Book Description
In "Beyond Fear," Bruce Schneier invites us to take a critical look at not just the threats to our security, but the ways in which we're encouraged to think about security by law enforcement agencies, businesses of all shapes and sizes, and our national governments and militaries. Schneier believes we all can and should be better security consumers, and that the trade-offs we make in the name of security - in terms of cash outlays, taxes, inconvenience, and diminished freedoms - should be part of an ongoing negotiation in our personal, professional, and civic lives, and the subject of an open and informed national discussion.
With a well-deserved reputation for original and sometimes iconoclastic thought, Schneier has a lot to say that is provocative, counter-intuitive, and just plain good sense. He explains in detail, for example, why we need to design security systems that don't just work well, but fail well, and why secrecy on the part of government often undermines security. A skeptic of much that's promised by highly touted technologies like biometrics, Schneier is also a refreshingly positive, problem-solving force in the often self-dramatizing and fear-mongering world of security pundits.
Schneier helps the reader to understand the issues at stake, and how to best come to one's own conclusions, including the vast infrastructure we already have in place, and the vaster systems--some useful, others useless or worse--that we're being asked to submit to and pay for.
Customer Reviews:
Reading it improves the reader security intelligence.......2007-07-05
The content of this book slightly overlap the content of the author previous book Secrets and Lies: Digital Security in a Networked World but presents the material with a different angle. An angle with the perspective of a security expert that witness security measures taken by governments in reaction of the 9/11 terrorism attack and wants people to understand the absurdity of some of these measures.
It is not technical at all and does not necessitate any particular background to understand and enjoy. The author explains clearly how to make a risk assessment of something that you want to make more secure and then evaluate the cost of the security measures. Only when you have that data, you can evaluate if the added security is worth it.
These explanations are backed up with concrete examples such as evaluating the risk to make purchase with a credit card over the internet. Other examples include the absurdity of securing a lunch in a company refrigerator because the potential loss if having a lunch stolen does not justify securing it. The author also explains that even with technologies that looks very accurate such as facial recognition with an error rate of, let's say, 0.0001 % are totally ineffective when they have to control a huge number of persons like a stadium crowd because even with this accuracy, they would create an unmanageable amount of false positive alerts.
The author also elaborate about why you should question the motivation of a security provider when it is a third party and link this with how people fears can be exploited to introduce invasive, excessively expensive and inefficient security measures. I think that the goal of the author was to make people more critics about security questions and my opinion is that his goal has been successfully achieved.
Sensible security for an unsensible world.......2007-06-05
Most people think that they think rationally about security decisions.
Most don't even know when they're making security decisions.
Fewer know what those decisions really entail.
Only Bruce Schneier knows how to make those decisions sensibly, and he's passing that information along to the world.
Funny.......2007-01-10
I never thought I'd find a security book that made me laugh. Both amusing and informative, I had a hard time putting this one down.
Very Good, and Not as Muddled as One has Claimed.......2005-10-19
This book is very informative, interesting, and entertaining. I've recommended it to people both within and outside the CS and IT communities w/o reservation.
Rather than reiterating things said in the many positive reviews, I'd like to take issue with one reviewer who says Schneier misuses the term "threat." In particular, this reviewer says "A threat is a party with the capabilities and intentions to exploit a vulnerability in an asset." This definition is both counter to standard English usage and counter to standard usage within the computer security field. Every book on my shelf has roughly the same definition of threat: "Threat: a potential for violation of security, which exists when there is a circumstance, capability, action, or event that could breach security and cause harm. That is, a threat is a possible danger that might exploit a vulnerability" -- Stallings, Network Security Essentials, p. 5. So a threat is condition or event, not a party. The reviewer seems to confuse threat with potential adversary.
Schneier's terminology is the standard terminology, and he uses it correctly.
Security or Liberty? Both!.......2005-06-30
I first read about Bruce Schneier in an eye-opening article by Charles Mann in the September, 2002 issue of The Atlantic Monthly. It seems that you don't have to make the false choice everyone is agonizing over between security and liberty. You can have both.
Schneier's book expands on the ideas in the article. Although Schneier is a technology fan and it is his livelihood, he realizes that sometimes a live security guard can provide better security than cutting-edge (but still fallible) face-recognition scanners, for instance. He explains why national ID cards are not a good idea, and how iris-scanners can be fooled.
These are ideas for security on a large scale, for airports, nuclear and other power plants, and government websites. For security on an individual or small business scale, try Art of the Steal by Frank Abagnale. But even if you don't run a government, Beyond Fear is a fascinating read about how your government is making choices (and how they SHOULD be making choices about your security and about your rights.
Amazon.com
Psychology rules the stock market, according to Hersh Shefrin. In Beyond Greed and Fear, Shefrin shows how bias, perception, and other aspects of psychology often rattle investors and move stocks. From the individual who keeps losers too long to overconfident money managers who mistakenly think they can predict financial trends, human nature foils investment returns. "Behavioral finance is everywhere that people make financial decisions. Psychology is hard to escape; it touches every corner of the financial landscape, and it's important. Financial practitioners need to understand the impact that psychology has on them and those around them. Practitioners ignore psychology at their peril," writes Shefrin, a finance professor at Santa Clara University. An academic volume geared toward financial professionals, the book details an emerging field known as behavioral finance, in which psychology is believed to be at least as important as market fundamentals, such as earnings and balance sheets. Shefrin describes how investors are motivated by fear, hope, overconfidence, and the need for short-term gratification. The book gives plenty of examples of investment mistakes, and analyzes them from a behavioral-finance perspective. While Beyond Greed and Fear targets professionals, individual investors will benefit from this look at an important mover of markets. --Dan Ring
Book Description
Even the best Wall Street investors make mistakes. No matter how savvy or experienced, all financial practitioners eventually let bias, overconfidence, and emotion cloud their judgement and misguide their actions. Yet most financial decision-making models fail to factor in these fundamentals of human nature. In Beyond Greed and Fear, the most authoritative guide to what really influences the decision-making process, Hersh Shefrin uses the latest psychological research to help us understand the human behavior that guides stock selection, financial services, and corporate financial strategy. Shefrin argues that financial practitioners must acknowledge and understand behavioral finance--the application of psychology to financial behavior--in order to avoid many of the investment pitfalls caused by human error. Through colorful, often humorous real-world examples, Shefrin points out the common but costly mistakes that money managers, security analysts, financial planners, investment bankers, and corporate leaders make, so that readers gain valuable insights into their own financial decisions and those of their employees, asset managers, and advisors. According to Shefrin, the financial community ignores the psychology of investing at its own peril. Beyond Greed and Fear illuminates behavioral finance for today's investor. It will help practitioners to recognize--and avoid--bias and errors in their decisions, and to modify and improve their overall investment strategies.
Customer Reviews:
Look to market experts for success.......2005-12-21
So long as market investors are human beings rather than machines, market participants will be governed by emotion. The efficient market theory, as Warren Buffett states, works most of the time. But when unusual or exceptional news comes into play, a stock (and/or markets) nearly always overreacts.
The best book I have found on investing is "The Intelligent Investor". There is a clear picture of what works and does not work in investing, and why. There is a fair amount of analysis of the behavior of market participants.
Warren Buffett asserts that he doesn't have much use for what is taught in a typical college business class. As he points out, if professors understand stocks and markets so well, why are so few of them wealthy? People like Ben Graham, Buffett and Peter Lynch are not 'lucky'. They read a great deal, they have keen insight into what makes a stock go up and they are unafraid to buy when prices are low if prospects look good. I would prefer to emulate those who are truly successful rather than those who postulate about what may work.
Selective Presentation of the Evidence.......2005-06-26
I am a behavioral economist with a deep belief in the notion that human decision-makers deviate in important ways from the scientific principles laid down in modern rational choice theory. There is no doubt but that very many investors hold erroneous notions of the dynamics of price movements, and having a correct understanding will, on average lead to better returns on one's portfolio. Sheffrin presents the evidence for this position in an interesting and accessible manner.
Shefrin's main advice for investors is absolutely correct, and would improve the asset positions of many poor souls with idiotic notions of stock dynamics. His advice is that if you are not a gifted and dedicated stock expert, you should invest in a low-maintenance cost array of mutual funds, and above all, do not churn your stocks. It doesn't help to be smart, lucky, a stud with the girls, or blessed by God. Moreover, if you think you have one of the "gifted analysts" for a broker, you are to be counted as among the suckers who are never given an even break.
Shefrin has another thesis which he presents with great verve, but which is on very shakey grounds. This is that "gifted stock analysts" can on average, significantly out-perform the market. He believes this MUST be the case if a significant fraction of investors are behaving irrationality. However, there is another possibility, which is that stock brokers as a group gain from the excessive churning that irrational investors permit or ask them to do, but that it is impossible to "beat the market" except by pure luck or by personally studying firm fundamentals and future prospects.
Shefrin's data in favor of the "gifted analyst" is episodic and anecdotal, and there is plenty of data on the other side. For instance, in Malkiel's classic "Random Walk Down Wall Street", he relates the evidence that chimps throwing darts do as well as major brokerage houses. Sheffrin presents contrary evidence for a more recent period in which "gifted experts" outperform the random darts. New evidence, collected by Money magazine, shows that a group of experts did far worse than the darts in 2003. All of this evidence is spotty and anecdotal. The plural of anecdote is not data.
I am not convinced by this book that the efficient markets hypothesis, applied to final returns to investors (after payments to stock brokers and other transactions costs), is not correct. I think the author makes a mistake taking so strong a position when the evidence is so weak on this account. I am certainly not convinced that Malkiel's analysis is in any way overturned by new evidence.
However, if Shefrin convinces a few investors to act more sanely, he will have fulfilled an important social function.
