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Life Is Tremendous

Life Is Tremendous - Charlie "Tremendous" Jones “Life is Tremendous” is one of those books that has had a great deal of acclaim - on the cover of my version, from 1968, it says that over 600,000 copies had been sold (and another million people have purchased it since then) - and after having read this book, I don’t consider myself a raving fan. This is not to say that I found nothing of value in the book, it’s just that I wasn’t “wow-ed” by it and it didn’t say anything “tremendous” to me.

On the 107 pages within, the author, Charlie “Tremendous” Jones, uses the majority of pages to outline his “Seven Laws of Leadership”:
1) Get Excited about Your Work
2) Use or Lose
3) Production to Perfection
4) Give to Get
5) Exposure to Experience
6) Flexible Planning
7) Motivated to Motivating

An additional 20 pages are dedicated to the three decisions in life:
1) Whom are you going to live your life with?
2) What are you going to live your life in?
3) What are you going to live your life for?

The final 20 pages are used to discuss how “Leaders Are Readers.”

Sprinkled throughout the discussions are various quotes, personal accounts, and anecdotes - some unique, others just modifications to more familiar stories that have been shared by motivational speakers over the years. The sense of humor that Charlie Jones brings to this book, as well as his enthusiasm, definitely makes for a pleasant read, it’s just that I did not find the information itself to be very ‘impactful.’

If you’re one of those people who enjoys lukewarm milk and who prefers quick, easy to read, motivational books that predominantly discuss everyday wisdom, then indeed this book may be just what you are looking for. On the other hand, if you are looking for something to read that is a little more unique or in-depth, or if you are already familiar with other books in this genre (motivational, personal development, human potential, self-help etc.) then I doubt that you will have a great number of “A-ha” moments when reading “Life is Tremendous.”

Who Switched Off My Brain?

Who Switched Off My Brain? - Caroline Leaf If I were to summarize “Who Switched off my Brain?”, in one sentence, it would be that: toxic (negative) thoughts, and the emotions that they are associated with, will physically alter the human body in a harmful way and by becoming aware of this process we can implement strategies to reduce negative thinking and moderate the corresponding chemicals that harm us.

At a more in-depth level, Dr. Caroline Leaf starts the book with an explanation of the physical process that takes place in our brain as we have thoughts and generate emotions. Not having had any education in the field of biology I may not be a good indicator of how technical/complex a discussion on brain function and chemistry should/could be; however, while I did find myself rereading several of the paragraphs, from a laypersons perspective the information was still basic enough that I could grasp the concepts. For example, Dr. Leaf explains that, “What you think and feel prompts your hypothalamus to begin a series of chemical secretions that change the way you function. The hypothalamus also directly influences the pituitary, another major gland within the brain. In this way, the hypothalamus gland is definitely warm actually the facilitator and originator of emotions and responds to life circumstances, such as fear, anxiety, stress, tension, panic attacks, phobia, rage, anger and aggression.”

Dr. Leaf goes on to explain that, “Thoughts that you don’t deal with properly become suppressed and can cause emotional and physical harm.” In other words, the negative thoughts we hold onto eventually cause a negative chemical response in our bodies that have a long-term, disastrous effect on our well-being. Fear, in and of itself, has vast and far ranging implications for our physical condition, “Research shows that fear, all on its own, triggers more than 1400 known physical and chemical responses and activates more than 30 different hormones.”

If we are feeling guilt, anger, resentment, self-doubt, cynicism and any other negative emotion we can think of, it is easy to see that our body eventually starts to rebel with digestive disorders, muscular tension, stunted growth in children, and a whole host of life threatening diseases
In spite of all the adverse effects of holding onto negative thoughts and emotions, Dr. Leaf uses the latter part of the book to present ways in which individuals can “detox their brain” and bring better health and harmony into their lives. Just as our thoughts can cause illness and disease, so too can they rejuvenate and restore health - but it all starts with awareness and the desire to break old habits and consciously create new, positive ones. Some of the steps to wellness include: consciously controlling our thoughts, expressing our emotions, taking responsibility, learning forgiveness, and various other practical actions we can take.

