Amazon.com
Put the telescope away; the North Star mentioned here is a human body, not a heavenly one. And like Polaris, which has guided sailors for centuries, the human body's gut feelings and emotions can help guide a wayward soul back to his or her "essential self." In this absorbing combination of detailed self-awareness exercises and true stories from her own counseling experience (equal parts sobering and hysterically entertaining), Harvard-trained sociologist Martha Beck invites readers to explore their heart's desires and the vast social webs that keep such desires in check. The goal is not to forsake the "social self" and indulge every emotional impulse of the "essential self." Rather, Beck gives readers the tools and the encouragement to achieve maximum happiness by harmonizing these typically divergent voices.

Beck (author of Expecting Adam) admits that repairing a damaged emotional compass and setting out on such a vital journey--which often involves painful realizations and changes--"has all the combined attractions of suicide and childbirth." But the payoff, she concludes, is a love affair with real life. To that end, she walks readers through a lengthy exercise to evaluate their current lifestyle's pleasures and pains, teaches the process of listening to the body for directional cues, describes how to extract "soul shrapnel" (healing all those nasty, self-defeating emotional wounds), and provides an intriguing "Map of Change" to achieve an authentic life. Beck's impressive knowledge, her engaging (if somewhat irreverent) voice, and her ability to parse this scary process into achievable steps make her a new champion in the self-help arena. --Liane Thomas Book Description
“Explorers depend on the North Star when there are no other landmarks in sight. The same relationship exists between you and your right life, the ultimate realization of your potential for happiness. I believe that a knowledge of that perfect life sits inside you just as the North Star sits in its unaltering spot.”

Martha Beck has helped hundreds of clients find their own North Star, fulfill their potential, and live more joyfully. Now, she shares her step-by-step program that will help you take the exhilarating and frightening journey to your own ideal life. Finding Your Own North Star will teach you how to read your internal compasses, articulate your core desires, identify and repair the unconscious beliefs that may be blocking your progress, nurture your intuition, and cultivate your dreams from the first magical flicker of an idea through the planning and implementation of a more satisfying life. Martha Beck offers thoroughly tested case studies, questionnaires, exercises, and her own trademark wit and wisdom to guide you every step of the way. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (89)

Inspirational
This book gives helpful tips to help you find yourself and your way in life.

Many details, less essence
The approach of this author is very detailed. I consider the problem of naming one's calling very brief and simple in case the right approach is applied. And this book is so detailed and so long and the printing is so minute...Too much for as simple subject as defining one's calling should be. Three stars for endeavour.

Our inner compass
This book speaks wonderfully to our universal need to have a "star" to guide our life "ship" by. I highly recommend this book and FREE YOUR MIND by Anthony Stultz (a bestseller in the UK) who helps clarify the need to be clear about which direction our inner "north" is pointing to; freedom and success or ego slavery and depression. Enjoy.

A bit of egg on my face!
Turns out I was actually living a life better than the one I was meant to live. Oh well.

Oh my so very helpful!
I loved this book. It has been a blessing and helped me overcome my own inner struggles. Having lived a mentally tormenting life, it is not easy to overcome lifelong disapprovals of others. Martha has written a wonderfully insightful and helpful book. I totally agree that we have to follow our feelings, our gut feeling. Our inner selves always seem to know the answer. Don't miss this book. Highly recommended.

I am the author of:

One Boy's Struggle: A Memoir: Surviving Life with Undiagnosed ADD ... Read more

Product Description
The world is a mess. It seems that every time you turn around, there's another problem:

Iran is developing nuclear capabilities. Public schools actually seem to be making our kids dumber.Charlie Sheen has a hit sitcom. Obesity is a national epidemic.

The divorce rates is rising faster than gas prices. Did you hear me--Charlie Sheen has a hit sitcom!



This just barely scratches the surface. Sadly, there's no shortage of problems what we need now are solutions. If only there was a man who could simplify things, cut through the rhetoric and fix everything? Then, if he was just able to put all of that insight into a book that people could buy...in a store and online say, for like $24.99? Man, that would be great...

Wait a minute!

"Inconvenient Book: The Real Story Behind The Biggest Problems In The World!" is that very book the one source for the Real Story behind the problems that seemed too big and complicated to solve (until now) plus their common sense solutions. Think of it as a Hints From Heloise that's less "getting red wine out of your carpet" and more "keeping illegal aliens out of your country"... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (368)

ADD in print
This book is impossible to follow.Funny and witty but its like trying to talk to someone with ADD after a pot of coffee.each chapter should be its own publication cause the next one will go a mile away from that one.If you listen to Glenn's radio show then you dont need to buy this book, everything in here has been said on the show.Still there are parts and facts that are funny.I guess we should go with what Glenn said on his show.Buy a book and give it to a Liberal.

inconvenient but necessary truths
Must admit - some of this info over my head but is a necessary read in our day and time!

Conservative know everything.
First let me say I agree with Mr. Beck on several issues.His stand on the so called American union, and his point of view over political correctness.We are the United states of America, and we are a seperate nation from Mexico, and Canada.Though some very powerful Capitalists would like that to change.And If I want to speak negatively about Islam, homosexuality, or what ever, we have free speech in this nation.

All in all this is just another book that says Conservatives have all the answers, and everyone else is on drugs, or drunk, or stupid.

His rants about poor people remind me of that actor guy Conservatives are so proud of who once pretented to be president.Not all people who are poor are so because they are lazy.There are some poeple who are the working poor.As many opportunities in this nation dry up because the Capitalists have decided a living wage is too much to pay a worker, people living in the streets are on the increse, and many of them have jobs.Though not in Mr. Beck's world.Slave labor wages are just fine.

There is also a basic fault of science in his opposition to the idea of global warming.Let me take a poke at this theory of Mr. Beck's and see if I got this right.Humans breathe oxygen, and exhale carbon dioxide.Plants, mainly trees absorb carbon dioxide, and change it to oxygen.But in the name of the all mighty dollar we are destroying the earth's ability to handle the carbon dioxide by cutting down oh I do not know "The Rain Forest."So the carbon dioxide we as humans and animals exhale, that which is produced by industry, and road trips, kind of just hangs around, holds heat and causes disruptions in our atmosphere.