Packed with Knowledge ! .......2005-02-23
If only you could bring yourself to ditch those losers from your portfolio, and hang onto your winners. If you can, you are unusual. Unprofitable habits afflict nearly all investors, beginners and pros alike, writes Hersh Shefrin in this intriguing study of the role of emotions in investing. Shefrin balances the jargon with plenty of real-world examples and wisely cautions you not to delude yourself into thinking that his tips will make you rich. Viewing investing through the prism of behavior finance, he analyzes emotionally-laden decisions made by private investors, money managers, bankers and other professionals handling stocks and various other forms of investments including options, foreign currency and futures. Shefrin offers juicy case histories, so his tour of behavioral finance is mostly enjoyable and useful. At times, though, the book bogs down in the author's attempts to legitimize behavior finance, a relatively new school of thought. For instance, he charges failed investors with committing "heuristic bias" or falling prey to "representativeness." That quibble aside, we recommend this intriguing tome to investment decision makers on any level. Whether you are running billions or managing a retirement account (which, as Shefrin notes, most people do badly), maybe this book will buffer you against emotional investing and pocketbook pain.
Comprehensive, Entertaining Overview of Fascinating Field .......2004-12-25
Wondering what Brealy & Myers or Sharpe left out? Don't expect your broker (or fund manager, excepting Richard Thaler) to fill you in. This book is a must read for any active (or passive) participant in the markets, or any other citizen who is affected by said markets. Meaning all of us.
Shefrin provides a masterful exposition of the application of cutting-edge cognitive psychology to the behavior of retail and institutional investors, analysts, mutual fund managers, CEO's and even heavily-advised university investment committees. The result is the theoretical demolition of the efficient markets hypothesis in even its weakest form, and the related CAPM(s), catching up to their long-noted empirical failings. As it turns out the market does have a memory, and that's not just an anomaly any more. Not every trade is zero-NPV: trust the market price at your own peril. Think dividends are irrelevant? Think again.
What we're left with is a fascinating account of how market participants actually behave: holding on to losers too long, trading too much and trading on "noise," and most alarmingly, undersaving for retirement. What is significant is that these phenomena are so prevalent that they can no longer be dismissed as irrational with the hope that "more sophisticated" money will magically correct the market. To the contrary, what Shefrin describes is proved to be the psychological norm; if you believe you're different, you're either very lucky or overconfident about your lack of overconfidence.
One quibble, in an area that I have looked at before, is in Shefrin's discussion of takeovers. First, I found a bit of confusion between the question of whether the takeover premium should be tested by reference to the post-announcement combined value of both firms, or just the buyer. Since the buyer's CEO is initially fiduciary for just his shareholders, I see only the latter as relevant.
More significantly, Shefrin does not provide any means to rigorously discriminate among his hubris hypothesis and other, more rationalistic theories, such as agency costs and private benefits. And his brief treatment omits many puzzling follow-up questions: if CEO psychology has the potential to systematically destroy shareholder wealth, what should we then conclude about the investors and analysts who allow them to get away with it? Just a governance problem, or is there yet another psychological story to be told?
But the desire to delve further into the subject is just indicative of Shefrin's compelling and readable narrative. For bottom line types, I'm afraid the answer to your question is no, he doesn't explain how to get rich. But you'll surely do alot better with a single yellowing copy of Graham & Dodd than all the reams of abstruse, dogmatic journal articles ever spewed by the Chicago School.
A very good book, but quite academic.......2003-04-29
I had mixed feeling about this book. Content wise, it's incredible. It's full of real life stories, data, analyses, propositions of many so called market anomalies. However, I really find some of the chapters too long, especially those after chapter 5. The author had copied his style of thesis writing and actually many of his own theses (he's a renowed professor after all) into a book which has a big audience group of investors or traders who want quick fix or certain level of entertainment and personal improvement. In these respects, the "Psychology of Finance by Lars Tvede" and the "Devil take the hindmost by Edward Chancellor" are "easier" but not definitely better alternatives.
Anway, this is one of the very few "serious" books about behavioural finance that is relatively practical. If you are abound of time, go for it. Otherwise, you may try the two books I mentioned above.
p.s. I like the following the most: In April 1997 Financial Times ran a contest suggested by economist Richard Thaler. Readers were told to choose a whole number between 0 and 100. The winning entry would be the one closest to two thirds of the average entry. The winning choice is 13. The real point of this game is that playing sensibly requires you to have a sense of the magnitude of the other players' errors. Hope you got it right.
Book Description
What would legendary Boston Celtics coach and 16-time NBA champion Red Auerbach say is the most critical quality for a person to be successful? Would his advice differ from 10-time NCAA championship coach John Wooden's? What would each say to a young person just starting out in pursuit of their dreams? What is the best advice they were ever given?
It took author Christian Klemash more than two years of research, persistence, and original interviews, but now he's ready to pass on the best advice you'll ever get. Only the rare individual has had the opportunity to pick the brain of just one legendary sports coach—let alone thirty-four of the best sports coaches of all time. Klemash gives sports fans a once-in-a-lifetime chance to learn valuable life lessons from the most famous, intelligent, and victorious coaches ever. The legends span the sports world, from gold medal-winning gymnastics coach Bela Karolyi and three-time college football championship coach Tom Osborne to four-time World Series-winning baseball manager Joe Torre and hall-of-fame boxing trainer Angelo Dundee.
