book review: Personal Development for Smart People

I have spent many hours enjoying Steve Pavlina's blog at http://www.stevepavlina.com/, so I was very excited when I heard he was writing a book. When he offered free review copies to bloggers who agreed to write honest reviews and post them on their blogs, I applied immediately and was delighted to be accepted. I couldn't wait for the book to arrive, and anticipated devouring it in one weekend and writing a glowing review.

The book arrived in late September. I ripped the package open and dove in, only to find that I simply could not connect with the material. Here we are, a full month later, and I have not cracked it open for three weeks. Yes, I was busy with work. But that never stops me from finding time to read if I'm into a book. I once stayed up all night to finish The Mists of Avalon.

I found myself reading the same words over and over without feeling any meaning behind them. I don't know why this is. We all know I am not normal. I have spent the better part of 25 years absorbing personal development and inspirational books and loving them. Maybe I have simply reached my quota. Maybe my mind just has no room left for even one tiny crumb of a concept. Maybe it is time for me to focus exclusively on my inner guidance. Who knows. Who cares.

BUT ... and it's a big BUT ... last week, I emailed my son, who is 17 and recently joined the Coast Guard, a link to one of Steve's blog posts. He loved it, and went on to spend hours reading the other posts. He's been calling me fairly often during his adjustment to life in the world outside the bubble of our little conscious family and community. I've found myself at a loss to help him deal with the bullying, teasing, harrassment, attempts at manipulation, and games that he has encountered. I put out the intention that a male mentor would show up for him who could offer him the assistance that I can't. And in stepped Steve Pavlina!

So I'm sending the book to my son, and he can't wait to receive it. I am SO excited that Steve will be his virtual mentor. I am confident that man-to-man, his book will offer my son the spiritually intelligent wisdom that he is so hungry for, and the exercises in the book will tap him in to his own inner guidance. I get goosebumps when I think of the life he might build on top of the strong personal foundation he will learn to construct from this book.

Please don't get me wrong - my son is a very emotionally intelligent 17. I'm not saying this book is just for teenagers! It's much more about stage than age. I think it's a comprehensive roadmap for someone starting to examine these things; an initiation to the journey of personal growth, and a guidebook for taking responsibility for your own life. If I was asked to recommend a book for someone who would read only one on this topic, this may very well be it.

At each critical juncture of my own spiritual journey, there was a powerful book acting as a catalyst. I can't tell you how excited I am that I can offer this book to my son. I'm delighted that he will get to chew on bite-sized nuggets of wisdom like: "Distancing yourself from the truth is never a wise long-term decision," and "Excessive routine is the enemy of intelligence."

As I gleefully package it up to mail, I will smile in joyful celebration of my son's first steps toward the "conscious pursuit of personal growth" which is the subtitle of the book. Thank you, Steve. I'm so grateful that you are out there doing what you do. The ripples from your work will reach far and wide.

Incidentally, my son is planning to post his own book review on his blog, so I'll let you know once it's up. You can get more information on the book and how to order it here: http://www.stevepavlina.com/personal-development-for-smart-people/