Book Review: Awaken the Power Within

The Self-Help Shelf

http://www.midwestbookreview.com/wbw/jun_18.htm#Self-Help

Awaken the Power Within
Albert Amao Soria
Tarcher/Perigee
c/o Penguin Group, USA
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014-3657
www.tarcherbooks.com
9780143132592, $16.00, PB, 288pp, www.amazon.com

In "Awaken the Power Within: In Defense of Self-Help", sociologist Albert Amao analyzes the accuracy of self-help and positive-thinking claims in this groundbreaking exploration of what works, what doesn't, and why, substantially based upon his own life experience. Born in a poor Latin-American country into a very impoverished family with both parents practically illiterate, he was the oldest of five children and began working at six years of age, shining shoes and selling newspapers to help his family. Unable to finish high school, he nevertheless was able to acquire a diploma by going to night school, which then allowed him to be admitted at the San Marcos University in Lima to obtain a Ph.D. in sociology. All these things were possible in his view because when he was teenager he had access to New Thought" or positive-thinking philosophy. Contrary to the critics who blithely dismiss self-help methods, or the New Age gurus who sell it them as miracles, in the pages of "Awaken the Power Within, Amao writes with sobriety, scholarship, and draws on his personal experience to deftly explore the conditions under which self-help is authentic -- and successful. Accessibly written and thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation, "Awaken the Power Within" is an inspired and inspiring read from beginning to end. While unreservedly recommended for both community and academic library Self-Help/Self-Improvement collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Awaken the Power Within" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Tantor Audio, 9781977356659, $24.99, CD).

Awaken the Power Within You

AWAKEN THE POWER WITHIN YOU

Why do millions of people flock to deceitful self-help programs? Why do they buy books, audiotapes, and videos and attend motivational seminars and workshops without finding a real solution to their problems? This book examines the rationale of the self-help culture in America, which has become predominant a factor in the life style on this nation. It analyzes the accuracy of self-help and positive thinking claims and attempts to uncover the real causes for people flocking to these programs.
           From time to time, appear on the market, self-help books and programs that promise easy-quick solutions to all the problems of life; they offer ideas and techniques similar to the old “snake oil” – a panacea for healing all kinds of ailments. Others advocate enlightenment in a short period of time and offer various “magical solutions” to all human suffering. Moreover, many occult and esoteric schools offer enlightenment and occult knowledge that promise to put their students into positions of power and advantage over others. In addition, there are programs and seminars that suggest making a person millionaire or helping people to earn easy money just by using their expensive systems, and the list goes on and on.
            This book, based on well researched facts and modern scientific discoveries, attempts to demonstrate that most of the methods of self-help (life coaching and personal coaching), complementary and alternative therapies are in essence self-deceptive; if they yield some temporary benefits is because of the placebo effect, auto-suggestion, or collective suggestion.
             Since early childhood we have been indoctrinated with false ideas and beliefs that take away our true nature as self-sufficient human beings. We took for granted the religious beliefs of our parents and grandparents; the deceitful ideas of the mass media and of the so-called “conventional wisdom.” In time this set of false ideas and beliefs became part of our idiosyncrasy; they are oriented to make us to feel powerless and victims of circumstances. It seems that there is a huge conspiracy to inflict on humans a sense of powerlessness. Some religious organizations create a sense of guiltiness; they stand as intercessors between humans and the Divinity; they make us beliefs that we need them to be saved.  The mass communication is oriented to basically manipulate and domesticate ordinary people creating superficial and unnecessary needs.  
             Under this scenario, show up false New Age “gurus,” some religious protestant leaders and sensationalistic and fake self-help authors to take advantage of unaware people to financially profit from them. They offer a panacea or “snake oil” to solve all humans’ problems under the name of self-help. They demand to uncritically believe on them or on their products or services.

The first and the second chapters of this book are devoted to identify sham programs and to determine their flaws. The third chapter is to discuss, based on modern scientific discoveries and worldwide sacred scriptures the basis of reality, the oneness of life, and the role of humans on this world. The fundamental message of this work is provide solid metaphysical and scientific principles to empower humans and to restore to the proper place the Inner Self that dwells in every human being.

              In summary, this book surveys the false assumptions of unauthentic self-help culture that keep humans enslaved in herd mentality and demonstrate that –all the power dwells in you, only in you.  

                                                  
                                        

                                     Albert Amao Soria, Ph.D.

                                                             www.amazon.com/author/amao

                                                                   www.albertamao.com