Book Review: Buddhism for Mothers of SchoolChildren by Sarah Napthali

Being a big reader of books on psychology and the inner workings of the human mind and heart, there has been many a book on my adult reading journey that’s brought me an ‘aha!’ moment or two.

Few books, however – no matter how life-changing or enlightening – have brought me so many aha! moments, I thought I’d been whacked over the head with an Oprah Winfrey magazine collection.

The newest addition to Sarah Napthali’s stable of enlightening books for women, Buddhism for Mothers of Schoolchildren brought me not only a superfluity of ahas, it also brought many an ooh, ahh and so many ringing bells, it was like entering a figurative Buddhist temple, replete with tinkling, ringing, pealing… and the merest hint of a waft of sandalwood.

I absolutely loved this book. I loved it for its honesty, openness, frankness and tender adherence to a belief system steeped in the antithesis to indoctrination – simplicity and Love. I also loved it because Napthali wrote it for me. Like, directly for me. It was like she had sat down and interviewed me, and then written a bespoke “Ok – now here’s how to change all this for the better” manual, with my name plastered across the front cover.

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The Butterfly Effect: A New Positive Approach to Raising Happy, Confident Teen Girls

There is something poignant in the title of The Butterfly Effect – a book that gently prises open the cocoon surrounding teenage girls; those delicate creatures caught half-way between a lengthy and often difficult metamorphosis into womanhood.

Like butterflies, teenage girls are in the process of blossoming into a life of full-blown potential, but the metaphorical cocoon of teen life that encapsulates our girls can both nurture and smother this process – a balance parents (or more specifically, mothers) all over the world struggle with.

The author of The Butterfly Effect, Dannielle Miller (pictured), also refers to the book’s title in terms of its basis in the chaos theory of sensitive dependence on initial conditions. Read more

Book Review: Women & Money by Suze Orman

Known throughout the United States as ‘The Money Lady’, Suze Orman is the author of nine best selling books on the subject. Named by Time Magazine in 2008 as one of the ‘100 Most Influentional People’ in the world, Orman is the host of her own TV show on CNBC, a popular motivational speaker, and the contributing editor of O The Oprah Magazine. And with the release of the Australia Edition of Women & Money in August 2009, I have no doubt Suze Orman will soon be able to count thousands of Australian women, myself included, among her legion of fans around the world.

Suze Orman’s story is truly inspirational. Born with a speech impediment and unable to read as well as her class mates, Orman struggled through school and then college – dropping out of university before graduation when she was unable to fulfill the language requirement. In 1980 the then 29 year old Orman, was working as a waitress earning just $400 a month and dreaming of opening a restaurant, when something quite extraordinary happened. Upon learning that she was unable to borrow the money she needed to follow her dream, customers at the restaurant where she had waitressed for the past six years, loaned Orman $50,000 to open a restaurant. Read more

Book Extract: The Art of Extreme Self Care

With so many demands on our time and energy, coupled with obligations and family commitments, it’s not always easy to find quality time doing what we would otherwise like to do. If you find yourself in complete neglect of your own needs and desires, according to her new book, The Art of Extreme Self-Care: Transform your life one month at a time, Cheryl Richardson says it’s time to create an Absolute No list. In this exclusive extract, Richardson offers some practical advice.

Think about the things you no longer do, or would like to stop doing, in order to protect your precious energy and honour your values. Maybe you’re tired of being responsible for cooking every meal, and you’re ready to allow your teenagers to learn a new skill. Maybe you’d like to enjoy a Sunday afternoon to yourself rather than attend a weekly dinner with your extended family. Or maybe you’re no longer willing to have lunch with colleagues who pick your brain. Read more

Book Review: The Secret Pleasures of Menopause by Christiane Northrup

At the age of 39, I figured I had about 10 years before I personally needed to read a book on menopause. But as my job also requires that I review books that may be of interest to women, I recently spent some time getting acquainted with The Secret Pleasures of Menopause by Christiane Northrup M.D.

