The Steps of Essence: How to Live Life Well and Authentically (Paperback)

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"An extraordinary book! You end up savoring every morsel and celebrate each discovery. Merging philosophy, psychology, mythology, career design, and even method acting, this text has great depth and a sound basis -- finally, here is sustenance. Unlike other Limited works, Hanns-Oskar Porr has captured the essence of feeling alright about yourself, and guides the reader through a grand journey of discovery! I have seen my own clients grow and become enlightened by the concepts and illustrations outlined in The Steps of Essence." --Kurt M. Hadrika, M.S., L.M.F.T., L.M.H.C.

"From Aristotle to Zen, this book draws on history's greatest thinkers in a breathtaking array of fields to synthesize a grounded, systematic approach to self-actualization and maximization of your potential. For those who quest to plan and map their future, but who are blocked by the perception that is a huge, overwhelming task, the author leads us on a step-by-step journey to break the task into parts, create structure and develop concrete steps to realize a personalized, unique and meaningful path to fulfillment.

This amazing book is a map to personal growth. In the end, if you take this journey, east meets west, and you meet your-SELF." --Karen Dunbar, Ph.D. Psychology

"Hanns-Oskar Porr has written a book of more than powerful impact. His multidisciplinary approach to the eternal quest to live an authentic life is a tour de force and the world will be a better place for his contribution. As a psychologist who has 33 years of helping people reinvent themselves, I can attest not only to the value of Hanns' approach but he has taught me much in the process. His depth and intellect will be of invaluable help to those on the journey for an impassioned life." --Brian A. Schwarz, Ph.D., Career Management Consultant, founder of CareerDNA LLC and managing partner of The Talent Management Team LLC

"The ideal of becoming authentic has been used in misleading or superficial ways by many over the years. Hanns-Oskar Porr's book offers the deepest and most viable conception of the authentic life I have ever seen. The Steps of Essence is clearly the product of extensive careful thought and practical experience. It has the potential to be enlightening and enriching to a very wide audience." --Dr. Charles Guignon, Professor of Philosophy, University of South Florida, author of On Being Authentic and editor of The Cambridge Companion to Heidegger

"You will go on an amazing adventure of self-discovery, and delight in finding and creating your authentic self." --Nicola Carr, UKRCP Registered Independent Counselor (United Kingdom)

Product Description

What do you want out of life--really?

The Steps of Essence are about your life's Quest to find and be yourself. They teach you to resolve your limitations, define what matters to you, and help you realize your dreams.

You will learn to create a fulfilling life by discovering:
- Who you truly are, and what matters most: your essence.
- How to resolve the limitations of your life.
- How to focus a Vision for your life, and the tools to bring it to life.
- How to be true to yourself, and act authentically.

The Steps draw on the thoughts of the wisest Masters of Living, as well as proven and powerful techniques from modern psychology, life-design, and Method acting. Hundreds of exercises will help you on your life's Quest to be nobody but yourself!

It's your life.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: SeinQuest, Inc. (October 14, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0984106421
• ISBN-13: 978-0984106424
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,515,572 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A manual for living well and authentically, November 30, 2009

By	John Chancellor "Mentor coach, www.teachtheso... (New Orleans) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

The Steps of Essence is a complete manual for identifying your authentic self and then a guide to living a happy and fulfilling life.

This is not a feel good pop psychology book. It is well laid out program with lots of exercises which will enable you to determine your core purpose - what matters to you and to learn the steps necessary to bring what matters to you into your life.

The value you get from this book will be in direct relation to the time and energy you devote to it. It is not to be read lightly. If you are truly going to get the maximum benefit from this book, I would suggest you plan on spending six weeks to six months engaged in studying the concepts and doing the numerous exercises in the book. You will not bring about a transformation by simply reading this book. You will need to put in the effort in studying the concepts and doing the exercises.

The book has six steps divided into two ACTs. ACT one is the internal realization. Step 1 is the call to action. Step 2 is the trials you will encounter and Step 3 is determining your authentic vision. ACT 2 is the external quest. Step 4 is learning to actualize your vision by acting authentically. Step 5 is to plot an Authentic Life Design and Step 6 is to evolve and mature.