Then there is that free market thing, which is really a reason why 1% of the world's population controls nearly 90% of the wealth.Own all of our communications outlets, and media.Publishes nearly all music, and books, and produces nearly every movie.When was the last time you were in a mom and pop book store?When was the last time you pulled into a service station, to purchase gas, that was owned by mom and pop?And what happened to the corner diner?Free market.

Now someone will say this person is a liberal.No, I happen to agree with some of what both sides have to say, but I unlike most Conservatives do not believe Conservatives know what the h*ll they are talking about each and every time they open their mouths and try to speak.

This book would have you believe Conservatives are rightous, and honest, and it is those other guys who are corrupt.Conservatives are holier than the average bear.And Conservatives do not make mistakes, and when they do, it is for the greater good.Well just looking at the guy in the White House now should be very telling, that is if you are listening.Wire taps, torture, lies, cover ups, and these people attempted to impeach a President of the other party, for having oral sex in the Oval Office, because he was not honest about the situation.No one died.Yet we have seen the deaths of nearly 4000 young men and women, and the crippling of tens of thousands of others because of the lies from this president.Yet his party continues to stand up for this "Jackass."

Oh and that free market thing, this is why we cannot get our troops the equipment they need for survival because our heavy industry is nearly gone.Both parties are responsible for this mess.

Yeah Conservatives, and Boo Liberals.Get a good dictionary and look up the word Liberal.Basically is says live and let live.Conservative on the other hand, is somewhat muddled.These people want to tell you how to live meddle in your private life, and condemn you for just happening to be poor.Oh they also laugh at you for wanting, I do not know, a level playing field.If I pay taxes, by God so should the rich, and these Corporations.If I gain some money from a dead uncle, it becomes new wealth or capital gain for me just like savings interest, so tax that too.And no feeding the rich does not also feed the rest of us.Just maybe you will get the crumbs from the table.

This book is just a repeat of the Conservative blueprint, but do not tell anyone.

An inconvenient review!
I thought this book was absolutely amazing. Not only is it cool looking, but very substantive. I liked it soo much while reading it that I bought a second copy of it for my father.


Great book!

Very fun read!
Each chapter in this quick witted book tackles a separate hot topic. Just as is the case for Glenn Beck on CNN, he takes no prisoners in his attacks on the various political sides - and does so in a way that keeps the humor firmly intact too -- when that's possible.This is an opinion oriented book and so some folks might be put off.That I happen to agree with him is a side bonus. ... Read more

Book Description
Any sensible diet will help you lose weight, but the challenge for 90% of Americans is actually staying on the diet they choose.Enter Dr. Judith Beck and The Beck Diet Solution.Dr. Beck, one of the foremost authorities in the field of Cognitive Therapy, has created a four-week plan that will help people stick with their diet, lose weight with confidence, and keep weight off for a lifetime. This program is not only based on the authors personal success and on her success with her many clients, but also on published research. It all starts with how you think. With other programs, you think about nothing but food: counting, weighing, and worst of all, food you cant have. This way of thinking inevitably contributes to diet failure. The Beck Diet Solution is the only program that helps dieters use Cognitive Therapy methods scientifically proven over 20 yearsto forever change those treacherous thought patterns that lead to overeating, cheating, excuses, and other dieting downfalls. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (74)

serious stuff
Very serious book.If you are serious about changing your life, this is the book to do it.

Inside the Mind of the Thin
This book uses cognitive psychology to help you lose weight. Cognitive psychology is based on the concept that the way you think affects how you feel and what you do. Cognitive therapy, then, helps you identify your self-defeating thinking and helps you respond to it so you can feel better and behave in helpful ways. Instead of leading you step-by-step through a diet plan, this book addresses the psychology behind why you can't get yourself to follow one and lose weight. In this book, you pick the diet (and an alternative as a back up), and the book helps you follow it.

The set-up of the book is a six-week plan. Week 1 is laying the groundwork, where you pick 2 diets. Week 2 is getting prepared to diet, Week 3 is starting the diet, Week 4 looks into responding to sabotaging thoughts, Week 5 is about overcoming challenges, such as staying in control when you go out to eat, and Week 6 is fine tuning things.

All-in-all, I'd have to say that its a great resource to address the psycholgical side of eating. There's no magic to it, just a little looking inside yourself and addressing any barriers you have that may be holding you back. Readers should also be aware of their other book too, Beck Diet Solution Weight Loss Workbook: The 6-week Plan to Train Your Brain to Think Like a Thin Person.

Beck Diet
EXCELLENT BOOK HIGHLY RECOMMEND!Not a diet plan, but a change in thinking.Easy complete daily exercises to help you change your thinking about eating.works with any diet plan and helps you understand and change eating behaviors so that you can succeed with a diet plan of your choice.

Best diet resource tool ever
I am a Weight Watcher Lifetimer and this book integrates perfectly with the program.It is an in depth "Tools of Living" resource

Great Weight Loss Tool!
This book has great advice for developing the right attitude for weight loss.I am finding it very helpful in remotivating myself. The book consists of a short section of general info about the plan and then 6 weeks of day by day lessons.Everything that is in the book is in the workbook as well so I wound NOT purchase both.The workbook is probably the better buy because it is designed to write in and has preprinted "response cards" that tear out.If you are ready to commit to a weight loss plan, this is a great tool to keep you on track.

Another great motivational book is 100 Days of Weight Loss by Linda Spangle.I like Spangle's book a little better but that may just be personal opinion. ... Read more

Book Description
How many times does a dieter enthusiastically and faithfullystart a weight-loss regimen only to end up a week, a month, a year latergiving in to hunger and cravings again and again--and before he or sheknows it, the pounds have packed back on?

This time, it's going to be different. This time, there's The Beck DietSolution Weight Loss Workbook--a straightforward, effective plan fordieting successfully, losing weight with confidence, and, most importantly,keeping those excess pounds off forever.

Dr. Judith Beck, director of the Beck Institute for Cognitive Therapy andResearch, is a world-recognized authority in the field of CognitiveTherapy. In her first weight-loss book, The Beck Diet Solution, she createda unique program that revolutionized people's approach to shedding poundsby changing both behavior and thinking. Rather than tell what to eat, Dr.Beck's step-by-step, six-week plan--which works with any nutritiousdiet--teaches the skills needed to stay continuously motivated to stick toa diet and to achieve lasting weight loss.

