The One-Life Solution

A youthful-sounding expert offers compelling insights on how to have healthy emotions, good relationships, and satisfying work. Sounding like he's very comfortable at the microphone, Cloud's articulation and phrasing are so well crafted that most listeners will be surprised to learn he's not a voice pro. A clear and sensitive writer as well, he explains how we fragment our lives and lose sight of what's central to our identity and purpose. To get back to having one life, he says, we need to pay attention to the boundaries between ourselves and others and between what we truly want and what the outside world imposes on us. The presentation also includes reassuring advice on how to keep cell phones, computers, and other distractions from ruling our lives. T.W. (c) AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine

August 4, 2008
The balance of work and personal life can cause a myriad of problems-but they all boil down to a single issue, argues Cloud (Boundaries). Many career-inhibiting problems-from shoddy management skills to unclear focus to slow growth-can be attributed to a breakdown of boundaries necessary to maintain balance between work life and personal life, especially as technology makes it possible for individuals to be on-call every moment of the day. Cloud espouses the virtues of self-definition and self-control, and his series of engaging analogies and examples helps readers conduct an internal self-audit by identifying core values, visions, missions and goals. The authors hones in on common weaknesses-overdeveloped needs for security, approval and perfectionism-and leads readers through a plan for regaining control of themselves, their work and their lives with easy-to-follow activities to implement changes as personal policies. Unfailingly encouraging, Cloud is a fine advocate for the benefit of gaining control and protecting boundaries and his book is a must-have life management bible.

July 28, 2008
The balance of work and personal life can cause a myriad of problems-but they all boil down to a single issue, argues Cloud (Boundaries). Many career-inhibiting problems-from shoddy management skills to unclear focus to slow growth-can be attributed to a breakdown of boundaries necessary to maintain balance between work life and personal life, especially as technology makes it possible for individuals to be on-call every moment of the day. Cloud espouses the virtues of self-definition and self-control, and his series of engaging analogies and examples helps readers conduct an internal self-audit by identifying core values, visions, missions and goals. The authors hones in on common weaknesses-overdeveloped needs for security, approval and perfectionism-and leads readers through a plan for regaining control of themselves, their work and their lives with easy-to-follow activities to implement changes as personal policies. Unfailingly encouraging, Cloud is a fine advocate for the benefit of gaining control and protecting boundaries and his book is a must-have life management bible.

Copyright 2008 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.