Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy

Rating:
Summary: Portable/compact edition has a flimsy feel
Review: I can't comment on the content of the book, as I've only read the first few essays. But please note that there are a couple of editions of this book available. The portable compact / special travel edition is wrongly described as a hardcover. It is not--not in the traditional sense, anyway. It has a flexible cover that feels pretty durable (like a heavy Tyvek), but is nonetheless not a standard hard binding. The bigger disappointment is what's between the covers, though. The paper is of very poor quality, similar to newsprint. Type from the reverse side shows through and is very distracting. Perhaps this was the way to make the book lighter to qualify for the "travel" appellation, but the end result is to make the book itself feel rather cheap. If I were assessing on the edition's physical qualities alone I'd give it one star...and only because it's not possible to give zero.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent!
Review: "Simple Abundance" is wonderful book, it gently encourages you to love yourself and what you have now, and to be grateful for it. I received this book as a wedding gift and it has proved to be one of my favorite gifts. It inspires you with it's thought-provoking quotes, and fascinating topics. It's one of the best books I have ever read, and it guided me on the *most* amazing journey, the one inside myself.

Rating:
Summary: This book is both empowering and insightful...
Review: I LOVE the portable edition! It is very nicely packaged with a satin ribbon bookmark to help you keep your place. Several months ago I was reading a negative review of this book on Amazon, which kept me from buying it. I later went to the bookstore and just read random samplings and decided not to buy then either. What I didn't realize is the value of reading this book from the beginning. Each day builds upons itself to enlighten you to experience your world in a different way. What finally changed my mind to buy it was Oprah's last show on this topic. Of course Oprah, in her infinite wisdom was right. This book is both empowering and insightful. Just start from page one and work your way through it - read an extra day or two until you get caught up with the actual dates. It will be worth it!

Rating:
Summary: Find Your Inner Self
Review: This book has helped me to find myself again. It is so easy to get wrapped up in what others think and feel. I have finally figured out what I should be doing with my life, and plan to change the course of my career path, in a big way! Thank you Sarah!

Rating:
Summary: What'd She Say?
Review: More new-age yadda, yadda, yadda. Will I ever figure out what these people are talking about?

Rating:
Summary: SIMPLE ABUNDANCE
Review: THIS WONDERFUL READ, CHANGED MY WAY OF THINKING, I NOW PRAISE GOD FOR ALL THINGS, THIS BOOK HAS OPENED MY EYES VERY WILD, THANK YOU SARAH..........M. MINARD

Rating:
Summary: A Gentle Voyage to Finding Fulfillment
Review: Having read almost one years worth of entries, I find Ms. Ban Breathnach gently helps us explore our feelings, how and why we arrived at our position today, and how to steer our lives to a fulfilling future. The quotes are meaningful and give insight into each passage. Three cheers to a gal who cares for those who have lost their focus or maybe just misplaced it for a while.

Rating:
Summary: Disappointed ... I wish I could return the book ...
Review: I saw a very positive review on this book, so I purchased it without reading the content yesterday. I am sure the author means very well, otherwise, she would not have put such a thick book together. However, the book is so "New Age", I could not believe it! I read about ten pages so far, and already wish I had not bought it.

Rating:
Summary: simple abundance: a daybook of comfort and joy
Review: It is interesting in scanning the reviews of this book, over ninety percent are five star... but the ones who disagree seem to give it, for the most part, one star. It is a book which brings out strong opinions. Reactionaries and fundementalists will have a hard time with this book because it does not reinforce their dogma. It instead addresses the broad spectrum of beliefs, encourages tolerance,openness, and exploration of self and of all aspects of life, including religion and spirit. That would drive the reactionaries over the edge. There are so few books which can actually add something to your life, day after day, month after month, year after year. This is one of them. It is a book for women on the search to find more meaning in their daily ritual as caretakers, more joy in the everyday. It gives me something to think about each day of the year. I feel a bit sorry for those who give it the knee jerk New Age blasting. But, it takes all kinds to make the world go around.

Rating:
Summary: Take lightly
Review: I enjoyed this book yet was annoyed at it also. I am wondering if anyone else picked this up - at one point we are asked to think of one woman we admire. I was thinking of Eleanor Roosevelt or Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Then SBB asked us to think of her personal style. Personal style of Eleanor Roosevelt? Like what she wore? Ridiculous. That is not exactly what I admired about her. But of course, the author assumed you would pick a beautiful woman to admire and then analyze her jewelry and makeup and hair...

Anyway... at the same token, there were parts of this book I really enjoyed. I would read it at night and think about how to take more time for myself and I would actually sleep better. Blissfully almost. There is something to be said for this book... its wonderfully light bedtime reading.