Official Review: The Process of Living by Bill DeBarba
Posted: 30 Apr 2020, 08:46
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Process of Living" by Bill DeBarba.]
You've probably heard about the visualization practice that some swear by, where fortunes, cars, and homes appear as if by magic. Perhaps you have tried to follow it, only to become disillusioned when it didn't deliver the promised results. In part, the self-help book The Process of Living by William J. DeBarba is written for those dissatisfied with such ways of reaching goals and who would welcome more effective tools.
DeBarba's book walks you through what the author terms "The Process", a methodical approach to realizing dreams based on the author's own experiences and understanding of the force that drives this. DeBarba precedes his step-by-step instructions with an analysis of the interplay of thoughts, feelings, and actions that underpins The Process. His approach is novel and groundbreaking. In considering common myths and misconceptions about not only positive thinking and visualization but also about hard work, he cogently explains why these may not only fail to deliver what we want but even bring us what we don't want.
This is partly because learning lessons can often be part of The Process, but there is more to it than that. In a refreshing and direct approach that stops admirably short of pseudoscience, DeBarba identifies the source of the power that can make dreams come true and shares techniques for making it work for you. To find out exactly what this is, you will have to read the book! I wholeheartedly recommend it for its actionable content, and also because it is written in a straightforward style, packing a lot of information into a short work.
The book's conciseness also represents a slight weakness, however, as it feels a little light on examples. DeBarba describes events in his own life that convinced him of the effectiveness of The Process. For example, he saw the message "All is forgiven" on a church notice board at a moment when he needed it. In line with his down-to-earth stance that is apparent throughout the book, he doesn't argue that the message was suddenly written just for him. Rather, he explains the significance of why he noticed it when he did; as I say, I encourage you to read the book to find out more about this. Although that was a helpful illustration, I would still have liked to read more about how he handled problems in his business, for example. I would also have liked to see more accounts by others who have used The Process. So the author might consider expanding the book, which would also benefit from another round of editing. It was generally well written, but I spotted a number of errors. Pictures break up the text in an attractive way, but most of them seem to be stock photos. The author might consider using fewer of these. As this book still has potential for further improvement, my rating for it is three out of four stars.
Though it is not quite perfect yet, you will still find this book well worth reading if you have been dismayed by setbacks in striving towards your goals. The Process has no religious element as such, but it is a neutral template that could mesh well with any religious belief or none. It could be used by anyone in need of specific guidance on how to achieve goals but might be particularly relevant for those who are struggling despite having plenty of vision and working hard. This book can give you a vital ingredient you may be lacking! Although I have achieved a lot in life including some remarkable breakthroughs, I realize I had allowed certain developments to discourage me. The Process has lifted me out of despondency, and it has already borne fruit. I got to work right away, envisioning where I wanted to be and following a plan. Before I had even finished reading and reviewing this book, an email arrived with good news. One of my goals had been met! It probably won't invariably happen that fast, but I can confirm that The Process works! I recommend that you try it.
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The Process of Living
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
You've probably heard about the visualization practice that some swear by, where fortunes, cars, and homes appear as if by magic. Perhaps you have tried to follow it, only to become disillusioned when it didn't deliver the promised results. In part, the self-help book The Process of Living by William J. DeBarba is written for those dissatisfied with such ways of reaching goals and who would welcome more effective tools.
DeBarba's book walks you through what the author terms "The Process", a methodical approach to realizing dreams based on the author's own experiences and understanding of the force that drives this. DeBarba precedes his step-by-step instructions with an analysis of the interplay of thoughts, feelings, and actions that underpins The Process. His approach is novel and groundbreaking. In considering common myths and misconceptions about not only positive thinking and visualization but also about hard work, he cogently explains why these may not only fail to deliver what we want but even bring us what we don't want.
This is partly because learning lessons can often be part of The Process, but there is more to it than that. In a refreshing and direct approach that stops admirably short of pseudoscience, DeBarba identifies the source of the power that can make dreams come true and shares techniques for making it work for you. To find out exactly what this is, you will have to read the book! I wholeheartedly recommend it for its actionable content, and also because it is written in a straightforward style, packing a lot of information into a short work.
The book's conciseness also represents a slight weakness, however, as it feels a little light on examples. DeBarba describes events in his own life that convinced him of the effectiveness of The Process. For example, he saw the message "All is forgiven" on a church notice board at a moment when he needed it. In line with his down-to-earth stance that is apparent throughout the book, he doesn't argue that the message was suddenly written just for him. Rather, he explains the significance of why he noticed it when he did; as I say, I encourage you to read the book to find out more about this. Although that was a helpful illustration, I would still have liked to read more about how he handled problems in his business, for example. I would also have liked to see more accounts by others who have used The Process. So the author might consider expanding the book, which would also benefit from another round of editing. It was generally well written, but I spotted a number of errors. Pictures break up the text in an attractive way, but most of them seem to be stock photos. The author might consider using fewer of these. As this book still has potential for further improvement, my rating for it is three out of four stars.
Though it is not quite perfect yet, you will still find this book well worth reading if you have been dismayed by setbacks in striving towards your goals. The Process has no religious element as such, but it is a neutral template that could mesh well with any religious belief or none. It could be used by anyone in need of specific guidance on how to achieve goals but might be particularly relevant for those who are struggling despite having plenty of vision and working hard. This book can give you a vital ingredient you may be lacking! Although I have achieved a lot in life including some remarkable breakthroughs, I realize I had allowed certain developments to discourage me. The Process has lifted me out of despondency, and it has already borne fruit. I got to work right away, envisioning where I wanted to be and following a plan. Before I had even finished reading and reviewing this book, an email arrived with good news. One of my goals had been met! It probably won't invariably happen that fast, but I can confirm that The Process works! I recommend that you try it.
******
The Process of Living
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
