by John Calabrese


Medicine, Miracles, & Manifestations
by John L. Turner, MD
The Career Press, Inc.
www.careerpress.com
The subtitle says it all: A doctor’s journey through the worlds of divine intervention, near-death experiences, and universal energy. Dr. Turner is a renowned neurosurgeon who began having metaphysical experiences the first night he was “on call,” which continue to this day.
The essence of Medicine, Miracles, & Manifestations is the real-life experiences of both doctor and patient that reveal the truth of the mind-body-spirit connection, and especially how consciousness “persists” after death. Turner writes in a clear, warm style, inviting the reader into his world with awe and insights.

There is emphasis on the emerging field of CAM, or Complementary and Alternative Medicine, as the author weaves in and out of the conventional and the mystical. There is also plenty of compelling dialogue throughout the book, in addition to the reassurances we all seek about life, purpose, and the hereafter. We are ever so fortunate that compassionate, brave physicians like Turner endeavor to gradually open up the medical field to more humility and potential in its ability to heal.

Clutter Busting: Letting Go of What’s Holding You Back
by Brooks Palmer
New World Library
www.newworldlibrary.com
Clever aptly describes the approach Palmer takes with that nemesis of affluence–clutter. More than mere “tips,” the author, a stand-up comic and speaker, takes a decidedly psychological approach to what clutter really is, how it affects us, and how we can rid ourselves of what no longer serves us in a healthy way.

Clearing clutter is a lot like losing weight: unless the underlying reasons are understood, we will fail or only be temporarily successful, as the clutter and weight slowly creep back into our lives. Accordingly, chapter titles indicate a strong emphasis on self-examination: We Assume False Identities in Clutter; Clutter Keeps Us Living in the Past; Clutter Represents Fear of Change; Inner Clutter Creates Outer Clutter; Clutter as Punishment.

With more ways than ever to buy and acquire, it’s now the norm to muddle our living spaces with more than we need. At a critical time in American history, when people are reevaluating how much “stuff” is actually needed–and the amount of time and debt it costs them–Clutter Busting is as relevant as a personal budget.

Making the Good Life Last: Four Keys to Sustainable Living
by Michael A. Schuler
Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Inc.
www.bk-life.com
Schuler deftly and thoroughly covers the fall of our collective common sense, asking if we are “ready to wise up, or…remain stuck in patterns of behavior that ultimately are inimical to human happiness?” In a nation so blessed by material abundance, why are so many still so unhappy? The answer lies somewhere in reevaluating our definitions of happiness. Since objects will never replace self-regard and appreciation, the author shows how this intangible–happiness–is directly related to our self-esteem, and how this affects whether we live a consumptive or sustainable lifestyle.

In the chapter, “A Sustainable Code of the Soul,” Schuler poses powerful questions for our growth. He asks us to consider all aspects of our lives and thinking as part of our spirituality, to become more aware of what’s going on around us, realize how damaging much of it is, and that we have a responsibility to change it for the better.

Both environmental primer and key to a more liveable, happier lifestyle, Making the Good Life Last is a readable, relevant argument for the beauty of sustainability–a long-standing idea whose time has definitely come.

The Journey to Greatness (And How to Get There!)
by Noah benShea
Corwin Press
www.CorwinPress.com
Noah benShea is a prolific poet-philosopher who, in 141 potent pages, has pulled off one of the best “self-help” books in the entire genre. Sprinkled with wisdom quotes from all periods, the format is both entertaining and refreshing; benShea’s words flow with grace throughout each sentence.

This is a book that makes you want to read it. The tone is never patronizing, but always encouraging in a realistic, look-you-can-do-it-also kind of way–and this is where all the quotes help, because you realize how many other people throughout the ages have wrestled with the same questions and desires. This makes the content truly timeless.

One of the most frustrating issues for any human being is how to get from where they are to where they want to be. “We can blame circumstances and others for what we haven’t done, but most of us eventually have look at why we haven’t done what we haven’t done,” intones benShea. “The journey to greatness demands this.” So does the journey to your local bookstore for this phenomenal read.

John Calabrese is the Editor-at-Large at Creations Magazine and has a private counseling practice in Huntington, NY.