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The Story of 'You'
Life Beyond Personality Series Overview
Life Beyond Personality is a series of two practical, accessible books on the subject of Non–Duality: The Story of ‘You’ and The Infinite Journey. They take the reader behind the spiritual jargon into the heart of all the difficult, confusing and often unanswered questions about what it means to wake up from the ‘Dream of Personality’.
What is the Dream of Personality?
We enter this world as the experience of Oneness or Being, but we lose our perception of this natural state as we grow up and become identified with our Personality. The Personality creates its own dream from the deep-seated beliefs and emotions it harbours, a dream that can be full of emotional distress, over-thinking and the investment in a future which never quite delivers on the promise that ‘When I get this I’ll be happy.’
The Story of ‘You’ proposes that, as an adult, it’s possible to wake up out of this dream and return to the experience of the natural state. When that happens a whole new adventure begins in a life beyond Personality.
The Story of ‘You’ explores how this is possible, and the effect it has on the life that is lived. It unfolds as a series of discussions between Jez Alborough and his friend Matthew, whose probing questions and very human responses enable Jez to explore this subject fully, confronting all the difficult, practical areas that arise. The series builds into a map, as each chapter gives vital information needed to continue onwards into the adventure beyond Personality.
Who is this book for?
The series was written with two specific audiences in mind: Firstly, people who’ve never heard of Non-Duality but have the conviction that there’s something missing in their lives, some potential they’re not yet realising. Perhaps, like Jez when he was younger, they’ve experienced ‘Openings’ which pointed to that potential inside them, but they have no reference points to understand what it is they have glimpsed.
The second audience is people who have studied Non-Duality; they know all the jargon and the concepts but remain stuck in an intellectual rather than an experiential understanding. Life Beyond Personality is a practical exploration of Non-Duality that builds a bridge from the everyday life of the reader to the experience of Oneness.
In the Author’s words:
I’ve been an author and illustrator of children’s books for over thirty years. In my stories about ducks in trucks, dogs who can fly and chimpanzees looking for their mummies I’ve had the pleasure of introducing little people all over the world to some big themes which they’ll encounter as they grow up. However, there’s one story that I haven’t been able to write for my regular readership because it’s a subject that only becomes relevant once you’ve grown into an adult: The story of ‘you’.
As a storyteller it was natural for me to see this return to the natural state as a story, the most important story you could ever hear if you want to find out who you are and why you’re suffering. It’s a wonderful, challenging and powerful journey of discovery that, after many years of writing stories, I finally feel able to tell.
Life Beyond Personality is a series of two practical, accessible books on the subject of Non–Duality: The Story of ‘You’ and The Infinite Journey. They take the reader behind the spiritual jargon into the heart of all the difficult, confusing and often unanswered questions about what it means to wake up from the ‘Dream of Personality’.
What is the Dream of Personality?
We enter this world as the experience of Oneness or Being, but we lose our perception of this natural state as we grow up and become identified with our Personality. The Personality creates its own dream from the deep-seated beliefs and emotions it harbours, a dream that can be full of emotional distress, over-thinking and the investment in a future which never quite delivers on the promise that ‘When I get this I’ll be happy.’
The Story of ‘You’ proposes that, as an adult, it’s possible to wake up out of this dream and return to the experience of the natural state. When that happens a whole new adventure begins in a life beyond Personality.
The Story of ‘You’ explores how this is possible, and the effect it has on the life that is lived. It unfolds as a series of discussions between Jez Alborough and his friend Matthew, whose probing questions and very human responses enable Jez to explore this subject fully, confronting all the difficult, practical areas that arise. The series builds into a map, as each chapter gives vital information needed to continue onwards into the adventure beyond Personality.
Who is this book for?
The series was written with two specific audiences in mind: Firstly, people who’ve never heard of Non-Duality but have the conviction that there’s something missing in their lives, some potential they’re not yet realising. Perhaps, like Jez when he was younger, they’ve experienced ‘Openings’ which pointed to that potential inside them, but they have no reference points to understand what it is they have glimpsed.
The second audience is people who have studied Non-Duality; they know all the jargon and the concepts but remain stuck in an intellectual rather than an experiential understanding. Life Beyond Personality is a practical exploration of Non-Duality that builds a bridge from the everyday life of the reader to the experience of Oneness.
In the Author’s words:
I’ve been an author and illustrator of children’s books for over thirty years. In my stories about ducks in trucks, dogs who can fly and chimpanzees looking for their mummies I’ve had the pleasure of introducing little people all over the world to some big themes which they’ll encounter as they grow up. However, there’s one story that I haven’t been able to write for my regular readership because it’s a subject that only becomes relevant once you’ve grown into an adult: The story of ‘you’.
As a storyteller it was natural for me to see this return to the natural state as a story, the most important story you could ever hear if you want to find out who you are and why you’re suffering. It’s a wonderful, challenging and powerful journey of discovery that, after many years of writing stories, I finally feel able to tell.
