The Shadow Effect: Illuminating the Hidden Power of Your True Self

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The Shadow Effect: Illuminating the Hidden Power of Your True Self

by Deepak Chopra, Marianne Williamson, Debbie Ford

3.83 of 5 stars 3.83 · rating details · 558 ratings · 89 reviews

Deepak Chopra, Debbie Ford, and Marianne —New York Times bestselling authors and internationally acclaimed teachers—have joined together to share their knowledge on one of the most crucial obstacles to happiness we face—the shadow. These three luminaries, each with a signature approach, bring to light the parts of ourselves we deny but that still direct our life. For it is...more

ebook, 208 pages

Published May 4th 2010 by HarperCollins e-books (first published January 1st 2010)

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Jul 28, 2011 Michele Harrod rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Isn't it strange, when you have a book on your shelf for quite some time, and suddenly the spine seems to glow and call out to you "pick me, pick me". This happened with The Shadow Effect, so it went into my travel bag when I was packing for a holiday last week. I then came across the author Marianne Williamson, but could not find the book title concerned, on line. Turns out, she is a contributing author in this book. What can I say about The Shadow Effect? Firstly, I think it should be a text-b...more Isn't it strange, when you have a book on your shelf for quite some time, and suddenly the spine seems to glow and call out to you "pick me, pick me". This happened with The Shadow Effect, so it went into my travel bag when I was packing for a holiday last week. I then came across the author Marianne Williamson, but could not find the book title concerned, on line. Turns out, she is a contributing author in this book. What can I say about The Shadow Effect? Firstly, I think it should be a text-book in schools, especially Debbie Ford's explanation of projection - and how if we read all the people that really get up our nose, and why, we will discover that what we are finding so annoying, is something that we really need to bring out from the shadows within ourselves. Believe me, I have tried to disprove this theory all week, and I cannot. She is pretty spot on.

This was a book, which after reading, I needed to pull my journal out, and then found myself writing for days. I found Deepak Chopra's section quite difficult to follow (but am seeing him live on 2nd August - so will be curious to see if he covers this material). Lastly, the opening chapter by Marianne Williamson, literally reduced me to tears. I have simply been plagued my whole life with my inability to reconcile mankind's ability to wreak such intense pain and suffering on each other, which is in such diabolical contrast to the extreme beauty and kindness I also know we have the capacity to be. These opposing sides of human nature at times cause me such despair that I can barely stand to live in the world. This book, for the first time in my life, literally offered an answer to this question, and a solution for humankind to recognise and accept both the light and the darkness inside us all, and to learn to read our own darknesses as the signposts that lead us back to the light, rather than 'badness' that we have to bury, hide, or deny, which ultimately causes us endless shame, and a lack of 'wholeness' and complete self-acceptance. To gain that of course, is the first step to ever finding real love and acceptance of everyone else.

For me, this book was a revelation. Now I am off to watch the movie on line, and then probably to do the on-line course. I have never read anything that rang quite so true before. This is the sort of book I want to go out and buy a copy for every single person I know. I love their shadow selves already!(less)

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Jun 29, 2010 Desiree rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Something new from Marianne Williamson, I HAD to pick it up! I was a bit disappointed that her part of the book was so short. Also, I don't think the book was all that well written.

Some of my favorite quotes from the book:

"Detachment doesn't show indifference. It shows that you really don't want negativity to stick to you."

"The fog of illusion creates fear. Remove the fear, and what remains is love."

"Whatever we judge or condemn in another is ultimately a disowned or rejected part of ourselves."...more

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Nov 27, 2012 Dani rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: audio-books, philosophy-and-spirituality

My first audio book...recommended and borrowed from a love one.

I really connected with the first two speakers of this book (I will talk about Williamson shortly).

Both Chopra and Ford showed us aspects of ourselves that we are all familiar yet so many of use choose not acknowledge. Our negative thoughts, our less than great qualities, projecting blame or negative comments on to others as well as self judgment... these are aspects of our shadow. This book helps us determine why we act the way that...more My first audio book...recommended and borrowed from a love one.

I really connected with the first two speakers of this book (I will talk about Williamson shortly).

Both Chopra and Ford showed us aspects of ourselves that we are all familiar yet so many of use choose not acknowledge. Our negative thoughts, our less than great qualities, projecting blame or negative comments on to others as well as self judgment... these are aspects of our shadow. This book helps us determine why we act the way that we do with certain people or situations and why we create our own demise to things that we have worked so hard to attain. By recognizing why we think, act and react to certain areas in our lives and by fully accepting ALL of our qualities, we can be authenticated. By recognizing that when we project on to others, whether that is a positive or negative projection, the reason is that we already recognize these potential qualities in ourselves. Whether that’s a positive yearning to be better in one aspect or another or acknowledging that you are fearful of becoming or do already embody a quality that you may not want in yourself, turning that projection inward will lead to self improvement. Many of us don’t want to see our own shadows because it's painful and there is also a good measure of fear in looking at our shadows as quite often the reason we do certain things is because we've built up certain areas of our shadow to protect ourselves against this fear and pain.

