Rating: 
Summary: It works, if you work it!
Review: I was amazed to read the previous reviews. Was that sour grapes? Was it a bad attitude, based on wishful thinking? Was it the old "give it to me for free, so I don't have to be responsible" cop-out? Who knows. Whenever I read such negative comments, I'm reminded of my old outlook on life. My old way of thinking was that it was always someone elses fault. If I failed to succeed, I refused to look at the fact that it was me who did not succeed. I am responsible for my life and whatever I decide to do with it. Books are great. However, I must do the work in order to get the results. If I take a whimpy attitude and hide behind my fears, I go no where. It's easy to blame Tony Robbins, Brian Tracy, Napoleon Hill and countless others.However, look at the 4 stars this book has received. Even with the reviews from those that chose to fail and blame, this book still gets 4 stars from 154 reviews. They say only 3 - 5% of the people will succeed. It makes no difference who's plan you use, but you must do the work! I like Tony's work. I also find tremendous value in works by Brians Tracy. When I apply these principles to my life great things happen. Why? Because I change, that's why! This is a great book. It is not intended for the weak of heart or for those with no dreams or without a willingness to take action. I would bet we will see more negative reviews from these people, as they continue to read book after book, looking for the magic pill, lamp, wishing well that will do it all for them. It just won't happen. If I want it, I must go and get it. I am responsible to take whatever action is required. I must continue, while noticing what works and what doesn't, changing my course until I succeed. If they move my cheese, I must find it. If they change the rules, I must change how I play the game. I wonder how these negative failures would feel if I blamed their ideas for my failure. I bet they would certainly take the praise for my successes, even though they might be clueless on how I did succeed. Every book, written with the intention of helping the masses, is only as good as the reader is at knowing where they want to go, learning what they need to know and taking action. Find someone who's ideas are in line with your values, and give it everything you've got. If it's to be, it's up to me. To those who choose to fail, they are at least succeeding at something! They just haven't realized they made a choice.
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant!!
Review: This book should be the authority on the science of success!
Rating: 
Summary: An excellent guide to help individuals reach their potential
Review: Several years ago I began reading the work of Stephen Covey, another author who, like Robbins, wrote about leadership qualities. Covey had been a professor who researched behavior patterns in the world's leading citizens. Through his work, Covey found that most all leaders had certain characteristics that they shared in common, and he published his findings in his perennial bestseller, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Covey's work helped me through the early years of my long prison sentence, and I'm happy to have found the work of Anthony Robbins. It will help keep me focused as I move into this final decade of my imprisonment. Whether a man serves his time in federal prison camp like the ones at Eglin, Allenwood, Sheridan, or Lompoc, or he serves his time in high-security penitentiaries, like Lewisburg, Leavenworth, Beaumont, or Terre Haute, adjusting to confinement requires a long-term perspective. There are so many frustrations built into the daily activities that a prisoner who lacks control over his thoughts and emotions can begin the day normally enough, but end it in segregation or the hospital, knowing that tensions are about to escalate. No matter how bad prison experiences seem, when a prisoner loses presence of mind, he exposes himself to an abysmal downside. In order to avoid these prisoner pitfalls, I look for books that help strengthen my resolve, and I found such a book in Anthony Robbins' Awaken the Giant Within. Robbins divides his 500-page life guide into four parts, each of which provides a logical approach to conditioning one's mind for the inevitable challenges that constantly frustrate progress. Like Covey, Robbins advises us to articulate the code of values by which we want to live, then to commit to those values. He wants us to evaluate our actions constantly to ensure they're moving us toward the values we proclaim to admire. Rather than allowing obstacles to serve as an excuse for failure, Robbins suggests that we view each day as an opportunity to make the most of all that's available to us. His work provides practical strategies we can implement to improve our lives so that we're able to achieve the goals we set for ourselves. One of the simple techniques that Robbins recommends we incorporate into our lives is constant self-examination, the asking of questions to ourselves. Over 2,000 years ago Plato wrote that the unexamined life is not worth living, and Robbins wisely expresses the thought again when he advises us to ask questions that will help direct our focus, our thoughts, and our emotions. Rather than allowing interferences to block or impede the efforts we're making to move toward our goals and values, Robbins' book guides us to make better inquiries, to examine whether barriers truly are