These coaches know how to teach top athletes about character and winning, how to manage pressure at crunch time, and how to bring out the best in their players when it matters most. How to Succeed in the Game of Life shares their insights into sports, life, and the most vital keys to sustain success.Featuring Exclusive Interviews with:
Red Auerbach, 16-time NBA World Champion
Bobby Bowden, College Football's All-Time Winningest Coach, 2-time National Champion
Scotty Bowman, 9-time Stanley Cup Champion
Bill Cowher, Super Bowl Champion
Tony Dungy, Super Bowl Champion
Dan Gable, 15-time NCCA Champion
April Heinrichs, Gold Medal Winning Coach of the U.S. Women’s Soccer Team
Bela Karolyi, The World’s Greatest Gymnastics Coach
Bill Parcells, 2-time Super Bowl Champion
Emanuel Steward, Boxing Trainer of 30 World Champions
Joe Torre, 4-time World Series Champion
Bill Walsh, 3-time Super Bowl Champion
Lenny Wilkens, NBA’s All-Time Winningest Coach, NBA Champion
John Wooden, 10-time NCAA Champion
And More!
Customer Reviews:
A Great Read.......2007-08-26
Wow!Could not put it down.An extraordinay self help book.Gave it to my kids they loved it.Don't miss this one
What a great read!.......2007-07-25
I took it on vacation with me and I couldn't put it down. A great book for aspiring athletes and coaches as well as your average Joe who works 9-5. The coaches discuss a variety of topics from their childhood to how they motivate their players. Any easy read for all ages.
Game of life.......2007-07-24
I've read through Game of Life and I enjoyed it very much. There are so many things to take from this book, not just into sports, but also some reflections on life. I would recommend this book to everybody.
Coaching advise from athletic coaches.......2007-06-27
A fun read, especially if yoiu're a sports fan. I read it in search of things that would help my own ability as a coach in my company. Much of it is light stuff but the easy read makes it fun nonetheless and there are few golden nuggets laced throughout the book.
Overcome Adversity.......2007-04-12
Anyone looking for inspiration, either for their own life or to share with others, will find a gold mine of quotes here. This book isn't just for sports fans.
Book Description
At last, step-by-step guidance and concrete exercises that tailor the Feel the Fear program to the demands of your busy life!
With her phenomenal bestseller Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway, renowned author Susan Jeffers has helped millions of people overcome their fears and move forward in their lives with confidence, action, and love. Now in this new work, Dr. Jeffers takes us by the hand and gives us step-by-step examples that help us to incorporate her profound insights into our daily lives.
Tailored for both individual and group use--including an invaluable 30-Day Power Planner--Feel the Fear . . . and Beyond offers simple yet effective techniques for handling whatever life brings us in a strong and life-affirming way. This empowering book shows you how to
¸ Identify and conquer the one deep, abiding fear that runs your life
¸ Get in touch with the most loving part of who you are
¸ Let go of the victim mentality that pulls away all your power
¸ Confront new situations with confidence and love
¸ Open your eyes to the abundance
And much more!
Fear may be part of our lives--but we can stop it from dominating us. In Feel the Fear . . . and Beyond, Dr. Jeffers helps us work through our worries and anxieties, and achieve the blessings of fulfillment, love, gratitude, and inner strength.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent book - the review above is unfair.......2007-09-10
This book is a useful, empowering workbook for the widely-respected "Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway" book and Amazon does readers a disservice by leading off this listing with such a negative review.
Susan Jeffers work has provided many people with grounded, thoughtful ways of moving beyond paralyzing fears.
I have a master's in counseling, and I recommend this book wholeheartedly for anyone who wishes to live a brave, exciting, full life.
Feeling the Fear.......2007-04-12
Half way throught the book there are a lot of exercise and personal work for the individual reader. Trying to read through one time and then read again and do the accompany work. Insight thoughtful. Personal crises and stories and the author personal battle with cancer and overcoming. Up lifiting make you feel better about yourself and makes you ralize that we all have fears and we need to over come them to be able to move on with out lifes. Enjoyed the book so far.
Excellent Also.......2007-01-03
The book and audio book is a FANTASTIC combination.
I love it!
SUSAN DOES IT AGAIN!!!! .......2005-09-19
A great extension to "Feel the fear and do it anyway." Susan lists a lot of different excerises that can help you get better in time.
She gets right to the point of the matters again.
"Feel the fear and do it anyway" is still a classic. I would highly reccemend for all of you to read her first one before this one. However, do what you like. THis is a great sequel but I still found "FEel the fear and do it anyway" to being the best self help book of all time. This is still a great book, but it's just a big extension from her first classic.
One of the more rememerable moments in this book was when she says over and over again. "What a great reason to do the exercises!"
