Conquer Your Critical Inner Voice

September 15, 2002
In vain, psychologist Firestone, psychotherapist Lisa Firestone, and lecturer/ writer Joyce Catlett attempt to convey the interesting concept of the "critical inner voice," which could be described as that little devil that sits on one's shoulder to balance out the little angel on the other side. This voice begins when as young children we internalize parental messages, particularly negative ones, creating a psychological base which many of us do not progress beyond to find a more realistic and rational self-view. All parents, however well intentioned, create critical inner voices. Unfortunately, description is all readers will get here as the text recounts ad nauseam various manifestations of the voice. Although many readers will respond to the premise (and to the sad anecdotes), the book fails to articulate clearly any methods for counteracting the effects of the voice. Not recommended; instead, consider Byron Brown's clear, practical Soul Without Shame: A Guide to Liberating Yourself from the Judge Within. Shores is also concerned with a negative voice-specifically that of the heart, which uses emotion as a "voice" when "speaking." Listening to and understanding this voice helps readers relate emotional experiences to God. Like Firestone, Shores is short on method and overly long on anecdote, not to mention Scripture. After introducing a subject in the tone of a self-help author, he takes on that of a religious counselor, which in fact he is. His stories and mysterious Christian concepts unfortunately obscure any discernible methods for learning to listen to one's heart. The upshot is that Christians may struggle with the book, and non-Christians certainly won't gain much from it. Overall, this work feels unfinished and is not recommended.

Copyright 2002 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.