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192nd out of 213 books
—
26 voters
Steering by Starlight: Find Your Right Life, No Matter What!
In the tradition of her bestseller, Finding Your Own North Star, Oprah Magazine columnist Martha Beck reconnects readers with their best destinies.
Described as one of the best-known life coaches in America in media such as Psychology Today, NPR, and USA Today, Martha Beck has demonstrated a rare gift for helping people whose lives have gone off course find their way back t...more
Described as one of the best-known life coaches in America in media such as Psychology Today, NPR, and USA Today, Martha Beck has demonstrated a rare gift for helping people whose lives have gone off course find their way back t...more
Hardcover, 256 pages
Published
March 18th 2008
by Rodale Books
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I'm not much for “self-help.” It's not my passion; because of this, I rarely buy into it. If the girl on the cover really knows what it takes to be a millionaire, why isn't she one? And if that guy is truly happy, why does he hide behind the face of an action figure? Wait, that isn't plastic, that is his face!!! All kidding aside, it's just not my thing. Enter Martha Beck.
Martha Beck has come with high recommendations for years. Her angle, paraphrased: “You probably aren't doing what you want to...more
Martha Beck has come with high recommendations for years. Her angle, paraphrased: “You probably aren't doing what you want to...more
Ms. Beck writes clearly and with a hilarious, sassy tone.
She certainly has credibility (3 Harvard degrees). I love how she lets the reader in to the Harvard viewpoint (unofficial motto: 'If you're not smart, just kill yourself.') How she courageously shifted perspective for what she was supposed to be doing with her Harvard degrees; very aware of how she was being perceived as a self-help writer by her Harvard colleagues: in their estimation, '...about six rungs lower...than a pole dancer.'
I en...more
She certainly has credibility (3 Harvard degrees). I love how she lets the reader in to the Harvard viewpoint (unofficial motto: 'If you're not smart, just kill yourself.') How she courageously shifted perspective for what she was supposed to be doing with her Harvard degrees; very aware of how she was being perceived as a self-help writer by her Harvard colleagues: in their estimation, '...about six rungs lower...than a pole dancer.'
I en...more
I love Martha Beck. Besides being an enviably wise woman, she's very funny. If I could hire a life coach, I'd want her. Though some of the material in this book is not really new, she presents it in her own fresh way. Like many, she advocates visualization meditations and she is indebted to the work of Byron Katie and others, but her explanations and illustrations with her own clients, as well as her own life, and her humorous and unique perspective make the examination of one's psyche less daun...more
I listened to this book on my conmute and I liked it a lot. It has a very structured approach to working through your ego and connecting to your Higher Self in a very workable format (at least for my brain). The metaphor of the Stargazer is very symbolic and helps to keep the focus on the Higher Self... The second chapter on the Reptilian Brain brought a lot of light into my primal fears...
It is definitely a book to "work through", not a book to just read... the information without the exercises...more
It is definitely a book to "work through", not a book to just read... the information without the exercises...more
Martha's voice snagged me as I skimmed through an Oprah magazine in a waiting room several months ago. Her humor, intellect and sensible approach to life permeate her writing. I was hooked.
I borrowed this title from my library system and worked through the journaling with a large dollop of skepticism. But again and again her matter of fact, simple (not easy) methods for moving toward my "north star" made sense. Her passing observation about the "empty elevator" rang so true it brought me up sho...more
I borrowed this title from my library system and worked through the journaling with a large dollop of skepticism. But again and again her matter of fact, simple (not easy) methods for moving toward my "north star" made sense. Her passing observation about the "empty elevator" rang so true it brought me up sho...more
I skimmed this one as a comparison for my own work interest. She is coach of more then a decade. She works from a very "scientific method" mode; if the five senses are not involved neither is she.
Starting here she moves into talking about things like "abundance,""manifestation,""intuition" with out using any of these words. So it is informative and wordy at times due to not wanting to use any spiritual key words to thus sound more business-like.
Her methods and techniques are very good for open...more
Starting here she moves into talking about things like "abundance,""manifestation,""intuition" with out using any of these words. So it is informative and wordy at times due to not wanting to use any spiritual key words to thus sound more business-like.
Her methods and techniques are very good for open...more
Wow.
Just ... wow.
This is by far one of the most helpful coaching books I have read. Sociologist Martha Beck, with her characteristic good humor, provides more insight and advice on how to get to your life purpose. She clearly explains the importance of the work, and how to recognize when you're on the right path.
I laughed, I cried, I recognized myself in the pages. Suffice it to say that I found this book so profound that I wrote a thank-you note to Dr. Beck when I finished it. I will be using...more
Just ... wow.
This is by far one of the most helpful coaching books I have read. Sociologist Martha Beck, with her characteristic good humor, provides more insight and advice on how to get to your life purpose. She clearly explains the importance of the work, and how to recognize when you're on the right path.