It's a great sequel and will help you all that are suffering from anxiety and depressive related illnesses. You just gotta give it time and make sure you aren't allowing your fears to get in your way of making you healthier and stronger.
WORTH THE $$$.......2002-07-05
Wow, Dr. Jeffers. Excellent work. I felt depressed and lonely about some recent health news (infertility/blocked fallopian tubes). I started to become afraid about many things in life, as result of the "crisis" at 30! I remembered your tape from long ago and so I purchased it, the 4 box set. Loved it. Within days, I was able to see past the fear and get to the root. I listen to your tapes weekly as a "refresher". You're a blessing in my life. I appreciate you and your work.
Book Description
Fear is the source of all of the negative agreements we've made with life. It can alienate us from the joy that is our birthright. When we are able to look at our lives without fear or judgments, we realize that reality can be whatever we want it to be. Beyond Fear leads seekers of the Toltec way of freedom and joy on their spiritual journey into a state of empowerment.
More expansive and in-depth than The Four Agreements, Beyond Fear contains information on life after death, prophecies about the evolution of humanity, and exercises and ceremonies to walk readers through the process of shedding fear and becoming spiritually and emotionally alive.
Customer Reviews:
Release the fears that keep us in the dream of hell.......2007-09-23
This "Toltec Guide To Freedom and Joy" is based on teachings by Don Miguel Ruiz. There are many words that are directly from him, and shown as such, but the book is written by Mary Carroll Nelson who has collected and recorded Don Miguel's teachings.
I picked up this book on several different visits to the bookstore trying to decide if I should buy it. I found many spiritual principles that I'd already read and understood from other places, and more that peaked my interest. The idea that this is all an illusion is sometimes difficult to understand even though I can believe it. The teachings about fear and how we are conditioned to it and how to break out of it are the main course of the book.
There's lots of info here that I hadn't come across before. The ideas of hell and the Judge and Victim. The part about how "Everything we do is based on agreements" -and how that limits us. As I read this through the first time, there were some things that were foreign and hard for me to grasp. When I finished the book I almost felt like I'd just finished a sci-fi book. It's not that I don't believe what I read, it's just that some of the ideas are new to me. There are lots of intriguing thoughts and ideas about spirituality, life, death and fear and love expressed here.
Near the beginning of the book, Miguel was in Egypt via trance travel where he found himself in a long hallway underground. There was an old man who served as his teacher who showed him some glyphic figures on a wall and Miguel knew that this man was a Hierophant. Later on, Miguel realized that the images he had seen were illustrations from The Book Of Thoth and what we know as Tarot cards. After studying the cards, he found that none were entirely accurate but that the ones designed by Pamela C. Smith (under direction of AE Waite) are based in love and the ones by Aleister Crowley are based on fear. I found this section and his findings particularly interesting. The author, Mary Carroll Nelson says that "Miguel will write a future interpretation of the Tarot." -I hope he does because I would love to read that.
Overall, this is an interesting book and there is a lot here to absorb and learn from. It's something that I've returned to several times and I think I gain more understanding each time. The information is beneficial and can aid in advancement spiritually, but at the same time, I think one has to be ready to read this. (Due to our present conditioning) Otherwise, it could seem very unreal.
Beyond Fear is Great.......2007-01-18
Great book. Well written and very insightful to life and all it's mysteries. As a person with many issues tied to fear (!) I look for ways to uncover my hidden fears which in my experience are the real anchors. I read this book slowly over a long period of time and found it to be a tremendous resource and source of inspiration.
Very disappointing...........2006-11-17
I basically agree with most of the reviewers with negative comments. I couldn't finish the book. I've read and re-read Ruiz's books and they helped me a lot. I don't know why Ruiz let Nelson publish this book which obviously gave misunderstanding, confusion, or frustration to the Ruiz' fans and had a negative effect on his teaching. Also, I'm sad to see that so many people misunderstand that this book is written by him.
More Harm Than Good?.......2006-10-21
Basically, I am going to agree with the previous negative comments. I have read all of Ruiz' works and some others and this is just another case of someone trading off another's name. I, also, could not even get through this thing. If you are looking for self awareness stick to the basic books by Ruiz.
A spiritual interpretive guide to the teachings of don Miguel Ruiz and his interpretation of Toltec practices.......2006-05-05
Beyond Fear: A Toltec Guide To Freedom And Joy from the teachings of don Miguel Ruiz as recorded by Mary Carrol Nelson (Founder of the Layerists in Multi-Media) is a spiritual interpretive guide to the teachings of don Miguel Ruiz and his interpretation of Toltec practices. Inclusive of guidance through the basic elements of Toltec wisdom and the spiritual practice, tools for transformation such as exercises and ceremonies, an imaginary journey to Teotihuacan, information on the life after death, prophecies about the evolution of humanity, and biographical information on don Miguel Ruiz and his training with his curandera mother, Mother Sarita, Beyond Fear is provides the reader with an insightful understanding of the message and philosophy of Ruiz. Beyond Fear is very highly recommended reading for students of Toltec philosophy, metaphysical studies, those seeking a more innovative interpretation of life and spiritual ideals, and most particularly those who have studied from the Four Agreements.
