Customer Reviews

Stop Whining, Start Living

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This is the first Dr. Laura book I have read. I picked it up thinking it might be helpful in my current review of published materials on negativity and behavior change. I was not disappointed. If you are looking for a research based, clinically focused book, this is not the book for you. However, using her past clinical experiences and her experience with callers on the radio, I think Dr. Laura does do a good job addressing the book's subject in a manner the lay person will find helpful. I particularly liked how Dr. Laura intertwined her psychotherapeutic insights with caller conversations and listener emails. I think they added a lot to the book.

I found the book to be an easy,quick read (one weekend), but still definitely worth the time and effort. If you are thinking you need to make some changes in your life, I believe this book would be a good place to start. The highlight for me was reading Joe's 15 Minute Rule (p. 196) Don't miss it!

This book is straightforward advice on how to live a happier life based on your attitude. Her concept is simple - You choose whether you want to focus on all the bad things that have happened in life, or choose to focus on the light, no matter how small that light may be. She uses real-life examples from listeners who have called the show and written letters about their life lessons and experiences, then offers commentary and advice on how to apply these concepts to your life.

What I also find interesting is that her concepts are not that much different than many of the "positive outlook" pop-psych books that have been extremely popular over the last couple of years. It's good advice, and frankly, it works.

I might also mention that some people reviewing here have never even bothered to read the book, they simply give her negative reviews based on her political stance. Someone even wrote a bad review because they disagree with her position on the war. Totally irrelevant! Her political views have basically nothing to do with the premise of this book, which is that the individual is in charge of their own life's happiness.

Try having and open mind, and you will most likely find this material very helpful!

I was prompted to buy this book after seeing Dr. Laura all over TV. As some others who have posted reviews have said, some of the tenets mentioned in the book have been written about before, but that's true of a LOT of self-help books. I thought this was a simple to read, straightforward guide to taking personal responsibility, which I think can't be stressed enough in today's culture of "blame." I work with young adults, many of whom don't think there's any need to take any responsibility for their actions! While they may not be the ones reading this book, their parents sure should be reading it. And anyone who finds themselves in a rut could benefit from this as well. It's very comfortable to "whine" -- to our families, our friends, and even to ourselves. The hard part is (as Dr. Laura says)to STOP whining, and start taking responsibility for the life you want to lead.

"Stop Whining, Start Living" reminds people to appreciate what they have in their lives, rather than focusing on what they don't have. In other words, to be grateful instead of whining.

The book is primarily a collection of conversations she's had from callers on her radio show and letters from people listening to her show. Through these people's stories, she makes her points about
-- not blaming others
-- giving rather than exclusively focusing on yourself
-- avoiding "pity party" talk, etc.

There isn't a lot of new advice in the book, but it is a good reminder to focus on the positive rather than the negative.

Dr. Laura Schlessinger received her PhD in Physiology from Columbia University, and her certification in Marriage, Family and Child Counseling from the University of Southern California, becoming a marriage and family therapist. With years of experience in therapy, and many hours of experience on her talk-radio program, she has written many books, including nine New York Times bestsellers. In this book Dr. Laura dispenses advice to those who are ready to stop whining and start living. Using copious examples from her show and from personal correspondences, she shows the readers how they can reject negative thoughts and habits, and embrace a more positive, outward-focused life.

Overall, I found this to be a wonderful book. At times it is thought-provoking, and at others it is wonderfully uplifting. I found the examples she used to be excellently used, often making Dr. Laura's point before she has added a thing. I think that this is a great book, one that should be read by everyone who wants to have a positive outlook on life, as we all at one time or another focus too much on ourselves and our problems. I highly recommend this book!

What can I say? Well, this book is great. In my life, I have gone through many rollercoasters and sometimes have felt very alone. I have been looking for a good book to read, that will help me with all of my "hurts" in life. This book is the best one yet! I realize that I have been doing a lot of whining, and not much living. I am now more confident in taking on my days and can't wait to begin living! I want to thank Dr. Laura for opening my eyes to a whole new world.

Dr Laura was 'spot on' with advise given in her book. I purchased the book with the intention of furthering my own education and helping other people. After reading her book I have now passed it on to several of my friend's who are a bit stuck in their own world at the moment.

Great information, great book.

Bev Chad

Dr. Laura again writes about moving forward in life. Taking Dr. Laura's advice about not whining is very important. People spend more time complaining about things than working. Get going, life is too short to be whining all day.


Peter Thiele
New York, NY

Dr. Laura's focus on there here and now, instead of letting the baggage of the past weigh us down, is critical to the thought process we all go through when it comes to planning the rest of our lives. We have choices. Yes, let us vent and rant and rave, but we can't annoy those who love us for too long, and we can't discharge the venom on those who can't stand us for too long, or we will find our present lives--and the lives of our family and friends--crushed below the residue of our unwillingness to let the past go and to cultivate gratitude for that which we have in our lives NOW. Dr. Laura's clear, simple, pragmatic approach to life is often criticized because of her bluntness, but the method of delivering the message is critical to its overall effect on others; and Dr. Laura has this method wired! She is a wonderful woman with a deep-seeded love for children, and this book, really should offend nobody. If it does, those who are bothered must own up to their own biases and political agendas.

Dr. Schlessinger is a best-selling author, award winning radio therapist and a former professional licensed marriage and family therapist. The book is a collection of documented phone calls to her radio show sprinkled with her consultations. Given her background in marriage and family therapy, it is not surprising that this book is weighted heavily in issues, examples and discussions in these areas - and almost exclusively from a woman's perspective. So unless you are interested in these areas, you'll find yourself skipping entire sections of the book. That being said, I found these refreshing pearls of wisdom both from the good Doctor and from her callers:

1) Closure isn't necessary - or sometimes even possible...most of the wish list rarely comes true. And it is very wise to let go of a persistently rotting rope, isn't it?

2) Trying to make things be different by going over them again and again only fixates you in the past. Letting go of that rotting rope with your hand firmly gripping a better philosopher, a wise counselor, or a loving friend or relative as a cheering squad gives you the possibility of greater peace and happiness

3) "The longer you behave in certain ways, the more it comes to define you, not only to others, but also to yourself."

4) Too much talking. Whine less, do more. "I have learned that there is great power in taking action in directions where I have complaints or have been wronged by someone - and most of all, by taking forward steps instead of dredging up the past and displaying my suffering.

5) Perspective. How are you doing: "Better than some and not as good as others."

6) You are what you give (to others and yourself). You are what you do - first do good, then feel good.

7) Endure. "The point of documenting all these calls and letters is to give you enough scenarios that one might strike you as way to close to home; and better still, before it become "impossible." For some of you, then is now. You are already whining and feeling perpetually trapped...yet the whining state is just about the only condition you imagine is possible. Let me repeat an important concept: enduring. What we can't change (or fix) must be endured. That means the whining stops because you set your mind, heart and soul to how to make the best out of a situation you'd rather not be in...but it is too late. You must be polite, nice, helpful, positive, kind, patient; you know, some of that actually is potent salve to make the unendurable even pleasant. And enough of that might change the situation completely and for the better."