Book Review-The Science of Successful Living

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Apr 302019
 

The Science of Successful Living: The Spiritual Formula for a Joyous Life
by Raymond Charles Barker

The subtitle on my copy of this book reads, “Written by a successful man for people who want success.” The author was a well-known author and minister for a Religious Science church in New York City. He also co-authored a book (now out of print) with Maxwell Maltz (who wrote “Psychocybernetics”).

This book gives straight, practical, down to earth information on how to experience greater success in all areas of your life. The author takes the reader into the depths of how the Universal and creative minds work, and translates abstract concepts into concrete explanations. As you read the information in this book, your consciousness will change to increase your acceptance of abundance, health, joy and peace of mind.

My copy is old and falling apart, with many passages either underlined or highlighted. But I wouldn’t trade it for any other, more recent, book. I value it too highly.

~ Linda-Ann Stewart

Book Review-How to Be Your Own Best Friend

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Apr 032019
 

How to Be Your Own Best Friend
by Mildred Newman and Bernard Berkowitz

This book was originally published over forty-five years ago. Although it has been around a long time, the information and advice in it is as fresh and helpful as it was back then. Written in a question-and-answer format, the two psychoanalysts (who are married to each other) explain what is necessary for us to love and accept ourselves.

I read this book in my early twenties, and it improved the way I thought about myself and my world. We tend to be a friend to everyone but ourselves. Instead, we treat ourselves as we might an enemy. The authors explain the ideas we need to entertain to be happier and healthier human beings. For when we treat ourselves with the same appreciation, empathy and compassion that we give to our friends, our lives transform.

~ Linda-Ann Stewart

Book Review-Around the Year with Emmet Fox

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Nov 292018
 

Around the Year with Emmet Fox: A Book of Daily Readings
by Emmet Fox

Many people enjoy beginning their day with reading something inspirational. The author of this book was Emmet Fox, a mystic, bestselling author, lecturer, and one of the modern pioneers of metaphysics. In his clear and vivid style, he was able to explain the basics of spiritual development and get to the root of the matter. He’s one of my favorite authors and I treasure his books. His writing is as fresh and enjoyable today as it was when it was written.

This volume of daily readings was compiled from some of his published and unpublished writings. It contains an abbreviated version of many of the ideas he explores in depth in his other writings. In only a minute or two each morning, uplifted by the daily lesson, the reader will reconnect with their spiritual center. This precious time will establish a harmonious foundation for the rest of the day. These daily devotions will change the reader and their perspective on life, therefore it’s a wonderful book for the dedicated student of spiritual growth.

~ Linda-Ann Stewart

Book Review-In Tune with the Infinite

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Sep 192018
 

In Tune with the Infinite
by Ralph Waldo Trine

Originally written in 1908, this is a classic in spiritual and mystical literature. It’s said that this was the inspiration for Napoleon Hill’s classic, Think and Grow Rich. Starting from the basic fact that we are all one with the Universe, the author then describes how the Infinite affects every aspect of our lives.

The insights contained in this book uplift and transform the reader’s view of their life. Using stories, examples, and straight talk about awakening to the knowledge of the “real being,” the author writes that as we open ourselves to the Infinite, we experience more health, peace and prosperity.

This was among the first books I read when I began my spiritual journey, and helped to form the foundation of
my spirituality. It deeply explores the meaning of life, and gives specific direction on how to more fully
experience the goodness of the Infinite.

~ Linda-Ann Stewart

Book Review-Self-Healing Personality

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Jun 282018
 

The Self-Healing Personality: Why Some People Achieve Health and Others Succumb to Illness
by Dr. Howard S. Friedman

Most of us have heard that our thinking affects not only our lives, but also our health. Unfortunately, many times that concept is dealt with in a simplistic, cookbook type of way. The belief is that a certain ailment always is due to a particular thought pattern. Although the basic idea has merit, the reality is much more complicated than that.

Dr. Friedman, professor of psychology at the University of California at Riverside, has done extensive research into why one person is able to recover from a serious illness, and another isn’t. Bringing together ancient medical philosophy and modern studies, he explores the differences between people with the same disease. He has found that there is a connection between emotions, personality and how resilient a person is, and disease.

Though a person might have an illness-prone personality, this book gives hope that they can turn themselves into one that self-heals. Making practical, healthy changes in habits, as well as finding social support are a couple of ways the author has found to be useful. By learning new ways to respond to the challenges of life, a person can actually impact the way their body heals.

~ Linda-Ann Stewart

Book Review-Taming Your Gremlin

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Jun 052018
 

Taming Your Gremlin: A Surprisingly Simple Method for Getting Out of Your Own Way
by Rick Carson

This is a clever little book to help reduce the power your inner critic/judge has over you. The author explores the various strategies of what he calls your “gremlin.” Its purpose is to convince you to feel bad and suppress the real you. For instance, the gremlin lies to you about your nature and the nature of the world, with myths such as “You’re unlovable,” and “Worry is good.”

