Discovering identity is stimulating
340800
The trauma of finding oneself different from others is exhilarating and stress producing. This story conveys the very real emotions quite well.
932430
At first glance, The Playful Way to Knowing Yourself appears to be a book you could breeze through in an afternoon. But after spending a few minutes with author Roberta Allen's format, one soon discovers that there is a whole world of self-discovery packed into these 213 pages.

The Playful Way to Knowing Yourself is "A Creative Workbook to Inspire Self-Discovery." Allen's book is unlike any workbook I have ever used or read in the past. Writing prompts paired with photographs coax creativity through verbal and visual pathways.

Allen's prompts encourage us to go deep within: "Imagine this woman seeing you exactly the way you want to be seen. What does she see?" She encourages us to be reflective: "What keeps you from being still?" And, she brings us to a point of making dreams realities: "Imagine yourself floating among these clouds in harmony with everyone and everything. What can you do to make that happen?"

The writing prompts have much greater impact because Allen has carefully paired them with photographic images that draw us in or push us further in our dreaming, our thinking and our writing.

Roberta Allen is a creativity coach, writing instructor, and author of several fiction and non-fiction books. After reading The Playful Way to Knowing Yourself--and working through the activities therein--I couldn't wait to get my hands on a copy of her book The Playful Way to Serious Writing.

by Lee Ambrose
for Story Circle Book Reviews
reviewing books by, for, and about women
887322
Jackson tackles the dynamic interaction of the complex components of identity in OUR ELDERS LIVED IT.  She starts by reconstructing the relationship between the rural and urban-born Anishinaabe people through interviews, focusing on the level of continuity between generations which is a significant aspect of cultural identity.  She also addresses the fact that different economic and social opportunities created different ways for people to express their identities.  She draws a picture of how different social contexts reflect different levels of desire in individuals to incorporate and manifest "Indianness" in their lives.  She does well to show the continuum of Indian identity--that there is more than one way to embrace Native culture and identity.  Jackson, through her work on the Anishinaabe touches on larger on larger American societal issues such as marginalized or poor communities, the separation between blue and white collar workers and their respective cultures, and Indians and non-Indians.  This text would be useful for anyone interested in the components of culture and identity.  It flows well and keeps the reader's attention by switching from history to analyses to first hand interviews.
1220137
The book title asks if social media is stealing your identity.  This is an appropriate question.  Author Jessica Fralin is addressing young women, but this fine and spiritual book is worth reading by us guys also.  Each chapter of the book ends with a section entitled "Identity: Taking It Back" which highlights the important point or points made in the chapter.

So while the book is obviously targeted for women and especially young ones, it's indeed a worthy one for all of us in this computer and iphone age.
632851
A marvelous exploration of what it means to have a false identity, slightly marred by the way it ends.
2588059
The most intriguing part of reading, Becoming a Person of Destiny, was the personal reflection it stimulated as I found myself looking back on my life's journey.  The speed of modern day life leaves little time for personal reflection.  Reading this fine book walked me through a series of thought provoking concepts that inspired new insights into many of my past decisions and actions. The format of the book is wonderful in its simplicity.  The seven chapters are anchored around seven key questions, ranging from "What is Destiny?" to "How does Destiny Shape Who I am?"  It is the perfect blend of extensive research, insights and challenging questions for the reader.  If you're the type who loves to dig into the likes of Kierkegaard, Jung, Fromm, Rogers and other pioneers in psychology and philosophy, you will enjoy this book.  Weave in Joseph Campbell, Camus, and Piaget and you get an idea of how extensive this journey can be.  One word came to mind as I turned each page - "Alive".  The author, Ken Hultman, seemed to spring out of the pages with an energy and creativity that shouted, "I am alive, well and excited to share something of great meaning with you".  I was mesmerized by his writing style that combines research references, anecdotes and personal revelations.  Take the time to read this and let yourself travel back to your life's journey and look at it with a new perspective. The benefit for you will be a new outlook as you move into the next phase of your life tomorrow.
4434972
I gained more knowledge and understanding from this 74-page collection of aphorisms than from all the books I've ever read on the complex subject of multi-culturalism in America.

Identity is a paradox: It fills us with pride, while it burdens us with expectations and responsibilites of conformity.

