This is the second book I’ve read by Martha Beck this month, and the third book in the self-help / personal transformation genre. In retrospect, I think it was one too many. I found myself antsy and a little bored while reading this, even though I devoured the first two (Beck’s Finding Your Way In a Wild New World and Danielle Laporte’s Fire Starter Sessions).

Perhaps this book didn’t resonate as much with me as it would with other people because I feel like I’ve already found my own North Star, and I follow it daily. It’s not always easy, and sometimes I do try to fit into other people’s mold and meet “Everyone’s” expectations, but for the most part I’m pretty content when it comes to following my intuition and my inner wisdom.

I think I was hoping for more specific guidance regarding finding and maybe even coming to terms with one’s life purpose. Despite following my heart every step of the way, I still struggle to find my purpose. I’m content and happy, but I feel like something’s missing… something “bigger”. This book didn’t really help with that. Finding Your Way In a Wild New World was much, much better from that perspective.

Martha’s writing, as always, is spunky, approachable and engaging. She blends spirituality with psychology beautifully, and in a way that makes her theories accessible even to more scientifically-minded folks. Overall, I think it would be very beneficial to someone who feels lost and has no idea how to start listening to his or her intuition. Not as helpful for those of us who are already well aware of our wants and needs and live our lives accordingly. ( )

Nothing but breakthroughs into personal motivations with this book. Good stuff. ( )

When Martha Beck first got "found" (by Oprah?) she was interesting in how she presented her ideas, with a generous amount of casual humor thrown in. I liked her books. Now, after many books, and with a regular column in Oprah magazine, she seems to be scraping the bottom of the barrel with old ideas presented as new, and the cute "humor" now just juvenile and tedious. ( )

I am increasingly impressed by Martha Beck. While not every single thing she says rings true for me, I find that she brings together a great many concepts, familiar and unfamiliar, in ways that make total and immediate sense. Even things that should be obvious to me suddenly make more sense and have more context after reading her anecdotes. I find her refreshing, funny, thought-provoking and practical. I will be reading more of her work. ( )

This is my favorite self-help book (fortunately or unfortunately, however your glass is filled, I've read a lot of them). Martha Beck packs a tremendous amount of information and guidance into this book, and along with her sense of humor, I found so much support and strength in its pages.

Definitely a keeper, I will continue to refer back to it as I waiver in my journey to find my own North Star. Intelligent, supportive--I need all the help I can get to be the best possible person and sometimes I have to find that help outside of myself. She makes a person see their situation for the truth it is and what it isn't, and work towards a fulfilling life.

Very much recommended to everyone. ( )