When we consider that, “87% of the illnesses that plague us today are a direct result of our thought life… what we think about affects us physically and emotionally. It’s an epidemic of toxic emotions.” then reading a 140 page book filled with information on how to reduce, or even eliminate, those toxic thoughts and emotions seems like the deal of a lifetime - and for many of us it might just be.

Albert Schweitzer: Reverence for Life

Albert Schweitzer: Reverence for Life - Walter Scott, Peter Seymour A Reverence for Life is small book that provides a short, yet wonderful insight into the life and thoughts of one of our great humanitarians. Albert Schweitzer was a theologian, a doctor, a musician, an author, and he won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1952: all notable achievements; however, I believe that his greatest achievement was not for himself, it was for humanity as a whole, in both his actions and with his words.

Albert set up his own rudimentary hospital in Africa and spent many years tirelessly helping the sick and infirm. He used his own funds and the assistance of friends to set up and run his hospital and, even when in ill health himself, he was dedicated to lessen the suffering of other human beings.

In addition to humans, Albert also became a champion for Mother Nature, advocating for the humane treatment of animals of all kinds. Congruent to his words, Albert went so far as to create a compound to care for orphaned monkeys. It was Albert’s belief that, “A man is ethical only when life, as such, is sacred to him, that of plants and animals as that of his fellow men, and when he devotes himself helpfully to all life that is in need of help.”

When we look at human potential through the lens of what we contribute to the world, how we act in service to others and how we encourage others to be the best they can be, I can think of very few people who exemplify these qualities more than Albert Schweitzer.

This small book is only a very basic overview of Dr. Schweitzer’s life, but it is enough for people who aren’t aware of his contributions to humanity and, in my mind, it shares the most important message of Albert’s life, “Man can no longer live his life for himself alone. We realize that all life is valuable and that we are united to all this life. From this knowledge comes our spiritual relationship to the universe.”

What I Know For Sure

What I Know For Sure - Oprah Winfrey Having not watched very many episodes of the Oprah show and not having read the “O” magazine more than a few times I wasn’t too sure what to expect from Oprah’s latest book, “What I know for Sure”; however, being interested in this genre I thought I would give this book a try and see what insights I could glean from within.

Perhaps those that are more familiar with Oprah’s life, or her writing style, would expect the first pages to be written as they were - very much like a, “Day in the life of…” - and this led me to think that “What I know for Sure” was just going to be a tale of slumber parties and somber moments. Thankfully I read on though because there are some very interesting and insightful thoughts shared on the later pages.

Oprah openly shares some of the major challenges she has faced, some of the wonderful people she has met on the journey and the some of the inner ‘A-ha’ moments – the real gift that this book provides to the reader. While I understand that some readers will enjoy hearing about the other people in Oprah’s life, Oprah’s introspective moments are what resonate with me.

During these times of introspection and discovery Oprah comes face to face with universal truths that include: how our challenges often create our best opportunities, ‘Anything can be a miracle, a blessing, an opportunity if you choose to see it that way’; the importance of gratitude, ‘Gratitude can transform any situation. It alters your vibration, moving you from negative energy to positive’; the power of choice, ‘Right now, no matter where you are, you are a single choice away from a new beginning’; the need to love who we are, ‘Look inward-the loving begins with you’ and many more philosophical maxims that are relevant to all of us.

Oprah’s book reminds us that regardless of where we were born and no matter what road we travelled to arrive at our current place in life, it is all part of the human condition. The challenges we have faced can’t be undone, yet we have the power to change our perceptions of the past and we have the ability to create a future in line with our desires. It seems that Oprah’s life, a life of one of the most recognized and successful personalities in her profession, is shared in this book to show the reader that no matter who we are, our struggles aren’t unique and WE ALL have the power to make positive changes.

