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I Had It All the Time: When Self-Improvement Gives Way to Ecstasy
Presents advice and anecdotes to help transform one's life and achieve happiness and spiritual fullfillment.
318 pages, Paperback
First published January 12, 1994
131 people are currently reading
266 people want to read
About the author
Alan Cohen
196 books214 followersAlan Cohen is the author of several self help books.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
April 9, 2013
I loved this book. It spoke to me and it had me listening (which is pretty unsual for a "self improvement" book), I usually find this kind of book manipulative in a way that all I can read is between the lines, where the author declares himself your savior and encourage you to recommend his book to everyone, with no exception!
This one was different, uplifting and inspiring, but of course it has a lot to do with what resonates with you.
This one was different, uplifting and inspiring, but of course it has a lot to do with what resonates with you.
January 25, 2009
I am a self-improvement book junkie. This was one of the best I have ever read. All the guidance and wisdom you ever need is within you. Loved it.
February 15, 2023
Half delusional, half inspiring
I've read this book for less than 100 pages, and then I had to stop. The author's message is good and inspiring, yes, but it also sounds so naive, delusional and repetitive that I couldn't go on anymore.
The main fault is that Mr. Cohen seems to "forget" that life and humans have a "dark side", that he barely mentions. In his portrayal of the world, it can be all love, success and unicorns. Sorry Mr. Cohen: you can be enlightened, positive and loving all you want, there will still be bad people and disasters and pain happening.
His message is insulting to people who lost a child or had their existence wiped out by unforeseeable events. You cannot just wish away suffering and tragedy with new-age wishful thinking and positive thoughts.
And it's misleading. The author says that "You don't need to work on yourself, to improve yourself"... but he admits it took decades of work, study and improvement, for him, to come to such a conclusion. But you cannot have this realization without the process leading to it.
Without self-improvement and a solid effort to evolve, you remain a "half-baked" individual. Your being "like God" - as Mr. Cohen thinks - doesn't make you automatically a great person.
And to drive his message home, he repeats it again and again and again: it could have been said in 100 pages (and still be repetitive), and yet he decided to go on for 350 pages instead. I'm all for inspiring (I loved the "Chicken Soup for the Soul" trilogy and similar books), but there's a limit: beyond that, it feels saccharine and childlike, not nourishing.
Like many new-age ideas and books, it sounds like the product of a privileged, rich Western minority. Sheltered from the worst aspects of life, you may dream that all can be good and whole and pure. But step outside your zen garden, and existence's dark side will soon shatter your naive dream.
Nevertheless, the basic message is valid: you can be at peace with yourself and your life will be better, no further assembly required . It cannot solve all problems or lead to success all the time (like Mr. Cohen seems to imply), but it's a great recipe for a more serene and healthy living.
Hence the book, despite its shortcomings, can be useful for people who still aren't able to love and accept themselves (and there are plenty); for those who struggle and fight with themselves and beliefs such as "I'm not good enough", "I should be different", "I'm a bad person", or the like.
It's just a pity that such a valid message is conveyed in such a one-sided, simplistic and repetitive way.
P.S.: I've read the Italian edition (titled "Tutto il Bello che c'è"), and the translation is sometimes questionable.
I've read this book for less than 100 pages, and then I had to stop. The author's message is good and inspiring, yes, but it also sounds so naive, delusional and repetitive that I couldn't go on anymore.
The main fault is that Mr. Cohen seems to "forget" that life and humans have a "dark side", that he barely mentions. In his portrayal of the world, it can be all love, success and unicorns. Sorry Mr. Cohen: you can be enlightened, positive and loving all you want, there will still be bad people and disasters and pain happening.
His message is insulting to people who lost a child or had their existence wiped out by unforeseeable events. You cannot just wish away suffering and tragedy with new-age wishful thinking and positive thoughts.
And it's misleading. The author says that "You don't need to work on yourself, to improve yourself"... but he admits it took decades of work, study and improvement, for him, to come to such a conclusion. But you cannot have this realization without the process leading to it.
Without self-improvement and a solid effort to evolve, you remain a "half-baked" individual. Your being "like God" - as Mr. Cohen thinks - doesn't make you automatically a great person.
And to drive his message home, he repeats it again and again and again: it could have been said in 100 pages (and still be repetitive), and yet he decided to go on for 350 pages instead. I'm all for inspiring (I loved the "Chicken Soup for the Soul" trilogy and similar books), but there's a limit: beyond that, it feels saccharine and childlike, not nourishing.
Like many new-age ideas and books, it sounds like the product of a privileged, rich Western minority. Sheltered from the worst aspects of life, you may dream that all can be good and whole and pure. But step outside your zen garden, and existence's dark side will soon shatter your naive dream.