The book is right. "Only one in possession of an identity would understand why one would wish to be rid of it."
4715190
"Jenna's Journeys" is a fascinating and stimulating journey into the mystery of life unseen all around us. The book opens a portal to the deepest understanding of the purpose of human creation and reveals the giant puzzle that spans the world covering time and space. "Jenna's Journeys" tells the story of one person's journey into the workings of the human mind and our reason for being. The central figure is a person of real power who with great humility guides us to accepting our divine side as well as our human side. Simply reading it will open your eyes to the new worlds of possibilities. And the very astute realizations in the story will help you to achieve your highest potential.
1936929
This is an amazing approach to further my understanding of emotion and behavior. It is written with a clarity and thought provoking intensity that motivates the reader to cognitively explore their actions and reactions to everday situations. It provides a magnificent opportunity to identify our unique 'maps of our worlds' and encourages the layperson to challenge the view
I am what I am ?
728213
This book was an enjoyable read with thoughtful commentary on the topic of relationships and growth through deeper self discovery.
4667919
Bob the Book, is a wonderful, comic exploration of  post-modern identity formation with anthropomorphized books voicing their truth from behind often contrary covers, paralleling their owners frustrated attempts to access their own natural, pre-packaged identities.

At a used book sale, Bob, a book whose content can be categorized with either queer studies or gay pornography, written by Harrison R. Stone, Ph. D., meets and falls in love with Moshie, a less ambivalent scholarly book  titled
Beneath the Tallis: The Hidden Lives of Gay and Bisexual Orthodox Jewish Men.

From this allegorical premise one immediately understands  Pratt loves word play.  With childish delight, he spins a fable probing the depths of false identity that obscures the human search for true love.  A multi-layered, playful sample of the text follows Moshies purchase by a female buyer:

Bob hoped that dark-haired woman was a scholar, as Moishe had wished for.  Moishe had mentioned his wish to be marked up, highlighted and underlined, with Post-its stuck to his pages, and to live with someone forever.  Bob hoped that Moishes dream was now coming true (25).

With this multi-tiered word play, Pratt draws the reader into a probing examination of how we are all caught in the identity matrix of editing ourselves into pre-conceived hierarchical roles that overshadow our emotions crippling our ability to connect with ourselves and others.

This is a very funny book, exploring profound issues that serve to trap us all behind layers of false identity.
872997
The notion of identity can actually be difficult to define, as it's definition is flexible and contextual. But Dave Birch does a great job of digging into the way identity works in both the real and cyber world, and how it impacts the lives of people. Money is the other part of the equation, and like identity, there is a real shift going on in how the internet changes the notion of what is a currency and how value is exchanged. Dave shows us how all of that comes together, and points towards how things might develop. A great read if you want to be ahead of the curve.
2394812
This book tells a wonderful tale about what it takes to own one's personal "power" in the world, which is to be willing to show up and face the fear that is inherent in that vulnerable territory.  Purpus' ability to convey often complex concepts about the individuation process is a real gift to the reader, especially for those adolescents among us who are squarely in the search for identity in a complicated world.  Easy reading and thought provoking at the same time.
3010127
Knowing who you are and what your purpose is in life is key. The struggle for the Authentic Self, I would say gives great guidance into finding who you are and what your purpose is. In the beginning of the book, Dr. Padilla goes in depth on how society steers people into a direction that pulls one from finding their true authentic self. Those being formed by society would be in a sense blind or unaware. The Struggle for the Authentic Self, explains the many different ways of how people may be blind or are already formed by society.  So much time is being taken out of the days of millions of people, whether it is social media, media, life and all other things society provides. Dr. Padilla explains how things of this world distract you from truly finding your authentic self. Apart of allowing society to shape one into the inauthentic, Dr. Padilla also explains how those surrounding you may begin to shape you into the same form. Those that surround you may influence you into becoming someone you are not, separating you from your journey to the authentic self.
 I thought it was amazing how The Struggle for the Authentic Self makes you aware of all the things society does to pull a person away from their authentic self.
This brought me back to when I questioned who I was before I knew the path I was ready to take. I saw myself being formed into someone I knew I didn't want to be. I knew this because I had every feeling that what I was becoming into was not right. I was becoming Inauthentic. My journey requires me to be at my greatest potential, my greatest authentic self. Therefore I had to separate myself from the blinded and my past.
 Dr. Padilla breaks down what the inauthentic self, consists of in the beginning of his book. After doing so he then transitions into all things that make up the authentic self in the rest of his book. Dr. Padilla establishes many methods and explains various ways to finding out how to be one with who you are and who you are meant to be. These things may be uncomfortable to some when involving the separation of who you are to who you want to become. This takes taking a leap of faith and truly believing in all the things you want to accomplish by first truly believing in yourself and who you are. Once you find the understanding in who you are and find what you are meant to do in this life its about having all the faith in the world that it will be seen through. There will be many cases where you will have to still have faith when the outcomes are in the unknown, but when you are in tune with who you are you will in a sense be fearless in the face of any situation.
 This book is amazing and I already suggested it to many of my friends who are on the path of finding out who they truly are and on the paths to finding their authentic self. I really enjoyed reading The Struggle for the Authentic Self and would recommend this read to anyone who is striving to go after what they believe in. After reading The Struggle for the Authentic Self I have more of an understanding of how to reach my full authentic self and more of a drive to go after all that I believe in.
154224
I had the honor of previewing Justin Camp's new book Inventions. This book has hit me in many areas of my life and grown me in so many ways. I'm not always much for history, but Camp uses famous inventors to reveal truths about our Creator and how He has created each of us. Our Creator has designed men to be more than the definition of our society. Within this book are lies men assimilate into their lies as a way to define who we are, but Camp uses scripture to challenge our current identity and to shift it to an identity in Christ. At the end of each segment, we are challenged with questions to take us through the steps of really digesting the material presented. I have enjoyed journaling the answers to the questions and have looked back at my answers to see the growth I have experienced.