I laughed, I cried, I recognized myself in the pages. Suffice it to say that I found this book so profound that I wrote a thank-you note to Dr. Beck when I finished it. I will be using...more
Another fabulous book by Martha Beck. Through each stage in life, sometimes you have to correct to get back on course, and this one along with "Finding Your Own North Star" are wonderful books to remind you of yourself, what you really think, and where you really want to go. These books help one to hear oneself over the din of other people's opinions of who and what they want you to do and be. Thanks Martha!
This book offers a toolbox of various techniques for looking at the world and more specifically at your own corner of it and how you want to move forward. I've had her other book about the North Star on my shelf for a while and have never got past the first chapter, perhaps only the intro, which is about Dante and some tough patches in his life. However, this book was a CD and I was on a road trip, so I persevered. The format precluded the homework/exercises part of the book, although I did stop...more
I'm always looking for self-enlightenment. This particular book was recommended by a friend. I did enjoy the read. The author presents the material very nicely and doesn't talk down to the reader. I felt the book helped to reinforce and remind me of things I already knew and had implemented. It also gave me some new things to think about and work on.
I got a lot out of Steering by Starlight. It made me feel that my inner impulses are important, that I have them for a reason, and that the way to reach my potential is to follow my intuition instead of what others say I should do (or what those negative voices in my head say I should do). A very supportive book for those who are trying to move forward in their lives.
This is an inspiring and truly helpful book full of insight, humour and new skills to help anyone navigate their way in this challenging journey of living every day. It broadened my awareness and made me look at things in a new way, or rather in a way I'd always known about but hadn't trusted enough.
I loved this book, especially at the stage I am in in my life/career. I'm planning to re-read it and do all of the exersizes soon! If you want to figure out exactly what you're meant to be doing in your life, this book can help you figure it out!
Aug 08, 2011
Elizabeth
added it
Beck is such a funny and thoughtful writer, even if you don't like what she has to say about creating a fulfiling life (I did), I think you'll still get a kick out of her prose. A super-intelligent self-help book.
another great book by Martha Beck. Love this author and love what she says about what's important and how the things we say and think influence what we experience. this is a very Christian concept, by the way.
I have loved every other Martha Beck book I've read but this one just felt like it was trying too hard. I got very tired of the wizard/dungeon jargon. I actually stopped halfway through because I was starting to dislike her and I think she can be a very inspiring and practical guide.
An interesting approach: very practical ("ok, I know I need to surrender, but how do I do that?"). Less 'airy fairy' than I expected from the cover and blurbs, I'm finding it quite solidly helpful.
Oh my gawwwd.....this book was a revelation when I was contemplating what to do with my life in medicine. Hilarious, practical and impossibly helpful!! Cannot recommend highly enough.
Jan 09, 2010
Jennifer Higgins
is currently reading it
I have been reading this one for a couple months. It takes time to work through the exercises and think about the things that are important to you. I plan on taking my time with this one.
One of the best self-help books I've read.
Towards the end of the book she mentions her fibromyalgia and I'm glad she is able to do so much despite having FM.
Towards the end of the book she mentions her fibromyalgia and I'm glad she is able to do so much despite having FM.
Helped me enormously in the hardest year I've ever had. Even if you only take away a couple good concepts, they'll be enough to help you through hard times.
You know that tingle of inspiration that warms you from the inside out when you read something AMAZING? Get ready to feel it throughout this entire book.
Martha is Magic. It helps that we speak the same language. Coaching via book is a tough balance of information and exercises and guesswork. Somehow she knows exactly what to say even though she isn't in the room with you. Wonderful, wonderful!
I learned alot from this book. I quit my job because it reminded me that i can do anything i want to do. No one elses rules apply.
Martha Beck, like Oprah has said is the most intelligent woman she has ever met...this book is FANTASTIC and I'm still working it!
Great way to understand life coaching without having to find your own life coach. Really positive book with a lot of good, creative ideas.
It's a decent book if you are doing some soul-searching and have a good threshold for words like "destiny" and "stargazer" etc.
Martha Beck is a gem: compassionate, funny, and up to her ears in useful tools for moving in the direction of your desires.
I probably wouldn't have read this book if a good friend hadn't recommended it, but I'm not sorry I did. She takes a lot of what I recognize as buddhist teachings and practice and adapts them to the life coaching paradigm. She kind of "Oprah-cizes" it but without getting too maudlin. She came across as smart and funny, and I do find myself using some of the visualizations she creates.
This book was very helpful like everything by Martha Beck. I am trying to try the magic that was suggested in it.
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Martha Beck is a writer and "life coach" who specializes in helping people design satisfying and meaningful life experiences. She holds a bachelor's degree in East Asian Studies and master's and Ph.D. degrees in sociology, all from Harvard University.
She worked as a research associate at Harvard Business School, studying career paths and life-course changes in today's economic and social environme...more
More about Martha N. Beck...
She worked as a research associate at Harvard Business School, studying career paths and life-course changes in today's economic and social environme...more
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Apr 20, 2010 10:32am