A Gift for God: Prayers and Meditations

A Gift for God: Prayers and Meditations - Mother Teresa This book is a series of short quotes (a sentence or paragraph in length), in large print, uttered by Mother Teresa and pertaining to: “Suffering”, “Riches”, “Joy”, “Love Begins at Home” and several other similar themes.

Most of the quotes are understandably from the perspective of the Christian faith, yet there are still numerous others that are more universal and pertinent for people from any faith. For example, “Be kind and merciful. Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier.” Or “We know that if we really want to love we must learn how to forgive.”

I think that the majority of people recognize the work Mother Teresa was involved in and the fact that she made life better for many people, and her words can also be healing and powerful for anyone reading this book – if they take the time to listen with their heart.

The book itself, because of the limited amount of content (my version is 78 pages with large sized font, which would likely make it 50 pages with regular sized font) is a little lacking in my mind, and personally I think that this material could easily be part of a larger book, especially if one takes into account that the price in Canada, for a new copy, is over $15.

Unlikely Friendships : 47 Remarkable Stories from the Animal Kingdom

Unlikely Friendships : 47 Remarkable Stories from the Animal Kingdom - Jennifer S. Holland Looking at the majority of reviews that I have written you will quickly notice that, “One of these books is not like the others” and rather than make you guess which one it is, I will share the secret: it’s this book =:0)

Unlikely Friendships shares 47 amazing accounts of animals of different species who have formed bonds with one another. Granted, some of the animals pairing might not seem outlandish, like a rabbit and a guinea pig; however, a pit bull, cat and baby chicks or a leopard and a cow make for very uncommon friends. Some of the animals are cute and cuddly, some of them are large predators, some are basic domestic pets and others are traditionally found in the wild, yet all of these creatures have formed inspiring bonds with fellow members of the animal kingdom.

Regardless of how one defines a “friend” these creatures are proof that the desire to have a companion, the ability to show compassion and the ability to go beyond appearances, or any physical boundary for that matter, transcends logic. As is often the case, humans can learn a great deal from these compassionate companions – if we look with our hearts.

If the stories in this book don’t put a big grin on your face or give you a big bucket of “awww’s” then the lovely photos that go along with the stories will likely give even the most ‘hard-hearted’ a reason to smile.

How to Succeed; Stepping-Stones to Fame and Fortune

How to Succeed; Stepping-Stones to Fame and Fortune - Orison Swett Marden I will add a full review this weekend. For now I will say that overall I enjoyed reading this book and there was a great deal of beneficial information.

The Law of Mentalism & Life in the Great Beyond

The Law of Mentalism & Life in the Great Beyond - A. Victor Segno, Lux Newman With so many other superb books, written by numerous legendary authors, I would suggest that this book, 'The Law of Mentalism & Life in the Great Beyond', should be placed low on the priority list of ‘books to read’ in this genre.

Segno repeats the belief that our thoughts create our reality and several other common ideas that people reading this genre will be familiar with and, for this reason alone, I give him full marks; however, and I am only paraphrasing here, he goes on to say that people will not need to read any other books on this topic because his words are the only truth that people will need to hear. In addition, Segno makes several other assertions that I find difficult to accept and, while they may indeed be true, they do not ring true for me.

Due to the fact that there are still some nuggets of wisdom in Segno's words I will say that it is not a waste of time to read this book, it's just that I can get the same information elsewhere, in more agreeable terms.

Most of the books in this genre I will happily keep and re-read: this is not one of them.

Random House Webster's Wit & Humor Quotationary

Random House Webster's Wit & Humor Quotationary - Leonard Roy Frank A superb book for the casual reader and for those looking to gather quotes from specific people or on specific topics. This book is very easy to use and it contains a vast amount (5,000+) of quotes.

After having purchased this book I bought several others from Leonard Roy Frank and they are all equally as good. I can't imagine how much time and effort went into creating this book; however, I am grateful that this book was created. This book is a real treasure and if you like reading quotes you will enjoy this book immensely.

