Customer Reviews

It's Not My Fault: The No-Excuse Plan for Overcoming Life's Obstacles

5 star:		(7)
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3 star:		(1)
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I don't think I realized I was making excuses. After all, I had many VALID REASONS for my poor performance in many areas. But this book helped me immensely to understand that even when I have valid reasons (and sometimes invalid ones) there is still only one way to solve the problem, and that is to tackle it head on. This book gave me lots of useful, easy to understand tools for overcoming long-standing difficulties. Since I read the book last February, I've lost 25 pounds, improved my career, my parenting, and have begun making progress in many other areas which have proven difficult for me for years. I love this book and actually, I've already read it three times!

I was a little hesitant about this book when I was first told about it. I mean really "It's Not My Fault" was not my motto in life, but a good friend had read it and shared that it would be good read for me. After reading just the first few chapters I realized that many of the things I blamed (not realizing I was blaming) on my childhood, teachers, even my pastors were things that I could change now for myself and stop this blaming game. I really think everyone should read this book, be it for yourself or to better understand those around you it is a win-win read.

I haven't completed reading the book yet, but I find it very helpful and beneficial. It is also very easy to read.

Cloud and Townsend present the material so clear and it is very insightful! This book has literally transformed my life.

It's Not My Fault is an excellent book. The book equals Dr. Cloud's and Dr. Townshend's book Boundaries for Kids. As a school counselor I have found a wealth of information on "taking ownership" that I will be able to use with students, parents and staff. It is refreshing to find a book that states that taking "ownership" for our situations is more beneficial than blaming someone else.In today's blaming society, where we like to point fingers at everyone else and play the victim role, the authors encourage the readers to take responsibility for the their choices. Thank you for such a great, informative and empowering book.

The title sucks you in only to be challenged to in fact, accept your part or fault in any given situation. Actually, all of America needs the contents of this book to be taught so everyone will stop blaming others or situations and instead take responsibility. What a different society we would have! Reading this book has challenged me to step out and take a risk in an area that I enjoy and could also make money which I need since I am without a job. Sometimes we all need a good kick in the pants! Also good to see this perspective from a godly point of view! For those who are seeking to please God, this book shows how taking responsibility IS God's will and He will bless you for taking this step. Learning to accept responsibility isn't always easy, but the rewards for yourself are worth it! It gives you your power that God meant for all of us to have! Thanks for writing this book, Cloud and Townsend!

this book is just full of common sense that many of us overlook in our daily lives.
i have passed this book on to several friends and family members and all of them agree with me that this is a good book for everyone to read. get a copy.

This book will help make things different in one's life. It helps you to see where you fit with others and how to navigate through the hard times. It does not let you off the hook though, but rather helps us to see our role in how things have flowed in our lives and how to make the necessary changes. It is a book that needs to be digested over time and not one sitting.

In doing research for a book about Biblical Community Life, I purchased this tome as a reference in regard to a group dynamic that would keep believers focused on a discipleship model of becoming accountable. After all, the title led me to believe that the authors would convince me I'm personally responsible for my behavior. I should have known better. As a recovering psychiatric professional, I had become "burned out" over the unremitting emphasis in psychiatric and psychological circles about only one truth -- me, me, me. I expected that a "Christian" book about personal responsibility (about which I wrongly thought this thesis was directed) would help redirect any inertia in a self-centered plane in a new direction. Sigh... I'm sad to say that the good psychologists were very short on Biblical foundations, and big on personal opinion that waxed on and on the in the usual patient-centered narcissism found in most psychobabble related writings. For instance, on page 139 the authors claim that my financial goals should be directed at first paying myself each month, whereas a Biblical approach would first have me paying the Creator his 10%+ out of my gross earnings. And on it goes with the worn-out, TV evangelist-like themes of reaching my goals, making my dreams real, and other shop-worn mottos bandied over the airwaves of the so-called "name and claim it" faith crowd.

True Biblical counseling, as taught by Jay Adams and others who are faithful to their roots in Holy Writ, never stops beating on the G-dly themes of loving G-d and loving my neighbor...first. Even after years of revolution in Christian publishing with the production of untold essays teaching the Biblical priorities of G-d first, family second, and all others third, Townsend and Cloud have failed to even remind us how our families are involved in reaching for our dreams.

"It's Not My Fault" is incorrectly classified under the Christian label on the bookstore shelf. It would be better marketed as a manager's tool for reaching financial success and one's personal objectives in the climb up the corporate ladder. This book is about self and selfishness. The accountability to one's mentors is not taught as one tool of sanctification to help me reach higher in levels of holiness. This is a pop psychology thesis wholly (not "holy") directed toward the usual overriding theme of what I want for me, now.

Very sad.