The book includes exercises to help identify the way your gremlin affects you, and ways to deal with it. Although the author states that the gremlin isn’t the inner critic of some psychology theories, I couldn’t tell the difference. The ways the gremlin and inner judge try to control us, and ways to deal with them are similar.

Humorously written, imaginatively presented, this book will give you the tools you need to identify and tame this self-sabotaging part of your personality. By doing so, you’ll be able to experience more of the fullness of life.

~ Linda-Ann Stewart

Book Review-Spiritual Economics

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Apr 252018
 

Spiritual Economics: The Principles and Process of True Prosperity
by Eric Butterworth

I love the prosperity writings of Joseph Murphy and Catherine Ponder. They are loaded with belief changing techniques and affirmations. This book comes to the subject from a slightly different perspective, and it was one that helped me release limited attitudes that I didn’t even know I had.

In the first chapter, the author explains that we are immersed in the substance of prosperity. That we cannot be separated from it, and we already have all the substance right where we are. As the book progresses, Eric Butterworth addresses many of the incorrect ideas that we’ve accepted, including our lack of self-worth. In the chapter on visualization, he describes it as “seeing from a consciousness of ever-present substance” instead of mainly picturing material objects.

Although it’s a book mainly about prosperity, it also is one that raises the reader’s spiritual awareness. Each page is packed with attitude shifting and consciousness expanding ideas and concepts. Anyone who reads this book and practices the concepts will experience an incredibly improved quality of life.

~ Linda-Ann Stewart

Book Review-Dancing Healers

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Feb 132018
 

The Dancing Healers: A Doctor’s Journey of Healing with Native Americans
by Carl A. Hammerschlag, M.D.

I first read this book over twenty years ago, and have enjoyed re-reading it. Dr. Hammerschlag began his medical career as a general practitioner at a hospital on an Native American Reservation in New Mexico. He then became a psychiatrist and worked out of Phoenix, Arizona, while also visiting Native Americans on their reservations.

He writes about his spiritual journey from completely believing in the miracle of Western medicine to understanding that healing occurs in many different ways. Along the way, his old issues were healed.

His experiences with the shamans, the disenfranchised, the healing practices and rituals of the Native Americans of the Southwest opened his mind to other possibilities and realities. This book allows the reader to take a step into a culture that is rich and unique.

Dr. Hammerschlag weaves stories of his experiences with the Indians in with his insights, understanding, and personal history.

~ Linda-Ann Stewart

Book Review – The Gnostic Gospels

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Nov 212017
 

by Elaine Pagels

The Gnostic Gospels
by Elaine Pagels

I read this book about thirty years ago, and it opened my eyes to many things about the development of the early Christian church. The author is a religious scholar and historian and studied the Nag Hammadi scrolls. These scrolls were found in 1945 in Egypt, and brought forth new information about disagreements within the early Christian movement.

This book not only discusses the information found within the documents, but also places it in context with other Christian theological ideas of that era. There wasn’t just one view of Jesus and his life and death. Theories abounded in those years, many of which were denounced by an orthodox view that became more powerful. Eventually, any ideas that didn’t agree with the orthodox view were condemned and destroyed. Christians called each other “heretic” if they held divergent concepts.

The author examines the different areas of accepted Christian theology using the scrolls and the writings of the orthodox theologians. Addressing such issues as: the resurrection, God as Mother/Father, the persecution of Christians, how to know God, and more, this book casts new light on how these areas were perceived from many different viewpoints.

~ Linda-Ann Stewart

Book Review-Healing the Shame that Binds You

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Oct 032017
 

Healing the Shame that Binds You (Recovery Classics)
by John Bradshaw

Many people grow up in dysfunctional families that have caused them to feel ashamed of natural needs, desires, and sometimes of just being. This results in their not feeling worthy, effective, or mattering. Healing The Shame That Binds You not only addresses the core issues behind the toxic shame that people feel, explains how it formed and where it comes from, it also gives valuable direction on how to heal it.

Most of us have been exposed to some sort of toxic shame, and carry it with us. This shame prevents us from living up to our potential, accepting ourselves, and accepting all the good Life has to offer us. The author examines these issues, to give the reader a deep understanding on how shame formed, different ways it manifests (such as panic attacks, addictions, and compulsions), and steps to take to resolve the problem.

This book isn’t just one of theory and information. It includes meditations, exercises, new behaviors to practice, and affirmations. Different methods of healing are explained and demonstrated. Anyone who grew up in a dysfunctional home, or who absorbed a sense of shame would benefit from reading this valuable source.

~ Linda-Ann Stewart

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