Life Strategies

January 4, 1999
After advising Oprah Winfrey in her successful defense against accusations of slander by the beef industry, McGraw, a behavior specialist and trial expert, now makes appearances on Oprah's program as a member of her "Change Your Life TV Team," joining such other luminaries of self-help as Suze Orman, John Gray and Iyanla Vanzant. While McGraw's presentation may play well on the small screen, it suffers on the page from lack of focus, awkward writing and a relentlessly hectoring tone. At the outset, McGraw browbeats his readers: "You are either winning or losing in your life, plain and simple. You live in a competitive world." His strategy for winning is built around 10 "Life Laws," which include the following: "You Either Get It or You Don't"; "You Can't Change What You Don't Acknowledge"; and "There Is No Reality; Only Perception." He also gives 16 homework assignments: the first, to list the five things in your life you have failed to acknowledge to yourself; the second, to write "The Story I'll Tell Myself If I Don't Create Meaningful and Lasting Change After Reading and Studying This Book." McGraw does a good job of identifying many self-defeating behaviors, but it will be up to readers to determine for themselves the efficacy of his methods of changing them. 500,000 first printing; major ad/promo.

March 1, 1999
President of a litigation consulting firm, McGraw is also a member of Oprah Winfrey's "Change Your Life TV" team. He advised Oprah during her Amarillo beef trial and attributes the inspiration for this book to that episode. McGraw claims that people in dire situations have serious problems, including denial and choosing initial assumptions without testing them for accuracy. To create a life strategy that works, McGraw lays out his ten "Life Laws" along with checklists and 18 assignments. Each chapter begins with one of the life laws: e.g., get real; you create your own experience; people do what works; and life is managed, not cured. He concludes with a wrap-up of a seven-step strategy, working toward set goals. This is similar in content to Zig Ziglar's Success for DummiesR (LJ 5/1/98). Oprah's name may increase demand; buy as needed for self-help collections.--Lisa S. Wise, Broome Cty. P.L., Binghamton, NY

December 15, 1998
McGraw counsels Oprah Winfrey, and on the basis of that highly advantageous connection, Hyperion has ordered a half-million-copy first printing of his self-helper. Basically, McGraw's advice, laid out as "Life Laws" to follow, revives the old '60s idea of one-upmanship. To get the job or promotion, shed the old lover and hook a new one, or quit that bad habit for once and for all, you have to cultivate being fully aware (e.g., "Life Law #4: You Can't Change What You Don't Acknowledge"), being active for your own interests (e.g., "Life Law #5: Life Rewards Action"), and taking care of business ("Life Law #7: Life Is Managed; It Is Not Cured"). If McGraw often seems to encourage viewing the world as bad and getting worse, at least one of his directives, "Life Law #9," softens things a bit, for it enjoins that "There Is Power In Forgiveness" (of course, as he presents it, the reasons for getting rid of anger and resentment through forgiveness are all selfish). A number of fill-in lists make the book problematic for much circulation, for who wants to see some stranger's answers to the questions? But the Oprah seal of approval ensures plenty of reader interest. ((Reviewed December 15, 1998))(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 1998, American Library Association.)