Irregular People [Paperback]

Joyce Landorf Heatherley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1989

Who is your "irregular person?" Joyce brings wise and healing words to help you deal with those insensitive family members who have crushed your spirit with their emotional neglect and abuse.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Joyce Landorf Heatherley, nationally known author, public speaker, and recording artist brings the special message of love and hope to thousands of men and women through her books, videos, music, and inspired presentations.

A graduate of Pasadena City College with a degree in music, Joyce also received an honorary doctorate in humanities from Azusa Pacific University. Through her 24 books, her film series (His Stubborn Love), speaking engagements, radio programs and national television appearances, Joyce has spread her inspired message of hope to millions of readers and viewers both in the U.S. and overseas. Her four record albums exemplify her musical gift and touch the hearts of people needing reassurance, hope and support in the trials of everyday living. There are over seven million copies of her products in circulation.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

The interview as over. I watched the young Diane-Keaton look-alike as she wrapped up her radio talk show with an adroit assessment of my book, Joseph. She was, and is, reputed to be one of the hottest names in radio, and though she's young she's already won several prestigious awards. She is also Jewish, bright, and very articulate.

I loved the interview. Her sharp, penetrating questions and her complete grasp of Joseph's character told me that she, unlike many Christian broadcasters, had actually read Joseph from cover to cover. I was impressed!

After she had given a final nod to the engineer, she picked up her notes and asked, more out of politeness than anything else, "Now that Joseph is out, I suppose you'll be doing another book..."

I nodded yes.

"On what?" she asked casually.

"On your irregular person."

"Irregular?" She looked at me quizzically.

"Yes, that person in your life who really bugs you to death."

She digested that for a split second, and then dismissed it as an unimportant book by saying, "But don't you think life is full of those irregular kinds of people? There's this guy here at the station..." she gestured with her hands, and I understood. "There's the clerk in some store, or the freeway driver. They all bug us to death. We are surrounded by that kind of person... Her voice trailed off and implied that she didn't think I'd have a whole lot to say about irregular people, because we are simply living in a world where we are stuck with them. The look in her very pert, brown eyes also suggested that she was wondering why anybody would take the time and energy to bother with what was merely a fact of life.

"That's not exactly who I mean," I volunteered, "The irregular person I'm talking about is a person you are related to - like your parents, a brother, sister, cousin, uncle, aunt, or even in-laws. And, in some cases, even a husband or a wife."

Abruptly she stopped shuffling papers, leaned across the table, and said intently, "I see. Well, let me tell you, when that book is out, please come back for an interview - nobody ever talks about that person!"

Then, even though both our day's schedules were already frantically jammed, we stayed for another half-hour and talked about her person.

Most everyone has at least one person in their life who truly makes living one continuous pain in the derriere. What heightens the pain is that this person is not a mere acquaintance of ours. No, unfortunately it is more complicated than that, for we are related to them, either by birth or marriage.

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Balcony Pub (August 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0929488008
• ISBN-13: 978-0929488004
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #140,687 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Irregular People -- The Power to Change Your Life, March 18, 2000

By 

D. E. Engbertson (Riverside, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Irregular People (Paperback)

This book, shared from the author's own struggles, is a powerful testimony to the human ability to survive. She writes of the pain caused by the rejection of our "irregular people," those individuals in our lives with whom we have to deal with on a regular basis and who constantly give us pain. This book is a "must" for those who have survived abusive childhoods, difficult family members or in-laws, or who have be hurt by family relatives. It truly changed my life by bringing healing and eventually making it possible to have healthy relationships I with my "irregular people." It brings a sense of freedom and healing. I've recommended and given this book to friends and clients more than any other that I have read.

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Want to feel like you discovered fire? Buy this Book!, April 2, 2002

By 

Lone Star Reader (Irving, TX United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Irregular People (Paperback)

I originally read this book when I was going through some major changes in my life--changes that certain people in my life did not understand or sympathize with. This book helped me see that 1. This particular set of people had ALWAYS reacated negatively when I was approaching change in my life (because it meant they too would have to adapt to in my life, and like most humans, they wanted things to stay the same)and 2. There were ways to deal with these people without becoming an irregular person myself, or getting slammed to the pavement yet again by them.
This book helped me see that I was not the only person dealing with negativity on a regular basis--that it was not my fault, and that there were ways to deal with these people without becoming just like them (a fate worse than death, I assure you!).Joyce Heatherly hits right on the target. (By the way, she confesses this in a later book, but the "irregular persons" in her life are her father and stepmother--people you definitely cannot cut out of your life!) No, it's not your imagination--these people in your life are hurtful and destructive--but you don't have to let them destroy you, and you don't have to destroy them to live a good life. Joyce's book will show you how.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Disfunctional family anyone?, November 23, 2001

By 

Islas (Houston, Texas United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Irregular People (Paperback)

Joyce Landorf Heatherley has powerful books for people with interpersonal struggles that nag at you everyday. I've lost my copy of this book and am purchasing it again because it's one of the helpful books to review in crisis times. She's also a very comforting writer.