Customer Reviews

Inside My Heart: Choosing to Live with Passion and Purpose

5 star:		(83)
4 star:		(20)
3 star:		(18)
2 star:		(12)
1 star:		(28)

 

 

I'm very hesitant to write this review. Why? Because I am a huge fan of both Dr. Phil and Robin McGraw. I admire them both tremendously, and think both offer a needed dose of common sense and compassion in a "do what feels good" world.

However, my admiration doesn't help my opinion of this book. In fact, it may hurt it -- I expected so much!

I find that I learn more from people's struggles and failures than from their successes. And this book was loaded with the latter and didn't hold too many of the former. I wasn't sure how to take McGraw's advice... apparently she's never had a moment of self-doubt or lack of confidence in her life. For someone like me -- who questions everything from what clothes I put on in the morning to the direction of my life -- her "This is what I do and it works great!" advice doesn't help much. In fact, I ended the book feeling worse about myself than when I had started.

I don't think that was her intention at all, and I did enjoy reading more about her life with Dr. Phil. But I would have enjoyed even more hearing about her own experiences with questioning her path, times when she was unhappy and unsure of herself, and times when she didn't feel 100 percent loved -- and loveable. Maybe in Volume II.

I love Dr Phil and have no problem with watching Robin on his show, but to ask me to fork over money for a book that was probably written in a week (if that long), that doesn't go into any depth ... what a waste! Her advice to make "good choices" is fine, but extremely simplistic - something most of us already know, but I guess not, considering all the rave reviews. Reading the reviews is just as good as reading the book, because there is very little depth.

Sorry, I am a Dr. Phil fan and enjoy the peeks he gives us into his family but this book just got me angry. It does repeat constantly...how much Phil loves her, how wonderful a mother she is, how all around wonderful she is. You know, you can make the best choices throughout your life and still not end up in a fabulous life - like hers. Her attitude is lacking reality - perhaps her childhood was painfully real but her "confidence" rubbed me as arrogance. As a previous reviewer suggested, I think it would be a whole different book if she lived on $30,000 a year...oh, ya, that's right, she wouldn't make that "choice."

This book is one of the worst books I have ever read. I bought it because I heard she was on the Women of Faith tour and it was endorsed by Max Lucado. I was disappointed that it was not a Christian centered book but I do enjoy secular books also, so I got past that. I seemed like it was written in a couple of days. Robin sounds like she loves herself way too much. The entire book concentrates on how wonderful her life is because SHE made all the right choices. She lacks any humility or modesty at all. While I agree with being in charge of your life, she is completely disconnected from real people and the real world. She comes off sounding like a spoiled little rich girl, and I was surprised by that. I painfully read the entire book because I paid hardbook price. Do not make the same mistake!

It's interesting that some women gave the book five stars. I completely missed whatever value these women saw in the book. This is a very quick read. The pages are double spaced with boxed copy set off to fill up the pages. There is little organization, just stream of consciousness about Robin's life. Much of it is repetitive. Lots of accolades to Dr. Phil and how much she loves him and he loves her. Repeated mention of her wonderful sons. Once would have been enough.
[...]

This book reads like a first draft. The editor at the publishing house really needed to offer some suggestions to make Robin's writing better. Phil said that it took Robin a year to write this book. [...] If you're looking for a light read and don't mind repetition, then read this book. If you're looking for some insight into someone's life, here it is: Robin is where she is because of the choices she has made in her life. (like every one of us) She made the right choices, chose the right husband, reared her sons the right way, and didn't let people in authority push her around.

Many women who read this book will not have made all the right choices. Many women are Robin's age or older and can't go back and rectify these choices. After reading the book, I was disappointed that it was so amateurishly written and had so little to say. It seemed to be a huge pat on the back for Robin--terrific wife and extraordinary mother, which she well may be. I would have expected more substance and something a bit more than a breezy autobiography-type recollection of everything one woman did right in her life.

I bought this book as soon as I saw it because I have always loved Robin and her deep passion for being a mother. I started reading right away and couldn't believe how this book has little to no substance. I'm not really interested in how she met Phil and where she worked, we all have these stories. I thought this would be more about her convictions and devotion to her family. Instead I was bored, not interested and quickly realized this book was an ego boost more than a helpful read. I have yet to finish because it is so difficult to trudge through.

We see her on the Dr. Phil show everyday and wonder what is she really like. I couldn't put this book down. Mrs. McGraw truly reveals her past and present in such a moving way. I wept as she decribed her feelings about her children and let this book remind me what's most important in life. I cheered as she made choices in life that put a stop to hurtful patterns from her parents. And, I felt a sisterhood with this woman as she pulls back the curtain on her marriage - the good, bad and ugly.
Her writing is just as lovely as she is. I recommend this book to all woman of all ages. Robin is a like a friend, sister and mom we can all look up to.

I read this book for a Book Club, and will, up front, admit that I am not a huge fan of self-help or "inspirational" books. It is rare to find one that feels authentic, and is actually helpful. (And I keep reading them, trying to find one that resonates...)

That being said, I sadly found Mrs. McGraw's book to be another poorly written empowerment tome. It is extremely repetitive, terribly organized and very self-centered. She keeps saying the same things over and over and over. The timing of events in the book was jumping all over the place, and hard to follow. The details she gives about her previous jobs, taste in home decorating, etc. was totally unneccesary.

While I applaud her efforts to give stay-at-home Moms and full-time homemakers a legitimate platform and some empowerment, I think she should take some writing classes or stick to being a cheerleader for her husband on TV.

Awful book...I always make myself finish all my Book Club books, and I couldn't wait for this one to end.

Save yourself the money in buying this book. I read it and it smacks of humanism and the "just do it" mentality. A cash cow book and we've heard it all before.

This book by Robin was so self centered it was almost funny..the book was actually boring. She seemed to say the same things over and over about how good she was, how she raised great kids, but come on, she is not perfect. I am sure this book would not have went to the publisher if she was not MRS DR PHIL. She also bragged about going to the Dr yearly for all these tests, gym daily, botex?..and oh don't forget she mentions getting a new car for xmas and goes on to tell us that it cost $50,000. So this book may be good for the rich but not for average income people. Her story is all about her life, and she writes it like NO ONE else has lived through life in ways she has.. or that NO ONE can raise their kids as good as she can..?? I was totally disappointed in the book. I am sure its just a money maker for them. I liked Dr.Phil alot better when she was not part of his daily talks on the show..now it seems like its the mr amd mrs mcgraw show--questions and answers... DR.Phil needs to take back his life and the camera needs to stop going to her to ask her opinion..who cares...she is no a DR. he is ! The book also says her father never got mad at her..hard to believe..I wonder if she got the new car from him because of his so called affair when they had been married about 7 years...and if that is true about his affair...what is she still doing with him? Ever notice how Dr.Phil takes up for men having affairs and blaming the woman more??mmm... Guess life choices were not made so good there... don't bother with the book, it is slow..boring and self centered.