332 pages, Paperback
Published December 12, 2018
About the author
Jez Alborough
134 books90 followersJez is the author and illustrator of 48 books for children. In 2018 he published The Story of 'You' his first book for adults, the first in a series called Life Beyond Personality. He says: "We enter this world as pure Oneness, (what I call our ‘original state of Being’) but we lose this as we become identified with our Personality. In that identification, the Stillness and Love of our Original State is overshadowed by the suffering of the Personality.
"Our Personality creates its own dream from the deep-seated beliefs and emotions it harbours; a dream that can be full of emotional distress, over-thinking and the constant investment in a future which never quite delivers on the belief: ‘When I get this I’ll be happy.’ The Story of ‘You’ suggests it’s possible to wake up out of that dream. When that happens, a whole new adventure begins in a life beyond the Personality."
The Infinite Journey, the second Book in the series, is published in early 2019.
Children's Books
His Eddy and the Bear trilogy (which began with the much-loved Where's My Teddy in 1992) has sold nearly four and a half million copies and was made into an BAFTA award-winning animated television series.
Duck in the Truck (published in 1999) heralded the start of another bestselling series, this time featuring the irrepressible Duck and his three friends - Frog, Goat and Sheep. There are currently nine books in the Duck series and almost than 1.5 million copies have been sold.
In 2000 Jez created Hug - a powerful and touching book of only three words about a baby chimpanzee called Bobo who loses his Mom. Oprah Winfrey raved about it on her show when she chose it for her recommended reading list while Richard Curtis (the writer and director of Four Weddings and a Funeral) selected it as one of his ‘Best Books’, calling it ‘classic family drama which holds up well next to Jez’s other masterpieces.’ Bobo went on to star in thee more classics; Tall ( which along with Hug won the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Book Award) Yes and Play. The series has sold almost 3 million copies.
Jez lives in West London. You can read more about his books for children in the JezAlborough.com library and about The Story of 'You' at LifeBeyondPersonality.com.
Jez's Facebook page is: http://www.facebook.com/jezalborough and you can follow him on Twitter: https://twitter.com/jezalborough
"Our Personality creates its own dream from the deep-seated beliefs and emotions it harbours; a dream that can be full of emotional distress, over-thinking and the constant investment in a future which never quite delivers on the belief: ‘When I get this I’ll be happy.’ The Story of ‘You’ suggests it’s possible to wake up out of that dream. When that happens, a whole new adventure begins in a life beyond the Personality."
The Infinite Journey, the second Book in the series, is published in early 2019.
Children's Books
His Eddy and the Bear trilogy (which began with the much-loved Where's My Teddy in 1992) has sold nearly four and a half million copies and was made into an BAFTA award-winning animated television series.
Duck in the Truck (published in 1999) heralded the start of another bestselling series, this time featuring the irrepressible Duck and his three friends - Frog, Goat and Sheep. There are currently nine books in the Duck series and almost than 1.5 million copies have been sold.
In 2000 Jez created Hug - a powerful and touching book of only three words about a baby chimpanzee called Bobo who loses his Mom. Oprah Winfrey raved about it on her show when she chose it for her recommended reading list while Richard Curtis (the writer and director of Four Weddings and a Funeral) selected it as one of his ‘Best Books’, calling it ‘classic family drama which holds up well next to Jez’s other masterpieces.’ Bobo went on to star in thee more classics; Tall ( which along with Hug won the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Book Award) Yes and Play. The series has sold almost 3 million copies.
Jez lives in West London. You can read more about his books for children in the JezAlborough.com library and about The Story of 'You' at LifeBeyondPersonality.com.
Jez's Facebook page is: http://www.facebook.com/jezalborough and you can follow him on Twitter: https://twitter.com/jezalborough
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
September 8, 2020
I found this book to be a hidden gem for explaining duality, personality and self-enquiry in a way that makes sense. It brings in a lot of ideas that I haven't seen in other books on nonduality, or that weren't explained much in the other books. I also like how it's a genuine journey of discovery between two friends. The book is a series of conversation between Jez and his friend Matthew, and Matthew is clearly changed through the conversations.
I'm looking forward to reading the sequel, which I've immediately downloaded to my kindle.
I'm looking forward to reading the sequel, which I've immediately downloaded to my kindle.
March 14, 2021
This precise, clear and accessible book tells the story of how we become seekers of Non-Duality and what we need to be willing to face in order to stop that search and see who we are. Without using spiritual jargon Jez encourages us to pay attention to the most reliable teacher, our life, and then open to Grace.
February 20, 2026
I had no expectations from this book, no idea what I was getting into. That said, I spent a few weeks reading it for 20 mins a day and it felt like I was having my own personal therapy session, just listening to people chat through really interesting concepts. Honestly, it made me a better person. I have The Infinite Journey to enjoy next.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews