Who Are You Really, and What Do You Want? [Hardcover]

Shad Helmstetter Ph.D. (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2003

Based on more than 25 years of research in the field of motivational behavior, bestselling author Dr. Shad Helmstetter reveals the actual difference between people who succeed in their lives - day after day - and people who don't.For the first time in any book, Shad Helmstetter discloses three underlying breakthrough concepts that are foundational to successful personal and professional growth in each of us. He discovered that when the three concepts are combined, they virtually guarantee success.In an easy-to-follow program that takes the "self" out of self-help, Dr. Helmstetter shows the reader how to use these breakthough concepts to lose weight and improve physical fitness, increase income, build self-esteem and self-confidence, improve family and relationships, reduce stress, and become more organized and in control.Presenting the most important and up-to-date findings from the field of motivational research, Dr. Helmstetter immediately helps the reader get rid of old mental programs,find focus, set and track goals, stay motivated, and have help along the way.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Shad Helmstetter, Ph.D. is the best-selling author of 12 books, including "What To Say When You Talk To Your Self." He has been a guest on more than 1200 radio and television programs including Oprah Winfrey, ABC, CBS, NBC, and CNN.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 203 pages
• Publisher: Park Avenue Press (June 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0972782109
• ISBN-13: 978-0972782104
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #129,829 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #59 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Health, Mind & Body > Self-Help > Success
  • #78 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Health, Mind & Body > Self-Help > Personal Transformation

More About the Author

Shad Helmstetter, Ph.D., (www.shadhelmstetter.com) is best-selling author of "What To Say When You Talk to Your Self," "Who Are You Really and What Do You Want," and 10 other life-changing books. His books are published in many languages in more than 64 countries worldwide.

Dr. Helmstetter is one of the most respected behavioral researchers of our time and has appeared on more than 1200 radio and television programs, including repeat appearances on Oprah Winfrey, ABC, NBC, CBS, and CNN News.

He also speaks to as many as 250,000 people a year in personal speaking engagements throughout the U.S. and internationally.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

114 of 116 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not Helmstetter's Best Book, December 23, 2004

By 

D. D. Dupont "philosopher and social theorist" (Virginia) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Who Are You Really, and What Do You Want? (Hardcover)

Helmstetter identifies "three breakthrough concepts in the world of personal growth" that he shares in the book:

Breakthrough #1: If you want to do your best, get a coach. Self-help works better when you have help.

Breakthrough #2: Change your Self-Talk and you will change your life.

Breakthrough #3: Successful goal-setting has to be implemented and tracked in the right way.

Helmstetter divides the book into three parts, one for each breakthrough or recommendation. The first recommendation---to find yourself a personal coach--takes the book out of the realm of self-help. It struck me as odd that Helmstetter included this section. In any case, if you're going to hire your own personal coach, you probably won't be needing this book.

The second recommendation---to change Self-Talk---is excellent. But in this book Helmstetter devotes only 70 pages to it. A better reference here is Helmstetter's own classic, "What to Say When You Talk to Your Self."

The author's third and final piece of advice---to set and track goals---is sound. But his eight-step system is too cumbersome in some ways (eight steps are a lot to take for each and every goal you set) and too superficial in others (Helmstetter assumes that the *identification* of goals is nonproblematic, which it isn't for a lot of people). A better work on goal-setting, one which is systematic, thorough, and practical, is Barbara Sher's "Wishcraft."

All in all, not a bad book, but not Helmstetter's best.

93 of 102 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Exceptional Book. 5 Stars Plus!, November 20, 2003

By 

BestBookReviews (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Who Are You Really, and What Do You Want? (Hardcover)

This book is one of those exceptional new books that actually makes a difference. After reviewing several of Dr. Helmstetter's previous books, (most notably, "What To Say When You Talk To Your Self") I was hoping for the best, but wasn't sure what to expect. His new book "Who Are You Really And What Do You Want?" not only surprised me, as a totally helpful book with new insight, it blew me away. This is the stuff to which all good self-help books should aspire.

No matter how many previous books I had read by Dr. Helmstetter, it is true that he had kept coming up with more of the basic "truths" of "getting better." So in reading this book I was hoping for more of the same (new truths) but not expecting anything life-changing. (After all, how many new "paths to personal success" can there be?) But that is why I was so impressed with this one. What he wrote in this book, for most readers, chould be life-changing.

After studying human behavior and personal motivation for thirty years, in "Who Are You Really And What Do You Want?," Dr. Helmstetter made the great choice to give his readers, in one, very simply easy-to-read book, the best -- and the most practical personal growth steps he has learned in his many years of studying what makes things works for us, and what stops us. In this book he delivers what I suspect may be his final answer.

Instead of a rehash on how and why "success" works, (and Dr. Helmstetter makes it clear early on that this is NOT about just financial success), instead of reading another self-help book, I found myself sitting at the arm of someone who has not only been there, but who talks to the reader as someone who knows you, and someone who has been there. The message he delivers, clearly and simply written, would be a great "life plan" or "daily plan" for anyone who wants to get past the "distractions of every day living," as he calls it, and get on with their lives - and actually DO something with every day that we wake up.

The substance of this book has to do with what Dr. Helmstetter has found to be the "key players" in an average individual's life success. Those are such things as a very different kind of goal-setting, changing our old mental programs with Self-Talk, and, what I believe may be a major breakthrough from the earlier self-help books we have read, "taking the 'self' out of self-help."

What impressed me most about Dr. Helmstetter's solutions to each of these self-help challenges, is that, instead of just telling us to work at the problem, be positive, and get better, (the theme of a lot of other books I have reviewed), he gives the reader steps that are so practical, that I was convinved, even early in the book, that anyone could do them, on an average day, without anyone having to make life-changing choices to try them out.

We've had some very astute self-help authors enlighten and help us during the past two or three decades -- Napolean Hill, Maxwell Maltz, Norman Vincent Peale, and Dale Carnegie to name a few. Unfortunately, though they are no longer with us, their books, and what they taught us stays with us. As someone who has reviewed and recommended their books, I am happy that the torch has been passed. Dr. Helmstetter continues to explore the outer reaches of our potential, and in spite of the scientific side of his research into human potential, continues to write books that bring the best of what he has learned home to all of us. Fortunately, as a tribute to his writing, and the ease of reading this book, (I read it in two evenings), Dr. Helmstetter understands real people. His entire book could was read -- and understood -- by my teenage son.

This book is going to change a lot of lives -- for the better. It is also a great tribute to someone who could have just written another "self-help" book, but he didn't. In "Who Are You Really And What Do You Want?" Dr. Helmstetter gives us an exceptional insight into the world of personal growth, brings us up to date, and gives us the most practical solutions that he has found. Whether you're working with losing weight, getting your family right, or launching a new career, this book gives you a path to follow.

I've read the other reviews about "Who Are You Really And What Do You Want?" on Amazon.com and they all look good. They should. This is one book you cannot miss. Better than every other five star book this author has written. This one is five stars or better.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must-Read for Personal Growth!, June 30, 2003

By 

Elise Sargent (Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Who Are You Really, and What Do You Want? (Hardcover)

This book was very clear and easy to read, and genuinely helpful. Even while reading the book, I found myself already putting into practice the techniques Dr. Helmstetter talked about. As a mom of two small children, I don't have a lot of time to devote to reading, and this one was well worth my time! I would highly recommend it to anyone who wants to move forward in ANY area of life. Dr. Helmstetter has the background and credibility to back up what he says to do. I've had great results so far using the techniques from the book, and I look forward to more success as I go. Bottom line: this is a great book!