Customer Reviews

List Your Self: Listmaking as the Way to Self-Discovery

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

After a short introduction, this is almost a blank book. Each page is headed by a list topic (e.g."List all the idiotic things you've done for money"; "List all the phone calls that changed your life"). The rest of each page after the topic is blank ruled paper. When completed, the book is a self-inventory. For people who are not otherwise inclined to keep a journal, this book could be an excellent freestanding tool for self-discovery. As a practical matter, however, due to the thickness of the book and the stiffness of the binding, it is a bit of an effort to write in neatly. This book would have been a lot easier to use if it were spiral- or coil-bound.

I actually like this book quite a bit and use the topic suggestions as journal prompts, because it is easier to write in a separate notebook than in this actual volume.

This book, if used thoughtfully and with the right intent could take months (perhaps even years) to complete!

I don't really know what I was expecting when I requested this book...but I saw it on Amazon and thought it "what a neat idea" -- my mind rushing with possibilities based on nothing more than the title and brief editorial description! When the book arrived at my door...I practically ravaged the packaging to get at the books (normally, I am excitable when it come to books...and I got all three in this List Yourself series: List Yourself; More List Yourself; and List Your Creative Self). Now I knew this was a book for you to fill in, but I was still surprised to find that after two very brief chapters (an introduction and "How to Use this Book") that it is virtually empty...most of the pages (14-297) are list topics. That is to say the very top portion of the page (about two lines worth) is a List Topic, the remainder of the page is blank lines to be filled in...allowing you to do exactly what the title says...List Yourself!

I found that the brief first chapters actually are more than adequate, this will be particularly appealing to individuals who do not have the patience for long-winded explanations or tons of in-depth analysis of this technique...there is just enough good information to get you going -- with a simple, easy "how to" your on your way to listing!

What is great about List Yourself is that it is not all "serious" or "proper," not all probing and full of angst...this book has lists that will help you capture ALL of who you are...even the funny and irreverent!!

Serious topics include:

"List All the People You Wish You Hadn't Trusted"
"List What Heals Your Aching Soul"
"List those Moments in Nature that Remind You of Your Connection to the 'Big Picture'."

Silly Topics Include:

"List All the Times You've Hit the Jackpot"
"List All the Foods, Candy, and Other Treats You Loved to Snack On" (as a child)
"List All the Foods You'd Eat if Guaranteed You Wouldn't Get Fat" (I must be hungry...lol)

and it goes on and on on for more than two hundred pages...there are lists about the past, the future....allowing you to explore EVERY aspect of who you are...from home and family to career; covering entertainment, your inner most thoughts to the funny and irreverent in your life! THIS is NOT your mother's journal! What you get here really allows you to capture who you are in a relatively easy to use listmaking format!

I truly believe the best use of this volume is for the time challenged journaler (or potential journaler)...you can keep this by your bed or near your favorite spot on the couch -- list yourself when your restless at night or when there's nothing very interesting on TV...keep it handy and out in the open and I can almost GUARANTEE you'll find yourself picking it up every now and again -- it's compelling in a way!

For the more "serious" journaler...List Yourself would certainly make a fun addition to your current journaling -- or a supplement if you like! The materials and methods certainly dovetail nicely into nearly any journaling style!

Upon completion, List Yourself will certainly be interesting to read over every few years...a gauge of who you were, who you are, and who you will be in the future!!

Sooooooooo...do I recommend List Yourself???? The answer is an definite YES! I most certainly do! As a supplement to "regular" journaling or as a stand-alone technique used for self-discovery -- I think it's invaluable!!

Do I absolutely LOVE everything about this volume...HECK NO...the hard bound format is annoying at best (my comments were less than "G" rated in this area...lol)...and size make this book hard to handle. Personally...for books I have to write in, I like a slightly larger size and this book would be MUCH better served with a spiral or library binding...the combination of size and binding choice are (to me at any rate) extremely annoying. I would also absolutely LOVE it if a date line had been included...it's certainly not difficult to simply add the date in at the top...but for neatness and uniformity -- a printed date line would be a nice addition!!

For myself (because of the format the book is in), I'm going to incorporate the lists into my regular journal -- recording only the date(s) that I make the list in the hardbound book...so that I can easily find a particular list later on...and if I do a list several times over the years...I'll know where to find each to compare and contrast them!!

Overall, this is a neat idea -- and the book DOES live up to the entire title! I give it an "A"+ for content and a "B"- for usability - the hardbound format does leave much to be desired.

I give list yourself an "A"- for price, coming in at 296 pages of great listmaking opportunities with a list price of $14.95 (Amazon currently has it listed at $10.47), I think it's money well spent!!

This is a book which you fill in pages that have a title for each page/list. The Titles are for things you list. Example: List all of the people who love you for who you really are. Another example: List the things you would change if you could change history. Or: List the things you hide when friends come to visit.

Some of the List headings are serious and some are silly, some delve into the past, others look to the future. They explore home, family, work , the world , your inner thoughts and so much more.

This is a delightful book for anyone who loves to make lists, who loves psychology, or who wants to understand themselves a little better. It is a whole lot of FUN!

As I have mentioned in other reviews, I am a complete sucker for fill in the blank, get to know yourself, leave your legacy to your children kind of books. When I die, they could write my biography w/o much difficulty! :) But this one is very special. It asks questions from the profound to the silly about all aspects of your life.

I filled out the book when I first purchased it in 1997. Since I had other things keeping me busy, I didn't complete it until 1998. I would write my answers and date each page. When it was done. I tucked it away. Then, in 2003, I pulled it out again, with a different colored pen, and compared what my answers were 4 yrs later. Some things remained the same, however, I was amazed by the things that had changed. In those 4 yrs I gave birth to my first child, experienced 9-11-01 up close & personal, and lost my precious baby niece to a heart defect. Although I though I was the person that I would be and that was it, after these 3 events, I saw right in front of my eyes how the growing process is never really complete. We are creatures of change, but knowing where you have been, helps you get to where you want to be. It's a WONDERFUL book. I've since bought More List Yourself and List Yourself for Parents. I highly reccommend all of the books.

I had read all the reviews about this book and I decided to buy it. I love journals and this book is pretty interesting. It makes you think about all the things you have done in life. One of the topics says to list the times you did something unethical that you never told anyone about. These topics really probe deep into your life. Here are a couple of the topics in the book.
List all of the rumors you have started.
List the names you have been called endearing, and not so.
List how you feel when you have been lied too.
List all the people you wish you hadn't trusted
These are just a few of the great topics that are here. The book is a really great book. I recommend this for everyone 18 and over. To make things really great it is a hardcover book so you can keep it forever without the cover tearing. If you are like me and like fill in journals then get this one cause it is off the chain.

Ilene Segalove and Paul Bob Velick have several books of lists where one explores their deepest self in a fun and imaginative way.

"List You Self" is terrific fun and amazingly revealing. Each page offers a prompt and requires you to jot down a list of responses, this is best done without alot of thought because the immediate answers are the most honest. You will be asked to divulge to yourself your inner most passions, dreams and fears along with people that you find heroic or as mentor qualifiers along with many other exciting areas of exploration. The most enjoyable prompts take you back in time to old memories and favorite times.

I enjoy these "list" books as a way to get to know myself but I also see the value in these books as a way to leave behind something interesting about yourself. Parents, Grandparents and even some children could have hours of entertainment completing the lists provided while stirring up old treasured memories along the way.

I DON'T JOURNAL! Or keep a diary, but this was a fun way to think. Ideas about myself and the ones I love or loved quickly came to the surface. Prompts like "list your mentors" or "list the things you have done to impress your father", brought up some real issues I had never considered. One day you can skip around doing fun lists and the next, pick serious more in depth lists. I will buy more of these books!

It has taken me many months to get half way through this book. Most nights, I flick through the pages - sometimes I fill in a list or two, sometimes I just read the questions and other times I re-read lists I have already done. It's a great way to really get to know yourself without a therapist! Whatever mood I'm in there is a list to suit. Funny ones like what ways have you answered the phone; serious ones like who do you wish you'd never trusted; philosophical ones like what would you ask God if you found him walking beside you? All over, just an excellent book to buy and an excellent gift to give!

"List Your Self" is definatly worth it. It contains questions that really get you thinking about stuff that is relevant in everyone's life, yet you don't realize it until the subject is brought to your mind. I would recommend that anyone who is interested in exploring their thoughts buy this book.

I bought this book because of the way it is presented. It is different than a journal, in that it is divided into different sections with each page giving you a "prompt" or a "thought" to write about. It is really interesting reading/writing. I have bought several for friends and family. Everyone seems to enjoy it. Try it, you might be surprised as to what you find out about yourself. The key, BE HONEST!!!