The Strength Within: Find Your Life Anchors and Cultivate Habits of Wholeness, Hope, and Joy [Paperback]

Barbara Hansen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 2000

LIFE HANDS US DIRTY DEALS. No one knows this better than Barbara Hansen--author, college professor, and paraplegic since age eighteen. When she talks about clawing through life's lousy times, every page rings with authenticity. And when she talks about finding peace and joy despite life's dirty deals, every page shines with hope. Her experience forms the core of this guide to healing and wholeness, together with stories of her former and current students, her friends, her readers, and her workshop and lecture attendees. From all these sources she's developed practical strategies for finding true happiness.

Happiness comes from choices and attitudes, anchors that form an inner strength that remains solid despite life's roller-coaster ups and downs. Hansen reveals what these choices and attitudes are and how to cultivate them till they become habits of joy.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

A paraplegic since age eighteen, Barbara Hansen was the first person in a wheelchair licensed by the state of Indiana to teach. She later received her Ph.D. and has been a professor of English for thirty-five years at Ball State University and the University of Cincinnati, her hometown. Her other books include Picking Up the Pieces: Healing Ourselves after Personal Loss.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: HiddenSpring (September 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1587680017
• ISBN-13: 978-1587680014
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,999,505 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finding Our Strength, September 9, 2000

By 

Michael Keller (Springfield, Mo) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Strength Within: Find Your Life Anchors and Cultivate Habits of Wholeness, Hope, and Joy (Paperback)

An amazing book by an amazing person. How refreshing it is to read a book that is about a person who has been through the stuggles that the author has, and chooses not to question why. In a time when we are often too quick to blame others, rather than accept responsibility for our own lives,she shows us how to reach deep within ourselves to live life to the fullest. Just as she has rebounded from personal tragedy so too can we. If we allow ourselves to explore our character flaws this book will teach us how to overcome and conquer the barriers that keep us from living a truly authentic life.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Strength Within, September 26, 2000

By 

Marilyn Prather (Cape Coral, FL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Strength Within: Find Your Life Anchors and Cultivate Habits of Wholeness, Hope, and Joy (Paperback)

The Strength Within was recommended to me by a friend. After I'd gotten a few pages into the book, I couldn't stop reading and finished it at 3:00 a. m. It is truly a 'can't put it down' book! Using an interest-holding balance of her own personal experiences and the experiences of her students, former students, and friends, the author enhances and supports the book's main idea that all of us can have joy if we're willing to look inside ourselves. I believe that anyone who takes the time to read this book will agree that the author shared her inner self and her soul with the reader. Doing so, she gives hope to people who feel trapped in a meaningless life and offers encouragement to people who are climbing out of a tough time or a crisis.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bring on the world!, September 26, 2000

By 

"billybob40" (Burbank, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Strength Within: Find Your Life Anchors and Cultivate Habits of Wholeness, Hope, and Joy (Paperback)

What a refreshing read at a great price! The author is truly inspiring and amazing! This book rejuvenates my spirit and gives me strength to take on the world! Bring it on!