Excuses Begone! How to Change Lifelong, Self-Defeating Thinking Habits

Mystical, Weird, Ramblings Without Direction or A Plan

While I genuinely enjoyed the overall theme of the author's book the theme is muddied by the author's embrace of mysticism and rejection of traditional values in favor of moral relativism including his sub-theme that doing whatever feels best to you is the highest good and is of God.
Listeners or readers are told to do what feels best to them and embrace Eastern religious philosophies and the Dao. Be prepared to have to listen to the "God is whatever feels good" philosophy over and over and how yoga is the ultimate medium by which one can connect to the Dao or God. These ideas seem to be gaining a lot of popularity with the "feel good" and "me" generations. I found them to be a bit of a put off after about the 18th time.
People may enjoy hearing that they can do no wrong as long as they are doing what feels good and right to them. The author serves this purpose by failing to make the distinction between self-pleasure and good. Whether the omission was intentional or not, the book could certainly be used to help people feel justified in doing things that are wrong. In fact, it was not clear to this reader whether the author acknowledges the existence of a right and wrong - it seemed more like right and wrong were left up to the individual to create in his or her mind. The author certainly did not have to get into the age old questions about morality and right or wrong, but he chose to do so - though perhaps unnecessarily-and thus he is charged with an obligation to his readers to support the positions he takes. Instead, readers are supposed to just accept his positions on these as truth as no such support is offered.
Though the author tries to cast his philosophies in a selfless light by espousing the many charitable things he has done, the reality may be that his "do-whatever-feels-good-to-you-philosophy" can be very selfish. This distinction between doing good and feeling good about it versus doing whatever is pleasurable but not necessarily good was never addressed by the author -however, it seems to be a critical omission. The author also does not address that so-called "excuses" may be legitimate concerns about real-world risks associated with a desired course of action. Unfortunately, the author provides very little support or evidence for his theories about God or that doing whatever makes one feel good is the best thing for that person or for society.
Additionally, I was looking for some sort of a structured plan to follow the would have enabled me to better my own life and rid myself of any excuses that may be getting in the way of realizing my full potential. With each new CD I was hoping to receive such a plan. Alas, I reached the final CD and no plan was ever presented. I came away with the feeling that the program was certainly lacking. Perhaps I need to by the $400 KPBS special to get the plan?
Instead of a plan of action, I was treated to essentially the same ideas being repeated over and over again with each passing disc. Mixed in were plugs for his daughter's business and other business ventures of his own. Again, I do like the general theme and the notion espoused by the author that excuses that we create for ourselves often stand in our way of reaching our full potential. However, the author provides no real plan for implementing his ideas other than to recognize excuses, ignore them, and embark on a lifelong pleasure-seeking journey into the esoteric.

26 out of 36 people found this review helpful.

Another great Dyer work!

I received this book for Fathers' Day from my family. I knew I was getting it because it was the only thing I wanted. Reading Dr. Dyer's works over the last year have helped significantly in improving my life. When his new book was announced, I did not hesitate to ask for it.

A couple of weeks after receiving this gift, I was laid off. I have a wife and three beautiful children who depend solely on my income, and having read this book, I did not come up with any excuses. I focused on my job search and keeping myself spiritually centered using this and "Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Life." I am happy to say that I got a job offer within 5 weeks for a better job with better benefits for my family. It was for the first job posting I saw within two hours after being laid off and applied for.

Did I get the job because of this book? No. But I do believe I did get it because of the my thoughts which were influenced by "Excuses Begone!" and other Dr. Dyer books.

18 out of 18 people found this review helpful.

Another Wonderful Book from Dr. Dyer!

I don't know how he does it! Every time he writes a new book, I manage to find it very helpful to me. He has such an intersting way of helping me see his point and to find a way to use the information to make my life improved. He brings together ancient wisdom and his own spin to help a person get their life moving in the right direction. Wonderful book! Be sure to also empower yourself with my favorite self-help book ever, "Effortless Wellbeing", by Evan Finer. That book totally changes my life.

7 out of 9 people found this review helpful.

Read only if you believe you're entitled to happiness, then go for it!

Wayne Dyer is an American icon when it comes to nicely giving you a slap on the face and telling you to wake up! His quest for always digging deeper, knowing more and going on adventures most of us would not take, makes him not only wiser through the years but incredibly insightful.

If you are interested in rising above the pretentions, media madness, and running 24/7 for what is supposed to be the "American Dream", this book will hit you in the gut quite hard at times. Sure, we'd all like more time to pursue our real dreams, stay healthy, have good family and friend relationships, give back, have inner strength and a strong connection to what your idea of "God" is. Somehow, it's easy to fall back in the trap of the mouse on the wheel, running nowhere, rarely truly evolving, blaming everyone but yourself for what has gone wrong in your life and falling into the "poor me" mode.

Wayne Dyer points out how none of this works and no matter what has happened to you, you are now responsible to deal with it. Chapter after chapter you start connecting and either say, "OMG, this is so simply right on the dot and I need to catch my breath, take this in and start taking responsibility." Or you will be overwhelmed and shut the book because you have ingrained in your mind, you do not deserve happiness or don't feel like facing what you've made "problems". That would be ashame because applying the suggestions and guidance, though requiring you to speak up and do things you've ignored for lack of courage, is more productive than the latter.

Everyone has had family issues, deaths, losses, career upsets, financial problems, health issues and some major castrophes in their lives. If you dare read and find out how to acknowledge, deal with issues and let them go, it's impossible not to evolve and live a truly fulfilling life. The key is there.

5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

Poor download quality

I purchased and downloaded this recording from B&N.

The recording has sound filters added to it and in my opinion is unlistenable - so I returned it and have now received a refund.

Today I downloaded the Excuses Begone! recording of this seminar on Maui from iTunes and the quality is fine.

5 out of 9 people found this review helpful.

Excuses Begone!

I watched the DVD of Wayne's program and loved it. Then I ordered the book and didn't love it. There is a slight critical edge present in some of his writings that is totally not there when he presents in person. Wayne Dyer's energy in person, is loving, accepting, helpful, humorous, generous. Something else crops up in his writing of this book that I wouldn't want to recommend to a client or friend. However, I went way out of my way to order the DVD for a patient, and its impact was excellent.
If you can get beyond the "edge" I sense in the written product, you'll enjoy the content in the book. However, I greatly prefer the DVD.
NIcki McClusky, Self Development Coach and Psychotherapist
www.nickimcclusky.com

4 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

Terrible!

Pretty much if you want to change your life, change your mind into thinking that you can do it! Thats all but read this if you need it reinstating to you in a couple hundred pages, i expected it to be good since it was a bestseller but it was by far the worst book i have ever read... would not recommend this book to anyone whatsoever!

4 out of 6 people found this review helpful.

Excuses Begone Paradigm Shift

Wayne Dyer starts with "Don't even believe what you think". He then lays the foundation for the "Paradigm Shift" which is nothing more than a veracity test. Self-awareness, mis-alignment, living in the now, contemplation, willingness, passion and compassion are the pillars of the foundation. With outstanding quotes from Tao Te Ching, Lau-tzu, Abraham Maslow, Hafiz and utilizing the new sciences of "memetics" and "biology of belief" everything comes together for the effective implementation of the paradigm of no excuses.

A must read for everyone and a "meme" to buy into.

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

It is great, I just have to use it.

Great

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Principals in this book work

I first saw Dr. Dyer present Excuses Begone on PBS and it got my attention. The next day I bought the book. I have a few "habits" that I always fall back on and after I do I always think why did I do that again. Reading this book chapter by chapter and thinking about the principals made complete sense to me. I applied the thinking, principals and repeated the affirmations as suggested and for me this made me aware of my thoughts and habits and I was able to change them to a positive outcome. If your serious about investing in yourself, read this book.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Very excellent book

very good, every human being should read it!

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Just what I needed

I walked by a table at my local B&N and saw this sitting there. I read the back of the book and thought OK I'll read another self help book. I'm always looking for tips to use in every day life. Well this book spoke to me! I can identify myself in many of the chapters. I've already employed several of his suggestions and I feel much calmer and have a better outlook. I'd recommend it. I try to take the approach that I read a book and take some things out of it that I can use. This had a few of them.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Want to get rid of Excuses!

I'm finding this book like all of Dr. Dyer's books good, informative
and helpful. It makes you think and ask questions of yourself as to
why your life is the way it is! You need to highlight a few parts
of this book to remind yourself of what you need to do! ENJOY!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Excuses Begone

An interesting and challenging read, though I believe the author is guilty of oversimplification. He tends to pretty much dismiss the psychotherapeutic model of treatment, and I think this is a mistake.

1 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

GREAT TOOL TO USE IF WORKING WITH YOUTH

Simple message, able to apply to all ages.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Recommend when you're ready and willing to admit your behavior could improve.

Dr Dyer presents some thought provoking arguments to encourage us to look at our behavior and specifically our habits, as well as how and why we behave the way we do in certain circumstances. He offers examples and suggestions to behave differently.

We can all benefit from self-discovery. One will get out of the book what they're willing to honestly examine. Overall I gained insight into my behavior. Well worth the time for the long term benefit.

Not my reality

I was all for the premise of this book, but just did not finish it. When the talk is about changing ones way of rationality and thought process, there is my interest. But when the physical part of the body is used to demonstrate change, this is where I get off the bus.

The idea that any and all physical ailment can be banished is just realistic or even factual according to data. To suggest cancer and chronic illness can be obliterated with thoughts of healthier cells is a low budget way to get desperate people to buy your book..shame on this author for that.

With life, there will always be illness and suffering. Who determines what cancers are easily pushed from our bodies via the brain and which ones are not? Should everyone just buy the book for the day they need it?

How condescending of a writer to assume so much authority, when most likely he has never had a medical or biology class any higher than a HS level. It really does take all kinds in this world.

Why not leave chronic illness and terminal illness out and concentrate on our thought patterns as it relates to relationships with others and ourselves.

It is also not explained how one adjusts to better processes of thought when you live with others. It has been proven that many issues cannot be dealt with if you live with a difficult relationship issue on a daily basis. You cannot change another persons personality. These self help books are unfortunately written for the singular person.

Find another way to make money please

Work the paradigm

Very interesting. To make the excuses begone work most people will need to re-set thier old way of thinking. I did not think I had so many excuses until I read this book. I have been working it and trying to correct myself everytime I use one. As always Dr. Dyer has written another wonderful gift.

another great guide

Dr. Dyer has provided yet another excellent piece guide to living an awesome life. thank Doc.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

This Is One Of Dyer's Best!

I first came across Wayne Dyer in of all things a PBS special. Having read this book, I have come to realize that excuses only please the people that use them. Kudos, Wayne! I also recommend "When God Stopped Keeping Score" which takes a look at the power of God in forgiveness. It is amazing.