Best Personal Transformation Self-Help
In The Four Agreements, bestselling author don Miguel Ruiz reveals the source of self-limiting beliefs that rob us of joy and create needless suffering. She is the co-author, with don Miguel Ruiz, of six books in The Toltec Wisdom Series , creator of “The Four Agreements for a Better Life” online course, and editor of Deepak Chopra’s bestselling title, The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success .
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I am an undergrad student of philosophy and linguistics, a branch of the humanities. I also deeply love this series of books because of its obviousness and simplicity. There is a huge tradition of skepticism in linguistics, especially about how language is used in various cultures to create belief systems. A belief system is basically a set of instructions inside your brain based on language. These instructions help you navigate the stressful world around you so you can survive. We are psychologically wired to think our belief systems are accurate and experience deep stress if we find them to be inaccurate. You may not be surprised to find out that philosophy majors have not come up with answers to these questions because there is always a case where we are going to be wrong or have a counter argument. Much of the study of philosophy is the collection of vocabulary words to describe beliefs. They even have a mathematical component called propositional logic, where one takes sentences and reduces them to symbols and creates "proofs" but even prop-logic is under fire from academics for its complete inability to predict anything. I believe Miguel Ruiz must have taken a linguistics course as well--as his first agreement attests to the power of language. Both Saussure and Derrida (and many, many others) did work on how we form ideas in our heads based on language. The gist is this: we have something called a "symbol" in our brain which is composed of two parts: the word and the visual representation of the object (look up semiotics for further detail). These symbols are in our mind and work together to form meaning, then belief. If you really want a deeper understanding on how linguistics has saturated our belief systems I recommend reading some of their academic essays or get Rivkin and Ryan's literary theory books. To simplify: scientists and academics in the millions have tried and tried and tried to find "the true belief" for thousands, maybe tens of thousands of years and we have not yet arrived at any truth. The need to be right is so ingrained within us that we create a huge drama when someone contradicts our beliefs. - I take all gurus, religions, indictments and gossip with quite a high level of benevolent skepticism, which allows me to be free from the fear that goes along with these stories."
"Both are based on the philosophy of the Toltec, ancient people of southern Mexico who were known as women and men of knowledge. The author at times anticipates such problems on the part of the reader, and is indeed accurate in that regard. The Toltecs were not a race or tribe, or nation, but scientists and artists formed to explore and conserve the spiritual knowledge and practices of the “ancient ones”. The Toltec recognize that some 3000 years ago a human studying to be a medicine man woke to the realization that everything is made of light and that all that exists is one living being, and that light is the messenger of life because it is alive and contains all information. As children we believe what adults say, especially our parents, and our world becomes a dream, a reality built on symbols from others, not the silent feelings and observations that we experienced as infants. We live in a dream ruled by fear and filled with emotions of anger, jealousy, envy and hate. To escape our dream of hell, we must break the old agreements that are fear based and reclaim our personal power. The author suggests four basic agreements that you must make with yourself to reclaim your own power and find a heaven on earth, a life of joy and fulfillment. He feels that a sin is anything that goes against yourself, and being impeccable is not gong against yourself, taking responsibility for your actions, but not judging or blaming. He feels that gossip is the worst form of black magic, for it is judgmental language about others, even those we do not know. He gives the simple example of a child being told by her mother to shut up her singing because her voice was “ugly”. These are the type of agreements that we make in life that are harmful and destructive, that lead us into our dream of hell. And as you use such words, first by expressing love for yourself, you break all the many agreements that make you suffer, and begin to build your own dream of heaven on earth. Couldn’t someone’s anger be about us if our word was less than impeccable, but instead filled with the black magic mentioned by the author? I raise these questions in my mind because at times, as I read through this, it sounds as if one can “get a pass” for less than sterling behavior because he need not take others reactions personally. (True sadness from the passing of a child or similar “objective” tragedy is hard to relate to assumptions or taking things personally) I have found that people often assume my meaning, and sometimes take offense at something that was never intended to harm. I don’t know exactly why we are afraid to ask for clarification, maybe it roots back to those days when we were reluctant to ask questions in school. I think these two agreements about taking things personally and making assumptions are really part of a self centeredness that “it is all about me”. In fact it is really important to realize that it isn’t always about you, especially when the assumptions made generally do assume so and lead to taking things personally. Not making assumptions would seem to be one of the easier agreements to live up to, as it only involves a little bit of inquiry. I see his book as being primarily focused on reaching an internal contentment and happiness, not on navigating one’s way through the world at large. I just find a bit of a contrast between the focus of this work and something like “Falling Upward” by Richard Rohr where he acknowledges the need to survive in the competitive world as a means of gaining some level of confidence before, in the second half of life, we are able to discard much of the baggage of the first half and seek out a more personal and spiritual contentment. All see Western culture as imposing and espousing a very competitive, win/loose guilt ridden mentality. Such mentality may or may not be necessary for the struggles that we face, but, all my readings seem to agree that at some point our thoughts need to focus on attaining a more peaceful and inclusive level of spiritual contentment. By merely listening you show respect for the other person’s dream, for the reality he or she has created. The first Four Agreements taught us that out symbols are not the truth, and that many of these symbols–our entire symbology as he calls it- are lies that lead us to blame and shame and guilt, to a living hell. It is a war against that part of our mind that makes all the choices that guide us into our personal hell. It is that point where we come back to our real state, our divine self, where we fell a communion of love with everything in existence. We experience what he refers to as a resurrection, and it allows us to be wild and free like a child, except that we have freedom with wisdom instead of innocence. These books express a philosophy couched in rather mystical terms–in dreams and symbols, attention and awareness. I think he feels that a concept like goodness is also a truth that is intrinsically recognized and internal, and not a product of a value system that is imposed on us by others. But, at least to me, he doesn’t recognize such conditioning as being a necessary part of that portion of our lives when we must learn to cope in our world. The striking thing, as I read numerous books and other writings, and watch speeches, is the basic consistency in the message of oneness and the need to abandon, at least temporarily, much of what we have “learned” in order to open our minds, or perhaps clear our minds, so that we can receive the gift of interconnectedness."
"The Four Agreements are: - Be Impeccable With Your Words. - Don't Take Anything Personally. - Don't Make Assumptions. - Always Do Your Best. -When he says be Impeccable With Your Word, he means you should always speak,with integrity. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won't be the victim of needless suffering. - when he says Don't Make Assumptions, he means you must find the the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want."
Nobel Peace Prize Laureates His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu have survived more than fifty years of exile and the soul-crushing violence of oppression. In April 2015, Archbishop Tutu traveled to the Dalai Lama's home in Dharamsala, India, to celebrate His Holiness's eightieth birthday and to create what they hoped would be a gift for others. By the end of a week filled with laughter and punctuated with tears, these two global heroes had stared into the abyss and despair of our time and revealed how to live a life brimming with joy. For over three decades the Dalai Lama has maintained an ongoing conversation and collaboration with scientists from a wide range of disciplines, especially through the Mind and Life Institute, an organization that he co-founded. The Dalai Lama travels extensively, promoting kindness and compassion, interfaith understanding, respect for the environment, and, above all, world peace. In 1994, Tutu was appointed chair of South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission by Nelson Mandela, where he pioneered a new way for countries to move forward after experiencing civil conflict and oppression. He is the founder and president of Idea Architects, a creative book and media agency helping visionaries to create a wiser, healthier, and more just world.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The Book of Joy lives up to its title and goes much further."
"Both the Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu have risen beyond their respective religions to reach out to all humans regardless of their location."
"The best book that I read in 2016."
"In these controversial times, how wonderful to be offered the chance to sit in on the respectful and insightful dialogue between these two spiritual leaders, who give us all hope that their messages will be spread far and wide."
"The Dalai Lama and Archbishop."
"The writing is primarily dialog and the Dalai Lama and Bishop Tutu are surprisingly informal and chummy."
"Many wonderful thoughts, gives unique perspectives , as well as reinforces many established perspectives."
"I have the audiobook that I got in Audible and I wanted to get the book so I can underline and write notes on it."
World renowned authors and teachers like Eckhart Tolle, Thich Nhat Hahn, Marianne Williamson and Wayne Dyer, explain our complex relationship with the ego and the healing powers of love and connection; and award-winning and bestselling writers like Cheryl Strayed, Elizabeth Gilbert, and Elizabeth Lesser explore the beauty of forgiveness and spirituality. Over the course of her esteemed career, Oprah Winfrey has created an unparalleled connection with people around the world.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"They have exactly the same content, but one book is luxurious with a linen cover, thick paper, incredible colors and is a gorgeous book. (see photo) I'm returning that book and might suggest you purchase this at a local bookstore where you can check the quality of the book before buying it."