Home Remembers Me: Medicine Poems from Em Claire

Home Remembers Me: Medicine Poems from Em Claire - Em Claire Powerful soul medicine

In the piles of books that we own I don’t believe there is a single book on poetry to be found. In general, I can read and appreciate a poem, but to me most of the poetry books I have read don’t vibrate the heart-strings: that was until I came across Home Remembers Me: Medicine Poems from Em Claire.

While this is a poetry book, is not JUST a poetry book. The words that Em shares must come from a deep soul connection to a higher source because they are deeply touching and moving. The poems are profound and not just made to rhyme like some old 70’s lyrics from Sweet (anyone else remember them?), they flow and move you along with them.

For those interested in profound poems, this book will be a treasure, for those in difficult transitions in life this book can lift you up and for those who normally have no interest in poetry, this book will be a gateway to a new world. WOW.

As A Man Thinketh

As A Man Thinketh - James Allen As a Man Thinketh - James Allen
ISBN13: 9781595479440

As a Man Thinketh is likely one of the most read and reviewed books in the Law of Attraction/New Age/New Thought movement and it is one of the shorter books as well (depending on the version, it ranges from roughly 50-80 pages in length).

The essence of this book is that our thoughts create our reality and that, “A man is literally what he thinks, his character being the complete sum of all his thoughts.” Our minds are impressionable and we will improve the quality of our lives as the quality of our thoughts improve.

Repeated throughout the book is the theme that: by holding a vision of our ideal, of keeping a constant focus on what we wish to be, in spite of current circumstances, we can transform ourselves into that ideal self, “The Vision that you glorify in your mind, the Ideal that you enthrone in your heart—this you will build your life by, this you will become.”

If we allow thoughts that are undesirable/negative to propagate then we will create negative experiences.Fear and doubts will act in the opposite manner and sabotage us, “Doubt and fear are the great enemies of knowledge, and he who encourages them, who does not slay them, thwarts himself at every step.”

While I agree in principle with what James Allen says in this book, that our thoughts create our reality, I did find the content somewhat lacking. On several occasions I found myself thinking that the author could have benefitted the reader by expanding on some of the discussion. As an example, to say that, “Out of a defiled mind proceeds a defiled life and a corrupt body” or, “Change of diet will not help a man who will not change his thoughts” is somewhat of an oversimplification in my mind. I am not saying that these statements are false, I am just saying that I don’t think they reflect reality in its entirety.

I know that there will be readers who just want a short, to the point, summary of James Allen’s views, and they will likely be very satisfied with what they find in As a Man Thinketh. Personally, I found this book worth reading, yet if I had to choose between As a Man Thinketh and several of the other books written on this topic, this book would not be my first choice.

You Are the Placebo: Making Your Mind Matter

You Are the Placebo: Making Your Mind Matter - Joe Dispenza Dr. --An educational & exhaustive look at how the Placebo Effect can transform our lives--

In Dr. Dispenza’s newest book, "You are the Placebo" we are provided with the life-affirming knowledge that our thoughts and expectations can transform our lives by helping us overcome illness, disease, and numerous other afflictions that limit our ability to enjoy life to the fullest.

I do not read medical journals, so I can’t make this statement with certainty; however, I would suggest that this book is likely one of the most up-to-date and exhaustive works on the Placebo Effect available today. Furthermore, for those that do not enjoy overly technical books, I would say that in spite of the fact that the nature of this book requires medical and scientific terminology to be used, this is still a very readable book.

In my own words, in very simple terms, I see the essence of the placebo effect as: mind over matter. Our minds have the power to overcome disease, depression and a vast number of negative situations that manifest in our body. Our thoughts, combined with expectation, can remedy heart disease & cancer, reduce pain, and even simulate the benefits of an actual operation. Perhaps it sounds too good to be true; however, the placebo effect has been rigorously studied throughout history and continues to fascinate/confound scientists to this day.

