Showing posts with label self-help. Show all posts
Showing posts with label self-help. Show all posts

the hardline self help handbook: what are you willing to do to get what you really want by paula renaye

Written by Darlyn At Tuesday, August 09, 2011 3 bookish peeps...
Title: The Hardline Self Help Handbook: What Are You Willing to Do to Get What You Really Want
Author: Paula Renaye
Pages: 152

Series: Non-fiction / Self-help
Published: April 21st, 2011
Rating: 4.5/5
Source: Receive for review
Buy at: Amazon IndieBound

Summary :

The Hardline Self Help Handbook challenges readers to find out in this fast-track course of self-discovery and self-empowerment. By taking the "kiss" approach to self help, Hardline cuts to the chase and gives you simple, practical and easy techniques that will transform your life the minute you start working with them. Using a straightforward no-holds-barred approach, Paula Renaye gets in the trenches and shows how we cause ourselves unnecessary conflict, confusion and pain—and how we can stop. Often funny, sometimes sad, and always revealing, the brutally frank firsthand stories help readers connect with similar situations in their own lives, see opportunities for making different choices and find the courage to make them. In this down-to-earth practical guide, you'll sink your teeth into 13 tough-love bullets and learn how two simple questions can instantly clear up confusion about "what to do" and keep you on track with your goals. You'll discover the "Big 4" questions that will forever change the way you look at your "wants" and make it easier to get what you're really after. There are also some creative, practical and useful tips for dealing with negative people—and ways to uncover negative traits of your own that need reprogramming. And much, much more! Each chapter is packed with practical yet powerful tools to make positive changes quickly followed by “Line It Out” exercises that dig deep and make working the techniques personal. Whether it's a relationship issue, a health crisis, career collapse or other personal challenge, you'll gain the insight you need to find your way out of the dark tunnel and into joy. So, if you feel stuck and you're ready—really ready—to make positive changes in your life, this book will show you how to do it. And, the transformation starts immediately, because once you know—you know. Make the courageous choice to do what you know you need to do—to fix what needs fixing—and start living your joy!

My Two Cents:

For once, I thought the book ought to be one of the book that never stop preaching you, dragging over and over about how could we change ourself in being someone much better. That proves me wrong after finishing the book last night. With less than 160 pages, very short and sweet presentation to readers, I was hooked up and the book was very very interesting to put down. Paula Renaye serves much more than a thick book would give. Most self-help book I've read gave very unclear visions, wobbly instructions and lead to nowhere but this book is different. I thimk this is why people say 'less is more'. Less pages, but full of condense, compact and convincing content. Added with a few simple exercises (which has line out at every chapter), readers are spontaniously involve in solving their problem, also buliding up their confidence to let go doubts that stayed to long with us. This book is highly recommended, even I passed it and recommend it to my friend. And glad they are happy with it.

p/s: The book is also available in Kindle version.

jane austen's guide to dating by lauren henderson

Written by Darlyn At Friday, June 11, 2010 17 bookish peeps...
Title: Jane Austen's Guide to Dating
Author: Lauren Henderson
Pages: 304
Rating: 4/5

Summary (Goodreads):

"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife." --Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice

There was never a more astute chronicler of the hits and near-misses of love than Jane Austen. Now, she helps readers discover their inner heroines and get the guy in this witty book of romance and dating strategies.

A completely new and amusing approach to dating, Jane Austen's Guide to Dating includes insightful personality quizzes that reveal which Jane Austen character you, and your mate, most resemble. Armed with this knowledge, you can learn what to do if you're a Lizzie, but the object of your affection is a Bingley. You can even find out how to gain the clear headedness and confidence that Anne Elliot had and almost lost in Persuasion.

Full of wit and truly useful advice that has stood the test of time, Jane Austen's Guide to Dating will help readers overcome the nonsense and find the sense (and sensibility) to succeed in a lasting relationship. Fans of Jane Austen and newcomers alike will delight in this fun, fresh, and audacious guide.

My Thought:

I guess I'm lucky to find this book in a local used books bookstore in the courtesy of Jane in June.

I enjoyed reading it tremendously and never thought that it is actually a self help book and dating guides! The book has ten chapters. Each chapter is likely a rule. In one chapter it highlighted the point that you should not play hard to get and try to appear hard to resist.

Here are the 10 interesting chapters;

  1. If you like someone, make it clear that you do.
  2. Don't put your feelings on public display, unless they're fully reciprocated.
  3. Don't play games or leads people on.
  4. Have faith in your own instincts.
  5. Don't fall for superficial qualities.
  6. Look for someone who can bring out your best qualities
  7. Don't settle.
  8. Be witty if you can, but not cynical or cruel.
  9. Be prepared to wait for the right person to come along (my favorite chapter).
  10. If your lover need a reprimand, let him have it.
I was startled when I saw there's actually a quiz at the end of the book to see what kind of heroine you are and a summary of all Jane's novels, and character analysis of romantic character. Believe me I think I'm Emma type! Hah, funny how things like quizzes really affect me how I want to be one of Jane's heroine!

The dating's guide is somewhat hilarious and gives you some best of ideas for a modern type dating base on over 200 years old legend publication of romance fictions. Which I also come up with a conclusion that it is OK to be who you are. Only, you have to follow the chapters #6. There is no rules you should follow, the #0, which there is no rule. If all the 10 rules can't be use or irrelevant, just stick to the rule #0.

All in all, I would recommend all of you to read this. It don't has to be the guides that we are looking for, but the advice behind all Jane Austen's masterpiece. Jane Austen Explains It All For You; I found this post from Susan @ Hooking Up Smart. She extracted some of the dating's guide of the book and I think it's a lot easier for you to digest 300 pages in one post with short notes. Heads over to her blog and read it ;p She leaves us with a closure to think of;

"Are you a Jane Austen fan? Do you think she had it right?"

My answer; Yes she had it right. She lives in different era but she's still alive in every woman's heart. I even think she could be a Professor in Literature if she's still alive. Just saying.

So, do you think she had it right?
 

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