Customer Reviews

Excuses Begone! 8-CD: How to Change Lifelong, Self-Defeating Thinking Habits

5 star:		(125)
4 star:		(19)
3 star:		(17)
2 star:		(13)
1 star:		(17)

 

 

I have read most of Wayne's books, and this was one of the better ones. I used a highlighter on many areas of the book: I love Wayne's style of intertwining great philosophical quotes, anecdotes and personal stories to illustrate his points.

The book starts out citing compelling science and studies, including Bruce Lipton's research proving that genes are far from destiny, and that our beliefs influence even our genes. This is truly the foundation for a "no excuses" paradigm. Wayne delves into the concept of memes, or mind viruses and explains how these are passed on to people like cold viruses.

Next, 18 typical excuses are presented (many of these solicited from his readers). It will be difficult, risky, take too long, create family drama; I don't deserve it; it's against my nature; I can't afford it (surely a popular one today!); no one will help me; it's not happened before; I'm not strong/smart enough; I'm too old/too young; the rules/laws won't let me; it's too big; I don't have the energy/time; it's in my family history; I'm afraid. I was disappointed that my favorite excuse "I'll do it later" wasn't listed, although it was addressed indirectly in various parts of the book, especially in the "commitment to overcoming the inertia" part.

The second section seven contains principles for overcoming excuses: awareness, alignment, now, contemplation (with a very powerful quote from Aristotle--"Contemplation is the highest form of activity"), willingness, passion and compassion.

The third section promotes a new way of viewing excuses, creating a paradigm shift. This includes asking yourself six questions, starting out with "Is it true?" Where did the excuse come from? What is the payoff?" These are very reminiscent of Bryon Katie except that instead of undoing beliefs, you are undoing excuses and eradicating them from your subconscious mind (which Wayne argues need not be beneath your consciousness, and in fact renames as the "habitual mind").

I see people all the time using these excuses to avoid eating a better diet of more raw foods: It will create family drama; I don't have the time to fix good food; I don't have the money to buy fresh produce." My father's excuse was, "I am too old." Unfortunately, he died of cancer two years after using that excuse!

I am confident that this book will inspire people to take a new look at their habitual mind patterns, breaking free to move on to their highest potential!

As an old-school management kind of guy, where excuses are not allowed, I didn't find anything overly earth shattering in this handy little guide to making yourself accountable...to yourself. However, it's still a good resource and certainly worth reading. I really enjoyed it, especially since it alligns with my way of thinking. Self-affirmation is good.

The author, Dr Wayne Dyer, put together his material in a very well-organized manner and was kind enough to remind everyone that their lame excuses won't cut it. I must confess, I have used a few of them myself, primarily to justify my laziness about not wanting to work out. However, I'm still not going to work out. I'm just not going to make excuses anymore. There. I feel better already.

By forcing yourself to increase your awareness level concerning any difficult issue you may be faced with, you'll more than likely come away accomplishing a lot of things you didn't think you could do, or didn't want to do. Again, this is basic stuff, but it's still valuable, especially for those less than enthusiastic chronic complainers who always feel the world is against them. You know the type. Everything is "a problem"...You just want to slap them. Well, now you can hand them this book, and hope they can fit it into their busy schedule.

In the final analysis, you've got to be your own boss. Give yourself frequent "reviews", and be honest with your own performance. If you're not cutting the mustard, go back and read this book again.

It's worth it, especially if you usually begin every day wondering what's going to go wrong and who's going to plot against you now. Yeah it's definitely worth it.

First of all, I have all the respect and admiration for Wayne Dyer. I love his work and his style and the man has been an inspiration and a role-model for me. Having listened to almost all of his audio materials, which I can heartly recommend, I decided to finally buy a book of his.

I have to say that I am disappointed with "Excuses Begone!". In itself, it is not a bad book at all. To give some credit, this book has Wayne's honesty and principles in it and if one was to apply the hundreds of advices in there I am sure there will be a positive effect. But overall this book does not stand to the high expectations I had from Wayne.

What repelled me, was the cheap repetition of "Excuses Begone" which looks like he tries to create a mantra or something. Also it seemed that Wayne has adopted some of the "mainstream" terminology of the self-help movement, something I didn't expect from him. For example the terms "subconscious", "programming" and so on, which is not bad and I certainly understand why he did it, although I didn't like the style of the text. It seemed uninspiried and usual, although the ideas a very good but nothing original.

All this doesn't matter a lot to me, because this is a book about changing habbits. Well, the approach Wayne took with self-inquiry and self-investigation certainly was something I like. What I didn't like is the execution. At the last part of the book where he is supposed to get practical (and ideas a practical, no doubt about that) he continues to repeat those old concept in the same way as before - with no original commentary or some new point of view.

I am sorry but this book seemed very usual to me. Maybe it would be great as introduction to people who haven't read much in this field before, but for the more read it has nothing new to offer.

I think I may have read too many Wayne Dyer books. They're all starting to run together and sound the same.

Great start for a beginner who hasn't been "Over-Dyered"

It's also becoming tiresome that authors from Hay House recommend each others books (a lot) inside their own book.
Infomercials inside a book.

This book reminds me of an excellent book called "The Magic Of Thinking Big" by David J. Schwartz. In TMOTB, Schwartz talks about "the disease of excusitis" that prevents you from thinking big and from achieving your dreams. I hate to say it, but it almost looks like Dyer took this chapter from TMOTB, added a bunch of his stories about some spiritual people from history, and made a book out of it.

I like Dr. Dyer, but all these new age people are really beginning to annoy me when they rehash other people's work and call it a spiritual awakening. I'm not writing this out of hate or maliciousness. I'm doing it in the spirit of fairness and justice to give credit where credit is due.

Peace

After spending several months ready Dr. Dyer's previous book, Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Life, I expected Excuses Begone to provide similar profound insights. Two chapters in, I found myself bored by platitudes and new age hyperbole, and began to skip sections in an attempt to find the heart of the book. What I found was that this was the heart of the book. My whole opinion of Dr. Dyer has changed and I now question the content of his previous books I've read. I only hope he moves away from this commercial trash and gets back to what he does well.

I couldn't give this 1 star out of respect for what Wayne did for myself and countless others in the past. From the mid-1980's for a decade or more Wayne was out there in front helping many who had left mainstream religion, worn out relationships, or other things no longer acceptable, to find themselves. He made it big including specials on PBS.

In opening this book Wayne indicates how his life was changed from spending a year reading the Dao de Ching in 2006. He then goes on to list the positive changes in his life such as no longer being arrogant, etc. Wow Wayne, I didn't think you were so bad before. But you made it sound like you were reborn through your experience. Good for you. But Wayne, you did not seem to pick up any new skills on how to help people develop. So I'm saying that Wayne has appropriated Lao Zi but not with skill. Example the last part of Lao Zu or Lao Zi is pronounced as in zza with a trailing huf-whisp, not a pronounced long u-sound as zhu, someone who received striking revelations from the spirit of Lao Zi should have at least asked a Chinese person how to pronounce his name.

In the opening in getting to his miracle 7 step/method of changing your views he spends a long time digressing. I understand why many people are offended when starting out Wayne equates the Tao with God. That is a blaring error on Waynes part and shows that he does not understand the cultural framework that Lao Zi lived in and that Taoism recognizes no personal divinity. So in this opening Wayne is using 1990's-esc thoughts (much blabla) in trying to bring in scientific support for internal (or spiritual) processing. He spends much time up front trying to prove that thoughts are able to change your genetic makeup and lifting ideas from The Biology of Belief: Unleashing the Power of Consciousness, Matter, & Miracles. Wayne is not qualified to speak on this subject and should have gotten into his material directly. We even veer off into Spinoza, not much Tao in that. But this kind of technical over-grasping is symptomatic of others at Hay House (i.e. GregG Braden). In fact when Wayne quotes GregG Braden in The Spontaneous Healing of Belief: Shattering the Paradigm of False Limits it really feels like we are bottom feeding by quoting from the most fast and loose with the facts player that Hay House has.

In other places I heard veiled references to material of other teachers who were not [adequately] credited (such as not being a victim to your program which is clearly Toltec Material such as in The Mastery of Love: A Practical Guide to the Art of Relationship (Toltec Wisdom Book)) In fact Wayne should have stopped looking at the Tao and spent some time first working with Toltec thought because it would have been easier for him to teach. At best Wayne may have gone through the beginning of a self transformation since 2006 including writing the books since then (and this one) but his experience has not gestated long enough to show that he has really tasted transformation enough to have revolutionized his approach. What was the rush to keep publishing since then? Was Hay House pushing him prematurely? Wayne should go to China and just meditate in the mountains and really connect with Lao Zi for a couple years and see what comes out.

Wayne may say that he was revolutionized by the work with Lao Zi but I hear the same stuff I heard from him decades ago. I do not think that kind of 'self-help' approach (which really is just another form of preachy-ness) is helpful anymore. The Internet and who I would consider as lesser teachers can cover this ground. I think Wayne is capable of much more than what he has done in the past few years. I am saddened and disappointed in his recent works.

The great teachers of today will spend more time orienting you to what you feel, to your breath, and spend less time telling you blabla this or that. Wayne should be telling you how to realize the Tao for yourself but does not currently appear able.

If you want to read a pure translation of the Tao then check out Tao Te Ching: The New Translation from Tao Te Ching: The Definitive Edition (Tarcher Cornerstone Editions)

I have been a fan of Wayne W. Dyer for many years, and his new book, "Excuses Begone" is refreshing and comforting. He gently reminds me that I have the power to bring myself into harmony with who I really am - a being that has infinite possibilities of experiencing great success, great health and unlimited happiness. Dyer continues to inspire me with his writing and insight.

Wayne W. Dyer was one of the first authors whom I felt a connection with as I dove into self discovery. If you enjoy Wayne W. Dyer, definitely check out authors, Ariel & Shya Kane. In their books, Working on Yourself Doesn't Work: The 3 Simple Ideas That Will Instantaneously Transform Your Life, Being Here: Modern Day Tales of Enlightenment & How to Create a Magical Relationship: The 3 Simple Ideas that Will Instantaneously Transform Your Love Life, I have discovered an ease within myself that is lasting. The Kanes have helped me discover that Enlightenment is a skill set, not a destination. And it's available right now! It's hard to make excuses when you're living in the moment!

First,I want to applaud Dr Dyer for his choice to actually *live* the Tao. His book on that was life changing for me. I enjoyed the Power of Intention immensely also, and also love his work way back to "Real Magic". So - I started reading this book - and, I get mad because it seems like a rehashing of every other book - but then I'll find myself really liking something I just read. Just seems like he tried to cram waaaaay too much into this book. And, I can't help but ask myself "is he under contract to write X number of books a year or something?" Because, here's my thought - if you really are living the Tao (which I want to believe he is), then wouldn't you at some point think "I've done my duty - I've given the information people can use, it's time to LET IT REST?".

I posted a 1-star review of this book back on June 28, 2009, and it was the top-rated most helpful critical review from the start (with 217 out of 256 finding it helpful as of yesterday, 11/25/09), that is until yesterday when it was mysteriously removed by Amazon.

I cited numerous reasons why I believed this book was mainly a collection of rambling, trivial thoughts and ideas, and NOT a how-to, self-help book at all. This book is a rehash of others, including the authors own previous books, most of which are not helpful. I made numerous assertions and examples in support of my criticism in my original review, such as:

Dyer refers to his method of coming up with advice as 'channeling' (PBS special interview) wherein he specifically describes the process as allowing the thoughts and ideas to flow onto paper. Great. As long as it is kept in proper perspective, and that perspective is that it belongs and stays in the area of the metaphysical, and NOT a therapautic, self-help HOW-TO book as the cover clearly leads people to believe. This book WILL NOT provide you with any sort of blueprint or methodology on which to change, unless you are the sort of person who can change by merely recognizing how- and get this- your excuses control your life...That's it folks, excuses begone- as a way to change your life, you don't have to go beyond the title or cover of this book IF you are the sort of person who can change simply by realizing that. But most people need a stronger blueprint for change, and this book does not provide it.

Dyer now aligns himself with numerous "quasi-science" practitioners- including the "teachings of Abraham" (spirit who channels through a woman- very lucritive following), the mystical powers of "The Secret"- (made famous by Oprah hawking the book on her show), and the likes of "doctor" Joe (I won't say more because this is probably what got the last review booted, other than to say there is no such thing as a REAL doctor of metaphysics! SHAME ON YOU JOE VITALE!!!!). This shows up rather distinctly in this book, and I think it is dangerous for people, who really may need professional help with their problems, to think this book is a how-to book to fix their lives, it doesn't and won't.

Finally, I am extremely disappointed in Amazon, with numerous comments of my review being positive and in agreement, there were those who were not in agreement, and that minority apparently was all it took for Amazon to drop my review, or pressure from the author or publisher...we will never know for certain. It also is a slap in the faces of the 256 people who took the time to read my review and register their agreement or disagreement, not to mention over a dozen people who then took the time to make meaningful, at times lengthy comments, of my review (and those who reviewed those comments)...those were all wiped away too!

And, those lengthy comments from over a dozen people contained valuable information, expounding on my review either in support or disagreement, but all of which offered valuable insight (so they thought, too) for people to consider when deciding to purchase this book. All wiped away...

It also supports my contention, shared by a large number of others, that many positive reviews, raving on and on about the book, are either written by shills for the author or worse, as advertisments to purchase the book.

UPDATE 11/28/09: Upon discovering that my original review was deleted by Amazon on 11/25, I emailed customer service with the inquiry about why it was removed. To my amazement, I received a reply yesterday from a 'Michael' who indicated he was the one who reviewed it and deleted it. His only explanation, amidst his poorly written, misspelled and grammatically incorrect written response, was that my review mentioned the "authors intentions" which are grounds for removal....Huh? Authors intentions? Doesn't every author of a book have an intention in mind? Or was that the generic checkoff when nothing else applies, only that someone registered a complaint?

It was obvious that any further reply to his email was going through cyberspace to the sweat shop in India or Pakistan (where most customer service is for large companies... Don't believe me? Try calling Dell Computer customer service and ask what the weather is like in New Jersey... They have no idea because New Delhi is a long way away!)