You can't win against the shadow. That's what we think we're doing half of the time, such as deciding to repress a feeling or a quality within ourselves. If you repress the shadow somehow you're 'winning'. Repressing the shadow just gives it more strength and it will find its way out in the most importunate moments. Becoming whole is accepting both sides, both shadow and light, which is what makes us human.

Listening to these speakers made me realize that I really would "rather be whole than good" (a quote by Carl Jung that was emphasized by Ford). Like many, I've spent a lot of my life shaping myself and qualities to meet other people’s needs and to ensure that I am well liked, appreciated, loved and admired. Being whole is about finding a balance and a measure of self-love. By being whole you can be yourself and find that life is more rewarding to be so. You'll end up surrounding yourself with people that matter and will reciprocate your love, you create life that's truly based more on what you want rather then what you feel you should be doing, you can stand up for yourself and all of your qualities will amount to your success. This book also made me also realize that this last year has been difficult because I have actually been taking the time to acknowledge my own shadow so it was a fortunate time for me to read this as I wondered if all of the self-improvement that I had been working on was ever going to pay off. I plan to take what this book has taught and reminded of and really find that person I know I am capable of being.

In saying all of this the reason I didn't give this book a higher review is because the last speaker, Williamson. Williamson's section was too really too fluffy and religious for me and reminded me of all stereotypical things that people think of when you say that you're reading or are into an aspect of spirituality. I also found that most of what she had to say contradicted the two previous speakers. She was talking a lot about the light and shadow and more about casting out their shadows, rather than what the two previous speakers had been discussing which was confronting your shadow and finding acceptance. The cheesiness of her verbiage and the constant reference to God and Satan really didn't work for me. The other speakers provided me with down to earth examples and references where as I felt Williamson was referencing a bible and I didn’t find it at all insightful. Williamson's work may speak to others but it did not for me.

Overall, it was a worthwhile listen. In saying that I don’t think I’ll continue down the audio-book path as it just feels like cheating and I still would have rather have read the book anyway.
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Feb 29, 2012 Joseph Young rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: 1st part: everyone. 2nd part: addicts: 3rd part: those who believe we are inherently good

The first part of this book with Deepak Chopra is great. It offers genuine hidden wisdom about all the ways we give into shadow behaviours without even realizing what we are doing. By acknowledging these lesser than desired behaviours and reactions, we can actively transcend them, and come to better reactions. Chopra provides a short list of such behaviours, how to recognize them, and how to deal with them, a complete package.

The second part of this book with Debbie Ford is only so-so thus far....more The first part of this book with Deepak Chopra is great. It offers genuine hidden wisdom about all the ways we give into shadow behaviours without even realizing what we are doing. By acknowledging these lesser than desired behaviours and reactions, we can actively transcend them, and come to better reactions. Chopra provides a short list of such behaviours, how to recognize them, and how to deal with them, a complete package.

The second part of this book with Debbie Ford is only so-so thus far. It starts off like an AA confession story, about how her angst ridden teen life and how she got into drugs. However, she then starts claiming all sorts of things about how the shadow is amazing, the shadow will better your life, the shadow will make you rich, the shadow will take your dog for a walk :P, etc... If the shadow is all so amazing, why don't you marry it? Or maybe start a group worshipping the Shadow, eg the Shadow Clan/Guild/Cult? It's really hard to take her seriously with all these amazing claims with no backing or further definition of 'shadow'. There are bits of interesting knowledge, but they don't immediately reveal their practical use. With Chopra, although he doesn't completely define the shadow, you get a good sense of what things would be encompassed in it. With Ford, the shadow is everything from God to the Devil to anything that defines anything. Perhaps I do not relate to Ford's definition because I don't see myself as inherently bad or ruled by the shadow. I'm not an addict; I'm not an alcoholic.

The third part of the book with Marianne Williamson was interesting, as it seemed to be based around God, and the idea that we are inherently good. The bad things we do are done by someone who is not us. In one respect, I like her idea because it makes as seem like we are the best people possible. On the other hand, it can be damaging when we dismiss responsibility from things we do as the other person. eg, I only did it because I was drunk, tempted by the devil, etc... Further, I feel this double-edged sword can cause increased destructive guilt in people if they feel they are unable to control their shadow-self. This is probably more my leaning, but I didn't find the 3rd part of the book as useful either; it would probably be more useful to hardcore Christians or religious folk.
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Jul 31, 2012 Michaela rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I was sitting in class, and I felt the familiar nudge of anxiety pull at my insides. For the first time I was holding this book in my hands, and I suddenly knew what I had to do. I opened up the emotion, grabbed hold of it gently, turned it inside out, examined its history and said to it: 'You are not my enemy, I now release you.' Then, it was gone.