Features

Customer Reviews (7)

My psychologist recommened this book
My psychologist and therapist recommned this book and we have been working through each step.

Some of the recommendations are great: sitting down for each meal (no eating while standing or in a car), eating slowly and mindfully, dealing with hunger, etc.

Best diet resource I ever owned
I am a Weight Watcher Lifetimer and this book intergrates perfectly with the program.It is an in depth "Tools of Living" resource

The Right Focus
Forget the latest, greatest diet craze. Dr. Beck has nailed it in this book:you have to change the way you think about food and eating if you really want to be succesful at losing weight.

This book helps you gain the skills to focus on what's important and the tools to successfully address dieting challenges. Best of all, she provides a framework to keep the focus positive so dieting becomes something you do for yourself, not to yourself.

If you've been frustrated with dieting before -- or are trying to lose weight for the first time, I highly recommend this book.

Workbook Inspires to Lose Weight
Beck Diet Solution Weight Loss Workbook is the perfect next step following the Beck Diet Solution (book). Everything I need to continue being motivated to lose weight is in your Workbook. Thank you JudithBeck. Having lost 17 lbs and continuing to lose 5 pounds at a time, I am elated!

Finally!
Finally something that works for this obsessed food addict!

I have read every diet/compulsive eating/obsessive eating/overeating/binge eating, etc book on the market & I have tried every diet out there. Nothing works. Some things work initially but then my old demons come back & ruin all my work. I have undergone hypnosis & had counseling & taken prescriptions but nothing ever worked long term.

Well this book really teaches you how to stop those self-sabotaging thoughts, ways, actions. It really does teach you to think like a thin person does. I never understood someone that could actually throw food away or not eat dessert if it was in front of them.

It is initially a good amount of work but far less than most binge eating books,etc. But you really have to do all the steps to break free. You won't need to do them forever & this is only a 6 week program. By the end of the 6 weeks you realize which tools you really need to use forever. But isn't being thin & healthy worth it? I think so.

The book is very clear about eating disorders. If you have one this book isn't for you.

And everything I ever read said you can't lose weight or stop eating until you peel back all the layers of you messed up life or childhood & I have to say it's not true this book gives you an alternative!

For the first time in I would say 10 years I see the light at the end of the tunnel & I can actually say no to overeating.

This book basically helps any diet work great. ... Read more

Book Description
In the tradition of her bestseller, Finding Your Own North Star, Oprah Magazine columnist Martha Beck reconnects readers with their best destinies. Described as one of the best-known life coaches in America in media such as Psychology Today, NPR, and USA Today, Martha Beck has demonstrated a rare gift for helping people whose lives have gone off course find their way back to authentic, rewarding lives. Now, in Steering by Starlight: Find Your Right Life, No Matter What!, Martha Beck describes the step-by-step process she uses with her private clients to help them navigate the terrain of their best lives. Bringing together cutting-edge research in psychiatry, neurology, and related fields in an accessible, substantive, original way, Dr. Beck offers powerful new methods for solving the problems that beset ordinary people. Using her trademark wisdom, empathy, and engaging style, she connects readers with fresh, never-before published strategies that have proven most effective and efficient for the hundreds of people she has coached. For readers who have found their North Stars, this book will be an invaluable tool to stay the course and overcome obstacles.For those who still feel adrift, it will provide a way to find true North and follow the path of best destiny. Dr. Beck identifies three stages along the path to recapturing a satisfying life:-'the stargazer' helps readers understand why it's so easy to lose themselves and offers strategies for sighting their North Star-'the mapmaker' uses this newly clarified perspective to evaluate one's situation and plot a course for upcoming years-'the pathfinder' discusses the adventures that may be encountered as one travels along this new life course Whether it's seeking better relationships, more focused career direction, the achievement of specific fitness goals, or a more harmonious lifestyle, Steering by Starlight's colorful anecdotes, case studies, and exercises will point the way. ... Read more

Book Description
The woman Psychology Today calls "the best-known life coach in America" shatters the myth that willpower is an effective weight-loss tool and introduces a revolutionary approach to lifetime leanness based on a series of "4-day wins" that work with any weight-loss program.This paperback edition includes a workbook where readers can complete the book's many exercises, making it even easier to follow the program! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (43)

four day win by martha beck
Excellent book, well written. Martha's sense of humor is unsurpass, I am still reading and laughing, and coming to terms with my inner wild child, wonderful, wonderful, wonderful. I plan to read all her books.
She is great, highly knowledgable in her field.
Thank you.

Wonderfully Unexpected
I wasn't expecting what I got.I thought this audiobook would be about setting goals for weightloss in 4 day increments.It ended up being tools I could use to change my life.I just finished listening all the way through (I stopped to do the tasks along the way).I'm getting ready for a second listen. I love that I got the audiobook; I'm not sure I would have gotten the same benefit from the text version.

I think you have to have an open mind to get the most benefit from these tools. People with a closed mind probably reject some of this because they are afraid to explore and take risks with their beliefs and feelings.

I think the author should write a book of this type specifically for smokers.If I'd had this when I was quitting smoking, I would have not suffered so much the first year. :-)

Excellent tools within!!
Once again Martha Beck has come up with a wonderful way of helping us to break thru our habits.I love doing the 4-day focus periods.It has helped me in all other areas of my life as well.

I highly recommend this book for those who would like to break thru their self-defeating habits so that they can start living a healthier life style.

Laugh out loud
Martha is one of the smartest writers I've come across.I look forward every month to her O magazine columns and laughed out loud so many times while reading The Four Day Win.That alone was enough to warrant many stars.I've begun to wear my gym shoes more often, and I've even begun circling the block where my gym lies.Last weekend I moved into an apartment within walking distance of my gym.So a workout is probably coming any day now. I'm sure Martha would love that!

The point is that hating yourself for your lack of physical prowess or your affinity for the dunkin' donuts parking lot is not conducive to the you you want anyway.Martha shows us that there is another way.I gave this book four stars because I haven't done any of the actual exercises she's given in this book.There are lots and quite frankly I'm too lazy, otherwise I'd be inside the gym and not eating the frozen yogurt next door to it.But when I'm ready for it, I'll start in on it.Martha Beck is great, she deserves at least one space of real estate on your bookshelf.And who doesn't enjoy winning?

The Four Day Win
I haven't finished the book yet, but it's awesome.Makes perfect sense to me.I wish there were less written assignments, but they're definitely thought provoking.It's so interesting and so on target I just want to read through it to gather more information rather then stop to do the assignments.I see myself in every situation.It's like Martha wrote the book for me.There is a support group in the Orlando area based on the book that I would have liked to join, but I was unable to because of the day and time it was offered.If another opportunity presents itself, I'd love to do the workshop.Get the book, you won't be disappointed. ... Read more

Book Description
This breakthrough six-week plan assures success by helping you assess the advantages of weight loss, pick a sensible diet and exercise program, set a goal, line up support, and prepare your environment - all this before starting any diet.This unique approach is key to preventing the downfalls that so often lead to failure. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Fabulous, Fabulous, Fabulous!
This is worth the money!I love the fact that it addresses the psychological issues surrounding overeating, and doesn't give prescriptive advice about what to eat.I already know what I should eat, but talking back to my self-talk that says "oh, go ahead and eat it and start tomorrow" is another story.

You won't be sorry you bought this.I highly recommend the workbook AND CD.

Good advice, and a good, solid plan.
This is the best, most honest advice you'll ever get to help you lose weight.There is no food plan here.She tells you to pick a nutritionally sound diet, as well as a back-up diet, and stick to it.She will help you change your thinking to think more like a thin person with some writing and "thinking" exercises.It's cognitive therapy, and you will learn why you should tolerate some hunger and cravings because craving something usually isn't an emergency, and your next meal is only a short time from now.

Sabatoging thoughts? Who would have thunk it?
I give this book 5 stars because I too have lost about 20lbs since I learned that the culprit of my weight loss failures were my own "sabatoging thoughts". The thoughts that say to you, "This bed feels too good to get out of, I'll just work out tomorrow". Or the thought that says, it's only a small donut, I'll get back on my diet tomorrow". Dr. Beck actually tells you what to say to yourself when sabotaging thoughts threaten your best efforts. I am finally on the right track now thanks to this book. She has helped me to nip my problem in the bud. Thanks Dr. Beck!

Excellent Weight Loss Tool
I have The Beck Diet Solution, the book, which is excellent, but still purchased the audio book, to listen to while driving and doing other activities.

The Beck Diet Solution is great because it explains that proper eating is skill that can be learned, just as any other skill, like skating, knitting, or tying your shoes!It dispels the mystery behind proper eating and weight control ~ why it seems that some people are successful and some are not.It then proceeds to teach you the skill of successful dieting and weight control ~ and also teaches that to truly learnthe skill, you must practice it.And as you use it, you will see success ~ I have lost 20 lbs. so far, and it has been consistent.More importantly, it also teaches you how to handle the inconsistencies, which are bound to occur, and still keep you focused on your goal.

Specifically, in regards to the audio book, the reading is clear, and the quality is excellent.

After I purchased the book, I then purchased a copy for my sister as a gift.I so strongly recommend this plan that I would recommend buying this book or audio book first before starting any eating plan, as this gives you the road map to the the Land of the Thin!

~:) ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (23)

Get This Book
One of my all time favorites.I'm not an M.D., Psychologist or even a very smart person, but the lessons in this book about self-evaluation and rational observation are crucial for all people.True it's geared to teach the very basics of Cognitive Therapy in a Clinical setting; I must say its applications are nearly endless.Take me for example.With this book under my belt I feel as if I've been given years of therapy in only a few hundred pages.I'm not kidding you.Not only that but I can usually always put my friends' fears, anxieties and whining to rest simply by mimicking the scenarios found within this wonderful text.Beck is a genius, his daughter is his disciple.Are you all about observing your life in a more rational fashion thereby alleviating your negative reactions to what you believe to be "not the end of the world" problems?Or do you need help counseling your needy friends?All I have to say is Enjoy.I read it at least once every year.

The Nuts and Bults
This book teaches the nuts and bolts of Cognitive Therapy. I first read this book as part of a graduate course on cognitive-behavioral therapy and have been using it as a reference book and an occasional refresher ever since. The book covers the most important structural and content components of cognitive therapy. It is didactic in format and interspersed with client/therapist dialogue illustrating various techniques and problem situations as well as the phases of therapy. This book is proof that Judith Beck is both a talented teacher and practitioner of cognitive therapy.

Informative
This book was useful and had many good resource tools in it for use in sessions.It was basic and I am next reading the challenging problems in therapy book by the same author.I believe that will help with those clients that are not so receptive to change and counseling.

came as ordered
The book came in a timely manner and arrived in new condition exactly as I ordered it. Very pleased.

Text for grad school
The book is easy to follow.Cognitive therapy seems like a good way to go, if you like things simple and organized. ... Read more

Book Description
Here is Martha Beck's all-in-one guide for recognizing your life's purpose, staying on course, and reaching your fullest potential for happiness. On Follow Your North Star, Beck offers straightforward-yet-simple tools for "charting" your life path by following the unchangeable "true north" markers of your life. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Great if you are going through a big change
I liked this a lot! Just be prepared to sit and meditate while the CD is on-- definitly not a cd set to listen to while driving ... Read more

Book Description

Do you want to live in The Real America?

As one of the most listened to nationally syndicated radio talk-show hosts and the driving force behind the Rallies for America, Glenn Beck entertains, inspires, and informs millions of listeners. In The Real America, Beck continues telling it like it really is, cutting through the fog of modern-day pundits and pontificators who have made it their mission to undermine and underestimate the greatness of America, our strength as Americans, and the power of the American spirit.

With his inimitable combination of self-effacing humor and heartfelt conviction, Glenn rails against many of the forces that keep us from our potential as a nation and as individuals -- and tells how to overcome them. His topics include:

• Family and community
• Politics
• Personal responsibility
• Religion
• Political correctness, the media, Hollywood, and celebrities
• Alcohol and drugs
• Why I wave the flag

Glenn Beck's compelling message in The Real America echoes the ideas he has delivered to thousands of people with his groundbreaking Rallies for America: Once we connect with our power individually, we can empower others -- and then we can be as great and as grand as we have always wanted to be as a person, as a people, and as a nation. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (189)

HIS TVSHOWSAYS BUY AMERICAN!
AT THE BREAK IN HIS SHOW THE BANNER SAYS BUY AMERICAN!
Buy American what?????
What do we make??????
However it's a nice `sound bite'!!!!!!!
Hes A HERO to those afflicted with arrested development.
His views simplistic to put it mildly.
LIKE THE SOUND BITE `BUY AMERICAN'!!!!! It appeals to the simplistic patriot in us!!!!

