The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual path to Higher Creativity
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Amazon.com Review With the basic principle that creative expression is the natural direction of life, Julia Cameron and Mark Bryan lead you through a comprehensive twelve-week program to recover your creativity from a variety of blocks, including limiting beliefs, fear, self-sabotage, jealousy, guilt, addictions, and other inhibiting forces, replacing them with artistic confidence and productivity.This book links creativity to spirituality by showing how to connect with the creative energies of the universe, and has, in the four years since its publication, spawned a remarkable number of support groups for artists dedicated to practicing the exercises it contains. –This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title. |
The Path of Least Resistance
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From Library Journal Using as analogy the scientific principle that energy follows the path of least resistance, the founder of the DMA seminars attempts an easily assimilated self-help book–a substantial revision of his 1984 best seller. He argues that just as wind moves around natural obstructions, seeking the path of least resistance, so do we attempt to move around the structures of our lives–getting by with as few hassles as possible. Fritz’s advice is to modify the structures, enabling the creative energy within to flourish instead of dissipate. Initially, his focus is clear; but numerous citings of well-known psychologists and famous movers and shakers (Einstein, Henry Moore, etc.) grow tiresome as Fritz drones on, losing us in excess verbiage. Some valuable sections, but most will find this tedious. Not recommended. - Kevin M. Roddy, Oakland P.L., Cal. Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.Product Description A revolutionary program for creating anything, from a functional kitchen to a computer program, to a work of art, Robert Fritz demonstrates that any of us has the innate power to create. Discover the steps of creating; the importance of creating what you truly love, how to focus on the creative process to move from where you are to where you want to be, and much more. |
Creative Visualization
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Amazon.com Review When it comes to creating the life you want, Shakti Gawain literally wrote the book. Now considered a classic, Creative Visualization teaches readers how to use their imaginations to manifest their deepest desires. In a straight-talking narrative, Gawain uses the first part to cover the basics, with chapters such as “How to Visualize,” “Affirmations,” and “Creative Visualization Only Works for the Good.” Once she shows readers how visualization actually works, Gawain moves on to loftier discussions, such as “Contacting Your Higher Self,” “Meeting Your Guide,” “Setting Goals,” and “Treasure Maps.”Fear not; this isn’t a spiritual-lightweight book for people with a severe case of the “gimmes.” Gawain has her priorities in the right place, and she cautions readers that creative visualization will not serve greed or shallow-minded thinking. For example, she discourages the cycle of trying to have more money, so you can do what you want in life, so you will be happier. “The way it actually works is the reverse,” she explains. “You must first be who you really are, then do what you need to do, in order to have what you want.” Yet she also writes an excellent chapter on letting go of the misguided guilt that inhibits readers from becoming truly prosperous. –Gail Hudson –This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title. |
Synchronicity: The Inner Path of Leadership
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From Library Journal Jaworski, the son of Watergate special prosecutor Leon Jaworski, here presents his personal philosophy of life. As founder of the American Leadership Forum, Jaworski espouses the value of servant leadership, which calls for leadership that is relationship-oriented, creative, and constructive. Additionally, he comments on the world economic situation. Regrettably, the author seems too self-absorbed at times, wandering from topic to topic without providing any insight. At one point, Jaworski claims, “We are all one,” but how does one apply that to leadership? Due to the lack of any practical ideas, this recording is not recommended.?Mark Guyer, Stark Cty. Dist. Lib., Canton, Ohio Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. –This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.From Scientific American “Synchronicity illustrates that leadership is about the release of human possibilities, about enabling others to break free of limits-created organizationally or self-imposed. Although this book describes the author’s personal journey, it contains profound messages about organizational learning and effectiveness.” –This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this |
Outliers: The Story of Success
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Amazon.com Review Amazon Best of the Month, November 2008: Now that he’s gotten us talking about the viral life of ideas and the power of gut reactions, Malcolm Gladwell poses a more provocative question in Outliers: why do some people succeed, living remarkably productive and impactful lives, while so many more never reach their potential? Challenging our cherished belief of the “self-made man,” he makes the democratic assertion that superstars don’t arise out of nowhere, propelled by genius and talent: “they are invariably the beneficiaries of hidden advantages and extraordinary opportunities and cultural legacies that allow them to learn and work hard and make sense of the world in ways others cannot.” Examining the lives of outliers from Mozart to Bill Gates, he builds a convincing case for how successful people rise on a tide of advantages, “some deserved, some not, some earned, some just plain lucky.”Outliers can be enjoyed for its bits of trivia, like why most pro hockey players were born in January, how many hours of practice it takes to master a skill, why the descendents of Jewish immigrant garment workers became the most powerful lawyers in New York, how a pilots’ culture impacts their crash record, how a centuries-old culture of rice farming helps Asian kids master math. But there’s more to it than that. Throughout all of these examples–and in more that delve into the social benefits of lighter skin color, and the reasons for school achievement gaps–Gladwell invites conversations about the complex ways privilege manifests in our culture. He leaves us pondering the gifts of our own history, and how the world could benefit if more of our kids were granted the opportunities to fulfill their remarkable potential. –Mari Malcolm |