Book Reviews: Awaken the Giant Within, by Anthony Robbins | Man's Search for Meaning, by Viktor E. Frankl | Rich Dad, Poor Dad, by Robert Kiyosaki

Awaken the Giant Within is a great book which I would recommend to everyone. It is not the end all and say all of self improvement books. It contains information which makes one think about their actions and behaviors in a new light. He throws in motivational phrases and stories to keep the reader interested in the material.

The one thing I feel he did not cover enough was the role of the subconscious mind in determining one's outcome in life. He did not cover the role of affirmations in controlling the subconscious mind. Besides these two topics being left out Awaken the Giant Within contains a wealth of self improvement information.

Some of the techniques Anthony Robbins covers are the role of values, self image, self fulfilling prophesies, how to build rapport with others, how to achieve greater health wealth and happiness, and many others. He obviously has built up a storehouse of self improvement information in his brain. He claims to have read over 600 books on the topic and he as attended countless seminars to get acquainted with motivational psychology. I recommend this book.

2. Man's Search for Meaning, by Viktor E. Frankl:

Man's Search for Meaning tells how one man used meaning to help himself survive being in a concentration camp. It also contains information towards the end on how ordinary people can gain meaning in their lives and how crucial it is to our ability to handle life. Mr. Frankl is no longer with us but his message lives on.

The book really doesn't have any flaws, it is a personal account and contains some sage advice from a qualified mental health professional. The book gives the reader some perspective of what people went through during the holocaust. He gives a vivid portrayal of how some men who gave up hope simply could not go own while those with something to live for lasted longer. He also mentions how chance was a factor.

What the reader can gain from this book is the important of meaning to living a proper life. When people lack a sense of meaning in their lives, such as the miners losing their jobs as covered by Frankle people lose the motivation to go on. Each person must determine what their own meaning in life is. This book stresses how people may be able to find it.

3. Rich Dad, Poor Dad, by Robert Kiyosaki:

I thought the book provides a helpful perspective on how to become financially successful. However, the book should not be the main source one uses on how to gain wealth. Not everyone should follow Mr. Kiyosaki's advice. For example he states that people should work in the private sector where they can produce their own products or services in order to create wealth. Some people are more suited or prefer to work in the public sector and while public sector jobs may not make one rich, many of them do offer good pay and benefits.

Having said that the positive aspects of the book is that Mr. Kiyosaki lays down how the rich in society usually make money. They create a product or service which is not dependent on one's time. They can make money during their sleep because they are continual selling products or services through outsourced means.

I have heard that some of the stories the author describes in the book were not factual but were supposed to be analogous to the message that he was trying to get across. I found this a little deceptive, but nonetheless his principle message is clear. He states that one should work for themself and do what it takes to make money, nothing more nothing less.