"In these interviews, she recalls moments when these renowned thought-leaders and visionaries expressed deep, compelling acuity on how they stay inspired by looking inward, in order to continue in their journey of truthful discernment. In a surprising sensory delight, the book also emits a sweet, antique smell that has hints of clean, fresh cut wood mixed with vanilla. I am not sure if this was intentional by the publisher and Oprah, but it was a delightful surprise to my nose when I removed the book from the packaging, and each time I turned the page. Planted within gorgeous, vibrant photography that showcase images of nature and the great outdoors, the anecdotes and insights are offered in a calm conversational tone and style. After reading the first chapter alone, titled "Awakening," I feel warm and at home, as if an old friend just visited and gave me a hug while smiling brightly."
"What I am also finding interesting is how folks from different walks of life, from Rob Bell to Michael Singer to Deepak Chopra, offer unique perspectives while being so aligned. Now, for cord cutters and whatever the hell I am, we get more of a glimpse into our potential for an expanded and more open perspective...and dare I say a bit more inner peace for ourselves and compassion for others."
Best Personal Development & Self-Help in French
Elle est de plus en plus présente dans la vie quotidienne : chantage affectif familial, jeux de pouvoir au travail, domination individuelle dans le couple, forte influence d'un ami... Il existe une catégorie d'individus nuisibles et destructeurs dont le but reste le même à travers les siècles : satisfaire leurs priorités à nos dépens.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"It is a very interesting book and corresponds exactly to what I needed."
Best Hypnosis Self-Help
A pioneer in uncovering the secrets of life, internationally recognized spiritual hypnotherapist Dr. Michael Newton takes you once again into the heart of the spirit world. Newton also takes on malevolent spirits; arguing that demons and the devil do not exist, he reports that after working with him, clients who initially thought they were possessed by a "malevolent spirit" usually realize they have miscommunicated with a benevolent spirit who was trying to reach them.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"As I read more, the interview method in the book seemed repetitive; the stories and descriptions had too much alignment with references to spatial/method classrooms here on earthly plane."
"This book is the most enlightening book I have read in ages."
"If he still books sessions, and this stuff interests you, I HIGHLY recommend you make an appointment NOW!"
"And a lot of the book made him think real hard."
"This is ground breaking research that answers questions about us as human beings."
"My own personal pathway is to help others find their souls pathway and as such this book will offer guidance and perspective to those seeking to understand their individual journey."
"I read the first book but really liked this one better because it did answer a lot of the questions from the first one and it was written in such a thoughtful manner - whereas the first one seemed more about just getting the information out."
"The case studies are interesting and help answer some questions for life’s purpose."
Best Self-Help
Whether your relationship is flourishing or failing, Dr. Gary Chapman’s proven approach to showing and receiving love will help you experience deeper and richer levels of intimacy with your partner—starting today. Updated to reflect the complexities of relationships today, this new edition reveals intrinsic truths and applies relevant, actionable wisdom in ways that work. GARY CHAPMAN --author, speaker, counselor--has a passion for people and for helping them form lasting relationships.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"My wife and I have 2 small children and our house is hard to stay clean because every room feels like a mess. A big part of improving your relationship with your spouse or boyfriend/girlfriend is to sticking with a date night to make sure you have quality time together. My wife and I have been together for 10 years and got stuck in the rut of an endless routine of doing everything we could for our kids, followed by daily chores and left little time for ourselves. Committing to 1 date night a week has really helped our relationship and improved our communication."
"I was once asked to read this book by the only person in the world I love.....I refused. It's not a good feeling as a man to agree to read a book on relationships because you feel like you're putting everything into the authors hands.....and what if he "doesn't understand" or what if the advice doesn't apply to us.....what if it makes things worse between us because he advises things we don't believe in.....no....I'm not reading that I told her. I thought no matter what we would always figure each other out and we would be ok......I didn't see being asked to read this book , was a cry out from the woman I love hitting a boiling point and her attempt to communicate to me in a different way......the same things she's been trying to for a long time..... Instead of being some guys opinions or......typical shrink talk that in no way could apply to each specific relationship.......I found it to be a book that opens up the mind to the understanding of love.....and how it is not this one universal "language" we all feel we should be the same with.....I once told her...."nobody taught me how to love, I'm growing....learning".....I pleased with her to understand I love her.......we simply didn't have an understanding of how and why we didnt approach love the exact same way as each other.....only makes sense that it should be the same right? I will just end it like this..... last night I took a stretch that I have been doing for over 2 years and I changed it in a slightly different way....... a lot of the pain I normally get daily is gone....... just to put a spotlight on that sentence .....I'm saying that what I had been doing for so long..... trying to cure one of the biggest problems in my life that hadnt been working............that I continued doing........ believing in and depending on.... to be my much needed answer.......It wasn't until I allowed the idea of the same stretch applied in a different way, that I ALLOWED life to be better for me. You have to go into the book with an open mind because if you do it with the mindset of wanting it to say what it is that you want to hear.....then you can never let the life-changing words happen.......you're learning a language as you read...not what's right and wrong but what was being lost in life. Keep in mind this is a book about the language of love so if you think about when you go to school to learn a different language...you are taking the difficult step of taking time there in order to understand.....be able to take what you understand and apply it.....and be able to communicate in a NEEDED way once you learn....AND THEN USE......communicate and UNDERSTAND eachother."