Book Description
The author of The Holy Longing explores the debilitating obsessions that often dominate our lives and offers down-to-earth guidance for learning to leave our fears, anxieties, and guilt “forgotten among the lilies.”“Rarely do we taste the food we eat or the coffee we drink. Instead we go through our days too preoccupied, too compulsive, and too dissatisfied to really be able to be present for and celebrate our own lives,” Ronald Rolheiser writes in the introduction to this powerful collection of essays.Forgotten Among the Lilies shows that there is a better way to find contentment and joy. Only by trusting in God’s grace and providence, Rolheiser argues, can we move beyond our obsessions and rejoice in what we have and who we are.With his trademark blend of insight, compassion, and honesty laced with humor, the author teaches that it is possible to experience freedom instead of anxiety, solitude instead of loneliness, and a generosity of spirit that returns to the giver far more than it costs.
Customer Reviews:
So good....and yet..................2006-10-30
This is a wonderful little book of short, easy to read essays which encourage us to find a deeper relationship with the God Who is Love. Fr. Rolheiser encourages us to step away from the cultural madness of a Western society which has lost any ability to think beyond the dollar sign and the idea of personal comfort at all cost. He urges us to take God's love seriously and stop to experience not only a deeper level of relationship with God, but a deeper level of living out that relationship in both appreciating the world around us and living Christ's love to that world and those in it who need that love.
The only unfortunate point in this otherwise fine book is that Fr. Rolheiser, like Richard Rohr and others of the liberal Catholic bent, cannot help himself but to use his writing to stump for women's ordination in the Catholic Church. For this reason alone I was unable to give it the full five stars it would have gotten if Fr. Rolheiser had been able to restrain himself from beating the dead horse of women's ordination. I find his attitude strange inasmuch as in the book, in the chapter SOCIAL JUSTICE AND CONTEMPLATION, he admits that one of the problems with liberalism is that liberals are not pious people. Then he goes and commits an act of impiety (rebellion against the Church). Sheeeeeeeeesh!!! Go figure!!
For the first two thirds of the book, his liberalism was a well kept secret to me. But towards the end, it comes to full bloom with this paragraph which opens the chapter ALIVE WITH PROPHETIC PAIN
I HAD A LENGTHY TALK WITH A FRIEND OF MINE WHO IS A CATHOLIC FEMINIST. ARTICULATE AND NOT AFRAID TO EXPRESS HER ANGER, SHE TALKED OPENLY ABOUT HER PAIN. SHE IS FRUSTRATED WITH INEQUALITY IN THE CHURCH, FRUSTRATED THAT SHE CAN NEVER BE ORDAINED. THE TEARS FLOWED FREELY, SHE WANTED TO LEAVE THE CHURCH SHE HAD GROWN UP IN, BUT SOMETHING HELD HER BACK.
One wonders if Fr. Rolheiser counseled this young woman at all regarding the numerous covenantal, anthropomorphic, and thological reasons that a woman simply cannot be a priest. Doubt it. Most likely he commisserated with her, agreeing that the Church is an organization of eklessiastical bullies who have no regards for her deepest needs.
Oh well! :-(
Otherwise, a fine book with many chapters that should set you to thinking about how one should properly live out one's Catholic Faith in the decadence of the West.
Just be wary of the liberal landmines in it!
Ed
Spiritual Gift.......2006-10-29
I found this book to be very helpful and one to reflect on. I think this is one of Rolheiser's best.
Forgotten Among the Lilies.......2005-10-31
This is a wonderful book for readers who have enjoyed other works of Ron Rohlheiser. The title comes from the last stanza of the pem "Dark Night of the Soul" and assures us that we can leave our fears, guilt, anxieties, compulsions, etc. to be "forgotten among the lilies" when we rest our heats on the bossom of Jesus. It is a contemporary book on Providence.
A Timely Collection of Essays Regarding the Spiritual Life.......2005-09-19
Ronald Rolheiser has many gifts he brings to spiritual writing. First he is a person of deep faith. He is also aware of the world we live in today, both its good points and its flaws. Combine this with a keen insight into people and a Catholicism that combines the best of the Catholic tradition with current insights into what feeds and nourishes people and you get an idea of what he brings to the table.
FORGOTTEN AMONG THE LILIES is a departure from some of his other works. Instead of being a monograph about a certain subject, it is a collection of essays based on article sand columns he has written over the years and talks he has given. He divides them into thirteen categories and in each category there is a selection of essays. Most are short and can be read in one sitting and used for reflection. The themes of Rolheisser's earlier works such as the emptiness we can experience without God, the need for a fruitful prayer life, and the importance of belonging to a community of believers can be found in this volume. His writings reflect the concerns of the time including the aftermath of September 11, 2001 and the clergy sexual abuse scandal facing the Catholic Church but are focused solely on the two situations.
