Customer Reviews

Mindfulness and The Art of Choice: Transform Your Life

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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.

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.

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"

I am a believer that the best healers are those who have have been through their own nightmares and have come out stronger.

This certainly describes Karen Sherman, who by her own admission, grew up in a highly dysfunctional home only to become a very discontented and restless adult. However, one day, she made the conscious choice of changing her life and became a much happier and well-rounded person and she has written this book in the hopes that she can pass along some of the experiences she has lived over the years both as a therapist, but more imporantly as a person who has 'been there'.

Sherman's basic theory is that we are all a product of our own environment and that most of who we are today was created in our childhood. In fact, she argues that this is where most of our emotions, thoughts and coping patterns are established and that we will continue to return to these sources again and again when we need to unless we can reprogram these negative patterns. As a matter of fact we will become so good at it that it will become second nature to us (she calls it auto-pilot). However, what once served us as children, may no longer be helpful to us as adults and may, in fact, be the major cause of much of our discontent.

One of the important aspects of this particular book and what sets it apart from many others is the term that Sherman uses - Art of Choice. The author believes that we all have a choice in how we live our lives and that we can choose to change something if we wish to. Of course, its not quite as simple as that and Sherman explains, in practical and helpful chapters, the step by step process that we must be willing to go through to get to a much healthier and happier place.

I liked this book. It was quite short, but extremely well written and informative. Sherman does not speak down to us and neither does she use lots of scientific and technical terms to explain the processes. At the end of each chapter, we find specific exercises that we are encouraged to complete.

This type of book needs to be read over and over again as I believe I will pick up some new information everytime I read it.

I was extremely encouraged by this book - I like the concept that we can change our patterns, that we can re-program our way of thinking, feeling and reacting in order to find a what we are looking for

Dr. Sherman reaches out to the core of change. Mindfulness brings people into the present. It helps them look at their problems from a different perspective so that change is possible. The first chapter talks about what a crazy, obsessive world we live in. The first step is recognizing that that world exists!
Sherman presents how unhealthy our thinking can be. Negatively can set into our minds and bodies like concrete casting an angry, unhappy life for many. Stress and unrealistic expectations affect many, resulting in a complete shut down of rational thought. She discuses how many people are afraid, becoming emotionally impaired and "stuck." If you are unable to change your life, your beliefs can miserably spiral you downward. She explores ways you can change your fate and control your life. Ways to enjoy a happier life.
She teaches you how to be aware of what the real root of your problems may stem from.
She teaches you how to approach your issues from a different, much healthier perspective that allows that concrete wall to come down so that moving forward is possible...moving forward with a more grounded foundation to problems and conflict. Her exercises can help you-step by step- identify your troubles and reach into yourself to uncover the true emotion that is preventing your growth and self actualization.
I particularly liked her assessment of "The Solution" Quieting the Nosy Mind." We are sometimes to busy minded--too much drama- to be in the now, and to uncover how our body truly feels, and what our true emotions are regarding our issues. She helps you get there. She makes you aware of paralyzing self judgments that keep repeating in your head. She helps you "throw them out." She offers a "door way to freedom." One that allows you to think and feel in alternatives and in choices. She reveals the "art" of choice, helping you make healthier decisions to fixating problems.
I learned that everything is a choice and that how we look at ourselves affects how we look at the world. We control our destiny. We choose to be sad, happy or grateful.
Sherman gives you meaning back to your life in a very easy, simplistic process of self recovery. She shares many usable techniques for the layperson. Techniques and self discovery tools you would find in any therapists office.

I received a complimentary copy of Mindfulness and the Art of Choice
as a member of the Dorrance Publishing Book Review Team. Visit [...] to learn how you can become a member of the Book Review Team.

Mindfulness and the Art of Choice is a short, practical guide for readers who want to take more control of how they perceive their lives. I like that the book gets straight to the point and offers easy-to-follow exercises to implement change. If you have read other self-help books and still find yourself reacting irrationally to situations and people, this book offers a new way to respond. Read it, follow the exercises and live free of auto-pilot.

One of those rare short books that can turn it all around -- positively. The author is an old high school friend who has put down some pretty amazing personal stuff, and has laced it with years of experience and expertise. A great book, not only for its message, but also for its involvement: It's hard to put down! Highly recommended.

Mindfulness is a core concept of Buddhism and is often viewed as some esoteric practice of Eastern religions. In Mindfulness and the Art of Choice, Dr. Karen Sherman describes mindfulness in a practical and applicable manner, combining the ancient practice with cognitive behavioral techniques to give readers the opportunity to recognize and change patterns that keep them from creating better lives for themselves.

There is, says Sherman, "a way to approach life so that you feel a sense of being prepared, of being ready, of being grounded." Some of her advice will be familiar, such as the reminder that we can't control other people or situations but we can control our own reactions, or that doing what we've always done will get us what we've always gotten. The difference here is that Sherman explains why we repeat non-productive behaviors that often are formed during infancy and childhood, long before we are capable of truly understanding our reactions, and she gives us clear instructions for breaking the habit.

Awareness -another term we hear repeatedly in Buddhist teachings--is key to the process Sherman promotes. Often we fail to recognize our own destructive behavior because we are so busy distracting ourselves from the root causes of emotional pain. Mindfulness and the Art of Choice begins with a simple exercise to quiet the mind and learn to live free of distraction, if only for a few moments. This in itself is a valuable gift.

With twenty-two exercises, each building upon the others, Sherman's book is a long-term reward for a small price. There is no suggested time frame or any particular order for working through these exercises, making it a truly individualized program.

Psychologist Sherman goes far beyond textbook analysis and trite platitudes. Her own life story is a moving and revelatory example of how tenacious and damaging early imprinting can be. Her honesty about her own pain and her journey to heal herself is as inspirational as it gets.

Though Mindfulness and the Art of Choice comes in at under 100 pages, it's no lightweight quickie read. Like profound koans, this is a treasure chest of wisdom, expressed succinctly and sincerely by an author who proves that she has walked the path.

~ Myshelf.com

Length:: 2:13 Mins

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