This book is amazing, and while I had heard the basics of 'What you resist, persists' this book took it to whole other level. Sometimes you need som...more

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Oct 09, 2010 Noah rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: people who are afraid of their own shadow

Recommended to Noah by: new book shelf at the library

When I was reading this book, I was a little disappointed in it, but at the same time, I could tell that it was having a positive effect in my life by giving me additional tools to approach my own shadow.

Whereas someone like Gary Zukov would call the shadow "frightened parts of our personality," I appreciated the way that this book emphasized the collective shadow. While I’m always trying to work on myself when something bothers me (as opposed to blaming the other person or situation), sometimes...more

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Jul 20, 2010 Chantelle rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I initially chose to read this book to help me understand someone else but, as you might expect, it required that I look inward and to accept others as they are and let them deal with their own shadows. The section written by Marianne Williamson is the easiest to absorb; Deepak Chopra's had the most depth but required more concentration; Debbie Ford's section was the most confessional or personal but I also found it the most frustrating and did not really feel like I got much out of it. I liked...more

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Jul 29, 2011 Ileana rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Overall, I was disappointed with this book. I found Deepak Chopra's section somewhat useful, deep, and thought provoking. Debbie Ford's section was very repetitive, light, and not that useful, although she did make me think more about the idea that we are walking mirrors. What we like or dislike in others are the very things that we like or dislike about ourselves. I really enjoyed Marianne Williamson's portion.

It also got me thinking in the fact that not only do we need to take care of our phy...more

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Nov 04, 2012 Kim rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I listened to this book as an audio book while I rode my stationary bike in the living room. I'm not against counting audiobooks on Goodreads, so I will. :P

I very much enjoyed this book. It gave some great insight into the human psyche, and confirmed things about people in general that you were always hoping were true. We all have a dark side, and it threatens continuously to destroy us.

The book was read by its authors, and it was well read and interesting. I thought Debbie Ford's voice was a l...more

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Jan 06, 2013 Eliza Fayle rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Shadow Effect refers to the piece deep down inside of each us, that we would prefer remain buried. It doesn’t though. Instead, it shows up as a snide or hurtful comment. Or a self-sabotaging decision. Or self-destructive and addictive behaviours.

Chopra, Ford and Williamson contend that the more we try to silence the Shadow’s voice, the louder it gets. The more we try to ignore its presence, the stronger it becomes.

Instead, they give us very compelling reasons to acknowledge the existence of...more

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Jun 03, 2010 Barbara P rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book just came off the press and I truly loved reading it. The three authors are some of my favorite. They pick up on Carl Jung's teaching on the shadow, a part of everyone's identity. They challenge the reader to be aware of their shadow, the parts of themselves that need to be brought into the open of their lives. The shadow can be a positive or negative influence in our lives. The shadow is the part of St. Paul who, in his dismay, said that he did what he did not want to do and did not d...more

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May 08, 2010 Lesley rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Ok, whoops -- I actually read the book, not the cd...

I have read another book about "shadow work" by Debbie Ford, and liked it, but felt it was a little new age/12-step/course in miracles for my taste. I read this book because I wanted to read Chopra's take on it ... he is a complete sell out, but he is knowledgeable on mind body stuff and eastern religions, and is scientifically minded. For me, his chapter (which was first) gave me the no-nonsense, academic grounding I needed. He went beyond t...more

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Mar 06, 2013 Ashlie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I have recently begun a jag of trying to be the "best me that I can be" which for me starts with reading. I picked up this book on a whim after perusing the anemic "self help" section at my local Barnes and Noble. I didn't know much about any of the three authors, although I had heard of Chopra, but the concept of having a dark shadow intrigued me.

After reading it, I'm still not sure what I think. The book is separated into 3 main sections, one per author, and follows a progression of explainin...more

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Sep 26, 2010 Caramia rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Took me a while to read this small book. But all books take me a while, which is contradictory as a librarian, no time to read. I did enjoy though. Each had something a little different to offer. Debbie Ford uses the word 'God' a little too much for my tastes, but they all agree on the same points, just as most religions do, when you get to the nuts and bolts. 'Accept my dark side, even embrace it. Don't run, don't ignore. Let it pass through you.' Perhaps easier said than done, but what else ha...more

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Jun 11, 2010 Elizabeth Olson rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-2010

Written in three sections by esteemed spiritual teachers Deepak Chopra, Debbie Ford and Marianne Williamson, "The Shadow Effect" is an easy-read introduction to current thinking regarding our shadow side and it's challenges and benefits. There's enough here to satisfy the casually curious while those who want to go deeper will at least get a good feel for each author's style.