In order to better acquaint the reader with the workings of the Placebo Effect, Dr. Dispenza uses the first part of the book to recount numerous scientific studies that illustrate how our minds can physically change our bodies, simply through what we think and what we expect. A doctor using saline water as a replacement for morphine in the late stages of the war, people suffering from depression feeling uplifted by simple sugar pills, even patients who underwent simulated knee surgery feeling less pain and being able to walk properly again – all the result of the a placebo being used.

There is also the negative side of the placebo, referred to as the nocebo, wherein a person believes that they are ill, will die, or that they are suffering from the ill intentions of another person. For example, in some cultures where people believe in the ability for a person to be “cursed” by a witch doctor, there is the potential for negative beliefs and expectations to due substantial harm. The “curse” thought is implanted in the mind of the individual who then believes in the “curse”, which then eventually manifests in physical form. People have been admitted to hospital and, even under medical supervision, with no detectible illness, have died because of their negative expectations and beliefs.

After the initial discussion and the sharing of the scientific research on the placebo effect, Dr. Dispenza goes on to the most important part of the book: how we can make use of the placebo in our personal lives.

By providing actual, coloured, brain scans and EEG scans Dr. Dispenza illustrates that by altering our thoughts and beliefs we actually alter our physical bodies. This part of the book is very detailed and a cursory discussion would not do it justice, but I think this quote from the book will emphasize the essence of what is being said, “…we direct the formation of new neural pathways and the destruction of old ones through the quality of the experiences we cultivate…The goal here is to change our beliefs and perceptions about your life at a biological level so that you are, in essence, loving a new future into concrete material existence.”

This then leads into the final portion of the book wherein Dr. Dispenza provides information on a meditation that will assist us in making use of the placebo effect.

With over 300 pages in this book, there is certainly a lot of detail and information for anyone simply interested in learning more about the placebo effect. More importantly though, if one truly grasps the essence of what is being shared, that our thoughts and beliefs have a vast potential to heal or harm us, then a person becomes empowered and they can then more consciously create a life in line with their desires. In a very real, physical sense, the placebo effect proves that we can change our reality with our thoughts and expectations: what information could be more empowering than that?

** While this book can be read independently of Dr. Dispenza’s previous book, "Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself" I would suggest that reading it prior to, "You are the Placebo" would be worthwhile.**

Angels in Action: Stories to Inspire

Angels in Action: Stories to Inspire - Diane  Williams Before I share my thoughts on Angels in Action, I would like to mention that I do not follow any particular religion and I have no formal knowledge of scripture or the Bible; therefore, I do not wish to convey that I have any expertise in interpreting the Biblical quotes provided by the author. That being said, the Biblical quotes and how the author applies them does seem valid and appropriate to me.

As you can perhaps gather from the previous paragraph, this book does frequently reference God/Divine; however, the book does not present the information in a manner that is preachy or dogmatic. Rather, Diane Williams centers her book on personal experiences - the obstacles she faced - and how she was able to overcome them with the belief in, and assistance of, a higher power. Being overwhelmed mentally, emotionally, or in a physical bind that she could not herself overcome, the Divine appears to lend a helping hand when Diane needed it most.

Diane writes in a style that is very upbeat and is easy to read, much like the stories that appear in the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, with a great deal of candor and a dash or humour. Diane’s journey through her struggles will likely resonate with many readers who themselves have been faced with their own hardships on this human journey.

Reading Angels in Action reminds us that we all face challenges in life and, although they might seem insurmountable to the logical mind, if we are open to assistance from the unseen we can indeed receive the help that we need. When we ourselves cannot see a resolve to our challenges we must rely on faith and, as Diane loves to say, “Pray and get out of the way.”

