Rating: 
Summary: O.K., just O.K.
Review: It should have been half the price (or even less). An easy read - I read it thru in just a couple of hours. But like one other reader said, this book could have easily been a magazine article. The three transformational principles were not profound. Personally, I've already realized these things if not thru my own experiences, definitely thru other readings. This book just reinforced basically what I already knew.
Rating:
Summary: sophomoric advice -- provided much better elsewhere
Review: I was disappointed in the book, not so much for what it proposed, but for the simplistic way it was put together, the lack of development of the ideas presented, and the lack of any clear implementation suggestions. "Living in the moment" is hardly new advice, and many other books have done a much better job of suggesting ways for people to get into the proper mindset to observe and let it happen.
Rating: 
Summary: Life Has Become Much Easier After Reading This Book!
Review: I read the Kane's book some time ago and found it useful and fascinating. However, after reading some current reviews and looking at my life in this moment, I see some radical shiftshave occured since I first read the book.I find an ease in my life whether it comes to daily routines like washing the dishes or organizing my office or home. There is contentment in doing little things. I learned in the book that to being in the moment no matter what I am doing can be transformative. Since reading the book, I find myself less worried about the future and less apt to beat myself up over perceived missed opportunities or possible failings in the past. This has been major for me! My relationship with my husband has become more intimate and caring and we are more in love than we every were (after 21 years of marriage). I remember reading about a choice we always have whether to be right about our point of view or to be alive. Also I read about the importance of really listening to another person without judgment. This had had a major impact on our relationship and in other personal and business relationships. I've also found from reading the book that I don't have to be happy all the time. I have discovered that by being however I really am in that moment -- happy, sad, angry or bored, or even dead tired -- can shift in an instant if I really allow myself to feel whatever is there. Now upsets only last for perhaps minutes instead of days and I don't have so much "down time" where I am totally unproductive. These are a few of the benefits I've reaped from reading "Working on Yourself Does'nt Work".
Rating: 
Summary: we've heard it before and better
Review: This book was a disappointment! We have heard it all before, only it has been said better. To save you the trouble of buying this very short book (the advertising section for their other books and workshops is about as long as one of their few chapters)I sum it up for you:Live in the present,don't judge or critizise, just notice what happens, and the feeling will go away, don't resist emotions etc etc Some stories to illustrate their points are outright ridiculous,e.g.,the author gets a nasty burn on her leg while riding a motorcycle (and goes on and on about how much it hurt) but instead of going to a doctor she sits around hurting all day long, takes another bike-ride, puts a little ice on the wound and learns to live through the pain by visualizing its colour and how much water would fit into it (one of their principles- take whatever feeling comes and live it!)Not worth your time or your money!
Rating:
Summary: A Modern Day Masterpiece
Review: This book is a masterpiece. It is simply, yet beautifully written. The stories and parables in the book are heartwarming and have had a very healing effect for me. The title of the book itself includes the essence of the authors' approach. It is a very powerful and transformative idea. "Working on Yourself Does Not Work" means to stop focusing on fixing/changing/or improving yourself... The authors are saying that true happiness and self-realization come from pure awareness without judging yourself. The authors' approach is very different from the prevalent ideas of most self-help and psychology. There are many other very powerful principles of transformation inside the book that help you discover how to stop working on yourself - and to discover how to live your life more in the present moment, and how to have more of your life be a peak experience. The message in this book is about becoming one with your life, by living all aspects of your life with totality, and discovering fulfillment in every moment. The principles in this book have become my everyday reality - and have allowed me be to more fulfilled and satisfied - in both my personal and professional life.
Rating:
Summary: Simplistic and banal...search out something better.