Hanns-Oskar Porr has written a very deep and detailed book with lots of exercises to guide the reader each step of the way. He relies on numerous sources to make his points. He is a lover of language and goes into great detail to explain the meaning of the words. There is a reference section called Language Treasures that provides the history of many of the words used in the book. There are also ample notes citing the sources of the information included in the book.

If you are looking for a feel good book, look elsewhere. If you are on a serious quest to find out what truly matters to you and a step by step action plan to bring what matters into your life, this could be a very good book for you. It is not for everybody. To truly gain the most from this book will require some dedicated work. It really depends on your goals. If you are seeking something with lots of substance, it could be just what you are looking for.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An integrative guide to improving life satisfaction, November 22, 2009

By	Brian Nussbaum (Tampa, FL) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Hanns-Oskar Porr masterfully weaves elements of psychology, philosophy, and spirituality to create a guide that can truly be implemented to enhance one's life. Ultimately, the reader learns that they are their own guide on a quest to fill a void many spend a lifetime trying to accomplish. Instead of simply presenting observations that leave one thirsting for answers, he includes practical approaches to addressing common problems of living. The reader is encouraged to engage in the book, try the exercises presented, and take action in directing their life's journey.

From ancient literature, to modern research, The Steps of Essence educates the reader about the history of man's quest for the meaning of life. Integrative in its presentation, the book does not read like a traditional "self-help" book, yet it delivers a powerful set of tools. There is an enormous amount of information presented from different psychological theories and approaches, but distilled down to key elements, often illustrating that the most useful concepts are universal.

A timely book for a society in the midst of seeking positive change and productive personal growth. The reader will be confronted with the task of defining their own meaning of happiness and learning how to create a life worth living.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Caterpillar's guide to becoming a butterfly, January 20, 2010

By	Ruth Henriquez Lyon (Duluth, Minnesota USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

In The Steps of Essence: How to Live Life Well and Authentically, Hanns-Oskar Porr guides the reader through the process of creating the life she wants. Many peoples' lives follow the path of least resistance-- that is, doing what others expect them to do, succumbing to fatigue and cynicism, failing to follow their deepest desires. For Porr, an authentic life is a life actively guided and shaped by the character of the person living it. It is a life that defies inertia, embraces challenges, and seeks out experiences that hone consciousness. Most importantly, it is a life guided by the creative muse within each of us.

The idea of using our creativity to craft a meaningful life sets this book apart from most other self-help books, which are so often written by non-artists. Although the author is conversant with transformational psychology, philosophy, and many of the world's religious traditions, he also looks at the human situation with an artist's eye. In his view, we can all learn to create, as long as we care passionately about that which we are engaged in creating.

The book is divided into Steps in which he guides the reader through the stages of self-creation using both explanatory text and exercises. Drawing on some of the greatest minds that have ever reflected on the human condition-- including Jung, Aristotle, Emerson, Jesus, the Buddha, and the Taoist sages --he has put together a map for travelers setting out into the unknown territory of the interior psyche. The steps follow the stages of the "hero's journey," a myth common to many of Earth's cultures, both ancient and current. It is perhaps one of mankind's most potent story lines, because it portrays the individual's quest for meaning, transformation, and healing.

In brief, the steps are as follows. First: being called to a higher purpose. Second: venturing into one's inner space to confront limitations, personal demons, and the roots of fear. Third: developing a Vision of what you want to grow into. Fourth: moving your focus back to your outer world, in order to integrate your Vision into the material realm. Fifth: becoming your life's architect--that is, using your creativity to draw the plans for your life. Sixth: learning adaptability, and how to live with change.

Each of these steps contains numerous "homework" assignments, such as journal writing, thought experiments, or exercises using the creative imagination. The exercises are an integral to the book; the reader cannot internalize the content without doing them. They are the catalysts that promote the rearranging of patterns within the psyche, and although I have only worked the first several of them, I have had a couple of very powerful dreams as a result of the work.

The appearance of the book is a bit unprepossessing. The cover art does not invite one in, and clip art appears scattered throughout the text (along with some truly helpful diagrams and small-scale black and white art reproductions). But this ought not to deter the serious reader--rather, it's an example of the old adage that wisdom can be found hidden in humble places. It's rare for a book to contain so many profound insights as does this one. Porr's knowledge of the philosophers and sages is broad, and his lived experience of the creative process runs very deep. There is enough material in this volume to engage the reader for a long time.