Beck doesn't know much about the plight of farmers.
He is a talking head on TV. A cross between Howard Stern and Rush!

Boring
Just some rambling of a bored person. I agree with most of it, but not really world shaking "Revelations".

Real America
Great book, fast read. Essays on a variety of subjects really hit home. Down to earth, common sense opinions on current political and social topics. Sometimes serious, sometimes sprinkled with caustic humor, Glenn Beck's take on the Real America resonates with truth and optimism.

Glad I borrowed it because spending money on it would be silly
While not a terrible book, Glenn Beck's The Real America has little to offer and is only meant for "Real Americans" i.e. his listeners.On the plus side, the font is a decent size.One problem I have is the little non-sequiturs sprinkled throughout the book.For example, in Chapter 3, he has 3 text boxes with the first half of a knock-knock joke that culminates with into a Michael Moore joke (evidently Mr. Moore is morbidly obese, greasy and a cancerous scourge on humanity per Mr. Beck).The book also offers more biting wit and satire.For instance, chapter 4 consists of nothing but the non-word "blah"interspersed with the current political buzz words of the day.It's also ironic that Mr. Beck entitles chapter 4 "Everything you need to know about partisan politics," I guess Mr. Beck doesn't engage in partisan politics.The other jokes are just as unoriginal and fall flat.
Another problem with the book is that the writing is awkwardly worded.While I'm not a professional communicator, I expect those that are to form at least a cogent idea.For example, on page 113 Mr. Beck writes, "If Al Gore had won the Florida election, the biggest winner would have been Disney.Because Al Gore could have gone directly the Hall of Presidents and moved in,..."The sentence would have flowed much better if he had used a comma.
However, Mr. Beck's explanation of his Mormon religion is nice and the Republicans who dislike Romney because of his religion should take a look at that chapter.
If you're a fan of the Beckster then you'll like this book, especially the autobiographical stretches.If not, then you'll find this to be an uninteresting political screed.Perhaps his new book is betteror maybe he should stick to radio.However, it is short.

Glen is great entertainment and insight
If yiou like the sensible point of view of a thinking person,,, you will like thi book and GLEn TOO. ... Read more

Book Description
Welcome to The Joy Diet, a menu of ten behaviors you can add to your way of living and thinking to enhance every day’s journey through the unpredictable terrain of your existence. You can add these behaviors gradually and watch your life become steadily more vivid and satisfying. Or you can go on a “crash Joy Diet” to help you navigate life’s emergencies.
The ten menu items are:

• Nothing: Do nothing for fifteen minutes a day. Stop mindlessly chasing goals and figure out which goals are worth going after.

• Truth: Create a moment of truth to help you unmask what you’re hiding—from others and from yourself.

• Desire: Identify, articulate, and explore at least one of your heart’s desires—and learn how to let yourself want what you want.

• Creativity: Learn six new ways to develop at least one new idea to help you obtain your heart’s desire.

• Risk: Take one baby step toward reaching your goal. The only rule is it has to scare the pants off you.

• Treats: Give yourself a treat for every risk you take and two treats just because you’re you. No exceptions. No excuses.

• Play: Take a moment to remember your real life’s work and differentiate it from the games you play to achieve it. Then play wholeheartedly.

• Laughter: Laugh at least thirty times a day. Props encouraged.

• Connection: Use your Joy Diet skills to interact with someone who matters to you.

• Feasting: Enjoy at least three square feasts a day, with or without food.

No matter what your long-term goals are, The Joy Diet, written with Martha Beck’s inimitable blend of
wisdom, practical guidance, and humor, will help you achieve the immediate gift of joyful living in the here
and now. Begin your journey today. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (20)

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Great recipe for creating more JOY in your life
I am a Martha Beck fan, having enjoyed and learned from the wisdom and insightfulness of several of her earlier books.After the heavy lifting done in "Finding Your Own North Star" (read it BEFORE this book if you haven't already), I was unsure if she could produce a substantive follow up. This book did not disappoint.

This book goes deeper into certain topics.It introduces ten daily practices to feed yourself and create more joy in your life.Beck recommends taking one step at a time and mastering it before moving on.I opted to read the book from cover to cover first and then reread it as I worked through each step.I spent more or less time on each menu item, depending on my level of mastery with each step (including being still/meditation, finding and telling your personal truth, identifying your desires, nourishing your creativity, taking risks, feeding your life with treats, playing, laughing, connecting to others, and daily feasting).

This book has obvious applications for those working through food issues.But its life applications make it a must read for anyone who is ready to create more joy in their daily life.

I once sat next to a dietician on an airplane who had arranged to have Martha Beck speak at their national conference - connecting the "Joy Diet" to the importance of their work.She found Beck so endearing that she commented, "she will always be `my Martha'".I think most female readers of Beck's books will feel this type of connection.Martha Beck "gets" her readers.She comes across as both intelligent and wise with a high level of common sense.She's tells you like it is while simultaneously inspiring you to do better and be more.She separates herself from many other self development authors by liberally sharing her quirky sense of humor to soften her straight talk.These are some of the reasons I use Beck's books in my life coaching practice and why I recommend that you add this book to your library today.

Mollie Marti, Ph.D.
Author, Selling: Powerful New Strategies for Sales Success

The Joy Diet:10 Practices for a Happier Life
Was veryy upset this item was on cassette tape.I was looking at CD's and this was brought up as something I might Like and I was interested and ordered.Unfortunately have not been able to listen to.Need to find cassette player.No a reflection of the item but a reflection of offering other items not in same listening category.

A Joyful Read
I had the great good fortune to be trained by Martha Beck, known nationwide as "Oprah's Life Coach." Martha is funny, open and wise -- as is her wonderful book "The Joy Diet."

OK, it's probably the only "diet" book that doesn't have one recipe in it! Maybe that's precisely why I like it so much! Martha leads the reader through 10 Daily Practices which will bring much more joy into your life. Take it from me, it really works! From finding stillness amid the cacophony of your day, to telling the truth and taking risks, if you follow Martha's "menu" you will leave the table feeling full, happy and... joyful.

