Choosing Truth: Living an Authentic Life

by Harriette Cole

What does it mean to be "real" today? In a world where "truth" is a relative concept, is it possible to live an honorable life? Where half-truths and relentless spin are the rule, is honesty really the best policy? Yes, says Harriette Cole, and in Choosing Truth, she shows us why. The bestselling author of How to Be delivers an inspiring, one-of-a-kind prescription for revitalizing your daily routine, overcoming the habit of self-delusion, and living an authentic life. Choosing Truth is not simply about being honest with the people in your personal and professional life; it's about being true to yourself. Writing with extraordinary candor about her own life quest, Cole invites you to take an eye-opening, introspective journey. Addressing every facet of life in which truth is essential -- from cultivating an active spiritual life, to finding healthy, fulfilling relationships, to facing your deepest fears and listening to (and heeding) your inner voice -- Cole maps a clear path toward personal transformation. Drawing on compelling and fascinating anecdotes about the challenges, setbacks, and triumphs that have marked her own life and the lives of others, she shows you how to translate good intentions into right action and what you risk if you do not. Cole believes that self-inquiry in the form of journaling is an important key to unlocking the treasures of wisdom and clarity that lie within you. Each chapter ends with a revealing glimpse of Cole's own journal and a series of instructions and questions to guide you to a deeper understanding of your Self. Choosing Truth is an essential tool in the pursuit of a meaningful and honorable life, one lived artfully and with compassion toward ourselves and others.

256 pages, Hardcover

First published February 4, 2003

Reviews

[Douglas Lord · Rating 2 out of 5]

A former editor at Essence magazine, Cole (How to Be: Contemporary Etiquette for African Americans) hopes to “inspire you to continue forward on your path to you.” If that sounds vague, it is. Readers must find their true identity via personal transformation, she argues; this requires active participation, delving, probing, and a lot of hard work, none of which is spelled out here. Chapters titled like Boy Scout maxims (e.g., do your best, work wisely) gently explore different aspects of changing one’s life (e.g., have fun, take time to focus) in order to identify one’s personal truth. Overall, this book has some nice ideas, as when it endorses journaling to “track your life’s evolution,” but the lack of concrete steps makes it useful only for determined self-starters. Libraries should instead consider Martha Beck’s worthwhile Wisdom from Finding Your Own North Star.

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