Living on Purpose: Straight Answers to Universal Questions (Paperback)

~ Dan Millman (Author) "We are here to learn by expanding our awareness about the world and about ourselves..." (more)
Key Phrases: peaceful warrior, Personal Applications, House Rule, Bernard Shaw

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

The Sufi poet Rumi once claimed that it is better to live the questions than always know the answers. In this spirit, bestselling author Dan Millman offers a book of contemplative answers to the common spiritual questions that we all live with. Millman has created a very readable format where he poses a question, offers a brief response (which he calls a "House Rule"), and then elaborates with lengthier thoughts and anecdotes. For example, when he asks, "Where can I find the right teacher for me?" he answers with this House Rule: "Our teachers appear in many forms." He then goes on to discuss how teachers can appear in the form of nature, strangers, children, or unexpected circumstances. Other questions include, "Why does my life seem to be getting worse?" (HR: "If we don't learn easy lessons, they get harder.") "What's the best way to make a big difference in the world?" (HR: "Little things can make a big difference.")

Although Millman became famous as a storyteller in the parable Way of the Peaceful Warrior, his spiritual roots come from the discipline of martial arts. As a result, he sounds much more natural when conveying codes of honor than writing realistic dialog. To his credit, Millman has mastered a difficult and highly needed art form: writing an accessible guidebook on living purposefully that could soften the most jaded of hearts and sharpen the most undisciplined of spirits. --Gail Hudson

Product Description

Written by a former world-champion athlete, coach, and educator, Dan Millman's books present practical ways to transform daily challenges into vehicles of spiritual growth. In Living on Purpose, Millman tackles some of the toughest questions, and in the process, refines and expands on the teachings of his other books. Millman applies timeless principles to questions about metaphysics, destiny and free will, control and surrender, goal-making, marriage, child-rearing, money and work, sexuality, priority setting, and simplifying life. He combines hard-won personal wisdom with common sense to shed light on real-world problems.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: New World Library (September 14, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1577311329
• ISBN-13: 978-1577311324
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #50,223 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Living On Purpose On Traget!, October 2, 2000

By	Madeline Westbrook (Houston, Tx USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Dan Millman remains one of the world's great thought provoking sages. Millman's newest book bids the reader follow along a question and answer path that leads to a journey of steps climbing towards higher self awareness. I loved the inserted, boxed quotes. If I could buy one book of a purpose filled life, I would buy this one. I did buy it, many times, for gift giving. If there was a higher rating for Amazon books, I would give this book a 10!

26 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Living on Purpose, April 11, 2003

By	Cassandra Barnes "Cassandra" (California) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

Best-selling author and lecturer Dan Millman refers frequently to the "House Rules" when responding to questions in Living On Purpose: Straight Answers to Life's Tough Questions. He explains that the House is life or reality and the Rules are universal laws, adding that "the House Rules presented in this book-distilled lessons from the school of life-provide reliable strategies for living on purpose."

Millman has divided his book into twenty-five short sections. Each section begins with a general question about life, such as "why do I sometimes cause problems while doing what I feel is right?" These are answered with one of the House Rules, such as "Timing is Everything." An explanation of the House Rule and how it may be applied follows.

After that comes two specific questions people have asked him on subjects as varied as free will, metaphysics, child rearing, health, and money. He answers these with practical examples, often using his own life, or with illuminating anecdotes and parables. Many of his answers include humor along with the insights.

He finishes each section with "personal applications" in which people are encouraged to complete two or three simple exercises designed "to test these House Rules in your own experience; tailor them to fit your particular circumstances."

While he isn't a channeler, Millman does say that his answers come through him, not from him. He also says he isn't giving people wisdom that they don't already have, instead he's helping them search within for their own truths.

"In Living On Purpose, Dan Millman combines the wisdom of Solomon with the common sense touch of Dear Abby, taking on real-world questions with the insight and knowledge that have drawn millions of readers to his books." It's an essential reference for anyone seeking practical guidance in answering the difficult questions faced every day.

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Life as an opportunity., May 1, 2001

By A Customer

Dan Millman's LIVING ON PURPOSE provides a clear and simply structured view of what Millman calls "House Rules," guiding principles for living one's life on purpose rather than by accident. Each chapter presents a House Rule, then a clarifying summary of the rule, two related question/answers, and a personal exercise page. I found the tone of the book supportive and compassionate. The anecdotes are light-hearted and helpful. Some of the ideas I was particularly struck by include: "If we wait for the perfect moment to come alive, we may discover that we never lived at all," and "By paying attention to the present moment, and the next, and the next, we determine the quality of our lives."

LIVING ON PURPOSE gently nudges the reader in the direction of living in the moment. If you are a fan of the power of awareness to dramatically enhance your ability to live fully, I also highly recommend "WORKING ON YOURSELF DOESN'T WORK" by Ariel and Shya Kane. These are books that can make a real difference in the quality of people's lives.