Bliss: Writing to Find Your True Self [Paperback]

Katherine Ramsland (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 2000

With a practical yet nurturing tone, author Katherine Ramsland guides readers through writing exercises that will help them find their "bliss." They will realize the most fitting and authentic direction in their lives, along with anew sense of clarity and confidence. By developing a sense of their bliss, they'll be able to make more informed choices regarding career, life focuses and relationships. They'll also learn to: recognize psychological obstacles impeding confidence; evaluate their values; create a personal skills inventory; develop their intuition; visualize and explore goals; develop mental flexibility; explore levels of awareness; achieve bliss

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

With advanced degrees in psychology and philosophy, Ramsland (Prism of the Night: A Biography of Anne Rice, etc.) is well equipped to guide the reader through a series of thoughtful exercises as a means to finding greater fulfillment in life and workAor what she calls achieving bliss. Ramsland paints a tantalizing picture of what finding bliss could be like, but she is careful to point out that achieving it is not an easy process. In fact, sometimes having a particular gift or talent can actually mislead people as to where there bliss lies. As an example, she tells the story of Anne Lamott, author of the bestselling Traveling Miracles, who, as an excellent athlete, originally thought she would make a career out of competitive tennis. But finally she realized she didn't enjoy playing tennis anymoreAand with her decision to give up the sport, the migraine headaches that had long afflicted her ceased and she was able to focus on a new direction: writing. While it is not Ramsland's aim to turn all of her readers into successful writers, writing is an important part of her program. She employs journaling (or introspective writing exercises) to help each reader reach a greater level of clarity, and her exercises require a sizable commitment of time and energy. What makes this book stand out is the care Ramsland uses to explain her methodology: she provides a solid foundation for understanding the concept of bliss (from Aristotle to Carl Jung to Joseph Campbell), and "present[s] the stages of psychological development involved in finding bliss and offer[s] tools for getting through each stage." From the first task of clarifying one's values to learning how to overcome various obstacles (fear of failure or success; inertia) to trusting one's instincts and maintaining the "flow" that accompanies heightened self-awareness, a nurturing and pragmatic Ramsland matches her reader step by step. (Sept.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Katherine Ramsland is the author of twelve books of nonfiction, has written numerous articles on psychological issues, and has published more than a dozen short stories. She holds a PhD in philosophy, a master's degree in clinical psychology and is currently completing a master's degree in forensic psychology.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Walking Stick Press (September 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0898799759
• ISBN-13: 978-0898799750
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,776,947 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #99 in Books > Self-Help > Journal Writing

More About the Author

Katherine Ramsland began her career as a writer with Prism of the Night: A Biography of Anne Rice. She had a bestseller with The Vampire Companion. Since then, she has published 40 books and over 1,000 articles, reviews and short stories. From ghosts to vampires to serial killers, she has taken on a variety of dark subjects. She holds graduate degrees in forensic psychology, clinical psychology, criminal justice, and philosophy. Currently, she teaches forensic psychology and criminal justice at DeSales University. Her books include The Forensic Psychology of Criminal Minds, The Human Predator: A Historical Chronicle of Serial Murder and Forensic Investigation, Inside the Minds of Serial Killers, Inside the Minds of Sexual Predators, and Inside the Minds of Mass Murderers. Her background in forensic studies positioned her to assist former FBI profiler John Douglas on his book, The Cases that Haunt Us, and to co-write a book with former FBI profiler, Gregg McCrary, The Unknown Darkness, as well as The Real Life of a Forensic Scientist with Henry C. Lee and A Voice for the Dead with James Starrs. She speaks internationally about forensic psychology, forensic science, and serial murder, and has appeared on numerous documentaries, as well as such programs as The Today Show, 20/20, 48 Hours, NPR, Coast to Coast, Montel Williams, Larry King Live and E! True Hollywood.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Not a disposable 'self-help' book!, August 14, 2011

By 

Justin Case - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bliss: Writing to Find Your True Self (Paperback)

I should start by mentioning that I have never been into "self-help" books or anything like that. However, this book jumped out at me because it is centered around Joseph Campbell's maxim, "Follow your bliss." and because it uses writing as a psycho-therapeutic tool. Campbell's maxim is great advise to live by but it is not so easy to apply such a simple yet powerful idea to the complexities of real life. This is where the author comes in.

The following comments apply to the first half (roughly) of the book; The writing exercises were very helpful in bringing the obscure to light. I found myself clarifying what was once vague, making real plans and beginning to change my life. I think the author does an excellent job of explaining Campbell's maxim, Aristotles entelechy concept, Socrates' daimon, Carl Jung's ideas of an inner guide and other concepts. It seems as if her presentation would be accessible to the average reader but it's not 'dumbed down' either. Excellent balance! She ties these ideas together synergistically.

As a note of curiosity, the central idea of this book fits perfectly with Aleister Crowley's concept of 'True Will'; to find your 'track' in life, not to just fall short and do what you like to do, but to find that one thing you will above all else, and that the path the universe has made for you is the path that you truly will, your destiny. Crowley's concept of a personal 'True Will' and of the "Holy Guardian Angel" resonates perfectly with the ideas laid out in this book. But, due partly to his thorny character and mostly to tabloid-journalism's demonetization of him, Crowley is even harder to swallow than Nietzsche and it would have taken a book twice as long as this one to even make a sufficient disclaimer before discussing his True Will concept. So. I am not at all suggesting that the author should have included it in her book. I merely mention it here for any Thelemites who may read this.

I found the second half (roughly) of this book to be tiresome. The first half was enough, the second half weighed things down for me. But you may find the second half to be as helpful as the first half.

15 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Important Book, October 8, 2000

By 

Michael (Swampscott, MA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bliss: Writing to Find Your True Self (Paperback)

Using writing to empower youself. What more could anyone ask from a book? And this one delivers. Katherine Ramsland can write about far more than vampires. She has the keys to true internal relaxation and she shares them in Bliss.