tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125325709844932289.post1033887482917207297..comments2023-09-07T07:16:10.305-04:00Comments on Flights of Fantasy: Excuse Me, Your Life Is WaitingMarian Pererahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15700524210146863718noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125325709844932289.post-24012751442818639152010-01-06T05:24:03.391-05:002010-01-06T05:24:03.391-05:00Writtenwyrdd - I think there's a middle ground...<b>Writtenwyrdd</b> - I think there's a middle ground between "everything is completely random" and "everything is purposeful, either ordained by a deity or caused by us". <br /><br />If you got through more than one book like this, though, I'm impressed. :)Marian Pererahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15700524210146863718noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125325709844932289.post-88860836513178463552010-01-05T19:51:12.198-05:002010-01-05T19:51:12.198-05:00She's not dead, she's merely 'bipped&#...She's not dead, she's merely 'bipped'.AnarchicQhttp://anarchicq.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125325709844932289.post-17795774639520176222010-01-05T14:13:48.619-05:002010-01-05T14:13:48.619-05:00(Oh, and by saying 'blame' is relegated to...(Oh, and by saying 'blame' is relegated to diety, I mean that in the "It's God's will" sort of belief.)writtenwyrddhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02280711822302493122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125325709844932289.post-80719453233459469082010-01-05T14:12:37.888-05:002010-01-05T14:12:37.888-05:00You touch upon some of the issues I have with New ...You touch upon some of the issues I have with New Age works I read in the 90s - that it's all your fault, essentially, if you have anything bad happen to you. On one hand, it helps to have something upon which to pin your troubles. Religions already do that, however, and the blame (if you can call it that) is relegated to diety. But when the humanistic viewpoint takes that same tactic, you have made man his own 'victim.' This sort of thinking offends me as it implies that if you can't succeed you are a loser, etc. <br /><br />There is something to the ideas presented. But taking it too far and you just set up a self-victimization cycle.writtenwyrddhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02280711822302493122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125325709844932289.post-79655143306728390212010-01-04T01:11:11.830-05:002010-01-04T01:11:11.830-05:00Tasha - That's what positive thinking means to...<b>Tasha</b> - That's what positive thinking means to me as well - optimism and determination. On the other hand, if the author wrote a book of common sense, it probably wouldn't have sold as well. <br /><br /><b>Angela</b> - To be honest, some parts made me giggle - the buzzing and vibrations, WHOOSH! and the repeated references to valves opening and closing. I only got pissed off towards the end.Marian Pererahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15700524210146863718noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125325709844932289.post-43457905250012019512010-01-04T01:05:09.400-05:002010-01-04T01:05:09.400-05:00Mary - I'd have found it very difficult to sit...<b>Mary</b> - I'd have found it very difficult to sit through such a conversation as well, even if I was just overhearing it.<br /><br />You're right about people wanting reasons for things that go wrong, like disease. Some people either assign responsibility to whoever's suffering from the disease or accident (helps maintain the illusion that we can control whatever happens in life). <br /><br />Or they adopt a mindset where nothing <i>really</i> goes wrong. If you get cancer, it's to make you a better person. If you die, it's so you can go to a better place.Marian Pererahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15700524210146863718noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125325709844932289.post-34056671121441365112010-01-04T00:15:32.421-05:002010-01-04T00:15:32.421-05:00I think you deserve an award for clawing your way ...I think you deserve an award for clawing your way through it!Angela Ackermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01808259088625142389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125325709844932289.post-7984315141813248782010-01-03T13:13:41.093-05:002010-01-03T13:13:41.093-05:00Good grief. That book sounds dreadful. She takes...Good grief. That book sounds dreadful. She takes some good general ideas such as positive thinking, and like attracts (which I do believe in) and twists them into absurdity.