Customer Reviews

Up From Here: Reclaiming the Male Spirit: A Guide to Transforming Emotions into Power and Freedom

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"Terror will kill you", that was the statement that caught my attention at the beginning of the book. Mrs Vanzant has hit the 'nail on the head' when it comes down to analyzing male emotions.

I was once, one of those men who lived in fear like her characters, Roy, Phillip and Gabriel who refused to connect with pain and reality. Through our past actions we had dishonored ourselves and couldn't find a way to comfort our pain without feeling guilty, blaming and condemmed.

This book will guide many men into healing and awareness. If we take the time to recall our faults and own up to them, redemption is available.

Lastly, "Fear is like a growling dog that has you pinned to a wall. When you move, it growls louder."

Thank you Mrs Vanzant for your insight and wisdom.

Author, M.W.Moore

Up From Here: Reclaiming The Male Spirit by inspirational author Iyanla Vanzant is a "user friendly" self-help guide for men to embrace and take advantage of the strengths and spiritual essence of masculinity. From rising above painful negative emotions of shame, fear, and anger, to overcoming personal demons, to embracing personal stories and finding true inner strength, Up From Here is insightful, thoughtful, and highly recommended guide for men seeking to transform their emotions into spiritual power and personal freedom.

I was a bit skeptical when I picked up a book about the male spirit written by a woman, but I had read some of Iyanla Vanzant's other works and was impressed. Having read it, I'm really impressed: Iyanla knows her stuff! I recommend this book for any man who's struggling in his life, or anyone who knows a man who's struggling and wants to understand, maybe even to forgive.

The book is organized into anecdotes, each one describing a guy going off the rails in his life, then clarifying why and how it happpened, what he could have done about it, and what he can do about it now. There are seven anecdotes in all, and I saw something of myself in all but one of them. Each section suggests "power tools" usable for us to regain a sense of control over a situation, which allows a reader to counteract less productive patterns in his life.

If there's anything missing from this book, it's a bit more detail on applying the strategies more globally. I ended up referring to other books to find out more about achieving stillness, and what exactly "living by spiritual laws" meant to Iyanla. This is best used as a companion book to her other material, I especially suggest "In the Meantime," "Living Through the Meantime," and "One Day My Soul Just Opened Up." Definitely make these core books a priority, but "Up From Here" is a gem not to be overlooked either!