insurmountable, or whether it'' our perception of them that limit us. As we examine obstructions more closely, we can make adjustments that will enable us to move through them, pass over or around them. The questions we ask ourselves can lead to solutions, they can help us stay the course we committed to follow. It's a simple lesson, the lesson of questions, but it's one that I've noticed many fail to grasp. This failure pronounces itself loud and clear in the prisons of America. As prisoners we have no voice in the rules we are required to follow. The institution dictates when we eat, when we're to report for bed, even when we're allowed to report our illnesses to a doctor. For years we may use commodes enclosed in stalls, but a zealous guard may determine the privacy unwarranted, and without warning or explanation, remove all the doors from bathroom stalls, requiring prisoners to defecate in plain view of others, an arm's length away from the prisoners using toilets on either side of him. These basics of prison life, the regimented rules and changes that come without commentary, seemingly born out of callused or malicious minds, frustrate many. They push some prisoners to rebel against the institution that holds them, leaving any possibility for progress or inner growth as elusive as world peace. By following the principles that Robbins teaches, especially this asking of questions, even prisoners can side step the impediments of a life sans autonomy. Over the many years I've served in USP Atlanta, in the medium-security prisons at McKean and Fairton, and since 1996, in Fort Dix, I've responded to all of the problems I faced with questions. I asked myself what it was that I really wanted. I asked myself the possible ways that I could respond to the doors coming off my room, to the bad food, to the meddling prison guard or incompetent counselors. Invariably my questions led me to consider the goals I had set for myself, and that pause helped me choose a better course of action. As prisoners, we have to know where we're going. If we don't know, any road will take us there. Success, on the other hand, does not come by accident. Rather it requires a plan, and the questions we ask ourselves help us stick to it. Anthony Robbins' excellent book, Awaken the Giant Within, provides a set of strategies that help us choose actions that will ensure we become more than we are today. I recommend it to all who choose to control their future, to those who refuse to allow circumstances to control them.
Rating:
Summary: Another winner from the world's greatest "life coach"
Review: I think Tony Robbins is brilliant. He's simple and very logical in everything I've ever read or heard by him. When I hear of what some of his critics say, I have to wonder if they've ever even read his books. There's nothing spooky here, folks. Most everything he teaches is a "no brainer"--things you can't believe you wouldn't think of on your own. More than anything else, Tony reveals the obvious, things we were probably too busy or wrapped up in our daily lives to see on our own, hence the term "life coach." "Awaken" was a fabulous follow-up to "Unlimited Power." I was pleasantly surprised to see that Tony didn't simply piggy back on the success of his 1st best seller by simply pumping out another book of lesser usefulnees and quality. On the contrary, Tony did a fantastic job with this one. It's packed with useful information and suggestions. In my opinion, it's a better book than "Awaken" but not by much, as "Awaken" is a priceless book in its own right. 10 stars if I could!
Rating: 
Summary: Shallow Mumbo-Jumbo!
Review: This book is a joke to say the least. I picked it up after reading unlimited power which I liked. Robbins covers so many topics, it's impossible to list them all. It's basically designed to be an 'owners manual for the brain' but I find to be nothing more than 'pump up' hype. It just doesn't make sense to me no matter how often I read it. I could critique every chapter of the book, but I have to abide by the 1000 word limit. One chapter that I think is extremely misleading is the one about questions. He says better questions produce a better quality life . OK. Like if I get mugged Ill say "How can I use this" and everything will be allright. PUHLEEZE! The fitness advice is outright juvenille, and his financial advice doesn't even warrant a review. My bottom line is his stuff just doesn't cut it. I know, Ive done his programs for years and have no improvements whatsoever. Neither do any of the people i know who have also tried it. DO NOT BUY INTO THE HYPE! HE IS LIKE A CIGARETTE, ONCE YOU READ ONE OF HIS BOOKS (OR PROGRAMS) YOU"LL FEEL COMPELLED TO BUY MORE, GO TO HIS SEMINARS, ETC. HE IS ADDICTIVE! It's a vicious circle. Anyone who wishes to challenge me on this topic, write a review and let me know.
Rating:
Summary: Continual Never Ending Improvement
Review: The book contains a set of simple practical techniques that can be applied to change your life. The book is not a miracle cure but a call to its readers for Continual Never Ending Improvement. All the techniques presented can ultimately work but Anthony forget to mention one critical thing. Before his techniques can be put to practise the reader must first learn to oberve himself and learn to become aware of his emotions. The book only has value if the concepts presented are put into practise for an extended period of time. I found the book easy to read and thought provoking.