Review: I was surprised at how unimpressed I was with this book given the many glowing reviews. I thought Greg Dietz in his "Buddha Meets Bill Gates" review on this site described the book very accurately as did the other few who gave it negative marks. Unfortunately I didn't see these reviews before I bought the book.The authors' main points seem to be: breathe consciously and stay in the moment. Two powerful concepts but they just kept repeating these two ideas endlessly and unnecessarily. Their premise could have been presented in a sound bite and didn't need the number of pages that were used. I also never got a sense of what specific actions constitute their constantly hyped, trademarked method of transformation. If it's conscious breathing and staying in the moment, that's like Amazon.com trying to patent the "one-click" ordering process or Radio Shack trying to trademark the word "shack." This book seemed incredibly shallow and vague. For a truly wise, wonderful and specific treatise on awareness of breath and staying in the moment start with Thich Nhat Hanh's "The Miracle of Mindfulness." It is a great introduction to basic principles of meditation and written by someone from the perspective of sharing wisdom and ideas not trademarking them. And you will never go about doing the mundane tasks of daily life in quite the same way ever again.
Rating:
Summary: Just plain loved it!
Review: I highly recommend "Working on Yourself Doesn't Work" by Ariel and Shya Kane to anyone who wants to live each day with self-expression, satisfaction and love. Many books have pointed the way for me, but this one went right to the heart of the matter - that trying to fix yourself keeps you stuck in the places you'd like to be free of, but getting into the moment will set you free. Just in reading and re-reading the book, I've found myself falling into the space of living in the moment and my life has become easier. The Kanes lay out simple principles along with anecdotes, examples, and hand drawn illustrations, all designed to open the door to living in the moment. The message is simple and crisp -you can live a miraculous life by staying in the moment. Others have said this before, but the Kanes come through as real people who have discovered the keys to enlightenment on a day-to-day, in the marketplace basis. One of the reviews of "Working on Yourself Doesn't Work" pointed me to an audio tape by the Kanes called "Magical Relationships." What a treat! After meeting the authors through their book, I got to actually hear them talking with people in a seminar. They are brilliant with people, really listening to each question and comment that arises from the audience and giving everything they've got with their responses. Listening to the tape was like spending time with two compassionate friends (and their guests!) who have discovered magic in their lives. I felt very close to one of the participants who talked about how embarrassing it can be to feel her partners love for her. It's a great section, but I won't give any more away. You don't have to dream about having an awesome life. Get the book, get the tape, and celebrate - the Kanes are a gift!
Rating:
Summary: What a Gift!
Review: Better than any bunch of flowers or box of chocolates, this book is a great gift! I was especially taken with the chapter on decisions, it explained how decisions we make when we are young, or upset can still be running our lives now (most often unbeknownst to us). I could really relate to that, and could recognize many instances in my own life where I have felt upset about something and vowed never to let myself get in that position again. I could see how that has limited the current possibilities in my life. Wow. How cool to see that I don't have to live out of those old decisions! This book has a supportive, light hearted and very accessible writing style; It is a delight.
Rating:
Summary: Buy it!
Review: If you want to have more satisfaction in your life -Buy it! If you want to have fullfilling and loving relationships -Buy it! If you want to have more money and success -Buy it! If you want to have more awareness about yourself -Buy it! If you want to have more fun, joy and happiness -Buy it! If you want to have more of the "more" -Buy it! If you want to have more peace and foregivness -Buy it! If you want to have more knowledge about your automatical behaviour patterns -Buy it! If you want to have more effectiveness in your life -Buy it! If you want to have -Buy it! If you want to -Buy it! If you -Buy it! Stephan Monzel Hamburg, Germany
Rating:
Summary: It's is simply great!
Review: "Working on Yourself Doesn't Work" is simply great! Great because what it says is simple to experience. The principles discovered by Ariel and Shya Kane and shared so beautifully with the reader are masterpieces of truth, and can become magical tools for anyone who wants to transform their life from boring to brilliant. Personally, I have found since the day I began reading their book that smiles appear on my face where before would have been wrinkles of worry and dissatisfaction; wonderful solutions occur to me instead of endlessly recurring problems; and honest open communications spring from my mouth instead of false praise or lies of silence. I am definitely happier, more relaxed, and more in relationship with my wife, family, friends, colleagues, and acquaintances. This book is great! If you are looking for Instantaneous Transformation in your life, a look at "Working on Yourself Doesn't Work" is the glance of a lifetime. John Lehman Conductor and Professor of Music Morgantown West Virginia
| 
