NOT DYER'S BESTAugust 3, 2007 53 out of 79 found this review helpful
First of all I've read most of Wayne Dyer's stuff. I'm something of a fan. He's helped me get through some tough periods in life and cynic that I am, I don't often pick up books like this. That said, Dyer's newest book left me slightly cold.
In this one Dyer puts the ancient Tao into everyday language, which allegedly serves as a guide for people in the year 2007 to lead their lives. He interprets ancient writings. This is only partially successful.
The basic problem with the book is that things written 500 years before the time of Christ don't always lend themselves to the world today. However, sometimes they do. It's these chapters that I found most useful. And having read both works, Dyer's interpretation and the ancient Tao, I'm not always pleased with Dyer's take on the original.
Reading this made me think of the book "Maybe Life's Just Not That Into You" a hilarious send up of self help books of the ilk penned by Dyer and others. Maybe Life's Just Not That Into You: When You feel Like the World's Voted You Off
I think "Change Your Thoughts" could definitely be beneficial to some. But if you're unfamiliar with Mr. Dyer and only have the energy to read one of his works go back and pick up one of his earlier books.
Pretty cool - you just need to stick with it...August 2, 2007 14 out of 17 found this review helpful
...I love Wayne's stuff in general, and overall this one's pretty good.
But for the uninitiated you have to know some things going into it though - this book is not exactly a "how-to" per se.
Its a collection of essays that are fun and thought provoking - but if you want something more concrete, with more answers, he has a ton of other books you can delve into.
If this your first Wayne exposure, you may consider starting out with Power of Intention or even better How To Be a No Limit Person.
Enlightening, but misses the pointAugust 2, 2007 17 out of 164 found this review helpful
You are probably wondering what the hell do I mean by misses the point. As I read this book, I couldnt help but keep thinking in my mind if Mr. Dyer believes in God or not. He has alot of knowledge and he has been around the block and knows alot about this world and the power that is needed to keep it running. He calls this power The Spirit or The Source. It is the spirit that keeps our planet spinning and it is the source that keeps our hearts beating at night. That shows me that he admits there must be a higher power that is responsible for everything in the world. Since he sounds like he has all the answers from the way he talks ,the thing I want to know from Wayne is what happens after we die. Does that invisible energy disappear or is there a judgement day which punishes and rewards those who were evil and rewards those who believed in the day itself.
You see, there is a point where one must give a yes or no answer to his belief in God. If his answer is yes, and I suppose it will be yes,then why has he said "My belief is that the truth is a truth until you organize it, and then becomes a lie." In other words, God cannot reveal himself to humanity for his words will become a lie. Now if Mr Dyer does not accept any religion in the world as the truth and he does not consider himself a Prophet, what on Earth does he belive in? The Spirit. Ok, but what is the spirit if it is not God? That is the point that my man Wayne has missed. He fails to aknowledge that somewhere on this planet, there is truth in the form of a religion. We can pick from Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, and whatever other ism's there are. Notice that out of all the religions I have mentioned, one stands out.One is not named after its founder(Christianity and Buddhism) nor is it related to an a nation or land(Judaism-Juda)nor is it about a peoples history(Hinduism) nor is related to a particular tradition or culture(Taoism)which is what this book mainly focuses on. We can seek wisdom from the Lao Tzu, or we can seek out the truth.
Islam is peace attained by submitting yourself to God. It is the real cure for anxiety and depression for it reminds us of our place in the world. Mr. Dyer talks about Jesus and he mentions Buddha alot as well but for some reason, he avoids the Prophet Muhammad and Islam. Am I sensing a bit of fear of treading around the truth? Wayne has said that "customs and practices of any religion do not fit my definition of spiritual". Islam has some practices, but, they are exactly what he prescribes for his readers. He tells us to meditate and contemplate our existence. That is exactly what a Muslim does or is supposed to do 5 times a day. We are told to pray/meditate on our existence before we sleep, during the day, and as soon as we wake up! The thing is, we must believe in God and in his message that was delivered via a book called the Quran in order for there to be true benefits in our contemplation. Many people have a false assumption that the Quran and Islam condone violence and think we have Islam to thank for 9-11. Well, everyone has their opinion, but it is the opinion of the majority of the world, including President Bush, that Islam was used to justify the attacks on 9-11 but it wasnt responsible. They were inspired by false beliefs that if someone kills himself for the sake of God, they will be rewarded with paradise. Suicide is against Islam and so is killing innocent people and this is in the Quran. 6:151 and 5:32
In Islam, we are also supposed to prostrate ourselves to God 5 times a day, give to the poor people, help the orphans lead better lives, and be good to your parents, especially your Mother. Does this sound like a violent religion to you. There are verses that talk about war, but they are not dealing with innocent people. Some will say that Jesus had the ultimate message of peace that the Prophet Muhammad did not have. Well the Prophet also had a message of peace, although it wasn't to "turn the other cheek". In 5:45, the law of eye for an eye is still in effect, but there is the possibility of forgiving the condemned and Moses never taught that. You see, Islam is all about balance and it was designed perfectly for human beings. It's message was revealed in one language but it was meant for all of humanity. Muhammad is not a Prophet of the Arabs (only 25% of Muslims are from the Middle East) but he is the last messenger in a line of messengers who have been sent to mankind. Im not trying to convert anybody with this review, but I am only trying to show that everything positive that Wayne Dyer teaches can be found in this religion called Islam and you should check it out. If you would like to read about the philosophies of Islam, please read The Vision of Islam (Visions of Reality. Understanding Religions)
Magnificient!August 2, 2007 27 out of 33 found this review helpful
Tao Te Ching written by the mythic figure Lao-tzu contains wisdom that is difficult to describe.
As you read the words, they speak to you of a reality that is beyond words and yet mysteriously transmitted through words. What a wonderful paradox!
The words function to point to a reality beyond them. A reality that cannot be named or described but it can be felt as a presence in nature, in silence and in other spiritually moving moments of inspiration. Tao Te Ching describes this mysterious eternal Tao.
The text of the Tao Te Ching frees us from intellectual grasping of ideas to the actual reality or presence beyond our mental constructs. Reality is often filtered by our mental screen and we often create a closed reality based on our mental perceptions, beliefs and prior conditioning. In the open words of Lao-tzu, we can experience reality itself as a Whole that is Indivisible and Mysterious.
Lao-tzu's teachings are simple and natural still our grasping mind finds them difficult. This is where Wayne's book is indispensable for relating these teachings to contemporary understanding and making them accessible for Western readers. You can also sense Wayne's sincerity in living the wisdom of the Tao and that gives his words conviction. He is not merely discussing abstract ideas but relating them to his own lived experiences.
This is a magnificent book that every spiritual-seeker needs to have in their library for its inspiration and depth. I've also been reading an unusual spiritual novel about overcoming personal pain and finding your inner center called Nexus: A Neo Novel.
You can Not go Wrong with Any Wayne Dyer Book Or Cd!July 31, 2007 4 out of 12 found this review helpful
I have Just Started the Wisdom of the Tao and I Already Know it Will be another Great Source of Inspiration and Peace in my Life! I listen to Cd's And Read Many Motivational Books By Different people and Wayne Dyer is my alltime Favorite! More to Follow Upon Completion!
