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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Uninspiring and Unoriginal, August 18, 2008
This review is from: Mindfulness and The Art of Choice: Transform Your Life (Paperback)
This book has a very narrow audience: people caught in patterns of negative thinking whose reading level is on a second-grade level. If that's you, maybe you can get something out of this book, but I would never recommend this book to anyone. The bottom line is, Sherman writes with a simplistic, repetitive style. She constantly reinforces that if trauma from the past is influencing how you react to present-day situations, you have the power to choose to change your actions so you don't keep yourself locked in the same pattern. This is good advice, to be sure, but I have just told you what "the art of choice" is in one sentence; I am not sure why Sherman expounds upon it for 96 pages, illustrating her point with unoriginal and uninspiring "exercises" that are mainly points of self-reflection rather than actual mental or meditative exercises. She never once even attempts to make more points than that one, or suggest that mindfulness is something that has broader appeal than just people with highly traumatic events in their past (such as she had, as she never fails to remind you).
As if the lack of content and lack of decent writing skills weren't enough, Sherman has the most pessimistic view of any psychiatrist I've ever read. Consider, for example, her instructions in Chapter Four to take a moment and listen to your internal voices. "Chances are the thoughts are something negative about what someone did or didn't do, or about what someone said or didn't say.... Or, perhaps the thoughts are self-critical where you are making judgments about yourself." As a natural optimist, I certainly found it hard to take any of her advice to heart when she kept making false assumptions about how negative my thoughts and attitudes must be.
And one of the exercises contains what I feel to be horrible advice. "Exercise #3: Discovering Possible Alternatives" starts out like most of the exercises in the book: visualize a situation that upsets you. In this case, Sherman instructs the reader to imagine all the different choices he could make. If the choice makes his body tense up, then it's a bad one. She goes on to say that if he has thoughts that maybe he should make this choice anyway, he should dismiss them. When he thinks about a choice and his body stays relaxed, then that is likely a good choice. This is terrible advice because sometimes the right choice involves putting ourselves in uncomfortable situations, for example, making a confession to someone about a lie we told them. If I think about making a confession to someone, my body tenses up--but that doesn't mean that's not the right thing to do!
If you're looking for self-help books, there are much better than this. If you're looking for books on mindfulness in the spiritual or meditative sense, this is not one. Look elsewhere.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A useful and 'user friendly' guide, September 6, 2008
This review is from: Mindfulness and The Art of Choice: Transform Your Life (Paperback)
Unhappiness doesn't have to be something someone is sentenced to. "Mindfulness and The Art of Choice: Transform Your Life" is a useful and 'user friendly' guide for anyone wanting to turn their life around and become content with things they are otherwise compelled to deal with every day of their ordinary existence. With advice on making good choices, portraying a positive attitude to those around you, healing and dealing with loss, and more, author Karen H. Sherman offers a unique set of suggestions for everyday life. A welcome addition to personal self-help, self-improvement reading lists, "Mindfulness and the Art of Choice" is especially recommended for its underlying and foundational message that everyone does have a choice.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
It Works to Transform Your Life!, July 11, 2008
This review is from: Mindfulness and The Art of Choice: Transform Your Life (Paperback)
There is something brave in the voice of this book, something resounding, without embellishments. This is a most important book that goes beyond self-help and good advice. It brings an awakening to the heart - a true connection to, and trust, in self. This book addresses the most important questions of life: Where do we go from here, and how do we get there? You will find Dr. Sherman's approach very helpful - solid, practical, and filled with loving guidance.
This book is divided into two parts. Part 1 is "How the Art of Choice Works." Here Dr. Sherman describes in poignant detail how we live a life that is on autopilot. She then illustrates a simple, yet profound process to connect with the wisdom contained within the body, quiet the noisy mind, and move beyond fear. In addition, she touches our hearts as she describes her own painful childhood. Her account of suffering not only heals deep wounds within our own souls; it allows us to know that it is possible for us to create the great life we want.
Part 2 is dedicated to "The Art of Choice Exercises." Sherman states, "A self-help book is only helpful if there are suggestions in it that offer you specific ways to make changes." She follows through on her promise providing twenty-two proven, easy to implement exercises to connect with the body, quiet the mind, and feel a sense of readiness to create a life for yourself that is full and satisfying.
Dr. Sherman is a woman who knows healing inside and out. What a joy to find such an intelligent and creative approach for happiness and emotional well-being! Her exercises lead us on journey that allows us to discover new solutions to old problems. "Mindfulness And The Art of Choice" is both a powerful contribution to the field of personal transformation and a gift to those who are taking their satisfaction and joy into their own hands.
Annette Colby: Author of "Your Highest Potential"
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