Sylvia Browne's Lessons for Life

October 1, 2004
In this slim, friendly book, renowned psychic Browne offers an eight-step program that she says will set readers working toward the perfection of their souls and will bring them joy, fulfillment and renewed spirituality. Each of her steps takes a week to complete and incorporates a written exercise and a daily meditation. Browne believes that the"one innate purpose" of the soul is"to perfect itself and learn for God," and her program is imbued with a gentle, nondenominational sort of spirituality. There are frequent references to God and occasional references to Biblical passages, but Browne is more concerned with helping readers find their own spirituality, unlock memories from past their lives, become more psychic, maintain good relationships and keep themselves"in a state of wellness" than she is in preaching scripture. Throughout the book, she shares details of her own experiences dealing with guilt, financial stress and the loss of loved ones. And she offers some traditional, common sense advice on working toward one's goals. For example, in a chapter on breaking bad habits, she suggests that readers spend some time figuring out how their habits started and come up with positive subsititutions--i.e.,"If I get to the point where I'm about to scream at my children, I'll go into the bathroom and be silent for one minute." In another, she argues that the best thing to do after a divorce is to get over it, not creep into a hole, because God will make life well again. Vegetarians may make take issue with Browne's declaration that"when you cut a plant, it screams," but overall hers is a useful, Christian introduction to living life better.

August 30, 2004
In this slim, friendly book, renowned psychic Browne offers an eight-step program that she says will set readers working toward the perfection of their souls and will bring them joy, fulfillment and renewed spirituality. Each of her steps takes a week to complete and incorporates a written exercise and a daily meditation. Browne believes that the"one innate purpose" of the soul is"to perfect itself and learn for God," and her program is imbued with a gentle, nondenominational sort of spirituality. There are frequent references to God and occasional references to Biblical passages, but Browne is more concerned with helping readers find their own spirituality, unlock memories from past their lives, become more psychic, maintain good relationships and keep themselves"in a state of wellness" than she is in preaching scripture. Throughout the book, she shares details of her own experiences dealing with guilt, financial stress and the loss of loved ones. And she offers some traditional, common sense advice on working toward one's goals. For example, in a chapter on breaking bad habits, she suggests that readers spend some time figuring out how their habits started and come up with positive subsititutions--i.e.,"If I get to the point where I'm about to scream at my children, I'll go into the bathroom and be silent for one minute." In another, she argues that the best thing to do after a divorce is to get over it, not creep into a hole, because God will make life well again. Vegetarians may make take issue with Browne's declaration that"when you cut a plant, it screams," but overall hers is a useful, Christian introduction to living life better.

Copyright 2004 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.