The Authentic Heart : An Eightfold Path to Midlife Love [Paperback]

John Amodeo Ph.D. (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0471387576 | ISBN-13: 978-0471387572 | Publication Date: February 9, 2001 | Edition: 1

The richest, most fulfilling love of your life is yet to come!

"The Authentic Heart offers practical, wise, and compassionate guidance for midlife love."--Jack Kornfield, author of A Path with Heart and After the Ecstasy, the Laundry

"The Authentic Heart is a groundbreaking, insightful, warmly written book that I highly recommend to anyone wanting more loving, joyful relationships. John Amodeo addresses with great clarity, wisdom, and practicality the key steps that are necessary for building authentic, mature, loving connections--not only with others, but also with oneself."--John Bradshaw, New York Times bestselling author of Healing the Shame that Binds You

"Just what millions want to know--not only how to make love last but how to make lasting love new again and again. This warmhearted and clearheaded book is full of practical wisdom."--Gay Hendricks, Ph.D., and Kathlyn Hendricks, Ph.D., authors of Conscious Loving and The Conscious Heart

As you enter midlife, you may feel that something you've always longed for has never happened. Frustrated, you may give up on love or cling to young images of romantic love, hoping that another person will furnish happiness. You may experience a growing sense of depression, anxiety, or cynicism. But as psychotherapist and relationship expert Dr. John Amodeo explains, authentic love takes time and maturity. At midlife, you hold the extraordinary potential to become more fully awake and alive in your relationships than ever before. In this groundbreaking book, Dr. Amodeo helps you rediscover love at its best. You'll learn how to overcome the psychological obstacles that have kept you from developing satisfying relationships. And you'll learn the eight enriching steps that release your authentic self for the fullness of genuine connection. Whether you're seeking true love for the first time or wish to deepen the joy and meaning in your current relationship, The Authentic Heart guides you along the path to a more vibrant partnership in the prime of your life.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The Authentic Heart offers practical, wise, and compassionate guidance for midlife love" -- Jack Kornfield, author of "A Path with Heart" and "After the Ecstasy, the Laundry"

Review

"The Authentic Heart is a sound, insightful, warmly written book which I highly recommend to anyone wanting more loving, joyful relationships. John Amodeo is a thoughtful and heartfelt writer, who addresses with great clarity, wisdom, and practicality the key steps that are necessary for building authentic, mature, loving connections -- not only with others, but also with oneself."
--John Bradshaw, New York Times bestselling author of Healing the Shame that Binds You

"Just what millions want to know--not only how to make love last, but how to make lasting love new again and again. This warm-hearted and clear-headed book is full of practical wisdom."
--Gay and Kathlyn Hendricks, authors of Conscious Loving and The Conscious Heart

"The Authentic Heart is a beautifully written, hope-filled celebration of spiritually rich intimacy. If that's what you are seeking, you must read this book."
--Judith Sherven, Ph.D. James Sniechowski, Ph.D., authors of The New Intimacy and Opening to Love 365 Days a Year

"John Amodeo is a brilliant writer. With breathtaking clarity and simplicity, he makes the enduring truths of conscious relationships fully accessible to contemporary readers. His penetrating insights illuminate the path to deep love and intimacy."
--William Collinge, Ph.D., author of Subtle Energy

"John Amodeo is the most thoughtful writer on relationships that I know. I
recommend this book to anyone seeking insight and solutions to relationship issues."
--Dr. Jim Dreaver, author of The Ultimate Cure and The Way of Harmony

"Full of warmth and wisdom, this book inspires us to let go of the illusions of youth, learn from the lessons life has taught us thus far and begin again with a renewed sense of humility and compassion."
--Susan Campbell, Ph.D., author of Getting Real: The 10 Truth Skills You Need to Live an Authentic Life and From Chaos to Confidence: Survival Strategies for the New Workplace

"The Authentic Heart offers practical, wise, and compassionate guidance for midlife love."
--Jack Kornfield, author of A Path with Heart and After the Ecstasy, the Laundry

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (February 9, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471387576
• ISBN-13: 978-0471387572
• Product Dimensions: 6.1 x 0.7 x 9.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #716,803 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Food for thought, and the soul ..., September 30, 2002

By 

"cdec" (Redwood City, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Authentic Heart : An Eightfold Path to Midlife Love (Paperback)

This book explains that healthy intimate relationships aren't about the romantic notions portrayed by the media or in the fairytales we all read as children, but rather about knowing ourselves, showing up, being authentic, and speaking our truth in a caring yet honest way. Authentic Heart provides a refreshingly realistic take on mature relationships, and is written in a very clear and easily digestible manner. You definitely don't need to be familiar with Buddhist philosophy to get a lot out of this book, but if you are, you'll likely resonate with much of the perspective here. I loved this book so much that I bought a second copy to pass around to all my friends!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for those longing for authentic love. Enjoy!, February 8, 2001

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Authentic Heart : An Eightfold Path to Midlife Love (Paperback)

As more of us boomers reach middle age, we reflect on the love relations we have and those we've left behind, and I've found in myself and friends that there's a yearning for authentic love, a longing to deepen in oneself and also connect intimately with one's wife or lover, family and friends. Yet, for many of us the baggage of persistent habits of thought and behavior, including our young love romantic idealism, distances us from that which we most want. John Amodeo with great clarity and sensitivity speaks from the heart in his new book, The Authentic Heart : An Eightfold Path to Midlife Love, talks to us as a wise friend, and takes us on a mindful journey along an "eightfold path", which reveals workable, livable principles about how to enjoy an authentic life in relationship. What a relief it is to know that such a book has been written and serves us all as a friendly handbook for our relational journey. I highly recommend you include John Amodeo's book in your library of most valued references. Just be sure to read it first! For those of us that have struggled with betrayal in relationship, I also want to mention John's previous work, Love and Betrayal, which intelligently and compassionately sheds light on that important subject.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ronald Brill, author, "Emotional Honesty & Self-Acceptance", March 22, 2001

By 

Ronald R. Brill "author of Emotional Honesty" (Green Valley, AZ, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Authentic Heart : An Eightfold Path to Midlife Love (Paperback)

If there is ever a Pulitzer Prize for a book about love, "The Authentic Heart" should win hands down. I have great admiration for John Amodeo's gentle yet powerful prose and lively writing style. I am inspired beyond words how often and beautifully he illuminates by example the significance of risking vulnerability and emotional honesty to achieve emotional intimacy in relationships. There is a genuine, moving wisdom in this book that speaks to people of all ages, not just those approaching or in mid-life.