I’ve long envied post-menopausal women and how utterly liberating it must be to no longer be concerned with PMS, menstruation, bloating, cramping, contraception and unplanned pregnancy. Of course I’ve heard all the horror stories about perimenopause and having been on the receiving end of one or two of my own mother’s hormonal driven rages, I can testify as to the dangers inherent when ticking off a menopausal woman. But after the storm had passed I found my mum to be a most agreeable human being.

Never before have I seen my mother so happy, so content, so completely at peace with herself and the world around her. At 63 she has more energy and zest for life than I could ever imagine is possible for myself – oh, how I envy this woman. And so the question must be asked: How does one achieve this enviable state of being as quickly and painlessly as possible? The answer according to Christiane Northrup is Nitric Oxide or as the scientific community prefer to call it, NO. Read more

A Pocket Full of Dreams

Have you ever wondered what that crazy dream meant? Or why you keep on having the same dream over and over again? Or why you would act in a way you never would when you were awake?

Stream of Dreams: Your Ultimate Dream Decoder by Leon Nacson has become the benchmark for truly accurate dream interpretation throughout the world. More than just a monotonous listing of dream categories and their interpretations, this work presents numerous meanings behind every symbol and explains the importance of exploring the feelings and emotions that a dream leaves behind. A Stream of Dreams differentiates itself from typical works in its genre as it enables you to decode modern-day symbols such as mobile phones and CD/DVD players. Read more

The Truth about Money and Wealth with Dr John Demartini

With the recent events on Wall St, the prospect of economic uncertainty is foremost in the minds of many. Dr John F. Demartini (pictured), human behavioural specialist, philosopher and best selling author of several best selling books, including  HOW TO MAKE ONE HELL OF A PROFIT AND STILL GET TO HEAVEN, spoke to Australian Women Online about what it takes to not only build wealth but to keep it.

The hierarchy of your values determines your destiny

The cornerstone of Dr. Demartini’s Read more

No Time for Dances: A Memoir of My Sister by Gillian Bouras

BOOK OF THE MONTH: OCTOBER 2008

In 1996, just a week before Christmas and after a life long struggle with mental illness, a woman named Jacqueline killed herself at the age of fifty. Tragically, her body remained undiscovered in the small Melbourne flat where she lived alone, for more than a fortnight – the exact date of her death remains a mystery to this day.

Almost a decade later her sister, Australian born journalist and author Gillian Bouras, took on the challenge of writing Jacqueline’s story. To coincide with mental health week, we have chosen Gillian’s touching memoir of her sister’s life and tragic death as our book of the month.

Gillian Bouras, the author of several books, told Read more

Your Destiny Switch by Peggy McColl

Your Destiny Switch isn’t just another self-help book. It’s a powerful concept and process that will empower you to creatively transform your life. You could call it a paradigm shift in creative consciousness, one that will engage you more deeply in your quest for growth.

BUY THIS BOOK
International retailer: US$10.17 from Amazon.com
Australian retailer: AU$26.95 from QBD The Bookshop

More than a book, Your Destiny Switch teaches you how to balance your key emotions in order to attain your goals.

Peggy McColl supports this work with a wealth of life-changing tools, such as Switching Strategies, Illuminators, the Scale of Human Emotions, and a Destiny Planner. This book will help you understand how you can use your emotions to tap into an endless source of creative power within you and attract the life of your dreams. Read more

Simply Woman by Crystal Andrus

Transform your life from the inside out in just 12 weeks!

Simply . . . Woman! is a week-by-week body/mind/soul total transformation program that encompasses every facet of a woman’s life. From her daily demands and frustrations to her wants, needs, and fears, this revolutionary plan elevates the experience of weight loss far beyond the physical.

BUY THIS BOOK
International retailer: US$12.89 from Amazon.com
Australian retailer: AU$26.95 from QBD The Bookshop

From your daily demands and frustrations to your wants, needs, and fears, this revolutionary plan elevates the experience of weight loss far beyond the physical. With 70 steps, which are gently laid out over 12 weeks, this book effectively empowers women to take back control of their health, discover their passion, override their fears, and create a life filled with joy and serenity. Read more

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