Soul of Adulthood: Opening the Doors [Paperback]

John C. Friel Ph.D. (Author), Linda D. Friel M.A. (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 1995

Adulthood is a choice. It does not happen because we reach a certain age or income level. Adulthood happens when we choose to pass through the many interconnected doors that lead to the deeper realms of our own souls. The passage of time and the events around us may propel us toward maturity, but it is up to us to pass through these doors.

When you read this book, you will embark on a journey through many layers of soulfulness, including Struggle, Resistance, Entitlement, Disappointment, Narcissism, Trade-offs, Appreciation, Love, Power, Graciousness, Tradition, Integrity and Victimhood. Adulthood is a quality of soul that is chosen and earned through the very deepening struggles that life kindly offers us as we progress from birth to death. We can engage these struggles anytime until the day we die. It is never too late to grow up.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

John Friel maintains an active training and speaking schedule in the addictions field, and is known for his practical, innovative, powerful and compassionate presentation and training style. Whether speaking to the general public or to professionals, he has the ability to handle difficult or painful material with a fine balance of competence, sensitivity, gentle humor and professionalism that has made him one of the top trainers in the country.

Linda Friel is known throughout the U.S., Canada, England, and Ireland for her therapeutic and training expertise in the areas of family systems, survivors of unhealthy childhoods, depression, anxiety, addictions and personality disorders. She is cofounder and national director of the ClearLife/Lifeworks Clinic, which is a special four-day therapy program to help people move beyond the painful patterns of childhood shortages.

Product Details

• Paperback: 248 pages
• Publisher: HCI (April 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1558743413
• ISBN-13: 978-1558743410
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #566,415 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book, September 8, 2000

By 

Mary Ann (Mount Vernon, WA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Soul of Adulthood: Opening the Doors (Paperback)

I highly recommend this book for all who want to gain understanding about life and what it means to "grow up". Just because our bodies get big, doesn't mean we become adults. Learning what it means to live as an adult, make wise choices for healthy living and gain a deeper connection with our soul, is what this book is all about. As a counselor, this book has been very helpful to many of my clients.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book, October 20, 2003

By 

"kharkle" (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Soul of Adulthood: Opening the Doors (Paperback)

I have read several books by the Friels, all of which have been good or great. This book is especially good because it shows how our refusal to move into adulthood plays out in our lives. I had a lot of great insights into my life on account of this book. Perhaps one of the best things is seeing that my refusing to grow up has really kept me from experiencing a lot of joy in life.
It is especially pertinent in light of the youth worship that characterizes modern american culture. When seen through the Friels' insightful book, the origin much of our angst can be traced to the loss of the value of adulthood. This book isn't about social change, but it isn't hard to extrapolate the experience of the individual and see the culture.
This book is very straight-forward and clearly written. It can be read in a day and is well worth it.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Soul of Adulthood, February 23, 2008

By 

Vera Johnson (Gainesville, Florida) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Soul of Adulthood: Opening the Doors (Paperback)

I bought this for my son, who is trying to be a father to an 18-year-old girl. I read it first, and found myself in several of the cases described. Overall, the book rambles, but there are flashes of excellent insight.