Naomi's Breakthrough Guide: 20 Choices to Transform Your Life [Hardcover]

Naomi Judd (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 27, 2004

Country music superstar, bestselling author, and survivor, the author uses her own life experiences to help readers unleash their untapped inner strength and resources to overcome adversity, providing a proven program that draws upon the mind/body/spirit connection. 200,000 first printing.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

"How in the world have I survived all the broken heart attacks, whacks and setbacks?" asks country music superstar Naomi Judd. Her answers are found in Naomi's Breakthrough Guide, a description of 20 choices that helped her overturn the "death sentence" of a diagnosis of hepatitis C. In a buoyant supportive voice, Judd interprets mind-body research about healing in her own terms. This creates a foundation for her two central ideas: Our predicaments are the result of our choices. The way we choose to react to what happens to us (whether a life-threatening illness, an addiction, or an unhealthy relationship) allows us to "find the sacred meaning of everything that happens to us." Judd's personal stories are, by turns, charming, feisty and insightful. But she has also done her homework to create a portrait of the "survivor personality." She uses birth-order studies to talk about family conflict and neurochemistry research to explain the role of emotions in building a healthy immune system. Judd explores goal setting, money managing, risk taking, healthy eating and loving relationships with her change-your-mind-to-change-your-world approach. The dark side of her optimism is the arguable contrast of victim/volunteer: implying that we are wholly responsible for our illness and recovery. In addition, few readers will have a superstar's resources (including access to physicians and the love and songs of thousands of fans). But Judd's generous gifts of knowledge and wise kindness offer many treasures. --Barbara Mackoff

From Publishers Weekly

Country singing superstar Judd overcame medical odds by recovering from hepatitis C and wants others to benefit from her health regimen. In this lively and inspirational book, she offers a mix of autobiography, medical advice and just plain homespun talk from one plucky Southerner. Judd is up-front about her mistakes-she got pregnant the first time she had sex and ended up divorced and supporting two children in her 20s. She put herself through college during her 30s, earning a nursing degree, and only began her singing career at age 37. During her 40s and 50s, Judd's health declined, and after traditional treatments failed, she turned to alternative therapies and focused on decreasing stress and obtaining greater personal satisfaction. Judd found strength in religion, exercising and developing goals for the future. Her advice for others is both accessible and convincing. She discusses women who are all too willing to please the people around them: "No matter your age, you must establish boundaries. As you learn more about what you like and don't like, you can better explain it to others. Establishing emotional boundaries allows you to prevent your self-respect and character from being intruded upon." The book is strongest when Judd talks about her beliefs and experiences with her family. For example, "[I]t was my intuition that led me a few years later to go into the music business with Wy. It was also my intuition that told me Ashley was strong enough to handle Wy's and my touring. It helped me know Larry was the man for me...." Less effective are Judd's frequent references to other authors such as Joan Borysenko and Dr. Mona Schulz, all of which detract from Judd's own convincing and engaging writing. Still, this guide is uplifting, and one of the more solid of the various "self-help" titles from celebrities.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 276 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster (October 27, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743236629
• ISBN-13: 978-0743236621
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,387,068 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Everyone Should Read It, February 4, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Naomi's Breakthrough Guide: 20 Choices to Transform Your Life (Hardcover)

I don't like country music and I'm not a fan of Naomi Judd's music. The only thing I knew about Naomi Judd before buying this book was that she was Ashley Judd's mother and a country singer. That's it! But when I saw her on Larry King live, she was charming, articulate and wise... so I bought the book, intending to read it and return it. I ended up reading it in two days and have decided to keep it! Everyone should read this book. It's easy to read (thanks to Naomi's wit and way with words) and contains such valuable information about the positive choices we can make in living our lives to the fullest. It's something I know I'll go back to ever so often to refresh my memory on the nuggets of wisdom in this book. The parts I found most helpful were her sections on the way thoughts influence our happiness and health and how anyone can improve their lives by changing their negative self talk. It provided me with an *AHA* moment - I realized that what I thought about everyday had a profound influence on how I presented myself and my chance of obtaining my dreams.

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The heart is door to mind-body-spirit connection, January 24, 2004

By 

richardpinneau.com (Colorado) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Naomi's Breakthrough Guide: 20 Choices to Transform Your Life (Hardcover)

What an open, heart-felt, personal sharing of healing! Naomi uses the story of her life, traumas, struggles and triumphs to inspire hope and inform and transform lives. Her astonishing recovery from Hepatitis-C (in the face of doctors who doomed her to certain death) is enough to make anyone stand up and pay attention. Even more valuable is the walk through which Naomi takes us as we experience the ups and downs, the tests and (seeming) failures on this harsh road. She frequently revisits the importance of her faith along this arduous journey, and shows us how that faith was not a neat bundle dropped easily in her lap but how she had to keep reaching out for it and for Divine Assistance, and for the help of friends who were instruments of that Assistance.

Naomi's book offers a real (and realistic) boost for hope during anyone's darkest, most challenging hours. She relates how she accepted and tapped into the Gifts she was given through the most diverse sources - medical, alternative-medical, family, friends... inner connection through prayer, meditation, yoga... some things that might surprise some fans. Wonderful quotes from sages and saints and singers throughout the ages sparkle in the pages, along with engaging introductions to the sources that came to her aid (ranging from Christ to doctors and psychologists and teachers). She guides you to personal steps you can pursue to bolster your own appreciation of what your mind/body/spirit can do together to express your own beautiful potential. Her valuable list of resources is illuminated by her own personal experiences with them.

I was also impressed with the humor, humility, and balance Naomi uses in telling the story of her life-healing. Most of us will never face the enormous challenges that she did, but our lives can nevertheless benefit by hearing about her lessons and triumphs -- and beginning to tap some of the same secrets and Power that she did. Please bless yourself with this book - and enjoy some of the bountiful harvest that Naomi did!

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring!, January 6, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Naomi's Breakthrough Guide: 20 Choices to Transform Your Life (Hardcover)

A Wonderful Inspiring book. This book encouraged me to face my life with a positive attitude. Naomi Judd turns out an insightful and encouraging book for all.