by
3.62 of 5 stars
A chance encounter at a cocktail party 30 years ago changed Gay Hendricks s life forever. A stranger asked him to imagine himself on his deathbed a... read full description

reviews

Nov 29, 2011
Richard rated it: 5 of 5 stars
Okay, I haven't written a review for ages, but I need to justify why this book gets 5 stars. There are many other books on a similar vein out there, and I've read a few.
5 Wishes is simple, it is not contrived, and each step is plainly made and easily followed. Reading it I can feel some of what he is saying flow over me, and I'm getting those occasional twinges of excitement which are all too rare as I become more cynical. Reading 5 wishes let me be innocent again, and ready to accept the More...
Sep 12, 2011
Mary rated it: 3 of 5 stars
I like to think that this book is the result of opening yourself to new and deeper experiences. Hendricks uses a conversation that he had at a party with a complete stranger, that helped him discover his goals in life, to outline a process for discovering your own wishes and beginning to act on them. It is a short and entertaining read with points where you can actually stop and think about what your own answer to the question would be. If your looking for a way to figure out a way to refocus More...
Aug 17, 2009
Bridgett rated it: 4 of 5 stars
It's a short book and I could relate to it well. It's about what five wishes the author would want granted/what five things he would change if he were on his deathbed. I could use work on what the other refers to as "pure consciousness" and feeling like all people and things contain God within them. I already think that, but I can turn into an incredibly angry person, sometimes over stupid stuff. Though if someone is sorry (or at least says so) I always forgive them. I don't have a lot More...
Apr 15, 2008
Tami rated it: 5 of 5 stars
One simple question completely changed Gay Hendricks life. What was the question? How did this amazing transformation take place?

Five Wishes tells the story. The living changing event started out rather uneventfully enough. The author had committed himself to going to a party that he would have really liked to decline. The notion of sitting by the fire reading a good book seemed far more attractive than trying to create small talk all night.

Fortunately, he did make it t More...
Apr 05, 2008
Aimee rated it: 4 of 5 stars
Once again a super fast read. It opened my eyes to a different way of thinking and if nothing else a great conversation to have with others instead of small talk. Some of the things he wrote I disagreed with but all in all not bad. I have always disliked the rollercoaster of emotions in relationships and the author had interesting insight on how to not have so many lows in relationships. He said that "....perhaps we sabotaged our good feeling because we simply didn't have much practice More...
Jul 27, 2011
Jay rated it: 2 of 5 stars
Refreshingly short in audiobook format (2 CDs), very quickly describes the idea behind the book, provides examples from the author's own life, and runs through an example of asking for the 5 questions. Given the brevity, you can't expect a lot. The audiobook did keep my interest, but barely. The concept felt very familiar, as did the stories. Too familiar it seems, what I remember most about the book a week after reading/listening was a description of an interesting Halloween costume.
Feb 11, 2009
Katie rated it: 5 of 5 stars
Excellent book and another quick read. I read it in conjunction with the Jackrabbit Factor and it really helped me to figure out what I want. It is great to have dreams and goals and the process Hendricks outlines is very useful if used correctly.
Feb 21, 2009
Lychee rated it: 3 of 5 stars
Quick, easy read. An easy way to get a quick perspective on whether one is focusing one's energy on that which is most important to oneself. I'm finding that I'm faced with the quandary of knowing there's something that I really want but not sure that I'm willing to take the necessary risks. But with a little help from my friends I might get there.
Jul 30, 2011
Nikki marked it as to-read
Couldn't put it down and now rereading it. I received it as a birthday gift and it was probably the best and most apt gift at the time. Excellent stuff!
Jul 28, 2011
Kathy rated it: 5 of 5 stars
Absolutely wonderful, simple, profound. Potential to change one's life! Very quick read, but powerful.
Apr 24, 2008
BLEEPING Herald rated it: 5 of 5 stars
When Five Wishes by Gay Hendricks arrived, I started at the foreword by Neale Donald Walsch and the book swept me to page 63 before other work demands forced me to put it down with great reluctance. I finished it the next day, followed the action steps he lays out, and suddenly my life was very clear. I knew what was absolutely of primary importance to me and what wasn’t, and had a pretty fair idea how to actualize the things that were important. The rest would take care of itself, falling away More...
Dec 23, 2007
kareem rated it: 5 of 5 stars
five wishes asks the question: picture yourself on your deathbed. did you accomplish everything you wanted to accomplish? if not, what were the things that you regret not doing?

