2 out of 4 stars
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Break Your Self Help Addiction by Brian D. Ridgway is a personal development book urging people to find total liberation from their problems in life, and not simply the transformation found by completing many other self-help programs. Mr. Ridgway shares some of his personal history at the beginning of the book, discussing how he participated in Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Dianetics, Scientology and Reiki in an attempt to improve his life. He writes of his great financial success and ability to help others, but not being able to feel completely successful. He summarizes the self-help cycle he experienced in a similar way to a dieting cycle. He relates his experience of wanting to change his life, investing in a self-help program, applying the information, failing at the program, and then wanting another self-help approach.
Two major concepts in the book are the Theory of Constraints and the Level 5 Paradigm. Mr. Ridgway writes that the Theory of Constraints boils down to being able to succeed in life, regardless of preparation, if there is a significant hindrance in place. He proposes that everyone has the same "core constraint": that we see ourselves and the world as physical and separate entities. He argues that people are not physical beings but "non-physical light energy arising and passing away, arising and passing away, a septillion times per second". When people view themselves and everything around them as energy, Mr. Ridgway argues, they will be able to live according to the Level 5 Paradigm, which is that we are "perfect, eternal and complete with no flaws, faults or badness--or goodness". If people can adopt these beliefs, he writes, they will experience limitless possibilities and be able to live the life they want.
This book is short but dense. Time is required to understand the material, especially for those readers completely unfamiliar with the concepts. It is written in a conversational tone, with the author speaking directly to the reader, and there are online videos and resources that expand on topics covered in the book. Mr. Ridgway encourages readers to view and complete these activities in order to experience the full effect of the program.
Readers who subscribe to metaphysical approaches to the world will appreciate Break Your Self Help Addiction. The quantum physics described and the metaphysical nature of the program will resonate with this segment of Mr. Ridgway's audience.
Readers from some religious backgrounds may not enjoy this personal development text, as many of its precepts are based on the concept of self as Creator. In addition, profanity is sprinkled throughout the book, which may turn off some audience members.
There is no table of contents in the Kindle gift edition of the book I read. It would have been useful for reviewing material already covered. It also needs further editing, as there are some distracting grammatical errors. I rate this book 2 out of 4 stars.
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Break Your Self Help Addiction
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