Tuesday, September 29, 2020

"Confidence - Finding It and Living It" by Barbara De Angelis PhD

This small hardcover book is a little boost of just what every reader needs. Tiny enough to fit inside a purse of workout bag, this book uses concise language to convey the truths of confidence we all must hear. The author explains what confidence is, going into multiple types of confidence. There is the confidence that one can do a task, the confidence that one can navigate personal relationships, and the confidence that one has purpose on this planet. While all three are important, the author emphasizes that the highest form of confidence is that which is not conditional. In other words, if you place your confidence in being a good lawyer, spouse, etc, when you get laid off or heaven-forbid divorced, your confidence shatters. However, when you have the true confidence that you can conquer any trial and that the Universe is working good things out for you, then you have truly mastered confidence.

Wednesday, September 23, 2020

"Seven Blessings" by Ruchama King

This is a fascinating fiction book about matchmaking and shidduchim. The story centers in Israel, where several young adults in their 30s are looking for their "match". Readers follow the characters thru their daily lives. Questions of faith arise as each character must come to terms with what G-d is, who G-d is, if they even have a soulmate, and so on. There is the shame and embarrassment of being single in a sea of married folks. There are the questions of "why aren't you married yet?" as others in the story are married--some even with kids--at far younger ages. Not every character in the book is single. There are a few characters who have been married for years but who are desperately unhappy. This book really makes people think about love, marriage, and what the two really are about. There is an artist who is single because no woman is good enough for him. There is a day laborer who is single because women are taken aback by his medical seizures. There is a therapist who is single because she avoids any emotional attachment. There is a Torah scholar who is single because she can't find any time to date in between her religious studies. Not every character ends up marrying in the book, and I don't want to spoil the ending by saying what happens to whom. However, I will say that this is a thought-provoking book that will really make one think about how one ends up or does not end up married.

Wednesday, September 9, 2020

"Isaiah's Legacy" by Mesu Andrews

 

Part of the "Prophets and Kings" series, this book primarily follows the life of King Manasseh and his wife Shulle.  Manasseh is the son of King Hezekiah.  King Hezekiah was married to Queen Hephzivah.  Queen Hephzivah was Isaiah's adopted daughter.  If I'm going to be honest, I much preferred the prequel of "Isaiah's Daughter" to this next book "Isaiah's Legacy".  While there is the redemption at the very end for wicked King Manasseh, much of the 300+ pages are devoted to folly and sin.  Tricked at a young age, Shulle goes from a devout Jew to a pagan priestess.  Her sexuality is twisted and manipulated by others who wish to use her to control the king.  Shulle falls in love with King Manasseh but bears the sadness of his many wives--a common pagan custom.  Drama ensues when the king begins to sacrifice his own children in an attempt to "appease the gods".  Throughout the course of the book and the characters' lives, the misguided eventually come back to the one true God.  This book is very emotional and difficult to read.  Its saving grace is that it will hopefully remind readers that if someoene as wicked as Manasseh can be redeemed...so can they.

Tuesday, September 8, 2020

"Circle of Stones" by Judith Duerk


This book is a fascinating deep dive into the pool of femininity.  It builds on the "circle of stones" concept whereby women of ancient times would gather--typically once a month but sometimes more frequently--to share emotions, feelings, struggles, friendship, and so on.  The book has an interesting flow with a combination of poems, questions, and short stories.  It speaks greatly of the archetypal feminine that was adored years ago but which was recently been denigrated, suppressed, and overshadowed by the masculine.  While I don't agree with everything in the book--particularly ancient pagan practices, priestess rituals, etc--there are several parts of the book that I agree with.  I agree women need to slow down and sometimes just "be" without the hurrying demands of society.  I agree that it's okay for women to be sad, using their pain and fears as catalysts for transformative change.  Most important of all, I agree that women need other women to grow.

Thursday, September 3, 2020

"The Wounded Woman: Healing the Father-Daughter Relationship" by Linda Schierse Leonard


Written by a philosopher, this book is full of insightful ideas that are very deep.  It is all about the wounds that women carry both from society and family.  Drawing on psychology, Leonard talks about how a poor or nonexistent relationship with one's father can wreak all sorts of emotional and psychological havoc in life.  There are many stories from ancient Greece, fairy tales, and so on that illustrate these challenges going back hundreds--and sometimes thousands--of years.  The author also references dreams, going into depth explaining their meaning.  Several case study clients are described as the author details their trauma, the result, their healing, and so on.  This book certainly has given me a lot to think about.  Several archetypes are detailed in the book, and readers will likely find parts of their life / personality in one if not more of said archetypes.  Some ladies are stuck in the little girl phase of wanting to please others and be rid of responsibilities.  Other ladies are stuck in the Amazon phase of doing everything themselves and emasculating men.  I could go on and on about this book.  It is very well written and dives deep into the emotional divide of masculine and feminine.  As a last note to readers, know that you can change and that what happened to you as a child was not your fault.  You can't change the past, but you can change the future starting now.

"Manifest Your Desires" by Esther and Jerry Hicks


Designed to be a year-long experience, this book has 365 motivational phrases.  They all focus on the "teachings of Abraham" that the authors are famous for.  The main intent is to guide readers towards better feeling thoughts so that they manifest their desires.  The "law of attraction" posits that whatever one thinks about is what will manifest in one's life experience.  Even if someone says they do not want something, they are still vibrating that something, which causes it to manifest.  So, instead of dwelling on what one doesn't want, one must dwell on what one does want.   It is not good enough to merely desire something.  One must truly believe that the desire is not only possible but that it is also on its way to them.  Anything less is just wishful thinking.  While some would call this sort of thinking that of a charlatan or delusional person, I do think there is some substance to it.  Firstly, there is self-sabotage whereby someone doesn't try an endeavor or start a goal because they simply do not believe it is possible (e.g.- the woman who doesn't go on a diet because she feels it is "impossible" to lose weight).  Then, there is the act of propelling oneself in the direction of one's desires because they keep thinking about what they believe is coming to them (e.g.- the man who believes he will be a lawyer goes on to study law and apply to law school).  Overall, this book is very positive and motivational.  I'm going to give it a shot and start seeing how I can manifest my desires.