Customer Reviews

Awaken Your Strongest Self: Break Free of Stress, Inner Conflict, and Self-Sabotage

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Review completely re-written on October 12, 2009

As a fan of 'The Now Habit,' originally published in 1988, I bought a copy of 'Awaken Your Strongest Self,' curious to see what insights Dr. Fiore had picked up in the nearly 20 years that separate them, a period during which we've seen a revolution in neuroscience and in our understanding of the brain.

When 'The Now Habit' was published, Dr. Fiore was impressively ahead of the curve with his insights into the workings of the brain, in ways that foretold the revolution that was about to unfold.

So it's with disappointment that I find little that's new in 'Strongest Self,' and few, if any, of the kinds of vivid new insights into the workings of the brain that characterized Dr. Fiore's earlier and, in my opinion, much stronger work. In fact, I'm a little put off by the popularizing pop psychology feel of the newer material.

To the extent that 'Awaken Your Strongest Self' revisits the work of 'The Now Habit,' it's a valuable book. I don't think that it adds enough to make it worth having both, and if you're going to buy only one, I recommend 'The Now Habit.'

By the way, this is my fourth review. My first two reviews were deleted by Amazon, for reasons that were never adequately explained to me. I personally deleted my third review, as it was having unintended consequences that were not consistent with my original intent. This current review reflects the sum of my thoughts on this book, and my wishes that Dr. Fiore continue in his good and valuable work.

I'm pretty content with myself and didn't feel the need to change who I am. And I'm skeptical of self-improvement books in general anyway. But I have to admit that this book has helped me make positive changes in my life. After the first two weeks of applying Fiore's exercises and concepts I'm happier and less irritable. I'm achieving my goals more quickly and easily and feel calmer and less overwhelmed. It's easier for me now to focus on the present, accomplish twice as much, and feel less stressed in the bargain. This book helped me access resources I didn't know I had. I highly recommend this book ... even for skeptics!

So here I am, a few days after reading this book, and I am experiencing something I have never experienced from a self-improvement book. Typically, once I finish reading a self-improvement book, I am filled with great ideas but within a few days the ideas are either too laborious to implement or, worse, simply blown away into thin air as the deeper and more ingrained habits takes over. Disappointing, but something I have come to expect. But this book changed that and restored my hope in this genre of books.

In simple terms, the book Awaken Your Strongest Self has completely eclipsed any other self-improvement book that I have ever read. An attorney by training, I am a very critical thinker and often find myself finding faults with self-improvement books. Fortunately, I could find none with this, and was blown away by how logical, powerful, and inspiring it is. To try to explain the book in a few paragraphs would not do it any justice, but I am positively sure that this book will be the "Think And Grow Rich" or "How to Win Friends and Influence People" book of the century. Once you read it, you will understand what I mean.

Why am I so passionate about this book? For once, it is several days after I have read a self-improvement book and rather than struggling to remember and integrate what I learned, I cannot forget or shake what I have absorbed because it makes so much damn sense on so many levels. I was a happy person before I read this book, but I still feel like I have a new lease on life because of the tools I now have to enjoy life even more. I am extremely grateful that I have come across this book and, though I am typically a harsh critic, I simply cannot recommend it highly enough.

This is a very powerful book. Neil Fiore offers a cogent model of how the mind works, tapping recent research on the evolution of the brain and associated cognitive and emotional functions. He then uses this model to explain why people are prone to self-sabotage, and how they can use the most powerful, and most recently evolved capabilities of the human brain (The Strongest Self) to avoid that self-sabotage, and to take charge of their lives and their goals. I am a management consultant with a longstanding interest in behavior change. I have found this book useful in managing my own life and goals. I have also bought multiple copies to give to clients and partners.

Awaken Your Strongest Self: Break Free of Stress, Inner Conflict
and Self-Sabotage
(McGraw-Hill; November 2006; $21.95, 0071470263
Author: Neil Fiore


Neil Fiore has written a masterful book on self-empowerment. He invokes the latest neuroscience to point out that the destructive habits that limit our creativity and productivity arise from the primitive drives and fears of the lower brain mechanisms. To break free of these limiting patterns, Fiore suggests that we make use of the "new human brain" located in the prefrontal cortex.

The primary strategy presented in Awaken Your Strongest Self is to shift gradually from a limited sense of self, shaped by outdated beliefs and coping dynamics of the primitive brain to one's "Strongest Self." Fiore outlines five negative patterns that can be reduced or resolved through the Strongest Self program: Stress and fear, inner conflict and procrastination, overwhelm and confusion, self-criticism and self-blame, and struggle and loneliness.

The author includes many practical, highly effective tools to help the reader in this quest within a four stage model: Making Up Your Mind, Committing to Change, Taking Action, and Maintaining Long-Term Success. Chapters follow that teach readers how to engage their strongest selves. For example, the book suggests imagining that five years have passed and feeling the pain of staying the same as part of the decision to change; rating the strength of intentions and motivations as part of the commitment stage; catching yourself doing something right during the action stage, and emphasizes ways of overcoming setbacks as part of ensuring long-term accomplishment.

