True Confessions of a Guru Junkie

BUY THIS TITLE. It rocks, it will so change your life if you let it. I am not a nutty new age weirdo, but I do like getting different perspectives on ways to truth. I have books by Deepak Chopra (good), Wayne Dyer (great), Stuart Wilde (good), and of course Byron Katie (awesome.) The beauty of this book is many fold. First, it is non-religious, non-preachy, no-nonsense, and simple. I find that assimilating information like this is easier with an audiobook than a hardcopy and this is especially true of "Loving What Is" because you actually get to hear Katie doing The Work with people on the program (that's the best part, in my opinion.) I have listened to it over and over and over, and each time I get something different out of it to complete the picture. There are moments you want to just laugh and laugh because you see so much of what is said in your own life and your own beliefs.
This is probably one of the best investments of my life, not to mention my book collection. I highly reccomend it. There are a lot of wackos out there, and some teachers that actually have something but don't know how to communicate it well. Katie has a simple message and she knows how to get it across. Katie is the real thing. I had the privelege of having dinner with her once and she is extremely present, she lives this Work every day and every moment. You will thank yourself for buying this title. I know I do all the time and have encouraged my friends and coworkers to check it out too.

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simply amazing

I have been reading "self help" books for many years. This book is by far the best and probably the last I will ever need to read. It is simple and yet profound.

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Okay until she said rape was her fault!!

I usually don't leave a review for audible books, but I fall compelled to leave one for this because the book which was overall okay, however when the lady who had been raped needed to turn it around and say that she wanted to be raped almost in a way I was appalled because this was a child who had been raped and she didn't know any better she was innocent, so I was little bit shocked that this was in the story because rape is never anyone's fault. I don't believe people want to get raped. Moreover, to say that the rapist was innocent as well and say he just wanted love was disturbing and disgusting that was a little girl. she said the little girl wanted it because she didn't tell anyone a lot of rape victims just feel shame.

Also the book was very repetitive the good stuff literally came in the last 30 minutes of the book. I would say you should buy the if you want to live in a state of being delusional. The book is not very practical for day to day .

25 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

You can't argue with this!

I loved this audiobook even better than the hardback because we can actually hear the emotions as each of those consulting Katie begin in pain and end in laughter as she walks them through the four steps and a turnaround. The logic is easy to follow but I can imagine some listeners not getting how it's done right away (I didn't) but as a friend told me, if one listens to it several times, it gradually begins to sink in that our pain is our own creation and how to apply the steps to our own lives. In the end, who can argue with reality? I found all the stories, including Katie's, to be fascinating, and thought the book was well-structured, the audio clear and concise, and still interesting even on my 4th listen.

11 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

AMAZING

I have bought all three of her books and have enjoyed listening to them over and over. The audio is so much more powerful than the print format. All I can say is Byron katie changed my life. I highly recommend it to everyone who is suffering from his/her own thinking. It is illuminating!

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changed my life

I've been listening to this audiobook almost everyday for a month now. The lessons didn't get to me until the 2nd week. I would usually listen to it while I'm doing something. What it does is not help you solve the things that are bothering you. But to look at it with understanding and appreciation. Once you've gotten this, your relationship with other people, with the world and most of all with yourself changes.

And unlike other self-help books that ask you to work on yourself, this one asks you to just realize the thoughts--thoughts that give you stress. Once you're aware of these thoughts, you will be able to accept them, like friends that have come to pass by. More importantly, this book gives you a method to realize these thoughts that Katie calls 'The Work'.

I'm just a beginner at using 'The Work', but it already has had profound changes within me. Now, everytime I become stress, I know that doing 'The Work' will allow me to realize why I'm stressed and eventually, become free from the stressing thoughts / beliefs that I have.

I also like the sample sessions that's included in the book. It includes people with problems on their parents, their children, a cheating spouse, a drug addict child, stock market, depression and child sexual abuse.

Overall, I'm glad I found this book, because it has changed my life and the way I see things. It has made me realize again that life can be good when we just welcome things--good and bad--and love what is.

18 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

Very hard to listen too

Participants volume is so low and Byron Katie is so loud that you either have to blast the volume in the car to hear the full conversation or miss a lot of what is being said.

Either way I found Byron Katie's use of the phrases such as "oh honey" and her constant snorting chuckles very annoying. So much so that I was unable to focus on her message and abandoned the book. I have been an audible member since they launched and this will be the first book I will ask for a refund on.

8 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

Too abridged

This is great material, and the audiobook is a good adjunct to the written work. I was disappointed by how much the audiobook is abridged from the written.
The big plus to the audio version is being able to the actual interviews.

6 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

Interesting reality check

I found this book a helpful reality check, but at times difficult to listen to. I didn't think it was motivational or inspirational, although I did find that through doing "the work" I was able to let go of some judgmental ideas I had that were causing frustration in my life. What I found difficult was doing "the turn around" in some scenarios. I see in some situations how this is a huge relief, but in other more "moral" situations this not so easy. The bottomline is...accept what is, because there is no other reality. If you can love it, then you're free! It's pretty simple and she shows you how to do it.

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Some good and some not so good

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

I was glad I listened to the book opposed to reading it. I don't think I would have gotten through the book had I read it.

Would you recommend Loving What Is to your friends? Why or why not?

Probably not. This book has some good aspects such as turning things around and asking what is true and what isn't, focusing on what we have control over and looking at things from a different perspective. I do think that listeners have to be careful as it may cause some negative self talk as thinking is shifted from self to others. I think this is a good book for people with a strong sense of self and has some good tools but I think it can be a dangerous book for those with lower self esteem.
My favorite part of this book, which I have discussed with others is paying attention to what is our business, others business and God's business. It is always helpful to remind ourselves which business we are trying to control.
In my job, I have asked people who come to me if what they are feeling is true and how do they know it is true.
There are some really good pieces to this book, but overall I wasn't comfortable with my perception of the messaging. One of my gauges with things is "does this make me feel good" and the exercises did not feel good to me. Not because I didn't want to face the truth but because they took me back to a place that I have worked hard to move out of.
This wasn't a fit for me and I would only recommend it if I felt it was a fit for another person.

Would you listen to another book narrated by Byron Katie and Stephen Mitchell ?

Perhaps

Did Loving What Is inspire you to do anything?

It did inspire me to look at things differently. I have done a lot of self work and have to be careful not to "blame" myself for things or take ownership of other people's behavior. I felt this book was pushing me back into that place that I have worked so hard to move beyond so I had to read it with caution and pull out what I thought was beneficial. What she is discussing in this book has some wonderful thought provoking value and people who lack self awareness or accountability would benefit from reading this book.

Any additional comments?

Any book that inspires and gives the reader tools to be a better person is a great book. These self help books all depend on the frame of mind of the reader. If taking accountability or not understanding other people in your life or their actions, then this book may be helpful.

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