Customer Reviews

A Strategy for Daily Living: The Classic Guide to Success and Fulfillment

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Let's say you spent a decade or two poring over self-help literature from the likes of Tony Robbins, Deepak Chopra, Brian Tracy, and even the venerable Napolean Hill (as I have done). You've studied eastern traditions and mystical western writings. You've pondered the big questions, but what you want most is to find moment-to-moment meaning in your daily routine. And by the way, it wouldn't hurt if you made a million bucks, mastered the piano, climbed K2 -- or achieved whatever that goal is, that is your own "ultimate intrinsic desire."

If so, then you might want to take a look at this little book.

Read through it once and you may discern (as I did) that you don't need Robbins' 3-day, $1200 seminar. (Sorry, Tony). You don't need a nine-day zen meditation retreat. You don't even need to read another self-help book. You can go on to other pursuits, feeling confident that you are stringing together a succession of days that will add up to a glorious life lived.

I keep "Strategies" on my desk and refer to it often. The daily list of 11 points at the back, which I reread with each morning's coffee, has helped me to achieve far more than I ever dreamed. I am confident it will do the same for anyone else who reads and understands, as it already has done for hundreds of thousands of others since 1973.

Thank you, Dr. Kiev.

This book cuts right to the chase of accomplishing your goals! Each page is full of stunning insights into life, and he writes it with such clarity, he doesn't need to ramble. No nonsense self help - don't waste your life reading self-help books, get out there and work! Accomplishing your goals will make you feel better, not endless navel-gazing, and journal writing. But, don't think Kiev's writing style is flat, dry, or downbeat. Not at all. He's practical, yet optimistic, uplifting. You can open any page and find terrific insights.

I carry this book in my pocketbook at all times, for a daily reminder that is grounded in reality, and inspirational.

Even though this book was written 35 years ago and subsequently updated and revised, the writing, ideas and insights remain fresh today. The author, Ari Kiev, is a famous psychiatrist and considered by many to be one of the best personal development coaches around. His strategies for daily living are based on 8 themes:

1) A Worthy Purpose
2) Your Hidden Potential
3) Goal Selection
4) Step-by-step planning
5) Modification of behavior
6) Self-Reliance and Wealth
7) Self-Reliance and Dependency
8) Relationships with Others

In the opening page, the author describes the book with a memorable passage: "What I have set out to do is to create a day-to-day strategy that will help make each day a more worthwhile one than the day before and will help you to tap into your creative and spiritual potential. A successful life does not result from chance, fate or good fortune, but from a succession of successful days lived in pursuit of a worthy purpose."

And the book has hundreds of directives and good insights within 8 of the strategies listed above. Unfortunately, at times the book read like a stream of consciousness and brain dump of psychiatrist's best ideas. I could have benefited with additional anecdotes to add emphasis and color to tie it all together.

The author ends the book with a 11 point/paragraph recap checklist over 7 pages which alone is worth the $10 I paid for the book and which I have re-read many times.

I have read a lot of books for personal performance improvement. But this book really hits the mark. I am very impressed with the psychological aspects of what is outlined in this book to improve my performance and not allow the voices of doubt (in my head and those of others) to affect what I want to do and become all I can become.

He lays out a step by step plan - mental and action - to achieve what you want in life (not just work). And be happy about it!

Very business oriented, life oriented and I must say - a true guide in the sense of getting to know who you are and what you want to become - and questions to show you a path.

I am buying another copy for "back up!"

This book literally changed my life. I revisited it five times over the past year and each time learned something new. Mr. Kiev expresses his profound experience and knowledge in a supportive and intelligent way. To call this a self-help book would be to diminish it. It is a reference book for living your life to its fullest. Highly recommended.

I second what another review stated: throw out all the other self-help books and follow the timeless advise in this little book.