"Every couple should read this BEFORE they begin a relationship!"
"Great book, I read a friends book and decided to purchase it for myself."
"My husband and I read it and I bought a copy to give my parents (they could really use it to understand each other better!)."
"This book will really make you think about things when you read it, especially if you have had relationship problems..."
"contains helpful information and I enjoyed reading through people's testimonies and experiences."
"Really comes to show you why people are the way they are."
Best Interpersonal Relations
From thought leader Dr. Brené Brown, a transformative new vision for the way we lead, love, work, parent, and educate that teaches us the power of vulnerability. Every day we experience the uncertainty, risks, and emotional exposure that define what it means to be vulnerable or to dare greatly. But when we step back and examine our lives, we will find that nothing is as uncomfortable, dangerous, and hurtful as standing on the outside of our lives looking in and wondering what it would be like if we had the courage to step into the arena—whether it’s a new relationship, an important meeting, the creative process, or a difficult family conversation. Daring Greatly is a practice and a powerful new vision for letting ourselves be seen. “The brilliantly insightful Brené Brown draws upon extensive research and personal experience to explore the paradoxes of courage: we become strong by embracing vulnerability, we dare more greatly when we acknowledge our fear. —Maria Shriver " Daring Greatly is an important book -- a timely warning about the danger of pursuing certainty and control above all. The invitation in this book is clear: We must be larger than anxiety, fear, and shame if we want to speak, act, and show up. The world needs this book and Brené’s unique blend of warmth, humor and ass-kicking makes her the perfect person to inspire us to dare greatly." Brené Brown shines a bright light into these dark recesses of human emotion and reveals how these feelings can gnaw at fulfillment in education, at work and in the home. If you're a student, teacher, parent, employer, employee or just alive and wanting to live more fully, you should read this book. —Sir Ken Robinson "In an age of constant pressure to conform and pretend, Daring Greatly offers a compelling alternative: transform your life by being who you really are. —Michael Bungay Stanier, author of Do More Great Work "I deeply trust Brené Brown--her research, her intelligence, her integrity, and her personhood. So when she definitively lands on the one most important value we can cultivate for professional success, relationship health, parental joy, and courageous, passionate living...well, I sit up and take notice .
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Last week I was sitting outside a coffee shop reading a book on my kindle when a youngish guy walked by carrying a coffee and a computer, looking for a place to sit. I promptly went back to my reading but I could feel his eyes boring into me as I anticipated the dreaded question. There's just something about the vast amount of information that I'm pressured to wrap into one or two sentences that completely overwhelms and paralyzes me. Part of me was tempted to lie to youngish guy by replying, "oh, it's just some silly novel." Allowing myself to be vulnerable led Patrick and I into a conversation for the next hour. Patrick, if you're reading this, c'était une joie pour vous rencontrer. This moment of unabashed vulnerability with Patrick was the beginning of a major shift in my life. She reinforces what I've known all along but been afraid of admitting--that vulnerability leads to happiness. Following Brene's advice and expertise garnered through her research and life stories, truly does work. It was the reading of Daring Greatly that prompted me to finally divulge my long kept secret of my history with an eating disorder; which wound up being my highest trafficked blog post of all time. If any of these questions ring true then I hope you'll read this book for yourself."
