Customer Comments

I want to start out by saying that this book came in a collection of new releases that I won. I wasn't seeking out a book on grief. I didn't think I needed one. I lost my little brother when I was 21 and worked through the proper steps of grieving twenty years ago. On top of that, as a therapist, I've had lots of psych classes including one on Disenfranchised Grief. I wasn't overly-confident about how to handle my own grief or support a loved one, but I certainly didn't think that I was doing it all wrong. This book was riveting from the beginning and I didn't want to put it down. I love that a woman who is a therapist is brutally honest about our broken approach to grief. The reason for her outspoken opinion breaks my heart and the candid reflections on how insensitive our culture is regarding grieving also break my heart. I feel like this book should be required reading - at least by high school. It's tough reading, but I truly believe it could change the way people respond to the subject of grief. We could support ourselves and others so much better. We could stop accidentally hurting one another by repeating the cycle of insensitive responses that we learned from our parents and culture. This book is absolutely worth reading!

I do a lot of driving and opted for the CD version of this book. Listening to Brene read her wise and well researched words was amazing. She lit my brain and soul on fire chapter after chapter. WARNING: There will be many moments when you'll have the urge to write down something brilliant she said. Please pull over to do that if you're driving. One of my favorite things was the way she wove the words of others into her lessons, particularly Maya Angelou. This book/CD has transformative power and I strongly recommend it. If enough people read this and took in half the lessons of Brene's research, oh, what a beautiful world we'd create!

Gilbert is an eloquent writer who manages to capture the art of stating brilliant things in a funny way. I was transported to other countries and able to experience their culture and wisdom through this book. Gilbert was like the best friend from whom I vicariously became a wiser and more rounded person. Although there are many, many great lines in the book, my favorite is early on: "I wanted to explore the art of pleasure in Italy, the art of devotion in India and, in Indonesia, the art of balancing the two. It was only later, after admitting this dream, that I noticed the happy coincidence that all these countries begin with the letter I. A fairly auspicious sign, it seemed, on a voyage of self-discovery."

An inspiring book that can give us all insight into why we do. Rubin really forced me to recognize my tendencies and how I respond to expectations place upon me by myself and others. My favorite thing about this book is that it didn't drop me off on a path right behind an incredibly successful person and tell me to follow. Rubin recognizes that what worked for someone else may not work for me and it's up to me to use strategies that work for myself. If you like Brene Brown, you'll love this book!

This is the sort of book that will maintain a spot on my bookshelf next to my other all-time favorites. I hope to read this book every year in order to remind myself of what is truly important in life. I love the way the book is structured - a question is asked and a thoughtful and insightful answer is provided. It's the type of book that instantly calms me and provides me with a simple nuggets of ancient wisdom. This is a treasure totally worth the investment!

Eager to read publications about autism? Don't discredit this novel, the curious incident of the dog in the night-time, by Mark Haddon just because he doesn’t have an ASD diagnosis. Haddon worked with people on the autism spectrum as a young man and provides a unique and plausible perspective of a boy working through his anxiety, love for math, and loss of a parent. My favorite paragraph: "And when Mother and Mr. Shears argued I took the little radio from the kitchen and I went and sat in the spare room and I tuned it halfway between two stations so that all I could hear was white noise and I turned the volume up really loud and I held it against my ear and the sound filled my head and it hurt so that I couldn't feel any other sort of hurt, like the hurt in my chest…" It’s a quick and enjoyable read that the parent of one of my client’s loaned to me. I definitely recommend checking it out!

This book was so hard to put down. Haddon did a fabulous job of creating a character that feels so real and sincere. My heart instantly melted for the protagonist and the challenges he faces. I loved the way the justifications and rationale for the Christopher's behavior were revealed. This novel reminded me that we all have unique perspectives and that even though something may not immediately make sense to me, it may make perfect sense for someone else. Great read - especially for anyone who is closely or distantly connected to someone on the autism spectrum in their life.

I grabbed this book a few days into my 10 day vacation because I needed something. It turned out to be a pretty irresistible book. Character development was steadfast for a mother and daughter simultaneously. If you have adoption in your family, this book might be particularly provocative. I do. And it gave me some new ideas and perspectives to consider. The book is long, but went quickly. I completed it before my vacation was over and really enjoyed it.

This book is short & fast paced. I really enjoyed the layout and found so many chapters enlightening all by themselves. Put together, the book made me smile, laugh, cry, and roll my eyes at some of the protagonist's decisions. Ultimately, I walked away feeling very satisfied and excited about shifting my own perspective on life. Definitely worth the read!

As a Portlander, a singer/songwriter and a music therapist familiar with some of the challenges of mental health, I found this book riveting. Large writes in a style that is easy to read and brutally honest. As she shared the story of her life, the manner in which she described incidents from her perspective in that moment before ultimately reflecting upon her life in the present moment, was truly brilliant. I highly recommend this book!

Regardless of whether or not you consider yourself a runner, this book is fantastic. McDougall intertwines the history of running with his own exciting quest for the secret to running well and injury free. I couldn't put this book down and never wanted it to end! I walked away from this book feeling inspired and excited to modify my own lifestyle in order to experience this ancient yet 'new' concept of running and living. This book inspired me to change what I wear on my feet and what I put into my body. People constantly question my new shoes and beverage of choice - and my answer always includes the recommendation of this book. And the philosophical question still rings in my ears: Are runners happy because they run or do they run because they're happy?

Inspiring author, per usual...idealism mixed with enough realism to make the reader go to sleep at night with a dream in their heart, a smile on their face and the question: What if?? lingering in the air.