Thirty-Day Mental Diet: The Way to a Better Life

Thirty-Day Mental Diet: The Way to a Better Life - Willis Kinnear The idea behind the 30-Day Mental Diet is that, “Controlled diet, either of food or thought, cannot but help result in control of what we experience.” In essence then, just as important as the physical foods we feed to our body, so too are the thoughts we permit to feed our mind.

Unlike many of the books in the New Age/Power of Thought genre, this particular book is deliberately designed to provide the reader with daily mental nourishment over the span of 30 days, rather than to be read from cover to cover. As the author states, “The value to be gained from any 30-day program cannot be achieved by doing everything in one day. The ideas you will find here might be compared to a bottle of vitamins; if you are supposed to take one a day, which is all you can absorb, then it would be useless to help them all at one time.”

In order to facilitate the reading of this book on daily basis, Willis Kinnear has conveniently provided a place to record the time and date for the reader to keep track of this information because, as with any physical diet, is important to consistently apply the information faithfully.

In the theme of consistency, the book is organized in such a way that the information for each of the 30 days is presented in precisely the same manner. The first component/section, which is generally two pages in length, discusses the main topic of the day and include: “How to Remove Limitations”, “Discover a New Joy of Living”, “Ways to Increase Your Vitality”, “Learn to Avoid Stress and Anxiety”, “Using the Power of Love”, and 25 additional discussions on ways to improve your life.

Following this initial section there is a section titled, “Mental Stimulants”, which uses three quotes-one from science, one from religion, and one from philosophy-to provide additional views on the topic being discussed.

After the “Mental Stimulants” section the reader will find the component titled, “The Diet.” In this component, in which the author writes in the first person, the reader is essentially provided a paragraph of affirmations that serve to reinforce the primary diet/concept of the day.

A subsequent section, known as the “Capsule Supplement”, is an “add-on” to the previous section and it provides a very synthesized, one sentence, affirmation that can be more easily remembered throughout the day.

The final section prompts the reader to apply the concept of the day to their specific life and a small amount of space is provided to permit the reader to record how the information will applied to specific situation in their life.

The author also understands that people read and interpret information differently and therefore suggests that readers use the terminology/linguistics that they personally prefer; provided that the central idea remains consistent.

Regardless of what diet a person chooses, and whether the diet is mental or physical, it will only work if the dieter chooses not to binge during the rest of the day. This is to say that it makes little sense for the dieter to engage in the healthy, desired behavior for a few moments and then proceed to negate that beneficial behavior with contradictory actions. It makes little sense to eat carrots for breakfast and then eat cake or junk food for the remainder of the day, just as it makes little sense to read inspirational/educational/transformational material for six minutes in the morning (which is roughly the time required to read the daily diet) and then fill the rest of your day with contradictory thoughts of jealousy, anger, gluttony etc.

Certainly, the idea behind any diet is not to expect the old ways to be immediately eliminated; however, the desire must be there to deliberately transform one’s self in to a higher ideal and I believe that anyone wishing to reshape their mental world, the world of the mind, they will find a storehouse of food-for-thought in this book.

Working With the Law: 11 Truth Principles for Successful Living

Working With the Law: 11 Truth Principles for Successful Living - Raymond Holliwell I truly enjoyed the easy to read style in which Working with the Law was written and I appreciate the more modern terminology used in this book - compared to some similar books written by other “New Thought” authors (although I can’t find an original publication date, or much in the way of a biography for Raymond Holliwell, it is my understanding that the original publication date for Working with the Law was in the 1960’s).

The basic premise of Working with the Law is that the universe functions with physical laws AND it also functions with laws in the unseen/spiritual realm. We are quickly reminded about some of the physical laws when we stick a fork in the light socket or when the crystal vase slips from of our hands; however, many of us are unaware of the spiritual laws, or we are skeptical of them.
Dr. Holliwell does his utmost to convince the reader that indeed the spiritual laws do exist and they include:

-Law of Thinking
-Law of Supply
-Law of Attraction
-Law of Receiving
-Law of Increase
-Law of Compensation
-Law of Non-Resistance
-Law of Forgiveness
-Law of Sacrifice
-Law of Obedience
-Law of Success

I have neither the space or inclination to discuss each one of these laws, suffice it to say that by making use of these laws you will be able to “…be on the outside what you idealize on the inside.” As one reads the laws the reader comes to understand the underlying theme that success in life is from the inner and THEN it is evidenced in the outer. By improving the quality of our thoughts, by mastering our mind, we work in harmony with the natural order of the universe and, in so doing, we improve the quality of our life.