"In fact, "Vulnerability is the the core, the heart, the center of meaningful human experiences." The main concern of Wholehearted men and women is living a life defined by courage, compassion, and connection. It comes down to this: If we don't embrace vulnerability, we are destined to live a lonely, detached, unfulfilling life. Wholehearted Parenting: Daring to Be the Adults We Want Our Children to Be. - Final Thoughts. - Appendix -- Trust in Emergence: Grounded Theory and My Research Process. - Practicing Gratitude. Daring Greatly doesn't focus on the area of love and relationships, but it offers invaluable tools for deepening our love partnerships. For going deeper into vulnerability in the context of a romantic relationship, check out The Couple's Survival Workbook: What You Can Do To Reconnect With Your Partner and Make Your Marriage Work by Olsen and Stephens. More generally, if you're interested in Browne's concept of Wholehearted living -- the contextual framework of Daring Greatly -- check out The Gifts of Imperfection. It's not altogether easy, but it's deeply relieving to understand that this essential skill is not about simply stepping out under a hail of deadly arrows. It's about leaving behind lonely and fearful self-interest, having courage that deeper connection eagerly awaits us."
"I enjoy this book a lot and I’m thankful I had the opportunity to read it, it’s a book that will change how you see yourself and the rest of the people in the world."
"This a really important book for living well and learning how to tune out the noise of people who pile shame and guilt on others."
"Brene Brown is helping us to repair the fractured way many of us grew up to think and believe, and she does it with humor, empathy and lots of great story telling."
"Absolutely could not get into it."
Best Self-Help in Arabic
بداخل هذا الكتاب سوف تكتشف ان بداخل كل فرد من البشر كنز من القدرات التى وضعها الله سبحانه وتعالى سوف تتعرف عليها وتكتشفها وتوقظها وتصنع مستقبلك من خلال القوة الثلاثية.
Find Best Price at AmazonBest Divination
From the beloved artist-seeker behind The Wild Unknown comes the long-awaited box set of her hit tarot deck and guidebook—together for the first time in a beautifully designed keepsake package. Now, for the first time, Kim’s The. Wild Unknown tarot deck and tarot guidebook are available together in one beautiful, high-quality keepsake box set.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Also, the deck & guide containers are sturdy too."
"My resistance was based on two things: first, it was so wildly popular that I was reluctant to be part of a fad. And second, one of the cards features a worm cut in half by a sword, an image that initially creeped me out and caused me to avoid the deck. Within the outer protective cardboard sleeve is the large, sturdy box, which has a flap with a magnetic closure. A silk ribbon lifts the guidebook out, to reveal underneath the actual deck, in its own box. That has its place, because we all know that meanings shift and change depending on the individual, the other cards in the layout, etc. Reading for oneself is always hard, because we have a tendency to want to see in the cards the outcome or the meaning we desire, and so it's difficult to be objective."
"A must have for anyone looking for where to start."
"Thin cardstock, but it is mass produced now so this is what you get (unless you pay double for earlier editions)."
"This is my favorite tarot deck."
"Nice box, pretty cards great packaging."
"Gorgeous deck and really nicely packaged."
"The Wild Unknown Tarot Deck and Guidebook (Official Keepsake Box Set) YES!"
Best Popular Social Psychology & Interactions
At the time of Frankl's death in 1997, Man's Search for Meaning had sold more than 10 million copies in twenty-four languages. Harold S. Kushner is rabbi emeritus at Temple Israel in Natick, Massachusetts, and the author of bestselling books including When Bad Things Happen to Good People, Living a Life That Matters, and When All You’ve Ever Wanted Isn’t Enough.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Read this book, read this book."
"Those that had developed purpose and meaning to the harsh conditions got out of bed every morning to face another unbearable day."
"One of the best works you can take in."
"Life would have been easier if I had read this book sooner in life."
"A little twist of ideas as to why some people survive the worst and why others don't survive medium bad."
"The second part of the book is an analysis of logotherapy and a description of Frankl's studies on the subject."
"I am just now to the place he talks about how thinking of his wife and having mental conversations with her gave him strength to stay alive!"
"Part 1 was easier to read."
Best Popular Psychology & Medicine
--Lana Philips "Sawatsky beautifully models a way to dance in the gale of full catastrophe, to celebrate life, to laugh with it and at himself." Simple practices to bring healing to your heart and life to your new outlook Humorous (and occasionally heart-wrenching) stories of Sawatsky's own journey Multiple ways to build confidence in yourself, even when you've been shaken to the core A new perspective to transform your pain and renew your spirit Practical tools to face your seemingly inescapable fears, and much, much more! Based on the popular blog of the same name, Dancing With Elephants includes insightful interviews with chronic disease experts Jon Kabat-Zinn, Lucy Kalanithi, and Patch Adams. --Jon Kabat-Zinn, national bestselling author of Full Catastrophe Living "...beautiful and inspiring book...full of humor and wisdom about the pain of loss in our life, by someone living with a debilitating disease." This inspiring story reminds us just how essential it is to bring lovingkindness into every step of life, no matter how difficult the path -Sharon Salzberg, New York Times bestselling author of. Real Happiness. ... forthright and inspiring... Peter V. Rabins , co-author of The 36-Hour Day When life seems to be falling apart, Jarem Sawatsky's interesting and entertaining book reminds us that laughter is what we need to not take ourselves too seriously.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Since learning of the practice in the book, I've done it many times."