Great way to make the cup half-full
This is a great book with Martha Beck's unique style.Very practical, funny, and applicable to your life. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

nice
I guess I should have read the fine print... I expected a full sized book, but this was one of those mini-books, very small, and since I expected a larger book, receiving this little thing left me with an initial feeling of disappointment. Not the vendor's fault... mine for ignoring details! ... Read more

Amazon.com
Expecting Adam is an autobiographical tale of an academically oriented Harvard couple who conceive a baby with Down's syndrome and decide to carry him to term.Despite everything Martha Beck and her husband John know about themselves and their belief system, when Martha gets accidentally pregnant and the fetus is discovered to have Down's syndrome, the Becks find they cannot even consider abortion. The presence of the fetus that they each, privately, believe is a familiar being named Adam is too strong. As Martha's terribly difficult pregnancy progresses, odd coincidences and paranormal experiences begin to occur for both Martha and John, though for months they don't share them with each other. Martha's pregnancy and Adam (once born) become the catalyst for tremendous life changes for the Becks.

Focusing primarily on the pregnancy but floating back and forth between the present and recent and distant past, Martha Beck's well-written, down-to-earth, funny, heart-rending, and tender book transcends the cloying tone of much spiritual literature.Beck is trained as a methodical academician. Because of her step-by-step explanation of her own progress from doubt to belief, she feels like a reliable witness, and even the most skeptical readers may begin to doubt their senses.When she describes an out-of-body experience, we, too, feel ourselves transported to a pungent, noisy hawker center in Singapore. We, too, feel calming, invisible, supporting hands when she falls.Yet, whether or not readers believe in Beck's experiences is ultimately a moot point. There is no doubt that Adam--a boy who sees the world as a series of connections between people who love each other--is a tremendous gift to Beck, her family, and all who have the honor of knowing him. --Ericka LutzBook Description
The "slyly ironic, frequently hilarious"(Time) memoir about angels, academics, and a boy named Adam...

A national bestseller and an important reminder that life is what happens when you're making other plans.

Put aside your expectations. This "rueful, riveting, piercingly funny" (Julia Cameron) book is written by a Harvard graduate--but it tells a story in which hearts trump brains every time. It's a tale about mothering a Down syndrome child that opts for sass over sap, and it's a book of heavenly visions and inexplicable phenomena that's as down-to-earth as anyone could ask for. This small masterpiece is Martha Beck's own story--of leaving behind the life of a stressed-out superachiever, opening herself to things she'd never dared consider, meeting her son for (maybe) the first time...and "unlearn[ing] virtually everything Harvard taught [her] about what is precious and what is garbage."

"Beck [is] very funny, particularly about the most serious possible subjects--childbirth, angels and surviving at Harvard." --New York Times Book Review

"Immensely appealing...hooked me on the first page and propelled me right through visions and out-of-body experiences I would normally scoff at." --Detroit Free Press

"I challenge any reader not to be moved by it." --Newsday

"Brilliant." --Minneapolis Star-Tribune ... Read more

Customer Reviews (191)

Very poor
I tried reading this book--I believe--twice and each time I didn't get very far. I didn't like it at all. I would have rated it a 0 if that was one of the choices. Don't waste your time. I should add though my really good friend did like this book..

Pretty good
I almost wish I hadn't found out more about Martha Beck's life before writing this review.If I hadn't I'd say this is a very good book, with some great messages and inspirational content.I thought she was bit rough on Harvard and seemed to stereotype people who seemed to wrong her.On the other hand, I really liked the message to live your life simply, enjoy the little things, and know there's more to life than just the workaday narrow view.

I had some problems with how much she talked about the morning sickness, and how Harvard people are, etc.Give the reader more credit.I got the picture pretty quick, and it just seemed to drudge on.But it was worth it, because Beck's a very good writer, with an excellent sense of humor and wry wit.All in all, I'd recommend the book.

Now, back to her personal life.I won't go into details, but it sort of detracts from the credibility of this book.Sounds like she might have fabricated other stuff in her life, covered it up, or maybe exaggerated it.Too bad, because I'd really like to believe what she went through.There are just too many bizarre and questionable things in her bio for me remain in total acceptance of the book's contents.

Inspired another memoir
As the mother of an inspirational young son overcoming a rare musculoskeletal condition, I first ran across Expecting Adam excerpted in Exceptional Parent Magazine. I went on to read Martha Beck's memoir, which I found intriguing, thought-provoking, and full of the consolations of humor. Beck's book prompted me to write my own son's story, a book endorsed by Isabel Allende, Anne Lamott and others known for chronicling life's twists and turns with humor and hope. I am hoping that readers familiar with Martha Beck's memoir might consider reading Finding Magic Mountain: Life with Five Glorious Kids and a Rogue Gene Called FOP, a book meant to share hope, faith, humor, and raise disability awareness.

Carol Zapata-Whelan

Not the story I expected
My wife insisted that I read this book. I would not have chosen it myself. Martha Beck tells a story about her son with Down's syndrome, a child that she was advised to abort. Her story is one that many will not believe. She has dreams that predict the future. She gets messages from her son through a medium. She receives aid from angels, or something very like angels. Through all of this, she remains down to earth, and freely admits the difficulty that she has with belief in such things. I, who am not inclined to believe in such things, believe Martha Beck.

Her writing style is fluid and clear. She is a good storyteller. This book is easy to read, and not easy to put down. She tells their story with tremendous verve, and with love. The description of life at Harvard is accurate. I spent four years there. She writes well enough to make me suffer flashbacks.

This is the story of a chance taken, a decision that the world disdains as foolish. In Beck's narrative it is a life affirming move. I responded to this book in an emotional way that surprised me. Her son teaches her more about living than Harvard ever could. If you read this book with an open mind, he will teach you too.

Beck is the best
She makes me laugh out loud - she is a fantastic writer.

I read this book while I was pregnant - by accident - it really got me into my pregnancy.Her experience "carrying Adam" was AMAZING.

I HIGHLY recommend all of her book.ALL OF THEM! ... Read more

Book Description
With eloquence and accessibility, Dr. Aaron T. Beck analyzes the actual dialogue of troubled couples to illuminate the most common problems in marriage--the power of negative thinking, disillusionment, rigid rules and expectations, and miscommunication. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

review
Good book! Finding it very insightful and very "real" life!Makes for entertaining reading while learning.