We are called to be "holy", in other words set apart from the world. If you want practical application to be a man after God's heart, this book will challenge you to take the next step. I am looking forward to getting my hard copy to begin marking it up.

Blessings Men of Faith!
1264426
"Creativity" provided an outstanding analysis of how Creativity occurs, and how creative individuals have influenced their respective fields and domains of knowledge and arts through the analysis of over ninety creative individuals of note.  This book provides an outline of the process that is useful to any person who is attempting to enhance organizational or personal creativity, and details the components of Creativity (which can influence the overall culture) and creativity (for an individual.)  I read my copy twice, and found certain topics so useful, I violated my own rule of never marking in a book.  This book is now heavily annotated and underlined, and has been shared with friends.  Following is a very brief summary.
The components of creativity include domains, fields, and persons.  A domain is defined as, "a set of symbolic rules and procedures," such as mathematics.  A field "includes all the individuals who act as gatekeepers to the domain."  This can be summarized as, "Creativity occurs when a person, using the symbols of a given domain such as music, engineering, business, or mathematics, has a new idea or sees a new pattern, and when this novelty is selected by the appropriate field for inclusion into the relevant domain."
The book presents an analysis of the impact of creativity by taking a systems approach with the following major components:  Creative individuals, through understanding of their field, hard work, and inspiration can produce novel work.  This work may or may not impact the overall field and domain, depending upon a variety of interrelated factors.  For instance, a talented but relatively unknown painter in a rural area may have less chance of recognition by the field than the same painter living in Manhattan, in proximity to galleries and noted critics.  Recognition and acceptance by the field is necessary for contribution to the field and domain. (such as physics, or art).
The book has an excellent, though smaller, section on enhancing personal creativity.  To those who seek to be more creative, a series of suggestions on how to implement these suggestions into everyday life is presented, with the note; "Even though personal creativity may not lead to fame and fortune, it can do something that from the individual's point of view is even more important:  make day-to-day experiences more vivid, more enjoyable, more rewarding.  When we live creatively, boredom is banished and every moment holds the promise of a fresh discovery."
The exercise of these elements of personal creativity can be delightful.  Some of them are:
"Try to surprise at least one person every day."
"Try to be surprised by something every day."
"When something strikes a spark of interest, follow it."
"If you do anything well, it becomes enjoyable."
For the rest, you will just have to buy the book.
3068862
Dare to Stimulate is an easy read that will make you think a little bit harder about who you are. I read it quickly through and then have been revisiting each taking notes on the thoughts it stirred up and how I reacted to them.