. I have read plenty of self-help books and pop psych books and this one is completely different. First off, the author talks about life in a way that I can relate to - he does not purport to be better than anyone else and certainly there are aspects to who he is that I don't really like. But, show me anyone you really know who you like everything about.
No, this guy is for real. He shares his story and along the way I was laughing out loud, I got excited, sad, upset and came away with a better understanding of myself and the people around me.There is a lot of information presented in a way that you don't really notice until you are talking to someone and all of a sudden you are using one of the things he mentioned.
The author says at one point how many therapists he has taught in graduate school. When I thought about it I realized I would like to take a course from this guy. Then I realized his students probably never got some of this behind the scenes stuff, and if they did, I really would like to take that course.

Rating:
Summary: Cool Journey
Review: This was really a great read. I couldn't put it down, and at the same time I wanted to read it in private. Reading about truth is sometimes embarrassing - especially when I get to be a bit of a voyeur into worlds where I don't want to admit i go and think about going. This book has more than therapy, sex and drugs - it has heart and innocence and covers the path to experience in a really truthful and very tantalizing way. I blushed more than a few times. Seriously, this book is about looking for the truth of what you want and this guy goes out looking and shares the highs and lows -- i really recommend it.