Review: Love is Never Enough
I purchased this book for a couple who were in need of some "3rd party" assistance to help them with communicating with each other.My understanding from the husband is that the information contained in the book has proved very helpful.

Excellent book!
I felt this book was insightful, consise, and most importantly helpful.The strategies in this book focus on automatic thoughts, your perception of your mate, and how to foster good communication.The tone of the book is very friendly and non confrontational.
If your relationship is in trouble, or you just want to improve your relationships, this is a good book to get.

Great book, but some shortcomings.....
This is a great book on cognitve therapy as it applies to relationships.It is well-written, rigorous and illustrates important points with useful examples.

This book goes way beyond what you might see in a pop psychology book and the material is presented in a way that it can be applied.It also provides a useful framework for understanding cogntive therapy in general.

What I feel is missing from this approach is honoring basic compatability.While emotions are strongly linked to thought, there is more to making a relationship work than working through communication patterns and automatic thoughts.

A useful complimentary book is "Will Our Love Last" by Sam Hamburg.This book looks at the aspects of relationship having to do with compatability along three dimensions... chemistry, what he calls wavelength and practical everyday living.This approach provides an alternative lens to look at what is going on beyond the cognitive aspects of the couple's situation.

Sustaining a relationship
Aaron T. Beck MD, is the father of cognitive therapy and professor of Psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania.His books on depression and anxiety broke new ground in the field of psychotherapy by demonstrating the power of breaking the link between automatic thoughts and emotional reactions.He married Judge Phyllis Beck in 1950 and the couple is blessed with children and grandchildren.

I have often been frustrated by the destructive habit patterns that emerge in my relationships.LOVE IS NEVER ENOUGH has helped me to understand their origin and more importantly, how to remove them.It has been a valuable tool not only for my personal but also my spiritual relationships.

Dr Beck writes that, _The essence of marital cognitive therapy consists of exploring with troubled partners their unrealistic expectations, self-defeating attitudes, unjustified negative explanations, and illogical conclusions.Through a tune-up of their ways of drawing conclusions about each other and talking to each other, partners have been helped by cognitive therapy to relate to each other in a more reasonable, less hostile way."

And it works! The basic principle of Dr Beck's approach is simple yet substantial.The cornerstone is to strive for a solid foundation of trust, loyalty, respect and security.In short, to become a committed ally, a supporter and champion of my mate.Second, cultivate the tender, loving part of the relationship, and finally, strengthen the partnership by developing a sense of cooperation, consideration and compromise.

These are lofty goals with abstract meanings.I have always known that I wanted these admirable attributes as a part of my relationships, however, it was not until I studied Dr Beck's cognitive therapy that I gained the tools required to implement.By recognizing when distortions automatically enter my thoughts, I am able to resist the naturally tendency of accepting them.Opposing the temptation to react provides me with control over my emotions and prevents me from falling into destructive behaviours and habit patterns.I am able to respond in ways that are consistent with my hopes, dreams and goals for my relationship.

If you are interested in developing stronger more secure relationships in all parts of your life, this book may be interesting to you.

PEACE ... Read more

Amazon.com
When graduate student Martha Beck's son Adam was born with Down syndrome, she and her husband left the chilly halls of Harvard for Utah and the warm, accepting embrace of the Mormon community. Determined to assimilate back into her childhood faith after years of atheism, Beck's disenchantment resurfaced when censorship from the church heavily influenced the curriculum at Brigham Young University where she taught part-time. More disturbing was Beck's eventual belief that her father, a virtual celebrity in the Mormon Church, had sexually molested her as a child.

Beck frames her narrative around a conversation with her aged father, dipping in and out of stories of her childhood, marriage, third pregnancy, and teaching. She contrasts her perceptions of the leadership of the institutional church as controlling and patriarchal with stories of the warmth and generosity of her Mormon community. Beck unfolds her search for identity, forgiveness, and a personal faith in competent prose, punctuated with surprising dark humor and glimpses into her anorexia, suicidal obsessions, and alleged abuse. Although she leaves readers with many unanswered questions after the last page is turned, one thing is clear: Beck believes that "no matter how difficult and painful it may be, nothing sounds as good to the soul as the truth." --Cindy CrosbyBook Description
As “Mormon royalty” within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Martha Beck was raised in a home frequented by the Church’s high elders in an existence framed by the strictest code of conduct. As an adult, she moved to the east coast, outside of her Mormon enclave for the first time in her life. When her son was born with Down syndrome, Martha and her husband left their graduate programs at Harvard to return to Utah, where they knew the supportive Mormon community would embrace them.

But when she was hired to teach at Brigham Young University, Martha was troubled by the way the Church’s elders silenced dissidents and masked truths that contradicted its published beliefs. Most troubling of all, she was forced to face her history of sexual abuse by one of the Church’s most prominent authorities. The New York Times bestseller Leaving the Saints chronicles Martha’s decision to sever her relationship with the faith that had cradled her for so long and to confront and forgive the person who betrayed her so deeply.

Leaving the Saints offers a rare glimpse inside one of the world’s most secretive religions while telling a profoundly moving story of personal courage, survival, and the transformative power of spirituality. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (186)

The REAL meaning of this book for me!
My Husband and I both read this book. It was recommended by our therapist. My husband was sexually abused as a child in the Catholic church. He "blocked" out everything through his adult life (an emotional "safety mechanism" if you will, everyone has one) until a traumatic accident brought some of the memories back. The book is not just for "bashing" the Mormon church. There are a few other things in there too. The BIGGEST problem for us is that these men (yes, men NOT god-like figures) in "high places" committed the CRIME of rape, molestation, sodomy, etc. and are STILL in their "high places" within the church! Or, they just get moved around to other churches! I think Martha was basically trying to say to her father "HOW COULD YOU!" AND in her book she tries to also teach people NOT to regard these "Holy Men" as the closest thing to GOD! You'd be surprised at all the skeletons these men have in their closets IF you investigate.
Besides, Martha finally found out that NO ONE needs a "middle man" to talk to God and to become spiritually enlightened. Do it on your own, Martha did!

