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mm...interesting review. Do you think these ways to look at life are suitable for modern generation?

I couldn't agree more! I was excited to read this book. I mean, the premise is fantastic (be impeccable with your word, don't take anything personally, don't make assumptions, always do your best). What's not to like, right? A lot, as it turns out.

Ruiz's definitions are bizarre, to say the least. Here are a few examples:

"All the magic you possess is based on your word. Your word is pure magic, and misuse of your word is black magic" (27).

"One word is like a spell, and humans use the word like black magicians, thoughtlessly putting spells on each other. Every human is a magician, and we can either put a spell on someone with our word or we can release someone from a spell. We cast spells all the time with our opinions" (28-29).

"Because the word is the magic that humans possess and misuse of the word is black magic, we are using black magic all the time without knowing that our word is magic at all" (34).

"Sometimes you hear a voice in your mind, and you may wonder where it came from. This voice may have come from another reality in which there are living beings very similar to the human mind" (54).

"The mind lives in more than one dimension. There may be times when you have ideas that don't originate in your mind, but you are perceiving them with your mind" (54).

"When we discover that the mind is controlled by the Judge and the Victim and the real 'us' is in the corner, we have just two choices. One choice is to keep living the way we are, to surrender to the Judge and the Victim, to keep living in the dream of the planet. The second choice is to do what we do as children when parents try to domesticate us. We can rebel and say 'No!' We can declare war against the parasite, a war against the Judge and the Victim, a war for our independence, a war for the right to use our own mind and our own brain ... choosing this path gives us, at the very least, the dignity of rebellion" (102-103).

Oooohkaaaay.

I think these passages speak for themselves.

This book is a waste of time and money. I also felt "talked down to," as if I were reading an elementary school primer. The definitions were repeated ad nauseam, and I couldn't wait for it to be over.

This book can be summed up like this:

Agreement #1: If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all.
Agreement #2: What other people think of you is none of your business.
Agreement #3: To ASSUME makes an "ASS" out of "U" and "ME".
Agreement #4: If something's worth doing, it's worth doing right.

Jessie, Do you think that this would be good for an Inspirational Book Club with people who do not know Jesus? I am a follower of Christ who desires to bring Jesus into everything. I have been given the wonderful privilege of leading an Inspirational Book club. I am looking for a book that will help non believers ask questions about who Jesus really is. Please let me know what you think. I have been reading God: stores Please pray for this

Shannon and Jessica, I couldn't agree more. I was very excited to read this. The intro was great, but the "meat" of the book was just awful :(

Thanks for the heads-up Jessica and Shannon.

Well ladies, you are definitely entitled to your opinions. I have had this book and audio (bring it to senses) for many years as well. This principles will resonate with many and not with others. The good news is you read it and a seed is planted.

I found the book enjoyable and right on. I do agree that he went on and on, repeatedly, saying the same thing...kinda like meditation...a mantra approach. It can be an effective method to train our minds.

You do not have to take literally, the statements about magic...they are metaphors, like much that is contained in the bible.

Jessica, your review says exactly what was on my mind. There are some nuggets of insight that were helpful to me, but they were wrapped up in some strange context - spells and the like. I had to work at separating the wheat from the chaff.

You said exactly how I felt. I had to stop by page 25. The constant repetition and reference to magic was so eye-rolling for me. If you tell someone they look like they have cancer, then within a year they'll get cancer? WTF? So done.

It is very frustrating to see people so dead asleep. Let this sink deep "The ones who get stuck on the words and never see the bigger picture beyond them, will always be led astray" also remember that there are infinite amount of ways to explain and describe something, that is the beauty of wisdom and art. The ones who fail to see past the labels will never see the Truth.

I am desperately trying to finish this book for my book club... But wow, it's difficult. Are there some good insights? Sure. But they are hidden within 138 pages of terrible.

I agree. Oh my God did I ever hate every minute of reading this.... until around page 30 when I gave myself permission to stop.

I got this on audio book and listened to it several times instead of reading it. I'm not sure if that made a difference, but I loved it. I grew up a Christian, and I can understand how some of the wording in the book might throw people off. But to me, reinforcing the fact that everyone, including myself, carries an entire world in their head that is unique and separate from everyone else's world is great to contemplate. When someone attacks you, it's about them, not you. Be impeccable with your word. Be conscious of everything you create in this world, of the energy you're putting out. Don't take anything personally. Don't make assumptions because the story in your head is inevitably different than what is in everyone else's. It's a different way of arriving at the principles of acceptance, forgiveness, and loving yourself, which this world could definitely use more of.