"Jarem interviewed Jon Kabat-Zinn, Patch Adams, Lucy Kalanthi (wife of Paul Kalanthi who wrote When Breath Becomes Air), Jean Paul Lederach, and Toni Bernhard about living with chronic illness. He comes from a Christian background, but is heavily influenced by the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh. His story of living with Huntington's Disease as a family member (it is genetic) and after he received the diagnosis he had expected to get is not sad or sentimental in any way."
"Bought both hardback and digital copy of Dancing with Elephants, by Jarem Sawatsky, PhD; With my dementia symptoms, reading requires extra time and extra tools, so I have only completed the first six chapters."
"I have spoken very highly of this book to my support group and hope to see this become THE book to read for everyone who deals with chronic/terminal illness, whether personally or from the outside."
"Dancing with Elephants: Mindfulness Training For Those Living With Dementia, Chronic Illness or an Aging Brain (How to Die Smiling Book 1). By Jarem Sawatsky. WOW! (I’m told this is very normal at my age…but still…). I have read a few, more science-y books on Alzheimer’s and dementia. His humor and wit are woven all throughout this book in such a way that it never takes away from the seriousness of the topic and yet, you—the reader—are left with a smile on your face and hope in your heart. However, the other facet of this book is the fount of information just on aging in general. Though his background is in Christianity he also leans toward Buddhism and the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh a Vietnamese monk. (While I personally do not follow Buddhism, and am a very conservative Christian—and all that entails—I am wise enough to know there are wiser men and women than I.). If I can find humor and joy, comfort and peace in all my circumstances, that’s what matters."
Best Tarot
From the beloved artist-seeker behind The Wild Unknown comes the long-awaited box set of her hit tarot deck and guidebook—together for the first time in a beautifully designed keepsake package. Now, for the first time, Kim’s The. Wild Unknown tarot deck and tarot guidebook are available together in one beautiful, high-quality keepsake box set.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Also, the deck & guide containers are sturdy too."
"My resistance was based on two things: first, it was so wildly popular that I was reluctant to be part of a fad. And second, one of the cards features a worm cut in half by a sword, an image that initially creeped me out and caused me to avoid the deck. Within the outer protective cardboard sleeve is the large, sturdy box, which has a flap with a magnetic closure. A silk ribbon lifts the guidebook out, to reveal underneath the actual deck, in its own box. That has its place, because we all know that meanings shift and change depending on the individual, the other cards in the layout, etc. Reading for oneself is always hard, because we have a tendency to want to see in the cards the outcome or the meaning we desire, and so it's difficult to be objective."
"It comes in a sleeve, then a nice hard box that opens to find a delightful message hidden, the book is nestled in there, and once removed, the cards are in another hard box with another sweet message inside the box lid. Thanks Kim, for the great deck."
"Thank you Kim Krans for such a beautifuly designed deck and amazingly written guidebook."
"This is my favourite deck, EVER."
"Beautiful and feel an immediate connection."
"So now every time you Shuffle the deck you know where the "world card" is because it's bent."
"Some of the cards are spot on In Their simplicity, dramatic design and description, but many are too vague in both image and guidance to make sense immediately not to mention memorize to the degree that it is automatic for me."
Best Health & Family in Italian
As I have frequently referred to the authority of MacGregor Mathers and Aleistet Crowley in matters of Qabalistic mysticticism, it may be as well to explain my position in relation to these two writers. The Society of the Inner Light, founded by the late Dion Fortune, has courses for those who wish seriously to pursue the study of the Western Esoteric Tradition. The Mystical Qabalah devotes a chapter to each of the ten schematic "God-names", the qualities or "Sephiroth", which focus the principle archetypes behind evolving human activity: the Spiritual Source; the principles of Force and Form; Love and Justice; the Integrative principle or the Christ Force; Aesthetics and Logic; the dynamics of the Psyche; and finally, the Manifestation of life on Earth in a physical body. This revisededition includes an additional chapter of Fortune's original writing, an editorial update for contemporary readers, and a foldout with Tree of Life diagrams to facilitate study of the text.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Fortune's book was my first foray into the subject, and since completing it, I've ordered Israel Regardie's "Garden of Pomegranates" for further perspectives on Qabalah & information on pathworking, as it's called."