At times I have been in discussion groups where articles by Rolheiser have been used to begin the debate. I have found that lively and interesting conversations have followed reading his works. This book which is ideal for either individual or group reading will certainly enliven a reading group or adult education class.
Helpful to an old parish priest.......2005-07-28
This new book is a collection of his columns on spirituality. Ron Rolheiser continues to invite me deeper into intimacy with God, by considering my deep passions, addictions, longings, and to believe that God is present in all things. By his own honesty and transparency in this book, Father Rolheiser invites you and me to be real and honest with God and ourselves. Father Brad Karelius, Pastor, Messiah Episcopal Church, Santa Ana, CA
Book Description
Bestselling author Sue Augustine leads the reader along a clear, manageable path to reconciliation with a painful past. Relying on biblical principles and using her own heart–rending story, she points the way to a future full of hope.
With compassion and empathy—and plenty of “telling–on–herself†humor—she shows readers how to...
- Identify, release, and change how they respond to the past
- Overcome the “victim†mentality
- Set goals for the future with passion and purpose
Fears will be conquered and dreams renewed for those seeking to cut loose the baggage of the long ago. A must–read for anyone struggling with a difficult past that is harming their present and crippling their future.
Customer Reviews:
When Your Past Is Hurting Your Present.......2005-10-21
I have been searching for a Christian author that has written a book on "Forgiveness" that is balanced and non-judgmental...this book is the best I have ever come across. I truly believe the author was moved along in the Holy Spirit as she wrote much or all of this book. It comes to grips with childhood abuse, other abuse, neglect, events others may have caused harm to us and those we have caused to ourselves. The book is very Scriptural sound and can help anyone with the problem of overcoming forgiveness. It teaches "forgiveness" whether it is in the past and is now causing us problems or it is something in our adult years we need to learn how to forgive and move on or it is learning how to forgive of ourselves! If you are truly searching for a Biblical Foundational book on "Forgiveness", this is it!
Never realized how much you were still hurting...now you can get over it for good........2005-09-22
AMAZING BOOK!!!!! We know that we are suppose to "forgive, forget and move on" but sometimes this is much easier said than done. We don't realize how much hurt we still hold onto and how much it is hurting us in many ways of our lives. Sue helps bring to the forefront what we have tried to unsuccessfully bury and helps us lay it to rest once and for all, deepening our faith and helping us realize that our life can be GREAT no matter what has happened in the past. Until we forgive and forget we cannot move on - Sue walks us through how to apply this to our personal lives. This book is a must read even if you think you have "moved on". Sue's passion and zeal for a better life is contagious.
"Releasing the Past -- So Easy When You Know How"!.......2005-09-19
"W.O.W." -- "Write on Woman"! This certainly is a book in due season. Who doesn't have a past that affects them, in the present, to some degree? Sue Augustine is endearingly transparent, sharing her own past struggles as she evolves into the beautiful, strong & vibrant woman she is today. She gently draws you into own personal realm and envelopes you with caring, sharing and encouragement. It feels like Sue is right there beside you becoming your own personal strategist and helping you to implement the 21 Steps. She guides you through the pages, helping you to face past issues and, where necessary, gives permission to simply "let go". -- a very freeing and uplifting journey. This book is all-encompassing and not easily put down once started. I'll certainly recommend it hightly to others as a "must-read" and look forward to future releases with great anticipation.
'Betcha' won't just read it once!.......2005-08-16
Whether you are trying to overcome relatively small hurts from yesterday or to hurdle major stumbling blocks from decades past, you've found the right book. This is not just another self-help resource; it is a companion. Sue Augustine seems to jump out of the pages and grab you by the hand like a friend who is eager to share something very exciting. Not only does she help point you in the direction of the truths that will set you free, but Sue also walks along with you as she shares her own personal experiences and struggles. Although taking an honest look at ourselves can sometimes reveal things that are tough to swallow, Sue's warmth, humor, and sincere desire to help others flow through to provide that "spoonful of sugar that makes the medicine go down". It is very easy to see why she is a popular motivational speaker because her enthusiasm is infectious - even in print!
A Must-Read for Getting Past Your Past!.......2005-08-11
Sue Augustine writes straight from her heart and touches yours with her words. She is one who has has "been there" and can speak to this subject from personal experience. She knows what it's like to have a broken heart and feel hopeless, and because she's overcome tremendous challenges, she's able to share powerful "how-to's" with the reader. The book will take you from where you are today to where you only dreamed you could go. Your life will never be the same!