it's not really a "how to live the life you always wanted" book, but it brought things into clear perspective for me: if you're going to regret things on your deathbed, well, why the heck are you living life that way?

speaking of wishes, i wish all business books were like this -- i More...
0 comments like (1 person liked it)
Jan 06, 2012
Devika rated it: 2 of 5 stars
I wasn't impressed with the book as the anecdotes were predictable and redundant.
Oct 13, 2009
Iman added it
You are not ready to live your life until you know what is written on your tomb stone”
Jun 15, 2009
Marc rated it: 5 of 5 stars
Gay is the real deal. Very helpful, to the point.
Jan 03, 2009
Annie rated it: 4 of 5 stars
Great book to keep you focused.
Oct 02, 2010
Cloay is currently reading it
Available in SG NLB 158.1 (Sengkang)
Nov 23, 2008
Erotic Horizon rated it: 5 of 5 stars
Five Wishes: How Answering One Simple Question Can Make Your Dreams Come True by Gay Hendricks (2008)
Jan 21, 2009
L. rated it: 3 of 5 stars
I felt there could have been more to this book. It is a good base for the concept. I think by going to the website and seeing the movie adds to the book. To me it isn't a stand alone book. There was just 'something' missing. It is a good book/workbook for people just starting out on their journey. For me, I was hoping there was more.

All in all it was a good read, gave some good information, and made one think.
May 11, 2008
Karen rated it: 2 of 5 stars
Imagine being on your deathbed this moment; then consider asking yourself 5 questions about your life. This is really how the book begins. Ask yourself daily what you would want to change, and how you would have lived if you had time; and then DO IT NOW, before that moment arrives.
Good thought. Not something I felt bowled me over; just OK
Aug 25, 2008
Kathy rated it: 3 of 5 stars
Short book- ponders the question "If you were on your death bed, what aspects of your life would you wish had been different." Then he encourages you to make those changes now so you can die with no regrets. His claim- "you can make all your wishes come true."
A bit hokey, but well written.
May 30, 2008
Bray rated it: 1 of 5 stars
another yoga book club read.... really didn't care for it - the general idea of it is good - thinking about what you might regret or have missed in life if you were to pass away, but written in such a self-help way that was irritating.
Jan 23, 2008
Christy rated it: 4 of 5 stars
So maybe it won't make all my dreams come true, but it was definitely a profound and insightful book. I recommend it to anyone who likes to think and could benefit from just a spot of self-help.
Oct 25, 2007
Kenneth rated it: 4 of 5 stars
This beautifully written book doesn't take long to read but you'll think about it long after you've read it. The questions it asks you to ponder will alter the rest of your life. A must read.
Sep 28, 2008
Debbie rated it: 3 of 5 stars
I always like a book that asks me to consider "doing" something; however, while I have considered his suggestions, I don't find myself a person who spends a lot of time regretting.
Dec 13, 2008
Ame is currently reading it
magical thinking, the kind that horrifies so many
Apr 03, 2008
Kristen rated it: 3 of 5 stars
I'm not sure I recommend the book highly, but I do recommend the idea behind it, that of living in a way you wish you had done before you die.
Dec 15, 2007
Carol rated it: 4 of 5 stars
Sometimes it is jsut the right conversation to get you moving in teh right direction. We all need conversations like this.
Jan 20, 2008
Dana rated it: 2 of 5 stars
Starts out fascinating, then kind-of dulls. Regardless, has me thinking in a slightly different way, which is always good.
Mar 27, 2010
Bill rated it: 5 of 5 stars
Fantastically simple book - I love the challenge it brought to my life.