"I can't add much to the other glowing reviews."
"Excellent book by Fortune."
"This is one of my essential reference books."
"There are a lot of typos unfortunately."
"Nice reprint with additions compared to my 1970's version of the same book which is hardback."
"Very happy with the price and the condition the book was in."
Best Middle Eastern Poetry
The Essential Rumi continues to be the bestselling of all Rumi books, and the definitive selection of his beautiful, mystical poetry. Text: English. Original Language: Persian. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"One can pick up this volume and turn to any page for a shot of verbal adrenaline, for Rumi talks about everything under the sun and is completely free of puritanical shame - so very refreshing. In fact, he writes as if the listener is on the same level and can ignite the identical inner spark that Rumi has through some kind of spontaneous combustion. I'd also like to see a few hundred copies of Rumi circulated at our nation's capitol, since it's hard to imagine anyone there having read something even as basic and moral as "A Thousand and One Nights," either as a child or by their parents, to expand their perspective on the world as an adult - and unfortunately this contracted and limited view of life really really shows and the rest of us have to suffer for it... Free copies for everyone paid out of the military budget."
"One of best book of great Rumi."
"In September of 2012, I created a photographic gallery of Rumi quotations and used a few of the quotes from Coleman Bark's book with direct permission from the author - I thought it was so cool that he emailed me back and was gracious about it. The translation is great but the content is very hard to put into context.... it's like reading about another person's dreams.... they make very little sense except a few moments in time when something clarifying and brilliant happens."
"Great poetry that inspires and is easily relate able to modern times."
"One of my all-time favorite books which I can and will read over and over."
"I read this book daily."
"I have had this in book form and I need something I can just carry with me anywhere I go."
"Coleman Barks is one of the best for bringing Rumi to the 21st century!..not literal translations from Persian, I've heard, but renderings that do capture the taste of Rumi's message."
Best Health, Fitness & Dieting
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F**k is his antidote to the coddling, let’s-all-feel-good mindset that has infected modern society and spoiled a generation, rewarding them with gold medals just for showing up. Once we embrace our fears, faults, and uncertainties, once we stop running and avoiding and start confronting painful truths, we can begin to find the courage, perseverance, honesty, responsibility, curiosity, and forgiveness we seek. A much-needed grab-you-by-the-shoulders-and-look-you-in-the-eye moment of real-talk, filled with entertaining stories and profane, ruthless humor, The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F**k is a refreshing slap for a generation to help them lead contented, grounded lives. This is a masterful, philosophical and practical book that will give readers the wisdom to be able to do just that.” ( Ryan Holiday, New York Times bestselling author of The Obstacle is the Way and Ego is the Enemy ). “Mark’s ability to dig deep and offer amazing, yet counter-intuitive, insight into the challenges of life makes him one of my favorite writers, and this book is his best work yet.” ( Matt Kepnes, New York Times bestselling author of Travel the World on $50 a Day: Travel Cheaper, Longer, Smarter ). “An in-your-face guide to living with integrity and finding happiness in sometimes-painful places… This book, full of counterintuitive suggestions that often make great sense, is a pleasure to read and worthy of rereading.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"As someone who has given far too many f***s about far too many things their entire life, this book was exactly the wake up call I needed. We have a limited emotional capacity, and we often squander it on reactions to mean-spirited people or unfortunate events, completely forgetting that, although we can't control the world around us, we can control ourselves. If you're the type of person who's struggled to keep their temper in line or if you're like me and you find yourself on an emotional roller-coaster because you take every event in the world and within your own life to heart, I strongly encourage you to read this book. If profanity is so much of a problem for you, that you can't tolerate reading the first half of this book (the last half is much less profane) you're probably too narrow-minded to have taken away any of the many philosophical benefits this book offers."
"If you don't have anything substantive to occupy your time, then it's trivial stuff that bothers you: "Your ex-boyfriend’s new Facebook picture, how quickly the batteries die in the TV remote, missing out on yet another two-for-one sale on hand sanitizer—chances are you don’t have much going on in your life..." Mark suggests just picking a few big things--values and people that reflect your values: "What I’m talking about here is essentially learning how to focus and prioritize your thoughts effectively—how to pick and choose what matters to you and what does not matter to you based on finely honed personal values." On a serious note, the author relates a horrific experience from his youth, when a drunken friend took a dare, jumped into a lake and drowned. This tragedy led to a determination to change the direction of his life, and figure out what is most important: "Oddly, it was someone else’s death that gave me permission to finally live. The author refers often to a book, "The Denial of Death," (which became a Pulitzer Prize winner.). In serious, heartfelt chapters, the author reflects on human existence, and our search for meaning in life."
