The Passion Test: The Effortless Path to Discovering Your Destiny (Hardcover)

by Janet Attwood (Author), Chris Attwood (Author)
Key Phrases: top passions, living your passions, life aligned, The Passion Test, The Secret, United States (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Co-founders of the online magazine Healthy Wealhty 'n' Wise, husband and wife team Bray and Attwood have produced a self-help guide with a simple test at its core, requiring readers to list and prioritize their goals, wants and desires, weeding and striking until they have just five "passions" listed; those are then held against one's life to determine how close one is to each (readers are encouraged to retake the test every six months). A full life steeped in passion is achievable, the authors assert, through the application of three concepts: intention, attention and "no tension." In part one, these concepts are explored in depth, along with seven steps for "Living Life Aligned with Passion"; part two puts these ideas into action. Throughout, the text is peppered with anecdotes, theories and analysis from experts and colleagues who have taken the test and put it to use in their lives. There's nothing revolutionary about Bray and Attwood's technique, but it's a simple (if not exactly "effortless") approach to organizing and prioritizing that's both practical and intuitive.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review
“The simplest, clearest way to get started on knowing what you want—by getting clear on who you are.”
—T. Harv Eker, author of Secrets of the Millionaire Mind

“It’s simple, it’s easy, and it’s profound.”
—Jack Canfield, cocreator of the #1 New York Times bestselling series, Chicken Soup for the Soul

“[A] clear, simple, and effective method to help you identify your core passions so you can create the fulfilling life you deserve.”
—John Gray, Ph.D., #1 New York Times bestselling author of Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Hudson Street Press; 1 edition (October 4, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1594630429
• ISBN-13: 978-1594630422
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (76 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #233,955 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Passion Test: Score an A+ , February 5, 2009

By	seeker67 - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Passion Test: The Effortless Path to Discovering Your Life Purpose (Paperback)

People like to knock books like these because their ideas are perhaps too simple. My thinking, however, is just the opposite- all the good ideas that really work ARE simple.

To me, the biggest value of this book is that it can really help one get focused on their passions and the things they really want out of life- and few things are more important than that.

Sure you can reduce the book down to its simplest form of "make a list of your passions". But then again, weight loss can be reduced down to "eat less and exercise more" as well. Yes, that's a simple and effective solution, but I doubt most people will be successful with just that simple piece of advice alone. And THAT'S the real value of the book- it provides guidance on how to have a fulfilling life using a very simple idea.

Get this book if you feel like something's not quite right in your life and you need a change of direction- the book will help. If you need further help on setting goals that can lead to happiness, give "Finding Happiness in a Frustrating World" a look see. Remember, you can't get what you want until you know WHAT you want. G-luck.

27 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great material, but save your money, October 4, 2007

By	H. Tran-Tien (Oregon) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I really enjoyed the first half of the book because it is direct and clear. List 10 passions, find out your top 5 passions and look at them on a daily basis. I had an epiphany when I found out my number 1 passion!

Then, for the rest of the book, there is nothing new and it seems like a rehash from other self-improvement books. I was less excited and have stopped reading the book.

This book is recommended for those who don't know their passions in life or need to re-organise their passions to achieve their maximum potential!

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Beyond The Passion Test, October 12, 2007

By	Dorothy Michaels - See all my reviews

I think "The Passion Test" is a great start to get focused on what someone wants, and the interviews in the second half of the book can be inspiring. If this is all you need to do to have the quality of life that you wish, then you need go no further. But as with "The Secret," with most of the people that I deal with, we need a lot more to fulfill our objectives.

Many elements need to be working in harmony to achieve your goals. Here are some questions to help you accomplish what you want:
1. Do you have clear specific measurable goals, so specific that anyone can easily understand what you want? Do they have enough detail to create pictures?
2. Do you know what your values are (freedom, love, contribution, etc.), and are they in harmony with a particular goal?
3. Do you have the skills (organizing, communicating, persuading, etc.) to achieve what you want, or can you get the support of someone who has the necessary skills?
4. Do you have the traits (dependable, hardworking, friendly, etc.) to be able to succeed?
5. Are you able to uncover and remove any negative limiting beliefs that you may have about yourself ("I don't deserve to be loved") or a particular objective ("This will never work")?
6. Can you establish the positive beliefs within yourself ("I can be healthy") that will enable you to achieve what you want?
7. Do you have access to the required resources to make things happen (money, equipment, people, etc.)?
Also, are you able to keep yourself consistently motivated by understanding what the negative consequences are if you don't achieve a goal, and what the wonderful benefits are if you do achieve the goal?

This may seem like a lot to deal with, but look at people who are achieving their dreams and how they are consciously or unconsciously implementing the above. This is why I recommend "Anatomy of Success" by Ronald A. Kaufman, which gives you a straightforward step-by-step system for incorporating all the necessary elements in one place. The book is filled with real world examples, tools, and techniques, and includes checklists for career, as well as a checklist of `101' questions to ask before you begin or end a relationship, which in itself can be priceless.