Wisdom from the Four Agreements (Mini Book) (Charming Petites) [Hardcover]

Don Miguel Ruiz (Author)

Book Description

Series: Charming Petites | Publication Date: January 1, 2003

This popular mini gift book is a condensed version of the best-selling original book, and presents, in a concise and readable way, The Four Agreements:

• Be impeccable with your word.
• Don't take anything personally.
• Don't make assumptions.
• Always do your best.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Author don Miguel Ruiz was born into a family of healers. He was raised in rural Mexico by a curandera (healer) mother and nagual (shaman) grandfather. The family anticipated that don Miguel would embrace its legacy of healing and teaching and, as a nagual, carry forward its esoteric Toltec knowledge. Instead, distracted by modern life, don Miguel chose to attend medical school and became a surgeon. He began teaching in the United States with his mother Sarita in 1987 in Logan Heights, CA. Working with Sarita, he first began with healing practices. As his knowledge of English grew, he realized that he preferred to share his lineage through an oral tradition, rather than a healing tradition. don Miguel's students grew in numbers. He lectured in Santa Fe, NM, Los Angeles, CA, Sacramento, CA, Santa Rosa, CA, and in many other locales. He began to share the wisdom that resulted in the creation of The Four Agreements when he witnessed his students struggling to quiet their minds. He created a specific series of practical tools, that when used by anyone, can result in consistent and long-term personal transformation. The tools are based on common sense, related with simplicity, and have a universal message recognized by many. don Miguel's message is simple, practical, and when implemented—even incrementally—changes lives.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 96 pages
• Publisher: Peter Pauper Press; Book and Access edition (January 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 088088990X
• ISBN-13: 978-0880889902
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 3.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (47 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #33,659 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #11 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Health, Mind & Body > Self-Help > Self-Esteem
  • #12 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Religion & Spirituality > Spirituality > Personal Transformation
  • #23 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Health, Mind & Body > Self-Help > Motivational

More About the Author

don Miguel Ruiz was born into a family of healers and raised in rural Mexico by a curandera (healer) mother and nagual (shaman) grandfather. The family anticipated don Miguel would embrace their centuries old legacy of healing and teaching and as a nagual, carry forward the esoteric Toltec knowledge. Instead, distracted by modern life, don Miguel chose to attend medical school and later teach and practice as a surgeon.

don Miguel began teaching in the United States, with his mother, the Curandera, Sarita in 1987. He taught small groups of people in a small room in Logan Heights, CA. Working with Sarita, he first began with healing practices. As his knowledge of English grew, he realized that he preferred to share his lineage through oral tradition, rather than a healing tradition.

don Miguel's students grew in numbers and his mythologies and guidance grew with them. He appeared in lectures in Santa Fe, NM, Los Angeles, CA, Sacramento, CA, Santa Rosa, CA and in many other locales. He began to share the wisdom that resulted in the creation of The Four Agreements®, when he witnessed his various students struggling to quiet their minds. don Miguel created a specific series of practical tools, that when used by anyone, can result in consistent and long-term personal transformation.

The tools shared by don Miguel are based on common sense and shared with such simplicity, that the universal message underlying his teaching is recognized by many. don Miguel's message is simple, practical and when implemented, even incrementally, changes lives.

In the tradition of the Toltec, a Nagual guides an individual to personal freedom. Combining new insights with old wisdom, don Miguel has dedicated his life to sharing the ancient Toltec wisdom by translating it into practical concepts that promote transformation through truth and common sense.

In February of 2002, don Miguel survived a near-fatal heart attack. The impact of the heart attack on his physical body prevents him from returning to wide-spread public speaking and lecturing. He intends to complete several, limited appearances, each year.

Visit us at: http://www.miguelruiz.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

117 of 118 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Profound Wisdom On Colorful, Whimsical Cards, November 20, 2003

By 

Janet Boyer "Author, Blogger, Radio Host" (Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Four Agreements: A 48-Card Deck (Cards)

The Four Agreements Cards are a stunningly beautiful deck of 48 high-gloss cards of sturdy stock. Five artists illustrated this deck, so there is a lot of creative diversity to the lush images and scripts on each card. There are 12 cards dedicated to each of the four agreements. On each, the main agreement is printed at the top of the card, and a whimsical, flowing phrase is weaved throughout the image. On the back of each card are insights about that particular phrase and agreement. Some insights are only one sentence, and others are several sentences.

The cards come in a square box that features the same image that is on front of the book. What is great about the container is that it's a matte finished, flip top box constructed of sturdy cardboard. Thus, it's easy to take the deck in and out of the box when wanting to look at the cards, or just drawing one to meditate upon for awhile.

Some examples from the deck:

One card about Always do your best features a woman with an enormous beehive hair-style. She is adorned with gold jewelry, and different shades of blue and green swirl about her. There is a golden hue that seems to emanate from behind her hair, while 2 birds have made a nest therein. The phrase? Don't Overdo. The back of this card says Always do your best, but don't overdo! When you overdo, you deplete your body and go against yourself, and it will take you longer to accomplish your goal.

A card about Don't take anything personally features a man with his eyes closed, orange and yellow hues and clouds surrounding him. Several small objects seem to swirl around his head, including a hand, a planet that looks like Saturn, several tiny stars, an eye, an open book, a ribbon, etc. The phrase on the front says Everyone lives in their own dream. On the back, the card says all people live in their own dream, in their own mind. They are in a completely different world from the one we live in.

Another card, dealing with Don't make assumptions, features a woman with a lampshade on her head that has flowers dangling from it. Peach and pink tones surround her as she waears a black dress with pink flowers. On the back of this card, it says The biggest assumption that humans make is that everyone sees life the way we do. We assume that others think the way we think, feel the way we feel, judge the way we judge, and abuse the way we abuse. We are afraid to be ourselves around others because we think others will judge us, victimize us, abuse us, and blame us as we do ourselves.

An dark-skinned man wearing a hat strums a guitar while four birds surround him. The phrase Create a beautiful dream graces the front, and speaks of Be impeccable with your word. The back of the card says Your word can create the most beautiful dream, or your word can destroy everything around you. Impeccability of the word only creates beauty, love, and heaven on earth.

What stands out about this deck is the rich colors. Both sides contain colorful images that differ from the front of the card--and the rest of the cards. Vibrant and alive are two words that come to mind when I see and feel this deck. It is not necessary to have read The Four Agreements book to enjoy this deck, but the cards are a beautiful and gentle reminder of the truths laid out in the book. The Four Agreements Cards would make a wonderful addition to mindfulness and meditation practice, as well as a cheerful and profound reminder that we can choose heaven over hell at any time.

(To see 6 card images from this deck, visit the Reviews--Decks section at JanetBoyer.com)

96 of 96 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Handy tool for daily encouragment, November 2, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: The Four Agreements: A 48-Card Deck (Cards)

Whether or not you've read the Four Agreements, you'll find these cards a wonderful tool to help you find personal freedom and happiness. The benefit is much greater if you've read the book as well but I wouldn't say that you can't have one without the other. Everyday, I take one card from the box, put it on my desk at work and use it as a reminder to think about the message of the particular "agreement." The teachings of the book and the reminders on the cards have made me feel like sandbags have been lifted off my back!

38 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars these cards are beautiful!, July 1, 2002

By 

Annie (Wales, UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Four Agreements: A 48-Card Deck (Cards)

I love the artwork on them. They are highly usable. Even if you didn't read the book, they are an excellent pack, just to have around. Each card can be used as a stand-alone card that you can display. They are just a beautiful deck of inspiring messages and I highly recommend them to anyone who likes cards.