Great Novel, Facts Spotty at Best, NOT a way to learn truths about Mormon Church!!!
I found this story at once triumphant and sad.This story of sexual abuse and the devastating effects on its victims is well-written and at times funny in a cynical way.I am truly glad that Mrs. Beck has found happiness within or outside of the Mormon church.The real problem I have with the book, are the generalities and flat out falsehoods that are perpetuated about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members.I can't fathom how such a purported advocate of research and citation could have no references to the outlandish information she puts in the book, not to mention how a person who allegedly grew up in the church could know (or pretend to know) so little about its principles.I have seen first-hand the immediate action taken by church leaders to not only deal with perpetrators of sexual abuse through church channels, but also their immediate report to law enforcement agents.Sorry, there is no great church conspiracy to hide sexual abuse, or to squelch freedom of thought or free agency among its members.

How can we believe anything Martha Beck says?
I am unable to put any stock in what Martha Beck claims, based on her history of being dishonest with herself and others.

At the beginning of this book the author states: "My whole life is shadowed by doubt. The only conviction I embrace absolutely is this: Whatever I believe, I may be wrong" [pg. 6].

Martha Beck and her husband co-authored a book more than a decade ago on how to overcome homosexuality.Both Martha and her husband have since come out publicly and declared that they are in fact gay.

It is interesting to read the newspaper articles where Martha's seven siblings are interviewed regarding the release of this book.All of them say that the claims of abuse are false. The most convincing of these is the younger sister that shared a room and bunk beds with Martha during the years when the abuse allegedly occurred.

I spent several years studying sociology and social work at a liberal university (like Martha).I can perfectly envision the kind of man-hating therapist that helped Martha "uncover" her repressed memories of abuse.I have met many such people.The power of suggestion can seem very real.

Obviously I cannot say beyond all doubt that the abuse did not occur.I only have evidence and experience to go on.

Interesting...
This was an interesting book to read, but one is left with the distinct impression that the author ends up in a place where anything and everything is ok (spiritually) and yet claims to be a Christian.To be a "Christian" means to be a follower of Christ, to live by the Bible, and to live a life reflecting Jesus. Where this woman ends up (in her book) is not at that place, so while she left Mormonism, she did not really find "Christianity"....yet :)

It just isn't true.
There is one simple problem with this book: nearly everyone who could corroborate Martha's account says that it isn't true. Isn't that generally considered the hallmark of a fabrication? ... Read more

Book Description
SHE IS A FASHION ICON WITH A LUST FOR FAME. HE IS POSSIBLY THE MOST FAMOUS ATHLETE ON THE PLANET.

Together they are one of the most loved -- and hated -- pairs on Earth. This sensational, highly addictive biography delves beneath the Beckhams' glossy, glamorous facade to expose the real Posh and Becks behind the headlines and the hype.

Celebrity biographer Andrew Morton, hailed for his insightful, in-depth coverage of luminaries such as Princess Diana and Madonna, explores in detail how David and Victoria Beckham followed their passions -- football and fame -- to become two of the most recognizable people in the world. From their individual childhood stories of relentlessly pursuing their dreams to achieving fame together on an international level, Posh and Becks have earned their unofficial titles as the "King and Queen of Popular Culture," and they never disappoint their fans -- or the tabloids -- when it comes to making news. Their whirlwind courtship, "royal" wedding, alleged affairs, and family struggles have been lived out under the glare of flashbulbs, which they seem to simultaneously court and shun as they attempt to balance their personal lives with their public personas.

With up-to-date coverage and commentary on all things Beckham, including David's disappointing stint at Real Madrid and the family's relocation to Los Angeles, Posh & Becks lays bare the truth behind the tabloids on this fascinating couple. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

not that bad, actually
Andrew Morton is presented as the something between the devil incarnate and the Brit version of Kitty Kelley but this book, Posh and Becks isn't that bad actually. In fact, it's pretty fair. He makes it clear that the whole Girl Power thing that the Spice Girls had going was actually crap. They were invented by two busnessmen and their careers were guided by their male manager. They were a business venture first and musicians second. But hey, they entertained a whole lot of people and they all got rich so who can complain?

Morton says that the Adams/Beckham wedding was tacky. Well, that's a mater of opinion but the pictures of the wedding did provoke more derisive laughter than envy in most people who commented publicly.

Morton presents Beckham as a nice guy who let's his wife make the decisions... that could said for most happily married men. Morton also brings up a few alleged affairs but he makes it clear that the women involved all told their stories to the media so their actions have to be suspect.

As for Victoria Beckham herself, Morton spent less time talking about her relationships before Beckham than she did in her own book. She complains bitterly about Morton in her book but all in all, Posh and Becks isn't a hatchet job and seemed rather mild to me.Pity about Beckham's soccer career though.

All the Dirt in a Single Handy Volume
Morton must receive his praise for putting together all the dirt there was on Posh and Becks. Is it morally wrong? By no means. Instead of digging through old glossy magazines you can check one book with a glossy cover.
One question which this book fails to answer is how a player who is apparently past his prime and a girl who never was a good singer could become and continue to be such celebrities world-wide. But this is not a question which has anything to do with this charming couple but with us.

POSH AND BECKS: " A Big Yawn...."
Now that Becks L.A. Galaxy career has come to an end for this season, and the team is in last place, the euphoria about POSH AND BECKS coming to Los Angeles has almost become "none newsworthy". However, I think that Andrew Morton did a brill job of research and writing about an ordinary couple who became mega stars, only to find their glamour fade to a trickle in Los Angeles.

Harassment of a Superstar.
This is a great easy read.
You won't believe the amount of Harassment That Victoria Beckham,
endured, she is so young and talented.
The book is about her rise to fame and marriage etc.
Nothing would have stopped her career and her Millions.
There are some shocking photos in this book but you get a good idea of who she really is. ... Read more

Book Description
What is the beginning and end of our practice? Simply, to create a little shift from the spinning world we've got in our heads to right-here-now." So begins Charlotte Joko Beck on Living Everyday Zen, the first audio program from this cherished voice in American Zen. Living Everyday Zen collects essential insights from Charlotte Joko Beck's half-century of teaching into three vivid CDs. Here, this legendary Zen teacher and bestselling author talks to people from every spiritual tradition on the topics of:* Zen: to clearly see you are life itself and not separated from life* Wearing out your "if onlies" to discover for yourself