Nevertheless, the basic message is valid: you can be at peace with yourself and your life will be better, no further assembly required . It cannot solve all problems or lead to success all the time (like Mr. Cohen seems to imply), but it's a great recipe for a more serene and healthy living.
Hence the book, despite its shortcomings, can be useful for people who still aren't able to love and accept themselves (and there are plenty); for those who struggle and fight with themselves and beliefs such as "I'm not good enough", "I should be different", "I'm a bad person", or the like.
It's just a pity that such a valid message is conveyed in such a one-sided, simplistic and repetitive way.
P.S.: I've read the Italian edition (titled "Tutto il Bello che c'è"), and the translation is sometimes questionable.
Read
January 25, 2010What a joy! Reinforcement of the head-knowledge that I am already enough, do enough, am good enough etc... - contiinuing to lose the old storylines of looking outside myself for authority, validation, self-definition, etc etc,etc...vs. the wisdom and beauty that already resides within only waiting for me to uncover and recover it,dust it off, and live tenderly into it...
May 14, 2015
I wrote this short review on Amazon.com back in 1999. Alan contacted me and sent me an autographed copy. Such a cool dude. :)
"The Best Book of all time! The end-be-all self help book. Cohen is the MASTER. :) If you're looking for help, here is a one stop shop for understanding who you are."
"The Best Book of all time! The end-be-all self help book. Cohen is the MASTER. :) If you're looking for help, here is a one stop shop for understanding who you are."
November 1, 2023
8!
È un libro che ti regala molteplici spunti di riflessioni. Risveglia la consapevolezza della perfezione insita in ciascuno e ti ricorda che le risposte a tutte le tue domande sono già dentro di te, basta
rimuovere secoli di sovrastrutture culturali e religiose.
« La concezione che ho di me non coincide con chi sono davvero »
« La consapevolezza di se è sempre fonte di guarigione »
« Emerson sosteneva: “Ciò che sei, mi parla talmente a voce alta che a stento riesco a sentire quel che dici.” »
« Swami Satchidananda così riassume la nostra evoluzione personale: “Quando venimmo al mondo eravamo finiti, integri... Poi fummo definiti... Ora dobbiamo essere rifiniti.” »
« Quando a Bali nasce un bambino, non gli è permesso toccare terra per i primi centocinquanta giorni di vita. I balinesi considerano i loro bambini angeli venuti dal cielo, e non vogliono che rimangano sconvolti dal contatto con la pesantezza del mondo. »
« Posso essere ferito solo dai miei pensieri.Non è quello che facciamo a ferirci, ma è quello che pensiamo di ciò che facciamo. »
La distanza e la differenza fra inferno e paradiso si misurano non in altitudine, ma in attitudine.
“Non lottare con un maiale, vi sporcherete entrambi, solo che al maiale piace.”
« Un consulente è una persona che prende in prestito il tuo orologio per dirti che ore sono. »
È un libro che ti regala molteplici spunti di riflessioni. Risveglia la consapevolezza della perfezione insita in ciascuno e ti ricorda che le risposte a tutte le tue domande sono già dentro di te, basta
rimuovere secoli di sovrastrutture culturali e religiose.
« La concezione che ho di me non coincide con chi sono davvero »
« La consapevolezza di se è sempre fonte di guarigione »
« Emerson sosteneva: “Ciò che sei, mi parla talmente a voce alta che a stento riesco a sentire quel che dici.” »
« Swami Satchidananda così riassume la nostra evoluzione personale: “Quando venimmo al mondo eravamo finiti, integri... Poi fummo definiti... Ora dobbiamo essere rifiniti.” »
« Quando a Bali nasce un bambino, non gli è permesso toccare terra per i primi centocinquanta giorni di vita. I balinesi considerano i loro bambini angeli venuti dal cielo, e non vogliono che rimangano sconvolti dal contatto con la pesantezza del mondo. »
« Posso essere ferito solo dai miei pensieri.Non è quello che facciamo a ferirci, ma è quello che pensiamo di ciò che facciamo. »
La distanza e la differenza fra inferno e paradiso si misurano non in altitudine, ma in attitudine.
“Non lottare con un maiale, vi sporcherete entrambi, solo che al maiale piace.”
« Un consulente è una persona che prende in prestito il tuo orologio per dirti che ore sono. »
November 26, 2019
I love Alan's books. They arrive at the right time with right guidance.
April 28, 2024
What a load of religious mumbo-jumbo. And not even innovative at that.
May 23, 2024
This book inspired me as no other book has in a long time. It gets pretty out there but I loved it.
May 22, 2010
Eventhough his other book "The Dragon doesn't Live here Anymore" is lauded a lot, I find this his masterpiece..the only SELF-MANAGEMENT book which tells you to change nothing in your life!
November 5, 2013
Loved it!
November 14, 2013
Alan Cohen is inspirational. I have enjoyed all of his writings.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews