Make Today Count / John C. Maxwell / 160 pgs

It's been a long time since I've cracked open a John Maxwell book. I remember really liking the Leadership Devotional I did back 10 years ago when I was a Christian bookstore manager. However, I found parts of the book sort of boring, especially the "Ask yourself these three questions. 1. Have you already decided to do this certain thing? 2. Why did you decide to do this certain thing? 3. What ways can you make sure to make this certain thing happen?" On the other hand, there were parts of the book that did help me become more introspective on bad habits, or lazy habits, I've fallen into. I have started journaling and making sure to make time for devotions and prayer. I did make the mistake of listening to this on audio, rather than reading the book, and I think this is a sort of book that would have been far better to read than listen. The narrator's voice was a bit of a snore.

Sociopath Next Door : the Ruthless Versus the Rest of Us / Martha Stout 241 p. Self-help

Sociopath Next door / Martha Stout 241 p.

Martha Stout, a 25 year Harvard psychologist, offers this book to help identify sociopaths.  She has spent her career helping people who's lives have been terribly hurt by sociopaths.  A sociopath is one who does not have a conscience.  He or she feels no shame, guilt or remorse for his/her actions.  Surprizing, 4% of the population have this condition.  That is one in 25.  To help put this into perspective, there is one sociopath in every classroom.  Stout proposes a sociopathic-behavior checklist and suggested coping strategies.

Breaking the Food Seduction / Neal Barnard 324 p. Self-help book

Breaking the Food Seduction / Neal Barnard 324 p.  Self-help book

Trying to stay on a healthy diet may be proving to be difficult. Dr. Neal Barnard has suggestions and the medical research to back them up.  He shares

• insights into the chemical reasons behind your cravings, 

• seven simple steps to break craving cycles and tame your appetite

• important advice for kids' sugar cravings and how to halt them

He suggests following his plan for three weeks to break the craving cycle.  He has a chapter on dining out.  His recipes seem easy to prepare.  Read this if you want to lose weight, lower cholesterol, get energized, and quiet the food cravings.

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up / Marie Kondo / 4 discs (213 pages)

The first time I saw the title I thought the author must be rather arrogant to think she knew anything that would really change my life.  After running across the title several times and having access to the CDs, I finally decided to listen.  I'm still of two minds on the worth of this book and the Kon-Mari method. 


Some good points were that the narrator had a pleasant voice and the author has a good sense of humor, leading me to believe the title might be a bit tongue-in-cheek.  There was a lot of good advice about how to begin getting rid of things and organizing what was left.  If you need advice on how to get started, this book serves that function well.  The portion of the book I found useful was about 30%.


There was also a lot about the author's personal experiences.  She told stories about being a little girl in school organizing the classroom instead of playing at recess.  She also suggests talking to each item and thanking it for its use, and greeting the house each time you come home.  I'm not sure how useful that advice is, but perhaps it's better than talking to yourself while sorting and organizing.


The most important thing I got out of this book was to give myself permission to let go of things I didn't need.  Immediately after finishing the last CD, I went home and cleared out 4 trash bags of clothes and shoes I no longer needed.  I won't argue with those kind of results.

Laughing in the Dark / Chonda Pierce 232 p. Self help

Laughing in the Dark / Chonda Pierce 232 p. Self help

Chonda Pierce offers help with depression.  For many having a mental illness is full of shame and humiliation.  Some think that you can just shake it off.  (One doesn't say that to someone with cancer).  Chonda shares her very real trip through depression.   She makes it clear that this is a disease like any other.  And the patient needs therapy that includes medications, counseling, and support,  it is not something that one can just shake it off.  She explains that meds take time to take effect.  They may need to be changed.  And one may need to take for one's lifetime.  She shares practical insight, biblical teachings, emotional support, and concern.

10-10-10 10 Minutes, 10 Months, 10 Years / Suzy Welch 226 p.

10-10-10 10 Minutes, 10 Months, 10 Years / Suzy Welch 226 p.

10-10-10 provides a methodology to make personal decisions both big and small consistently.  When faced with a dilemma, situation, or life changing event, stop and ask yourself three questions.

• What are the consequences of my decision in 10 minutes?
•  In 10 months?
•  In 10 years?

She illustrates how to use this in her own life as well as others who practice 10-10-10 in their lives.  She points out you have a rational about your decision; no longer rely on your "gut", snap decisions, or go along with the flow.

Welch points out this using this has changed her life.  She now has clear, straightforward and transparent reasons for her decisions that she is able to share.

30-minute therapy for anxiety/Matthew McKay/118 pgs. January 2015 challenge

This is a very good self-help book for anxiety sufferers. In concise chapters, McKay describes the different forms of anxiety, and methods to help alleviate the feelings it produces. The exercises are easy to follow, and very beneficial. Highly recommended!

One day my soul just opened up : 40 days and 40 nights toward spiritual strength / Iyanla Vanzant / 316 pgs.

Iyanla Vanzant give you 40 topics to meditate on.  You are suppose to read one a day and try to focus on that message.  Then at night you reflect on the message and your actions.  Her messages are on peace, non-judgement, simplicity, forgiveness, and so on.  I listened to this on CD while driving my car, so I didn't actually follow the "program".  I do think this would be a good book to have to help focus my meditations, since when I'm left to my own thoughts, I am all over the place.

It's all too much / Peter Walsh / 230 pages

Is your house cluttered?  Can't you throw out those stacks of magazines and books that you have been meaning to read since 2008?  Can you walk through your family room without tripping over toys and craft items?  This was a useful cd for self-help on clutter and household organization. 

Peter Walsh is very organized and presents a complete "how to" book on what to do to make your house and your life more manageable.  He even provides websites.   However, before he helps people decllutter, he starts with their dream or idea for each room in question.  After discovering the desired purpose of the room, the people can then throw away, donate, or organize their stuff until it works.

He does get a bit preachy, but he has probably seen it all.  He is also somewhat repetetive, but it doesn't hurt to hear it again.  He does offer some great ideas and tips.  Tip #1 zones for different parts of the room.  Tip #2  Don't buy new storage boxes before you do the work.  You'll not get anywhere that way.

I would say that this book is best for those who just have cluttered, junky houses.  True hoarders need more help and should read Stuff by Randy Frost as well.