Rating: 
Summary: Dated, long winded but useful...
Review: After reading "Unlimited Power", I was eagerly expecting this book. It wasn't what I expected. I originally read this book 2 years ago. Since then, I've read it 2 more times. The book is dated with references to OJ, Micheal Jackson, to name a few. Each have fell off the deep end. (OJ trial, Jackson's behavior) The book is also overwritten in my opinion. He's constantly asking questions every other sentence. (I got the feeling I was being cross-examined.) The author uses a conversional language as if the book was being dictated on a recorder for later type up. This at times leads to rambling about everything from his family members, friends, the play Les Misérables, his trip to Figi, his company, Mr.Smith, his visit to a morgue. It reminds me of being stuck on the phone with a friend for 3 hours straight listening to every bit of gossip and trivia. The last reason I give it 3 stars - he starts being too preachy around page 300 on; from taking up causes to eating less beef. On the plus side, there are some useful bits - from identifying the values that are important to you to making the right decisions and breaking habits. At 511 pages, the book is more like a handbook than a book that should be read outright. The finacial part of the book came near the end of the book and covers only one chapter with 5 keys to wealth. One key I disagree with partly as being outdated. Creating wealth by being more valuable to your company for example doing 3 times more work or adding value to your work is ok if you're self-employed, but as an employee I found that for you to become more wealthy you need to have fair mind employers to recognize your creative efforts and give you those raises to increase your income. I've found many employers simply pocketing the savings their employees come up with and not even acknowledge their efforts to avoid giving raises. This is mainly true in low end jobs like fast foods. Down-sizing has made this key advise mandatory just to KEEP your job. The author needs to update this book and reduce the number of stories and personal accounts in the next edition. To start out, I would recommend "Unlimited Power" instead and only "Awaken the Giant" as a supplement reference manual to "Unlimitd Power".
Rating:
Summary: Incredible Self-Development Book!
Review: This is one of the best books I've read on self-development. Tony covers so much, yet keeps it thorough and meaty. The book changed my thinking and attitude. I would recommend this book to anyone!
Rating:
Summary: Ok, but not great
Review: Although I thought "Unlimited Power" was better, I actually read this book first during a down time in my life...when the gurl of my dreams told me we can't be together. I read "Unlimited Power" recently after I got laid off. I can only speak for myself, but I found these books to be good for the short-term. By that, I mean they can really heal inner wounds while you are reading it, but afterwards, it doesn't really last. I blame the complexity of Robbin's techniques. NLP is no beginner concept. Personally, I found it too complicated to effectively apply to my life. There are lots of great ideas in this book, but they are only as great as how well you remember them and use them to empower your life. So why the four stars? Well, yes, I do remember one concept from this book. One that is so powerful that I use it as my eternal goal in life in addition to my other more specific goals: the concept of CANI - Constant And Never-Ending Improvement. With this goal, you will never fail in life.
Rating:
Summary: Flawed Guru, Great Message, Not As Easy As It Sounds
Review: Tony Robbins starts off in his over-the-top style by getting you excited about a variety of self-improvement techniques. I give him credit for at least providing actual exercises instead of just a lot of woo-woo philosophy like most self-help books. However, although many of these are great techniques in theory, some would take a long time to master - definitely no "quick fix" here. I bought the PP2 tapes and did them all, but some days the exercises were just not successful. Looking back now, I can't say that I accomplished many of the goals I set. Maybe if I had had thousands to spend working with a "life coach" one-on-one to train me, I would have had better results.
If you're new to positive thinking, etc., you might get great insights from this book. If you've heard it all before, you'll probably hear a few things that may be new and perhaps helpful.
And yes, you'll either love him or hate him. Fascinating how most reviewers either want to worship at his feet or assassinate him -not many in between. I guess when anyone makes that much money, he's expected to be perfect, and a lot of people get REALLY resentful when he's not.
Point of interest - in the early days, he paid out big money to prevent a number of lawsuits when his staff accidentally got the wrong kind of wood for a "firewalk" seminar. About 40 people ended up in the hospital with burns. (Yes, the event is a partial trick - do some research if you're interested).
Lots of hype, but a few great ideas.
|
