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The Map: The navigation & translation to life & the human experience
220 pages, Paperback
Published October 5, 2024
12 people are currently reading
176 people want to read
About the author
David Dayan Fisher
40 books19 followersIn 2004, David Dayan Fisher was living every actor's dream. He had successfully transitioned to Hollywood from London three years earlier, landed a role in National Treasure with Nicolas Cage, and was making better money than he ever had before.
There was just one problem. He was secretly miserable.
Fisher turned to alcohol to ease the pressure of Hollywood. But after an accidental run-in with a dog rescue group at an LA street fair, relief came from an unlikely source.
At the fair, a certain mutt immediately caught Fisher's eye. His childhood dogs had all been pedigrees, so he didnt think much of the mutts but as soon as he held Abel, something clicked. Fisher took his new mutt home that day, renamed him Burton after actor Richard Burton, and from that point on, gained a new perspective on life. It was enough to put the bottle down, and devote his energies to a new mission.
There have been two things in my life that literally hurt my heart - the death of my mother and going to a dog pound, says Fisher. If I could take every dog in, I would. My rescue mutts rescued me, and have given me more joy than anything else in life.
The story in Fishers upcoming childrens book, Puppy School is one of mutts and pedigrees, friendship and equality. Fifty percent of the books proceeds will go to dog rescue groups.
A London native, Fisher now lives in Hollywood with his two rescue dogs, Burton and Monkey. His resume includes National Treasure, 24, Medium, Charmed, Numb3rs and four seasons as a guest star on NCIS. "
There was just one problem. He was secretly miserable.
Fisher turned to alcohol to ease the pressure of Hollywood. But after an accidental run-in with a dog rescue group at an LA street fair, relief came from an unlikely source.
At the fair, a certain mutt immediately caught Fisher's eye. His childhood dogs had all been pedigrees, so he didnt think much of the mutts but as soon as he held Abel, something clicked. Fisher took his new mutt home that day, renamed him Burton after actor Richard Burton, and from that point on, gained a new perspective on life. It was enough to put the bottle down, and devote his energies to a new mission.
There have been two things in my life that literally hurt my heart - the death of my mother and going to a dog pound, says Fisher. If I could take every dog in, I would. My rescue mutts rescued me, and have given me more joy than anything else in life.
The story in Fishers upcoming childrens book, Puppy School is one of mutts and pedigrees, friendship and equality. Fifty percent of the books proceeds will go to dog rescue groups.
A London native, Fisher now lives in Hollywood with his two rescue dogs, Burton and Monkey. His resume includes National Treasure, 24, Medium, Charmed, Numb3rs and four seasons as a guest star on NCIS. "
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 27, 2025
Life changing. I loved this book and i love following him on Instagram. Amazing concepts, so helpful. I believe in was led to his messages during a hard time in my life for a reason. I definitely recommend this book to everyone
March 15, 2025
I give this book 5 stars for myself. It was enlightening, eye opening and stimulating. (Disclaimer, at times it can feel like a blog post that doesn’t end)
I would not recommend this book for most people unless you are ready for this type of a journey. This is why I gave it 3 stars.
There are a lot of bold statements and claims that are not backed by any scientific evidence or proof in the book other than we just need to believe what he is saying. Which can be difficult to believe or agree with at times.
I would not recommend this book for most people unless you are ready for this type of a journey. This is why I gave it 3 stars.
There are a lot of bold statements and claims that are not backed by any scientific evidence or proof in the book other than we just need to believe what he is saying. Which can be difficult to believe or agree with at times.
April 7, 2025
This is probably the most impactful book I have read in many years after many years of reading and exploring innumerable teachers and traditions. This is what spirituality is, devoid of all fluff. David’s ability to be utterly direct with no bullshit, is astounding. He leaves no room to escape, apart from through yourself, as it has to be.
