"Secrets About Life Every Woman Should Know" by Barbara DeAngelis, PhD

 While this book is marketed towards women, the information in it applies to all people.  The author goes over ten "secrets" about life that are truly life changing.  While by no means new, they encompass truths that we could all use some reminding of.  These include ideas such as: love is the answer, courage overcomes fear, every relationship is a mirror to yourself, you can't control exterior circumstances but you can control your internal emotions, and so on.  Full of inspirational quotes, poems, and personal stories, the lessons get thru to readers in a myriad of ways.  This book was serious at times but overall very inspirational.

"Passion" by Barbara DeAngelis, PhD

This book is a guidebook for men and women to find their passion in life.  From friendship to career, many people are finding themselves unfulfilled.  Far too many people go thru life with no meaning.  They have superficial friendships and dread going to work.  The author focuses on how to discover one's passion in life and how to go after it.  According to the author, passion makes life worth living.  Without passion, we miss out on the best of life.  This book is very inspirational and a rather short read.

"How Did I Get Here?" by Barbara DeAngelis

 Full of thought-provoking stories and little tidbits of wisdom, this book is a must have for anyone who feels stuck in life.  DeAngelis explains how life will throw us all curveballs.  She discusses how failures and setbacks need to be viewed--as opportunities to make changes in life and go after better outcomes.  No one has a trouble-free life, and getting depressed does nothing for one's future successes.  The author encourages readers to see every closed door as an opportunity to knock on a new door.  Various quotes and poems are sprinkled throughout the book for emotional inspiration.

"Are You the One for Me?" by Barbara DeAngelis, PhD

 

This is one of the most in-depth and thorough relationship books I have ever read.  Written by a PhD, it goes into the psychology of why relationships work or don't work.  This isn't a fun beach gossip read or some celebrity's advice on dating.  Rather, this book delves deep into why people choose partners and what they need to really focus on.  DeAngelis differentiates between lust and love.  She also talks extensively about compatibility and friendship.  The book is full of various case studies in love--both from those who have mastered it and those who are struggling.  Topics such as age difference, cultural difference, religious difference, addictions, responsibility, and more are covered as DeAngelis encourages readers to focus on what really matters.  While chemistry is essential, it can not carry a relationship thru the test of time alone.  It needs to be coupled with true compatibility, a shared vision, and mutual commitment.

"Real Moments" by Barbara DeAngelis, PhD

 

This book is all about slowing down and experiencing life.  The author talks about true joy and how happiness must be found within--not without.  Accomplishing goals and accumulating wealth are great.  However, those can not be the source of true happiness because they can go away.  People can get laid off, lose their finances, get divorced, lose a spouse, and so on.  To be truly happy, one must experience more of what the author calls "real moments".  These are moments in time when people understand their love, worth, and purpose.  It can be found by paying attention to a partner, putting the electronics away, taking a walk, learning from strangers, and so much more.  A real moment is an epiphany when a life lesson is learned and true gratitude emerges.  The trouble is people are often so hurried and rushed that they do not stop and feel their feelings of living in the moment. 

"Super Attractor" by Gabrielle Bernstein

As someone who is fascinated by the topic of manifesting, I was very excited to read this book.  Having got it from the library, I had to wait a few weeks until it was my turn since several other people were in line ahead of me.  Once I finally got the book, I was a little disappointed.  This isn't because the advice in the book was bad.  While not everything I agreed with (consulting the dead, angels, and other "spirit guides"), I try to keep an open mind and try to learn something from others.  There were several good points about being grateful, staying positive, shifting one's thoughts from negative to positive, having faith, and so on.  My biggest qualm was that the book felt like an author was trying to meet a word count.  I learned very little from all the paragraphs beyond what I could have learned from the heading titles in each chapter.