<br /><br />To me, positive thinking means trying to see the bright side of situations, or not giving up even when things are very difficult in your life. That sort of thing. NOT that nothing bad can ever happen to you, and that if it does, that you're to blame. Ugh.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125325709844932289.post-34597638971221171962010-01-02T11:10:07.279-05:002010-01-02T11:10:07.279-05:00I remember listening to someone in a cafe telling ...I remember listening to someone in a cafe telling a friend that her father had died because he'd been thinking the wrong thoughts. I had to restrain myself from getting up and shaking her.<br /><br />It's so tempting to look for a quick fix and a REASON for all the ills of the world. But few people make it to the stage of actually publishing their nonsense theories.<br /><br />Wonder how this lady would explain the Holocaust, or Rwanda? Scary, isn't it?Mary Witzlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06458299046574564155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125325709844932289.post-91721977056422161112010-01-01T17:25:08.181-05:002010-01-01T17:25:08.181-05:00bookdragonette - I too would love to know how her ...<b>bookdragonette</b> - I too would love to know how her death is reconciled with her philosophy. Perhaps true believers will take it as her wish to travel into a better dimension?<br /><br /><b>Janna</b> - Happy New Year to you and your family! :)<br /><br />Yes, I hope no one who was sick or clinically depressed took this book seriously and held themselves responsible for their condition (or worse, tried to change it through positive thinking alone). There's a lot to be said for the placebo effect, but it's wrong to imply that that's all you need.Marian Pererahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15700524210146863718noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125325709844932289.post-73580812534141601772010-01-01T17:14:11.285-05:002010-01-01T17:14:11.285-05:00Maria - Yes, I had the impression that this book w...<b>Maria</b> - Yes, I had the impression that this book was just one facet of a whole New Age movement. <i>The Secret</i> was mentioned in several positive reviews. <br /><br /><b>Bekah</b> - I have no idea how this book became a NYT bestseller - excellent marketing campaign, maybe? On the other hand, there are no quotes on the cover from any other bestselling authors. That should've been a warning to me.Marian Pererahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15700524210146863718noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125325709844932289.post-56740808443744441142010-01-01T17:06:41.555-05:002010-01-01T17:06:41.555-05:00Wow! Just... wow. I'm glad you gave it a chanc...Wow! Just... wow. I'm glad you gave it a chance to share its contents with the rest of us, and now we know not to waste our time (as you said). I can only hope her words haven't pushed someone the wrong, misguided direction.<br /><br />Happy New Year, Marian!Janna Leadbetterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06339705935553160673noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125325709844932289.post-62596829290055473262010-01-01T16:14:57.416-05:002010-01-01T16:14:57.416-05:00The book sounds atrocious, sheesh. Like Maria Zann...The book sounds atrocious, sheesh. Like Maria Zannini, I wonder how she would have explained her own death. (Not that I am glad she is dead, mind.) Just morbidly curious.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125325709844932289.post-13675659375720020982010-01-01T16:14:52.298-05:002010-01-01T16:14:52.298-05:00Wow. That is not the kind of help I want to get mo...Wow. That is not the kind of help I want to get more success out of life. I would say interesting book, but it sounds more like disasterous book. How did it become a best seller? Then again I could list a few books that were best sellers that I think were way over-rated too. Thanks for the heads up.Bekahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17495796538020025891noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125325709844932289.post-23615794813447401922010-01-01T15:40:02.555-05:002010-01-01T15:40:02.555-05:00I have a firm belief in positive thinking, but I a...I have a firm belief in positive thinking, but I also believe in helping yourself. <br /><br />Grabhorn's book sounds more like a commercial venture rather than a true self-help book. Rhonda Byrnes, The Secret follows a similar path, all wrapped up in a nice commercial package and one hour with Oprah.<br /><br />Sorry to hear the book was disappointing. And while Grabhorn's death seems ironic, it makes me wonder how she would explain it away.<br /><br />Happy New Year, Marian!Maria Zanninihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01604862636922299273noreply@blogger.com