Working in harmony with things of course requires an understanding of them, not just a superficial knowledge. The author himself states, “Success, then, summarized, is the way we learn to use two valuable things—our time and thought. Knowledge alone is not success; it is the way we use that knowledge.” As the reader becomes familiar with the Laws and as the knowledge is absorbed AND applied it is my belief that the knowledge will be transformed into understanding.

From the very outset Raymond Holliwell states that, “You cannot get the most out of these lessons by reading them once or twice. They should be read often and studied with scrutiny. You will find with each reading something clearer than before.” I would whole-heartedly agree with those words and I will certainly re-read this book more than once.

How to Be Rich

How to Be Rich - Napoleon Hill, Joseph Murphy, Wallace D. Wattles, Robert Collier One of the key words in the title is “compact” because this book is essentially a compilation of many snippets of information/wisdom from some of the most recognized names in the personal development field: Napoleon Hill, Joseph Murphy, Robert Collier, Wallace D. Wattles, James Allen, Julia Seton, Ralph Waldo trine and more.

In and of itself, How to be Rich provides some worthwhile information for those seeking to enrich their lives; however, for those who are familiar with the aforementioned authors, the content will be familiar and likely not particularly useful. For those not overly familiar with the writings of the early “New Thought” authors, How to be Rich could provide a cursory summary to some of the more common books in the "New Thought/New Age" genre, thereby serving as a decent resource to direct the reader to more comprehensive material.

One of the key words in the title is “compact” because this book is essentially a compilation of many snippets of information/wisdom from some of the most recognized names in the personal development field: Napoleon Hill, Joseph Murphy, Robert Collier, Wallace D. Wattles, James Allen, Julia Seton, Ralph Waldo trine and more.

In and of itself, How to be Rich provides some worthwhile information for those seeking to enrich their lives; however, for those who are familiar with the aforementioned authors, the content will be familiar and likely not particularly useful. For those not overly familiar with the writings of the early “New Thought” authors, How to be Rich could provide a cursory summary to some of the more common books in the "New Thought/New Age" genre, thereby serving as a decent resource to direct the reader to more comprehensive material.

Regardless of whether or not the reader is familiar with the many authors who contributed to How to be Rich, I believe that it is important to remind the reader that “Rich” doesn’t exclusively apply to money. Indeed, the person reading this book with the sole purpose of discovering detailed techniques to accumulate vast sums of money will likely be very disappointed. The premise of this book, in my view, is that money is a by-product of “right living” and when we organize our inner world correctly, THEN we will have the outer abundance to go with it. As Theron Q. Dumont so poignantly stated, “Thought, not money, makes money.” Or, as Wallace D. Wattles says, “Poverty and wealth are the results of internal states of mind, and only as mind changes will material change. Environment is only a big mirror in which we see ourselves reflected.”

In their own way the other authors share a similar message and they also deal with topics such as: the real value of time, the importance of gratitude, the power of the subconscious mind, the destructive forces of fear and the key role that visualization plays in the manifestation of wealth. Overall, regardless of what particular aspect of wealth each author discusses, the consistent message is that our inner world, our thoughts, are the primary cause of our outer world and if we want to have a rich life we first need to have our inner world in order.

So, to sum up my views: for those who have yet to embark on the adventure of consciously re-organizing their inner world this book could serve as a very tentative first step. Readers familiar with the authors included in this book will likely prefer other titles written exclusively by one specific author.