Thank you for your review!
I thought the same of the book. The first part is hard to read as no good comes out of this world, everything is very negative.
This is self help book for someone that never read the Bible or went to Church.
It is also a good reminder of truth, goodness and beauty too...

I definitely appreciate your review. I was really excited to dive into this book, but almost from page one, it is so hard to read. Even though it's written in such simple language, it absolutely could have been half the length! You are so right about beating a dead horse. Honestly, I haven't even finished it yet--but I will, because I like the ideas. I've been highlighting as I go so I can make quick references as necessary. Glad I read your review, I don't feel like such a crazy person!

I personally enjoyed the book. But I didn't go into with expectations. I didn't feel as though I was being "talked down to". It's interesting that you felt that way.
Also, just a quick note, this is actually a religious book. It's often categorized as such, and it's main reviews even have references to spirituality on the back cover with the synopsis. I'm not sure what you were looking for, maybe something more psychological? Try Feeling Good by David Burns, if you haven't read that one.

I think all of you missed the point entirely! This book is not about how you treat others, it's about how you treat yourself. How you belittle yourself, you allow others to belittle you because you think they're right. You judge yourself harshly and unfairly and you tolerate it from others. The fact it says on the cover it's a Toltec Wisdom book, should have been a dead giveaway it has nothing to do with christianity. If you couldn't figure that out, perhaps he didn't explain it simply enough for you to comprehend.

I'm a Christian but also know about the secrets of the universe having been exposed to secret gov programs in the past. I do find that this book offends most Christians who see the world as black and white. I used to be like that, guided by dogma, unmovable in my beliefs. Now that I know better, I am able to read a book like this and understand the underlying truths that are being presented without taking offense to my Christian beliefs. Jesus was all about the law of love. There are no religions that teach the truth today, all are false. All teach dogma that causes one to hate others, judge others, and not follow the greatest law, the law of love. If one understand that this reality we live in isn't what we think it is, and then one opens their mind and seeks the truth, the truth will be found, and free them from the chains of dogma, the chains of religion, and the chains of this matrix.

Your review is funny and informative, thanks :)

Yes, all what you said is true Jessica. I like what you said about the author not taking your review personally, made me laugh. But I did glean some good from this talk down to you, pretentious little book.

I also like Ravens point of view.

I agree with the review. I also felt talked down by the author. As a not religious person by choise, being told that I didn't choose my religion and my moral values, but they were forced upon me didn't leave the best taste. This book was a waste of my time.

I agree, loanna. I also find it interesting that those who liked the book are basically saying we didn't because it's over our heads and the author didn't dumb it down enough for us to understand. No, we simply didn't like the book. Not every book is for every reader, not even the Bible.

i agree 100%. i am on page 28 and i think i'm finished. while i can totally get down with the actual 4 agreements, this couldve easily been a 20 page book. the style of writing is comparable to listening to somone speak that loves the sound of their own voice.

Or we can let go of the words and take whatever suits us. Just like when your friend told you about the basic idea. It's almost always in the basics.
Or we're gonna keep ourselves away from much wisdom.

Actually Mohammad, you're right! I agree! Before I read the full book, I had a smaller one of the Four Agreements, that fits in my palm and was just telling the basic ideas in this book. And I would give that one 5 stars.

But I also don't agree. When I judge a book, I judge also the words, how repetitive it is, when it states un-facts etc. So while the basic ideas would get my 5 stars, this version that contains so much more crap that makes it so boring to read, gets 1 star.

I sooo agree! I keep trying to pick this book back up and can't get through it. It is terribly written. Everything *is* overexplained. I keep finding myself going "okay, okay, okay! You've just said this exact samething, at least 10 times before, just rephrased.

Maybe you assumed that the author was talking down on you ;)

This book brought demons into my home! Beware! I read this book many years ago as a young woman and enjoyed it. Of course then I was 18-years-old and without direction, having raised myself because I grew up in a home with alcoholic, bipolar and abusive parents. In recent years, my Christian faith has grown and I was baptized in 2012. This past week I decided to pick up the book and reread it. About 2 days after completing the book I was visited by an evil spirit...an evil demon who walked over my bed and then I was paralyzed. I could not scream or move. I kept trying to scream, "help me!" to my husband who lay beside me but nothing would come from my lips. I fought and struggled against this evil presence and knew immediately I must rebuke it. I fought to raise my right hand and continued to command it to leave in the name of Jesus Christ. I repeated this over and over and over until the words did come out. The demon left my bed and was in the corner of the room and I continued commanding in to leave in God's name and it did. I am getting this book out of my house. I am sad I left the window open for such a presence to enter by reading about the "magic" in this book. I would caution believers to not read this and bring this into their home for fear they will be exposed as I was to Satan's army.

HunterAshley wrote: "This book brought demons into my home! Beware! I read this book many years ago as a young woman and enjoyed it. Of course then I was 18-years-old and without direction, having raised myself because..."

I found no scientific correlation between sleep paralysis (which is the proper term of what you're describing) and demons or this book.

I felt the same

If you want to learn something really, you have to repeat over and over. In medicine we have to do the repeat all the time. And explanations require for understanding the basis and remember concepts. You can be learn more easily with examples and likening. I think likenings in the book give power to understand the basis of aggrements.

Thanks for writing this detailed review and pointing out everything that I didn't bother with! I was so annoyed with this book that I didn't even feel like it was worth the time of going into detail and explaining the reasons why I didn't like it, but you basically said what I would have!

The book is so dedicating much. So inspiring the technique of not taking things prsonally helps alot in many people life styles. I like it ....

Raised in mainstream Christianity, I read this book with an open mind and loved it's simplicity...the book itself is a small paperback so it's not too long (which could lead to boring)...and it's principles are universal and basic so no rational person could find fault with them. An example to demonstrate would be the 'Do no harm' precept of Buddhism...even if you're not Buddhist, no one could fault this principle because it's universal in nature and positive. The four agreements is a creative way of expressing timeless wisdoms that are echoed in everything from ancient texts to modern society, and much in-between... Modern society says: 'Say what you mean, and mean what you say', which, of course, means to 'Be impeccable with your word'...I didn't feel like the author was talking down to me but recognize that when I DO feel that way, it's almost always my ego asserting itself so I work extra hard on my humbleness...I would feel very comfortable recommending this book to anyone I cared about because, regardless of its style, details, grammar, etc...it's OVERALL message (which is all that's really important, after all) is a positive one...(Peace.Love.Spirit.)

“This book brought demons into my home! Beware!��

I read your whole post and you should write for the Onion if you were aiming at satire. Too funny!

I haven't read this book yet but after reading your review...perhaps this mention of 'spells' is simply a discussion on hermeticism? That's what that sounds like to me in that context - possibly something to consider.

My sentiments exactly!

The reference to "spells" is very clearly metaphorical - he also uses "computer virus" interchangeably.

I couldn't agree with you more. That whole "putting spells on people" and "black magic" totally turned me off.

I loved the book. I needed to hear this.

I loved the book but I liked your review because it was honest and I lol’ed at you saying the author wouldn’t take your negative review personally. :-)

I love this book! Don Miguel Ruiz is a lovely story teller. Words to live by for sure.

Haha! “I suppose that I don’t have to worry about the author taking it personally.��

When I read the Book of Acts in the New Testament Bible I had the same thing happen to me as HunterAshley Garner. I did the same thing she did to get whatever it was off of me, that is to pray to GOD to rid me of this oppressive force off my chest. Now, should I throw the Bible out of my house or what? See people need to stop talking spooky unfounded superstition. Don't you see it's something in yourself, not the book. Certainly we suffer when we believe in something we don't understand. What proof do you have, really, that the book brought a demonic force into the house? Why couldn't the demon have already been there and the righteous teaching of the book stirred up the demon and the teachings being good and righteous threatened the demons abode in your body and was pushing it to the surface and out of you? Oh, well, I'm trying to save other potential readers of a great book from turning away from something ignorantly written that has no validation in reality.

To Lemuel: Quoi? Did we just read the same review? To Jessica: Thanks for the review. You just saved this slow reader alot of valuable time. I don’t wanna read it. This is why I love Good Reads.

This is a good little read, short, comforting and simple on those days when you just want to curl up with a book but don’t really want to commit to a thick or overly intense novel. I really have to wonder about the poor reviews on here though. It seems that there are some folks who need more help than this book has to offer.

You really didn't understand the book then :/

I couldn’t agree more. At some point, literally felt like I’d throw up. It was just so bleh & maybe I had too-high expectations. Felt like his points weren’t based off anything in particular. Maybe it’s because I’m a doctor/scientist & you need to come correct with the facts. How about researches that show results of these things. The part that even killed me the most was when he cited an example using Forrest Gump. As in a fictional character? Nah bruh

Awaken Christian not like warm. Would know that spelling is casting spells. That's what this book is about. The Bible also talks about being careful with what you sag and think. why you reap is what you sow. Awaken Christians know the devil works in the details. That's why also music and poems have huge spells when you listen or hear them. They have a frequency. Please wake up fellow Christians. Jesus is coming.