Review: The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success: A Practical Guide to the Fulfillment of Your Dreams

The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success: A Practical Guide to the Fulfillment of Your Dreams by Deepak Chopra

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I had seen Deepak Chopra on a PBS (love PBS!) many years ago. It was right about the time this book was released. As he walked through the Seven Spiritual Laws Of Success I was captivated by the simplicity of the concepts.

I then went to the public library for my weekly visit and not only found the book but found the audiotapes. The first thing that struck me was the size of the volume. Probably less than 10 typed pages, and able to be read in less than an hour. I literally read the book before I left the library.

As a student of hundreds of books in the success genre, largely the classics, I immediately recognized that the seven laws were in alignment with much that I had read over the years. That is the reality of eternal truths, it matters not who writes it, what religion they espouse, and the language they use– truth will cut through to the top.

As a Christian, I could easily juxtapose the seven spiritual laws and correlate them directly to the Bible. In reading books of this type, and other success books that have been labeled metaphysical or New Age, I believe the key is not to suspend your belief system, but opening your mind to receiving the lessons using your beliefs as a foundation.

Between the size of this volume and the poetic language that Chopra uses, it reminds me of “As A Man Thinketh” by James Allen. With the reading of each sentence, paragraph and turning of each page Chopra very effectively defines the laws and shows you simply how the actualize them in your life.

My favorite chapter is The Law Detachment. This law sets you free to pursue your desire without “raging against the machine”. Through intention and attention you create the mold and the blueprint, but universal power (who I explicitly call God) will bring about the events, circumstances, resources and people necessary to help you accomplish your desire. It will not always fit your anticipated method but if you are detached from “The How”, but be ready for the avenues to open up you would enjoy the journey much more.

It has been a while since I have read this book, but even in writing this review am reminded of its timeless effect on my spirit – reminding me of who I am, how I was created, and what I am capable of.

That is what a good book should do.




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Review: The Science of Getting Rich

The Science of Getting Rich by Wallace D. Wattles

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



This book had made the "rounds" back in the 80's and I was exposed to it then for the first time. I had gotten a free copy in PDF and put it on my computer. Since this was before e-readers, I lost track of it for over 10 years...having never read it.

I then faced a series of financial challenges and began to devour my old stand-by success material and happened up on the old PDF version...serendipity.

I read the book in less than 2 hours...and read it again...and again!

At the point where I was in my life, the words were spot on. Wallace Wattles has a style that is reminiscent of James Allen in "As A Man Thinketh" and the prose resonates with me in a way that conveys "old world wisdom".

Having read & listened to 100's of success books, articles, and audio programs, I am consciously aware of what I need to do to achieve, but the reminders of a good book stimulate those learnings.

The book provides a progressive approach and crescendos with a fundamental statement that is a reverberation of Hebrews 11:1 - Now faith is the substance...

Readers of this book and familiar with the Bible will see the connection...without sermon or preaching style.

He correlates that the thoughts we think are the "mold" and that universal substance fills all space and responds to those thoughts. These are the foundation of The Secret by Rhonda Byrnes and The Science of Getting Rich is the book her daughter gave her that was the catalyst for her personal turnaround and best selling book.

While The Secret goes light in many areas, for those that want to "go deeper", I would highly recommend this book and other books and essays by Wallace Wattles.

I have this book on Cd as well and listen to it often...



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Review: As a Man Thinketh

As a Man Thinketh by James Allen

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



I received this book from my father-in-law and it was one of those miniature hardbacks that can be found at the kiosk in the airport or grocery store.

Since I had taken the hand of his daughter, the least I could do was read it! Thankfully, I have always loved reading success and mind material and this is one I had not read.

I was finished in less than 30 minutes but immediately realized that finishing the book was not the goal...becoming deeply introspective was the real purpose.

James Allen says in the foreword of my edition,

"This little volume (the result of meditation and experience) is not intended as an exhaustive treatise on the much written about subject of the power of thought. It is suggestive rather than explanatory, its object being to stimulate men and women to the discovery and perception of the truth that - They themselves are the makers of themselves."

The 30 minutes have turned into almost 30 years of living my life by this principle and understanding the power of thought, belief and faith and the corresponding evidence of all of them in my life.

I have become a student of the works of James Allen and beyond this well know title, also highly recommend "Eight Pillars of Prosperity" and "The Path to Prosperity".

Know that much like the title "Think and Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill, these titles are not singularly focused on financial prosperity but the five-fold balance of Spiritual, Mental, Social, Physical, and Financial.

Allen is from England the prose and vernacular are in keeping. He also directly quotes The Bible and without preaching from a position of doctrine more provokes the reader to understand their part in universal design and destiny.

Now that I am writing this review, I am inspired to read this classic once again.

I highly recommend this book!





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Review: How I Used Truth

How I Used Truth by H. Emilie Cady

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



I am fortunate enough to have one of the original hard bound versions of this book. My father gave it to me when I was a teenager. It has his handwritten notes, yellow highlights, pencil and pen writing throughout - he used this book. Also, crayon marks where one of us kids must’ve gotten hold to it!

For the last 60+ years, my father has played piano for our local Baptist Church. As a small child, I would listen (or more appropriately doodle through) the weekly sermons. At that age, what worries could I possibly have that would necessitate any spiritual introspection? Besides being “forced” to read this book, as a teen, I really had no clue for what Cady was trying to relay. When I moved away from home, I packed the book along with the five or six others in my “library”, and left to be married to my high school sweetheart. On the shelf it sat for a couple of years.

Very quickly, life began to strike its blows. Those first years would easily fit the classic tale of young love… matrimonially blissful but financially bankrupt. Not knowing how to improve my circumstance, and visiting home one Sunday we went to church. I listened intently, now realizing why old-school Saints say “Amen”, but the message didn’t give me any answers for the tests I was facing.

After church, and a good home-cooked meal, my dad asked me about this book. He told me that answers I needed were in the pages. This time he suggested I read it, and on my own accord I immediately went home and devoured the pages.

Cady is one of the first of this genre of authors that I began to study. Along with Catherine Ponder, Robert Collier, Wallace Wattles, James Allen, Prentice Mulford and others I began to build a success library of the classics. Cady was a trailblazer with these types of books this one being originally published in 1916. She was connected to Unity and Charles Fillmore and I am sure at the time from both a religious and gender standpoint this type of message was controversial coming from her.

As a Christian, “How I Used Truth” laid a deeper and broader foundation for how God intended for us to live prosperous, well-balanced lives. It was news to me that I had been created in his image, and thus had the power to influence the outcomes in my life. I had always seen God as an external force, watching and waiting for us to crumble but not reaching down to help. It was only as I began to read books of this nature along with the Bible that a broader perspective was opened up to me. The power of necessity meeting maturity.

The most impactful chapters were “Finding the Christ in Ourselves”, “All Sufficiency In All Things” and “The Spoken Word”. Cady masterfully lays out the process for understanding and utilizing our divinity and how to work with God. There is no doubt that works such as these are the foundation of many of our modern-day churches.

Do not mistake this for a simple “prosperity message” but more a guide to living a well-balanced life – connected to God.

The book is holding up but well-worn from time and use…one generation to the next. While my children are grown and have had me and my father as “living witnesses”, I will eventually pass this down. For now, I intend to read it again.

If you are fortunate enough to find this book…I would strongly suggest reading it. It is a Top 10 book in my library and one that changed the course of my life.



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Review: The Powermind System: Twelve Lessons on the Psychology of Success

The Powermind System: Twelve Lessons on the Psychology of Success by Michael Monroe Kiefer

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



This is the case of a very good book getting very limited exposure.

I found this book on the bargain shelf at a major bookstore in 1997 and while the cover was not ultra compelling a deeper look into the content let me know that the information was going to be highly effective. I read this book right after reading Anthony Robbins "Unlimited Power" and Napoleon Hill's Think and Grow Rich for the fifth or sixth time.

Certainly there are standard laws of success that any good program will outline and cover. Having read hundreds of success books, largely the classics, I am looking for that foundation to be built on. Michael Monroe Kiefer does a great job building on that platform.

Even reading it against giants like Robbins and HILL and others he does a great job of creating a psychology of success that is unique. The layout of the book has three core elements

1. An overview of the coming material in a chapter. There are 12 logically laid out sessions throughout the book. You can jump right in to an area and not feel lost, or you can read start to finish as it is fluidly laid out

2. An outline of the core material for the 12 lessons – I like the modular style that contains lots of sub-chapters, bullets and numerical outlines. It is more like course material than a book.

3. A series of workshops and exercises that help you get clear on what you want and what you need to do to achieve it.

There are spiritual elements, scientific elements such as N.L.P - neuro linguistic programming, and other practical teachings that allow people of all faiths and beliefs systems to use the system. An open mind is still required.

As an author, I have written my own psychology of success books, and while more contemporary in nature and not as detailed in the scientific elements, I was inspired by Kiefer's approach with his book.

If you are new to success philosophies and the psychology of success, I would recommend this book as it combines elements of some of the best books ever written and brings them all together in a well laid out design.

I highly recommend this book!



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Review: The Master Key System

The Master Key System by Charles F. Haanel

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



This book was originally written as a correspondence course (remember those?) back in 1912. It predates some of the more commonly known success titles, such as Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill and the more contemporary success standard, Unlimited Power by Anthony Robbins.

This book is on par with any book on the topic of achievement I have ever read. In fact, it has become my "go to" book when I need a jump start of inspiration (along with the Bible).

What I like about the way Charles Haanel delivers his content is that it is highly modular and paragraphs are self contained lessons and a few paragraphs combined is like reading a blog in today's times. As a result, you can grab a few nuggets and move around throughout the book. It does not have to be read "linearly".

The Law of Attraction is a core element of the book and is obviously a forerunner of The Secret by Rhonda Byrnes. What I like is that this book ties direct to religion, spirituality and God without trying to convert the reader with doctrine. A seasoned Bible reader will be able to discern the direct tie in to Biblical concepts but religion is not a pre-requisite to enjoying this book.

The most impactful concept for me is the process of bringing things from the thought realm into the physical world...

Idealization
Visualization
Materialization

While simple concepts, Haanel goes in-depth into the states of mind you have to generate to emotionalize feelings in a way that creates corresponding action...leading to realization.

I also own the Cd's of this book, which I would highly recommend for reinforcement and meditation. This classic deserves a wider audience and is a must read for students of success!





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Review: Unlimited Power : The New Science Of Personal Achievement

Unlimited Power : The New Science Of Personal Achievement by Anthony Robbins

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



It is hard to argue with perennial worldwide success!

There is no doubt that Anthony Robbins is the standard-bearer for the psychology of achievement and success. I was exposed to him for the first time back in the late 80s from a Rolling Stone article. I believe there was a Michael Jackson or Prince feature and I ended up reading this about some wunderkind of 19 years of age.

At that time, he was famous for the fire walks that people would take at the end of each session. While a metaphor for the ability to change, it may have initially labeled him incorrectly. Honestly, I thought he was a cult leader of some sort.

Fast forward two years later - After seeing a late-night infomercial, I would buy the book Unlimited Power. The book would change my life, as it has millions of others.

At the time I read the book, I had read at least 50 to 60 success classics. Names such as Wallace Wattles, Prentice Mulford, Catherine Ponder, James Allen, and many others of this genre. This was the first time to be exposed to a contemporary message of success, and that was part of his appeal to me – bringing new language to success.

With a growing young family and blind ambition, I faced many difficult times, particualarly financially. The foundation that had been established by those Classics, and then the injection of Robbins' over-the-top enthusiasm, kept me motivated and inspired to keep pressing.

Strangely, it was the televangelist Charles Stanley that reignited my goal setting sessions and brought me back to this book in 1990. I then purchased the unlimited power CDs and began using them along with my spiritual foundation. It was that combination that defined my approach to life - to live with no compromise and be balanced - mentally, physically, socially, spiritually and financially.

As with each of us, my journey had great challenges, but through books like this one I ultimately found success and have achieved most of the goals I have written down. I have financial success, work that fulfills me, a great relationship with my wife and kids and have so much more to look forward to and that I want to achieve.

I have even authored several books, including a psychology of success volume, and as many of us in this genre would have to acknowledge, Unlimited Power is an inspiration for those works.

Though it was not written in the 1800s or early 1900s, like most of the success books on my shelf, I view this book as a must read and a classic!

I would highly recommend this book!



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