Particularly helpful are the chapters on how to awaken specific qualities of the strongest self. I especially liked the focus exercises "Create A Psychological Safety Net to Stop Unnecessary Stress," the "Now I'm Aware of..." exercise, "One Rapid, Focused Breath" and the use of mission statements to move progress along.

Any reader interested in permanent self-change will benefit from this well-conceived book. Don't miss out on this one!

Reviewer: Angela L., educator, San Francisco
I love this book! It is so positive about human nature and gives me
hope that change is possible and that I can learn to lessen my
stress and achieve my goals. This is not a typical "self-help" book. It includes facts from neuroscience on how to train your brain, so your human brain is
in charge of your life instead of the weak, frightened parts of you.
And, it emphasizes the importance of "connecting to something wiser and
stronger than your ego" which feels spiritual to me.
This book's easy to follow 4 steps really work by shifting you to a larger perspective and a stronger Self. I've already begun, as Dr. Fiore suggests,
to recognize the thoughts and feelings that lead to my negative habits and negative attitudes. I used to take my feelings so seriously as if they had to determine how I feel and what I do. Now, I'm starting to just observe them as old habits and take a few breaths before deciding whtat to do.
I love the idea that my "new human brain" is the only part that has
the ability to choose how to act. This book has given me tools to take charge of my feelings, habits, and actions. I'm buying a copy for each of my kids. I want them to be better equipped to deal with life and to just feel better about themselves and have a better understanding of the positive and courageous spirit of human beings. Thank you Dr. Fiore for writing this book and for The Now Habit that helped me get through college.

I am a psychologist/educator well-versed in trauma theory, neuropsychology and psychotherapeutic technique. I believe that Dr. Neil Fiore's new book is exceptional for its integration of contemporary psychological science with steps to self-healing that are easy to understand and apply. I believe that anyone who seeks self-integration and optimal quality of life can benefit from this book, and I plan to use it for clinical instruction as well as my own psychotherapeutic work.

Dr. Fiore's The Now Habit is the best book I found for overcoming procrastination. So I was eager to read Awaken Your Strongest Self and have found it to be a remarkable achievement. It actually shows you how to replace negative habits with positive, healthy alternatives. In less than one month since practicing his inventive exercises I've improved how I talk to myself; I'm getting done what I set my mind on. I'm achieving my goals more quickly, with less stress. And, I'm more at peace with myself.

When I read that the lower parts of our brain are set at ancient "defaults" that we must update to fit today's world, a light went off in my head. For example, the Mammal Brain holds a fear of snakes, but not of electricity or traffic, which I hadn't really thought about before but found fascinating. I started to notice all my archaic "default" patterns and to question if they're useful for achieving my current goals and values and meeting modern challenges. Since reading the book,I have started to take charge of my reactions and exercise what Fiore calls my "new human brain's unique ability to make choices."

If you're like me and are sick and tired of struggling from a "small, limited sense of self" and want the tools to live from your wiser, Strongest Self, read this book!

I've read many of Dr. Fiore's books over the years, all of which I've found helpful. However, this book surpasses all of his other offerings. In this new book, Dr. Fiore invites you to move through the book and the process of "awakening" at your own pace and provides worksheets, questions and suggestions to use in developing individual action plans. Certainly a person who feels he/she has a problem with negative thinking will benefit from this book. However, someone seeking a "minor tuneup" will also find it very helpful.

I have read just about every self help book that is out in the market. From Tony Robbins' programs, to Brian Tracy CDs and tapes, I have seen, read and heard it all. Neil Fiore's "Awaken Your Strongest Self" quite simply, ends my search. I won't insult anyone by saying that this book is the BEST EVER. I will say however, that in improving my life situation, I have been on an unofficial search for the Holy Grail of self help texts that will provide the best set of skills for self improvement.

Well folks, my search is over. It's not that any other messages out there are faulty. I've read books that derived from psychological and metaphysical standpoints, and gleaned gems of knowledge from them all. However, when you read this book in earnest, and absorb every word, quite simply there is just no need for anything else! Your Strongest Self will emerge, and given your willingness to keep this Strongest Self in the forefront of your daily activities, there just isn't any more time to waste in thinking about newer ways to keep improving upon things. Perhaps from my perspective it is different because of my experience with the subject matter. However I am confident in stating that this book will CHANGE YOUR LIFE. It has certainly changed mine. I am not in the habit of writing unpaid reviews, but I believe Dr. Fiore is due a great deal of thanks for his readers.

In the beginning of reading the book, I even considered buying his highly acclaimed book, "The Now Habit". I may be doing him injustice in saying this, but Awaken Your Strongest Self is SO GOOD, that I really don't feel the need to.... I have borrowed and owned just about every book on Procrastination under the sun.... I am just getting on Chapter 7 (I haven't even finished the book!) and already, my Strongest Self has successfully negotiated it's role as the reigning monarch of my life. You'll see what I mean when you read the book. With my Strongest Self in power, any chance to procrastinate is thwarted by a brief moment of dialogue with myself.

Yes, this book can truly do that for you and more. Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy today. Dollar for dollar, it is one of the best investments I have made in several years.