A remarkable self-help instruction manual

Reviewed by Jerry Saperstein, 2009-07-29

This book is sponsored by an organization, The Professional Development Foundation (PDF). Their stated aim in this first book in the "Practice section of this [Professional Coaching] series". That's what PDF does - provide education to "life coaches" and others. They describe Sarah Corrie as a leader in the "emerging field of positive psychology".

Sound like the lead-in to yet another pop-psychology, you can do it all book?

Nope.

It is actually intended to provide existing "life coaches" with a "coherent set of tools and exercises to use" with their clients. The lay reader is advised to recruit a "constructive friend who cares for you, but whocan provide an alternative viewpoint to give you a different perspective on yourself".

The approach is unique, in a way. Corrie provides a "MAP" to "guide you on your journey". The MAP is "derived from research into coaching practice and nuilt on the principles of positive psychology."

I quote so extensively from the introduction to demonstrate that sponsor and author are intent on providing something different in the way of what ultimately is a self-help manual. In this case, the primary audience are those who have styled themselves as "life coaches", psychologists, counselors and therapists.

Sarah Corrie establishes her bona fides in one of the most remarkable Introductions I have ever read. She appears to be very sincere in her goals, perfectly honest in how she found her calling and modest in her goals for her book. Her candor is very refreshing and builds confidence in what is to come.

And what is to come is an extended instruction manual on building your own "MAP". MAP represents Mission, Attitude and Process. It is distantly related to David Allen's "views" and many other self-help plans. Bottom line: you can't get to where you want to be unless you know what and where it is. Good advice, no matter how it is phrased.

Next Corrie introduces and then explores "The 12 Principles Of The Art Of Inspired Living", which constitute the guts of the book. It is here that the reader may either accept this as gospel or platitudinous nonsense. I tend toward the former, though some of the chapters are bit too goody-goody for my liking.

Corrie moves on to forming the right attitude, focusing on goals (expressed as "Transforming Your Mission Into Gosals) and several other topics.

Overall, if you are inclined favorably toward the entire concept of "self-help", this is an excellent book. While intended for those who practice as "life coaches", it can be used by the individual. It is almost entirely free of the pap and nonsense so often seen in many self-help books. In all, Corrie is not only an excellent writer, she is also a realist and possessed of great insight into human psychology.

A good instruction manual for those seeking to improve the quality of their lives or helping others to do so.

Jerry