"Some of the main themes are these: (1) Choosing what to care about; focusing on the things/problems that are actually meaningful/important (= "giving a f*** about the right things"). (2) Learning to be fine with some negative things; always aiming for positivity isn't practical, and is stressful in itself. (3) Taking responsibility of your own life; it's good for your self-esteem not to keep blaming the circumstances for your problems. (4) Understanding the importance of honesty and boundaries, especially in relationships. (5) Identity; it might a good idea not to commit strongly to any special identity such as "an undiscovered genius", because then any challenges will make you fear the potential loss of that identity you've clinged to. (6) Motivation; how to improve it by accepting failure and taking action. (7) Death; how learning to be more comfortable with one's own mortality can make it easier to live. The first 20% of this book were a little bit boring to read, but after that, the experience was very absorbing."
Best Genealogy
This book, updated in 2016 to include the most recent changes to the site , will help you get the most out of your Ancestry.com subscription by showing you how to take advantage of all the world's biggest genealogy website has to offer--and how to find answers to your family tree questions within its 14 billion records, 60 million family tree and 32,000 databases. Nancy Hendrickson is an Internet genealogy expert who has been interviewed on the subject in national publications including the New York Times , Kiplinger's , and Better Homes and Gardens .
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Between this book, Ancestry Help and the Ancestry Community you will probably have 90% of everything you will ever need for your genealogy. All my How-To books are now going to be in Kindle version."
"I am a four year member of Ancestry and have always found the Unofficial Guide to be a very helpful book."
"I found this book to be very informative and will definitely help me in my search on Ancestry.com."
"This book fills the void and has made my search for records easier."
"Great reference book."
"Really helped to understand how to get the most out of the site!"
"For example, I really needed instruction on how to transfer info from another person's tree to my tree when we had a mutual ancestor, or how to correct errors (and there are ton of them) and that kind of thing is not covered at all that I could find."
Best New Age Mysticism
From the beloved artist-seeker behind The Wild Unknown comes the long-awaited box set of her hit tarot deck and guidebook—together for the first time in a beautifully designed keepsake package. Now, for the first time, Kim’s The. Wild Unknown tarot deck and tarot guidebook are available together in one beautiful, high-quality keepsake box set.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Also, the deck & guide containers are sturdy too."
"My resistance was based on two things: first, it was so wildly popular that I was reluctant to be part of a fad. And second, one of the cards features a worm cut in half by a sword, an image that initially creeped me out and caused me to avoid the deck. Within the outer protective cardboard sleeve is the large, sturdy box, which has a flap with a magnetic closure. A silk ribbon lifts the guidebook out, to reveal underneath the actual deck, in its own box. That has its place, because we all know that meanings shift and change depending on the individual, the other cards in the layout, etc. Reading for oneself is always hard, because we have a tendency to want to see in the cards the outcome or the meaning we desire, and so it's difficult to be objective."
"A must have for anyone looking for where to start."
"Thin cardstock, but it is mass produced now so this is what you get (unless you pay double for earlier editions)."
"This is my favorite tarot deck."
"Nice box, pretty cards great packaging."
"Gorgeous deck and really nicely packaged."
"The Wild Unknown Tarot Deck and Guidebook (Official Keepsake Box Set) YES!"
Best Archery
The Traditional Bowyer's Bible series includes three essential volumes filled with history, humor, and practical advice. Released in 1992, 1993, and 1994, respectively, this trio provides a remarkably in-depth analysis of the bow from its construction to its correct use.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"While I am looking forward to reading volumes 2-4, I feel that this one book gives enough to get out there and start making bows. In any case, I feel this is a solid guide book that allows the interested reader to also use it as a guide to making bows or as a book to read cover to cover."
"Good read a little unclear for those folks that don't know the traditional archery lingo."
"What is sorely lacking is an introduction which covers what self bows are, how they are made, etc before jumping into the fine details."
"This is a really good book for people who like archery, especially if you also enjoy outdoor activities, exploring the woods and that sort of thing."
"As far as a how to books go on archery this is a classic anyone who follows the instructions will be very pleased about the outcome."