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Apr 03, 2012 Yodamom rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: self-improvement, audio

Audio-The first 1/2 of the book with speakers- Deepak and Debbie was fantastic. They brought new ideas and made me think . I found myself having those pesky ah ha moments. Good for my whole being, and challenging the grey stuff between my ears. My 'shadow' has been influencing me, now that I understand it better maybe I can work with it. WE'll see, but a little self examination never hurts. The last speaker just did not do anything for me.

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Jan 18, 2011 Kelly rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Maybe 3.5... I really liked the subject of this book -- I thought it was very helpful, but parts of it seemed too long, without really getting to the point. Having a hard time finishing the last few pages....

**Update: Finished the book last night and the final handful of pages were really great. To the point and definitely spoke to me.... :D

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Sep 02, 2012 Lizzie Sloan rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Such an amazing, thought-provoking book. I already love Debbie Ford's work on the shadow in her book 'Courage' and combined with Marianne Williamson's strong writing about truth and love this was an amazing book to read with some awesome tools to put in place in your own life. Can't wait to read it again already!

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Mar 31, 2012 Jessica rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book tackles the subject of our good/bad nature. Perfect for anyone who struggles to understand why people are sometime drawn towards negative thoughts or behavior. I found this book very intriguing and the content almost too deep, but I usually have to reread anything by Chopra before I can fully understand it.

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Jul 10, 2011 Nattasha rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book actually bought the realization of the shadow to me first time in my life. We grow up thinking its bad to get angry bad to be this bad to be that so we do end up suppressing all the parts we feel are bad and that causes so many problems in life! Excellent book i love Debbie fords concept of Shadow work

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Jun 13, 2011 Lindsay rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is probably the best guide to understanding both myself and other people I have ever read. And when you're done, you'll find yourself going through life a little lighter. No one around you changes, but you change. Your experience changes and that makes your life infinitely better and happier.

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Aug 19, 2012 Andy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Every once in a while you run into a game changer. This book has the ability to be that if you're ready.

If you are ready to move forward in your life, to get more of the things you want, and to finally learn how to get past those things that always seem to make it impossible to win read this.

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Jul 28, 2010 Heather rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I was a little disappointed in the book - maybe my expectations were too high - maybe I just wasn't in the right mindset when I read it.

I felt like each author discussed the "shadow", and gave some anecdotal stories to prove its existence, but I didn't walk away with any practical ideas on how to make the book useful for me.

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Jun 17, 2012 Patricia rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Faz mais de um ano que leio, paro, leio paro. Não por que seja ruim, pelo contrario. É um livro complexo, profundo e para ser lido quando se esta pronto para compreende-lo. Conhecer o tamanho e o poder da propria sombra é algo poderoso e transformador, livro chave.

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Oct 29, 2010 Amanda rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Loved Deepak Chopra, clarified some Jungian theories that I never quite absorbed. The other two authors annoyed my, especially Marrianne Williamson but still appreciated the information they offered. It actually made a difference in my life and I will reread it.

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Mar 20, 2011 Jennifer rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: spiritual-self-awareness

I like the three different perspectives in this book, especially Debra Ford and Deepak Chopra. Their ideas are very enlightening about our own self-concepts and how our perceptions control our actions and can limit our true intentions.

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Aug 18, 2010 Melanie rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I read this as part of a research project. I had no idea how informed I'd become... It's like I have been somewhat asleep in my life, and now I am ready to awaken!! Beautiful, insightful, and definitely gave me something to chew upon!!

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Feb 05, 2013 Erika Birdsley rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The interesting thing about this book -- again more of a reference type book than a novel-type read -- is that the three authors go through the same material with three different perceptions on dealing with it.

Love it!

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Jan 03, 2013 Ademilson rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

O efeito sombra parece autoajuda, mas não é. Bem interessante a análise da sombra, de uma forma em que até um leigo em psicologia, como eu, consegue enterder um pouco dessa parte discriminafa e encoberta de nosso "eu".

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Jun 20, 2010 Maria Campillo rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

It is a good and simple book that mentions other more complex authors such as Carl Jung. I guess the general public will get something out of it and for the few hours that it takes to read it i think it is worth it.

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About Deepak Chopra

Dr. Deepak Chopra is the founder of The Chopra Center for well-being in Carlsbad, California, and New York City, and cofounder and president of the Alliance for a New Humanity. Chopra’s Wellness Radio airs weekly on Sirius/XM Stars, Channels 102 and 55, and focuses on the areas of success, love, sexuality and relationships, well-being, and spirituality. The June 1999 issue of Time magazine heralde...more

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