I can tell he speaks from internal experience and authority from his own liberation of emotions and suffering. It is refreshing to see someone speak directly to the core of the path, with no ‘intellectual masturbation’ as he calls it. I myself am prone to reading more and more, only to try and fill the hole within wjth spiritual intellectualism.
I will now be reading this book over and over again, and trying to drop reading anything else as much as possible. Beautifully, it is not that David has done anything revolutionary here, but rather the spectacular element is his ability to give the essence of what this work is all about, with little to no deviation is what truly takes me aback.
He has reminded me of the simplicity of the work, but that does not mean it is easy work at all. Simple, but certainly excruciating until it is more and more effortless. It is for this reason that so few are able to free themselves from egoic delusion, as it involves so much pain, and so much surrender of positionalities and avoidances. It is death, over and over again. So many teachers completely disregard this work, which David has made clear is complete delusion.
This work has been the culmination for me of an understanding that has been becoming more evident over time, that the body-mind conditioning will still play out so long as we do not break the loops. Even a non-dual realisation does not break these loops, unless we are a truly saintly soul who is ripe like Ramana maharshi. Some of us may at some point glimpse the unconditioned reality, may even know deep down that there is nothing to attain and have some lived sense of this, and yet our narratives and conditioning plays on until it is faced and addressed.
Yes we are the light, we are the love, but only to the extent to which we live as an unfettered channel for it. The work lies in removing all that blocks it, anything else is avoidance.
I will now happily be singing loving songs of affirmation to myself, listening to my inner pain and hurt, and all my ‘sticky stuff’ inside, to understand it and love it along the way. I will be excited to wake up and tell myself how worthy and loveable I am, and rewrite all the narratives I have constructed that no longer serve me.
We all have so much pain that we do not address that drives our life unknowingly, and it will continue that way until we meet that pain, that poor child and hold them dearly, loving them and being there for them.
I am very grateful to David for this work, I think he has a message that all should hear, as it is the message that we need to create a loving world and raise loving children. We need to hear, acknowledge and digest this in order to return to the love that is inside every one of us.
I can tell he speaks from internal experience and authority from his own liberation of emotions and suffering. It is refreshing to see someone speak directly to the core of the path, with no ‘intellectual masturbation’ as he calls it. I myself am prone to reading more and more, only to try and fill the hole within wjth spiritual intellectualism.
I will now be reading this book over and over again, and trying to drop reading anything else as much as possible. Beautifully, it is not that David has done anything revolutionary here, but rather the spectacular element is his ability to give the essence of what this work is all about, with little to no deviation is what truly takes me aback.
He has reminded me of the simplicity of the work, but that does not mean it is easy work at all. Simple, but certainly excruciating until it is more and more effortless. It is for this reason that so few are able to free themselves from egoic delusion, as it involves so much pain, and so much surrender of positionalities and avoidances. It is death, over and over again. So many teachers completely disregard this work, which David has made clear is complete delusion.
This work has been the culmination for me of an understanding that has been becoming more evident over time, that the body-mind conditioning will still play out so long as we do not break the loops. Even a non-dual realisation does not break these loops, unless we are a truly saintly soul who is ripe like Ramana maharshi. Some of us may at some point glimpse the unconditioned reality, may even know deep down that there is nothing to attain and have some lived sense of this, and yet our narratives and conditioning plays on until it is faced and addressed.
Yes we are the light, we are the love, but only to the extent to which we live as an unfettered channel for it. The work lies in removing all that blocks it, anything else is avoidance.
I will now happily be singing loving songs of affirmation to myself, listening to my inner pain and hurt, and all my ‘sticky stuff’ inside, to understand it and love it along the way. I will be excited to wake up and tell myself how worthy and loveable I am, and rewrite all the narratives I have constructed that no longer serve me.
We all have so much pain that we do not address that drives our life unknowingly, and it will continue that way until we meet that pain, that poor child and hold them dearly, loving them and being there for them.