Average customer rating:
- Replacing anxiety with peace, optimism & joy
|
Dancing with Fear: Controlling Stress and Creating a Life Beyond Panic and Anxiety
Paul Foxman
Manufacturer: Hunter House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 General
| Self-Help
| Health, Mind & Body
| Subjects
| Books
Stress Management
| Self-Help
| Health, Mind & Body
| Subjects
| Books
Emotions
| Mental Health
| Health, Mind & Body
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Mental Health
| Health, Mind & Body
| Subjects
| Books
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Dancing with Fear: Overcoming Anxiety in a World of Stress and Uncertainty
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The Worried Child: Recognizing Anxiety in Children and Helping Them Heal
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Conquering Panic and Anxiety Disorders: Success Stories, Strategies, and Other Good News
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Freeing Your Child from Anxiety: Powerful, Practical Solutions to Overcome Your Child's Fears, Worries, and Phobias
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The Anxiety & Phobia Workbook, Fourth Edition
ASIN: 0897934768 |
Book Description
According to experts, anxiety develops from the combination of three ingredients: genetic traits (such as “biological sensitivity”), family influences, and stress (the “why now” factor). The stress ingredient accounts for the widespread prevalence of anxiety today. Translation? Anxiety is essentially a learned response to stress overload in sensitive people. Based on the author’s years of experience with anxiety, both personally and professionally as a seasoned psychologist, Dancing with Fear uses a recovery approach to treating this widespread problem. Dr. Foxman offers a wide range of self-help strategies — from drugs and diet to herbs and yoga — for combating panic attacks, phobias, avoidant behavior, worrying, unwanted obsessions, and body symptoms such as racing heart, shaking, breathing problems, sweating, nausea, and weakness. With 20 percent new material in this edition, Dancing with Fear offers a proven plan for reclaiming one’s life by replacing anxiety with peace, optimism, and joy.
Customer Reviews:
Replacing anxiety with peace, optimism & joy.......2007-09-09
Reviewed by April Sullivan for Reader Views (09/07)
Anxiety, stress and fear are emotions we all feel at one time or another. A test, a certain work assignment, or a near miss at the red light, can cause us to feel this way. But what if you felt this way all the time? Approximately thirty seven million Americans suffer from severe anxiety disorders and live with constant worry and fear.
"Dancing with Fear" is an in-depth look at anxiety disorders and the process for recovery. Dr. Foxman writes from the perspective of a psychologist as well as the perspective of one who has lived with an anxiety disorder. This is not a new book. Originally written in 1996, the 2007 edition is an updated version with new information from recent brain research as well as a more aesthetic layout that highlights exercises and self-help skills.
I found the book to be exceptionally well organized. Chapters included topics such as "What is Anxiety?", "How Anxiety Develops", "Facing Your Fears and Phobias", "Spirituality and Anxiety", and "Should You Take Medication for Anxiety - Or Not?" Extremely useful information written in a plain and easy to read format.
This book is intended for those who suffer from anxiety disorders, their family members, and the mental health professionals who treat them. As a family member of someone with an anxiety disorder, I found "Dancing with Fear" very helpful in my understanding of anxiety disorders, their causes, and solutions for recovery. Talking to my husband about his anxiety is not easy. Usually when the topic comes up, it is during an anxious moment, when he is not at his most calm or rational. By reading "Dancing with Fear", discussing his anxiety became easier. As I read the book, we would discuss the chapters each evening before bed. This was a calm time, and we were able to discuss my husband's anxiety in a non-threatening way. We practiced the breathing exercises together and talked about his symptoms and strategies for recovery.
I would recommend "Dancing with Fear" to anyone interested in the topic of anxiety for personal or academic reasons. Dr. Foxman is very knowledgeable about the subject and as is stated on the cover "This book provides information on relieving anxiety and replacing fear with peace, optimism, and joy." Who could ask for more?
Book Description
This book is about the complex relationship between fear, danger, and the law. Cass Sunstein argues that the precautionary principle is incoherent and potentially paralyzing, as risks exist on all sides of social situations and there is no 'general' precautionary principle as such. His insight into The Laws of Fear represents a major statement for the contemporary world from one of the most influential political and legal theorists writing today.
Customer Reviews:
Fear rules.......2007-09-02
Not a lawyer found the writing somewhat turgid and slow; on the other hand our decision making and valuation of life and risk is certainly not epistimic. Read just before the Black Swan which discusses risk from a different angle. For those involoved in lives with risks this is interesting reading
Book Description
With Destination Joy, best-loved author Earnie Larsen provides friendly and expert roadside assistance to weary travelers on recovery's path. Whether you've hit an obstacle in your recovery from addiction, you're experiencing periodic relapse, or you're simply longing for something more, here is a true and certain guide to living more abundantly in recovery. In sharing many different stories of recovering people and the various paths they have taken, Larsen explores ways you can bring greater love, acceptance, and belonging into your life.
Customer Reviews:
WOW!.......2005-01-18
I am not big on self-help books. Too many out there, all saying different things.
This book however, is an exception. Based solely on the 12 Step program, this book manages to go beyond your basic 12 step books. It actually dares to give you tools to use once you become sober/abstinent/clean.
There is no question that the Big Book is the Bible for addicts wishing to arrest their illness. Larsen's book is a useful and powerful addition to your "recovery" library.
He is full of insight and positive action and actually encourages you to continue your 12 step adherence while considering that recovery is more than just getting rid of the substance.
This book is wonderfully written - although if you are not part of a 12 step group, you probably won't understand much of what he is saying.
BUY THIS ONE and keep it close to you at all times.
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