Customer Reviews

Look At Yourself

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This book by John Sherman is very clear, simple and helpful. His words are very much "to the point". His constantly reminding us to "Look At Yourself" in this book and on the web ([...] and [...]) brought a fundamental shift in my life. As he says: "To look at yourself whenever it occurs to you is to move from the endless work of self-definition to the endless adventure of self-discovery". I recommend this book very highly to everybody.

I've been slowly absorbing John's message for over two years and this book has been the tipping point! It's all in the cover, I love the blankness around "Look at Yourself." I was fortunate enough to meet John a month and a half ago and all he really had to say to me when it came down to it is "stick to the point-you". Absolutely, I am down with that, I may go on a few side trips here and there but the end is certain because the intent is there! His story is wonderful but what came out of it can only be found right here in the certainty of your existence. John is a down to earth bad ass who has truly done it totally wrong and I love him even more for it because when it comes down to it, he's got the goods and this book proves it! I also love that he dedicated it to Gangaji. This core message, look at yourself, is the most exciting, accessible message I've ever come across. It just goes and goes and goes and stops and stops and stops, the discovery of what it is to look at yourself!

There must be hundreds of books on this subject and I have read many of them. This is as clear as it gets. If your mind wants more explanation before getting on with it, well, then just admit that you may be as nearly hopelessly addicted to thinking as the rest of us and get on with it anyway.

As the author, John Sherman says, "we are actually trying to solve the symptoms instead of the problem." and "The only thing that will rid you of that idea is the truth." and about the difficulty of even trying to describe this ephemeral practice, he suggests most encouragingly from his own experience, the ultimate value of just getting on with it, "Once you start trying, it teaches itself."

This is an excellent book for anyone seriously wanting to bring an end to personal suffering. It offers no quick fixes but is very straightforward in its approach. What I love about John Sherman's approach is that he cuts through the traps of many spiritual practices by eliminating the idealization of what we "should be" in life and focuses on what we can do right now to begin destroying the false beliefs about ourselves that are at the root of our fear and suffering.
By the time I finished reading John's book, I realized that "here" - without false beliefs or deep-seated lies beating us over the head and scaring us silly at times - is really all that we have ever wanted. "Here" is everything. And false beliefs are all that stand between us and the ever-present truth that we are complete just as we are.
John's insights are brilliant. He would disagree with me about this statement because he describes himself as a slow learner and ordinary as beans; but no one has ever given me such a lucid and practical view of what is needed to end suffering and be ever-open to the beauty that is naturally, already here.

I have studied many spiritual and psychological traditions, practiced and even taught a few. Some have been helpful to me and others, but the need for them and their failure to end such need has never been addressed so directly as by John Sherman. Reading this book and also listening to his podcasts and sharing with him directly--he makes himself available by email and by phone and in his online meetings--has gradually brought about a change in the context of my experience and life, such that the tension of feeling myself to be "at stake" in the unpredictable unfolding of my experience and life is vanishing. I recommend this book to all who wish most deeply to be free of existential concern, dread, misery, fear, etc.

its been lovely reading and reflecting on this book; may be I needed it to better understand what Ramana Maharishi or Jesus or Buddha has been saying all long .. Who am I? just look at yourself... must read for everyone who has taken for granted what one thinks one is!! gives you specific methods and it is so simple that it is amazing
keep reading this.. it will encourage you, give you insights, courage, guess you better read the book:) and share with others

John Sherman has succeeded in de-mystifying the mystical. By transcribing actual conversations he takes us to the experience in the moment. A truly rare event in literature. This book is an excellent read for anyone who asks the BIG questions.

I tried almost everything when it came to meditation, self inquiry, visualisation, emotional release, etc in the search for peace and fulfillment. If there was anything new, I would try it. And some techniques have certainly been most helpful. All techniques have taught me something valuable, even if only to search in a more critical manner.
But in the end, when all was said and done, there were always some loose ends. There were always more things to solve or change in the body and mind. By some accident, I stumbled into John`s message. And altough I really tried to NOT follow his advice (always thinking this can`t work, this is too easy), sooner or later I had to come back to it. I don`t know why, but IT WORKS. I don`t know how it works, but it does. When there is no way out of myself and the whole chaos of suffering of a regular human being reaches a peak, I always come back to what John is patiently saying for some time now. And it always works somehow. I can`t wrap my mind around it. For the first time, I am doing something that my mind can`t understand or fit into its definitions. And it works.
I don`t know if the suffering is totally over and I don`t know when it will be. But if there is something that can help in relieving it, it can be found in John`s book. This is the real deal, for me at least. I would reccomend this to any human being. Thank you, John

This medicine requires no change in beliefs, religion, political stance, or much new learning. It is the most simple of things, learning to just 'Look At Yourself'. This isn't navel gazing, chanting, or some special state of awareness or 'enlightenment'. It is just you, looking at you. Easy instructions that can be done anytime, anyplace, whenever you remember to do so. What could be more simple?

No expectations are set regarding the ultimate outcome, except that you will be free to live your life without the insane fear that causes so much suffering. 'You will go sane.' There are no promises of fantastic experiences, or mind blowing insights, unless you consider being free from fear a fantastic experience.

Also, there is no sales pitch here, no follow up system to buy to 'get to the next level' or any other 'spiritual path' nonsense. This is not another treadmill of spiritual practice, filled with promises that can't be kept, offered by someone with something to gain as long you 'need' them.

Get this now, start to Look At Yourself today, see how wonderful life can be.

Many thanks to Mr. Sherman for putting this simple approach out there, that directly addresses the fundamental cause of suffering that is generally accepted as normal life.

Any serious seeker should take a look at this book. John cuts through the spiritual materialism into the simple truth in a very accessible, clear, language. Few have put it on the line like this. And it really works! Highly recommended.