I am very grateful to David for this work, I think he has a message that all should hear, as it is the message that we need to create a loving world and raise loving children. We need to hear, acknowledge and digest this in order to return to the love that is inside every one of us.
June 30, 2025
I have been following the author on IG. I didn’t pick it up to be entertained. I picked it up because I was hurting. Because something inside me was tired of repeating the same cycles. And this book met me exactly where I was.
Page by page, it became a mirror.
A mirror that didn’t judge.
A mirror that gently showed me where I’d been betraying myself to keep others comfortable.
A mirror that reminded me of my own worth — even in the rawest parts of my healing.
It gave language to the pain I had buried for years.
It gave structure to my messy grief and unspoken anger.
It reminded me that walking away — from toxic love, from guilt, from false versions of myself — is not weakness. It is freedom.
Most of all, it reminded me that I am allowed to come home to myself. Over and over again.
If you are on your own journey inward — if you are learning how to forgive, how to grieve, how to reclaim your story — this book is not just a read. It’s a companion. A quiet guide back to your soul.
Page by page, it became a mirror.
A mirror that didn’t judge.
A mirror that gently showed me where I’d been betraying myself to keep others comfortable.
A mirror that reminded me of my own worth — even in the rawest parts of my healing.
It gave language to the pain I had buried for years.
It gave structure to my messy grief and unspoken anger.
It reminded me that walking away — from toxic love, from guilt, from false versions of myself — is not weakness. It is freedom.
Most of all, it reminded me that I am allowed to come home to myself. Over and over again.
If you are on your own journey inward — if you are learning how to forgive, how to grieve, how to reclaim your story — this book is not just a read. It’s a companion. A quiet guide back to your soul.
January 19, 2025
I love the order in which David writes this book. Starting with the idea of neurotropic factors of cognitive development in the womb all the way to adulthood, self awareness, purification and relationship. My favorite quote in this book is: “Turn your judgements into Lovements”. I do enjoy in fantasy and the intoxication of love and relationship but I also agree with David’s tough love approach to staying grounded in reality and being your own hero. Relationships are bonus.
March 30, 2025
Life is a long journey. and, In the journey, Companionship of David Fischer Good's The Map is a "The Gift".
Book reveil Healing Effects of Inner Child Work, Breathwork, Gratitude & Self-Compassion.
Being a Cognitive Fitness Activist, I would recommend Map of Consciousness #David Hawkins first to reader of this review. To Transcend lower needs of your personality. #Scott Barry Kaufman
Book reveil Healing Effects of Inner Child Work, Breathwork, Gratitude & Self-Compassion.
Being a Cognitive Fitness Activist, I would recommend Map of Consciousness #David Hawkins first to reader of this review. To Transcend lower needs of your personality. #Scott Barry Kaufman
September 16, 2025
great for reflection, but in order to be effective, you need a lot of prior experience and knowledge on the topic
very informal language and repetition + many statements are not backed up
nevertheless, I find his direct approach valuable
very informal language and repetition + many statements are not backed up
nevertheless, I find his direct approach valuable
July 1, 2025
Absolutely loved this book. Lots to contemplate . Will probably read it again.
August 10, 2025
Found David and The Map when I needed to. The book brought some clarity and insight into my relationship that just ended and reminded me of the importance of my relationship with myself. David did a good job at simplifying complex ideas and making them digestible while repeating them frequently enough to retain. Will be rereading the map for some time to come as I continue to grow and evolve!
September 14, 2025
In The Map, David Dayan Fisher crafts a profound guide to the human experience, offering readers a roadmap that navigates the complexities of life. From pre-birth to the challenges we face, Fisher provides insights that resonate deeply, encouraging self-reflection and growth. An insightful manual for personal development, a valuable resource for anyone seeking clarity and direction in their journey. My marmite review is I felt like he repeated himself so many times, to the point, i was getting bored of "hearing" "it", however that comes with a point. He repeats himself so it sinks into your brain.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews