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The Art of Living by Bob Proctor
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First published December 29, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
October 30, 2016
I did not get much out of this book. I liked the alphabet of the heart model near the end, but did not find much use with the various laws. There were many moving stories in this book. The main message seems to be that if you think about what you want, it will happen. I recognize that this abundance mindset has real power to motivate people. However, there is insufficient explanation of the laws. They are reduced to if you do it right you will succeed with ease.
October 13, 2016
There are self-help books and then there are Get-Off-Your-Butt books. THE ART OF LIVING by Bob Proctor is top of the heap in the second category. Unlike many of the not-so-tough love books that permeate today's self-help category, Proctor gets right down to brass tacks. Sugar-coating is not in his vocabulary.
This isn't to say that THE ART OF LIVING reads like a drill sergeant's manual. It's simply that instead of spending a lot of time stroking the reader's ego, Proctor admires you briefly and succinctly and then moves into getting your life on track. The text, compiled from transcripts of his workshops, is straight forward and easy to take in. The chapters move quickly and the material is spot on.
One of my most important take-aways was the difference between "reacting" and "responding." Most of us, myself included, tend to react to situations that challenge or annoy us. If we took the time to step back, assess and respond, life would be much easier.
Yes, you're going to get a dab of THE SECRET here and there. But if you're like me - open to positive messages but intolerant of "woo woo" dialogue - this is a book that will move you into action and stick with you. I have a feeling I'll be returning to it every time I need to get my fanny in gear.
Recommended for folks who enjoyed PSYCHO-CYBERNETICS by Maxwell Maltz; MAN'S SEARCH FOR MEANING by Viktor E. Frankl; and THINK AND GROW RICH by Napoleon Hill.
This isn't to say that THE ART OF LIVING reads like a drill sergeant's manual. It's simply that instead of spending a lot of time stroking the reader's ego, Proctor admires you briefly and succinctly and then moves into getting your life on track. The text, compiled from transcripts of his workshops, is straight forward and easy to take in. The chapters move quickly and the material is spot on.
One of my most important take-aways was the difference between "reacting" and "responding." Most of us, myself included, tend to react to situations that challenge or annoy us. If we took the time to step back, assess and respond, life would be much easier.
Yes, you're going to get a dab of THE SECRET here and there. But if you're like me - open to positive messages but intolerant of "woo woo" dialogue - this is a book that will move you into action and stick with you. I have a feeling I'll be returning to it every time I need to get my fanny in gear.
Recommended for folks who enjoyed PSYCHO-CYBERNETICS by Maxwell Maltz; MAN'S SEARCH FOR MEANING by Viktor E. Frankl; and THINK AND GROW RICH by Napoleon Hill.
June 11, 2019
Problematic to say the least. There are many factors that he does not take into consideration or ignores ie privilege, ableism, sexism, etc. He also uses God and "the law of nature" as bullshit bandaid answers. Also, this book isn't really about living, it's about money. Making more money doesn't equal being more in vibration with the universe. Money and the economy are human constructs, not a measure of your harmony with the universe. Ugh, there's more too. Just, don't bother with this one. There are better books on the topic.
August 1, 2023
Mam wrażenie ze ta książka powstała tylko po to żeby autor mógł pochwalić się ile on nie zarabia. Dodatkowo przekaz o pieniądzach dosłownie brzmiał jak: jak zarabiasz mało jest nieudacznikiem, pieniądze to główna wartość życia jakby wtf 💀
Ale generalnie inne aspekty spoko
Ale generalnie inne aspekty spoko
March 1, 2018
The whole book is pretty good and encouraging, although in the middle somewhere I found myself wondering if Bob is a little nuts, and Then maybe I am a little nuts too to read his book. Haha. Anyway, it's interesting read, there's not much that is new if you have been reading many self-help or self-discovery books so far. However, I like how he genuinely enjoys helping and teaching people to improve. I also like how he knows when to walk away if he feels people are skeptical of his methods, or just "not in harmony". It would be wonderful to go to his lecture or talk to him in person, I think.
April 7, 2018
There were certainly some words of wisdom in here, but I was continually distracted by the extreme stream of consciousness writing style, topic switching, and tinge of narcissism throughout the book.
September 30, 2022
The Art of Living
By: Bob Proctor
◾ Lessons in leading a fulfilling life and career from America's greatest prosperity teacher
In this book, Bob gives his most insightful advice for living a meaningful life and work.This book doesn't offer a predetermined formula for how to lead a healthy, contented and prosperous life but lessons from it are meant to help you become more aware of who you are and what is actually feasible for you. This is achieved by giving several examples of how to live in accordance with universal laws in order to build a successful, happy existence. In addition to many more priceless teachings, readers will discover the following as a new student of Bob's:
◾ YOU NEED ONLY ONE QUALITY (Discipline) : Most people lack discipline, which prevents them from enjoying life to the fullest potential. However, if you practice discipline, you can achieve anything you truly desire.The ability to give yourself an order and then obey it is what discipline really is. If you lack discipline, you will never achieve anything of significance.
◾MONEY IS A MAGNIFIER : From where does the money come?
Considering it All money is merely paper. It is nothing more than paper with ink on it. Up until the point of usage, it is just as useless as old newspaper. Paper money does not exist. It is an image of money. Money is a concept. You have access to all the money in existence. But you have to draw it in. You have to work for it. The only places where people can "earn money" are in prison, the Mint, or on their way to prison. The others have earned it. That much is obvious.
◾THE ONLY SOURCE OF SUPPLY : It is up to you to find harmony with it even though everything you could ever want is already here, if not in form then at least in content. It would be a wise move on your part to start developing the habit of thinking only of what you want, regardless of the conditions or circumstances you may currently find yourself facing. After all, you do attract everything into your life by law.
◾COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS : Be sure to express gratitude every day. Whatever your circumstances are , you may find something to be thankful for. Being grateful is a potent way to change your energy and attract more of what you desire in your life. Being appreciative of what you already have will help you attract additional blessings. You need to become conscious of how you're responding to circumstances . Then, you must force yourself to quit. There is a desire within you to respond. You'll respond by attacking back. You'll respond, I can tell. You need to restrain yourself from responding and take charge of the circumstance.
◾ IT’S TIME TO STRETCH: Don't let your thoughts wither away inside of you. Wherever you need it, get assistance so they can be born. Give your entire life to a noble cause that inspires you so much that you are thankful it has utilized you.
By: Bob Proctor
◾ Lessons in leading a fulfilling life and career from America's greatest prosperity teacher
In this book, Bob gives his most insightful advice for living a meaningful life and work.This book doesn't offer a predetermined formula for how to lead a healthy, contented and prosperous life but lessons from it are meant to help you become more aware of who you are and what is actually feasible for you. This is achieved by giving several examples of how to live in accordance with universal laws in order to build a successful, happy existence. In addition to many more priceless teachings, readers will discover the following as a new student of Bob's:
◾ YOU NEED ONLY ONE QUALITY (Discipline) : Most people lack discipline, which prevents them from enjoying life to the fullest potential. However, if you practice discipline, you can achieve anything you truly desire.The ability to give yourself an order and then obey it is what discipline really is. If you lack discipline, you will never achieve anything of significance.
◾MONEY IS A MAGNIFIER : From where does the money come?
Considering it All money is merely paper. It is nothing more than paper with ink on it. Up until the point of usage, it is just as useless as old newspaper. Paper money does not exist. It is an image of money. Money is a concept. You have access to all the money in existence. But you have to draw it in. You have to work for it. The only places where people can "earn money" are in prison, the Mint, or on their way to prison. The others have earned it. That much is obvious.
◾THE ONLY SOURCE OF SUPPLY : It is up to you to find harmony with it even though everything you could ever want is already here, if not in form then at least in content. It would be a wise move on your part to start developing the habit of thinking only of what you want, regardless of the conditions or circumstances you may currently find yourself facing. After all, you do attract everything into your life by law.
◾COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS : Be sure to express gratitude every day. Whatever your circumstances are , you may find something to be thankful for. Being grateful is a potent way to change your energy and attract more of what you desire in your life. Being appreciative of what you already have will help you attract additional blessings. You need to become conscious of how you're responding to circumstances . Then, you must force yourself to quit. There is a desire within you to respond. You'll respond by attacking back. You'll respond, I can tell. You need to restrain yourself from responding and take charge of the circumstance.
◾ IT’S TIME TO STRETCH: Don't let your thoughts wither away inside of you. Wherever you need it, get assistance so they can be born. Give your entire life to a noble cause that inspires you so much that you are thankful it has utilized you.
August 5, 2025
Hmm, there are parts of this book that I can appreciate…unlocking our own imagination/creativity to solve problems/reach goals that we might put up automatic stop signs to. But, it’s overly simplistic and it failed to address huge systemic barriers and any of the “isms” you can think of.
August 16, 2022
This is a phenomenal book! It’s a great and powerful volume containing the truth based on the sums of 60 years of wisdom and teaching. Ill be forever grateful to Bob Proctor for his teachings.
August 23, 2025
I listened to this one! I liked the idea of shifting your mindset to create a life you want but also felt left with many questions about how I can apply this to my life.
April 24, 2018
I think Wendy's review is accurate: Nice ideas and thoughts (I made some notes) but am lost on what to do. My best / basic starting point is gratitude. My note on this is gratitude begets an appropriate attitude.
A few people were mentioned, including authors: Earl Nightingale; Eric Hoffer; Wallace Wattles; Alfred Adler; Raymond Holliwell
A few people were mentioned, including authors: Earl Nightingale; Eric Hoffer; Wallace Wattles; Alfred Adler; Raymond Holliwell
December 6, 2018
2.5--This was just OK. It didn't feel like a cohesive, focused work--it's stitched together by a list of ideas, and each square is a personal story or regurgitated idea that is barely touched upon. If you'd like to read something with substance and praticality, read a Nightingale book.
December 3, 2023
December:
I gave it another chance, and ok, it's good.
April:
Nope, no. Dnf
can't go any further than 100+ page.
Not the target audience here maybe. The language is so self righteous for me to brush off.
I gave it another chance, and ok, it's good.
April:
Nope, no. Dnf
can't go any further than 100+ page.
Not the target audience here maybe. The language is so self righteous for me to brush off.
November 10, 2019
I enjoyed reading this book. It's filled with easy-to-understand principals. Helps with self-doubt and confidence building.
May 1, 2022
Not a fan.
There’s this trope in self-help where the creator sets a trap (or, more accurately, they give themselves an out to avoid lawsuits) where, thanks to their language used, they can remain blameless should you try to upend your life and follow their directions to your supposed benefit on out to have it blow up in your face.
“You must not have tried hard enough,” they could say.
“You must not have BELIEVED enough!”
“You didn’t stick with it long enough!”
Because it could never be that the creator was full of shit in the first place.
Anyway, this book was a lot of “will a better life into existence,” with completely irrational advice regarding money and the universe in general. Lots of advice about getting on the right vibration. Lots of anecdotes about success that either can’t be true, or shouldn’t have happened.
Like the mom who decided to write a book and, four months later, it was a best-seller.
What a crock. Four months?! That’s a hell of a turnaround time for writing, copy editing, line editing, shopping for an agent, shopping for a publisher, the notes process, printing, and distribution.
A couple days they want to buy a house but they don’t have any money and he asks them what the goal is here because if they want the house, they’ll GET the money.
It’s that easy!
My favorite was the school principal who turned his annual salary into his monthly salary. No details were given here as to how that happened, but I’m super curious because of the position.
He keeps saying it’s a matter of belief and getting on the right vibrations. Stuff about god.
He also says there is infinite EVERYTHING. You can never have too much.
We should talk about this a bit: In 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, the author talks about how we have a scarcity mindset and that’s why when a friend gets a promotion, we get jealous. They got something YOU didn’t and it doesn’t even matter if you work at the same place or even work in the same field.
Realistically, we should shift to an abundance mindset and be happy for our friend because they’ve really just proved that promotions could be attained.
But Covey doesn’t say there’s an abundance of EVERYTHING because that’s flat-out wrong. And there’s a difference between having an abundance MINDSET and having an abundance of every single thing in the world.
This book ties this to money usually, but money - by its very nature - is limited.
Anyway, make all the money you want, be as happy as you want, do whatever you want, you just have to WILL it into existence and… keep learning.
He doesn’t get into details very much because it gives him room to wiggle. He just says keep learning and that he has a personal library of over 3,000 books.
The worst part was when he talked about psychological trauma because he’s got the only advice you need:
“Let it go!”
A therapist told a patient that they’ll proceed with treatment for trauma but it’ll take about a year of them being angry and this dude asks the patient “why would you want to be angry for a year? Just let it go!”
Boom! Cured!
What a joke.
All in all, this is a feel-good book that tells you what you really want to hear. Lots of platitudes with no real details. Lots of vague guidance about getting on the right vibrations and sending out love. Lots of easy answers that can’t be followed-up on.
Lots of wiggle room for the author.
There’s this trope in self-help where the creator sets a trap (or, more accurately, they give themselves an out to avoid lawsuits) where, thanks to their language used, they can remain blameless should you try to upend your life and follow their directions to your supposed benefit on out to have it blow up in your face.
“You must not have tried hard enough,” they could say.
“You must not have BELIEVED enough!”
“You didn’t stick with it long enough!”
Because it could never be that the creator was full of shit in the first place.
Anyway, this book was a lot of “will a better life into existence,” with completely irrational advice regarding money and the universe in general. Lots of advice about getting on the right vibration. Lots of anecdotes about success that either can’t be true, or shouldn’t have happened.
Like the mom who decided to write a book and, four months later, it was a best-seller.
What a crock. Four months?! That’s a hell of a turnaround time for writing, copy editing, line editing, shopping for an agent, shopping for a publisher, the notes process, printing, and distribution.
A couple days they want to buy a house but they don’t have any money and he asks them what the goal is here because if they want the house, they’ll GET the money.
It’s that easy!
My favorite was the school principal who turned his annual salary into his monthly salary. No details were given here as to how that happened, but I’m super curious because of the position.
He keeps saying it’s a matter of belief and getting on the right vibrations. Stuff about god.
He also says there is infinite EVERYTHING. You can never have too much.
We should talk about this a bit: In 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, the author talks about how we have a scarcity mindset and that’s why when a friend gets a promotion, we get jealous. They got something YOU didn’t and it doesn’t even matter if you work at the same place or even work in the same field.
Realistically, we should shift to an abundance mindset and be happy for our friend because they’ve really just proved that promotions could be attained.
But Covey doesn’t say there’s an abundance of EVERYTHING because that’s flat-out wrong. And there’s a difference between having an abundance MINDSET and having an abundance of every single thing in the world.
This book ties this to money usually, but money - by its very nature - is limited.
Anyway, make all the money you want, be as happy as you want, do whatever you want, you just have to WILL it into existence and… keep learning.
He doesn’t get into details very much because it gives him room to wiggle. He just says keep learning and that he has a personal library of over 3,000 books.
The worst part was when he talked about psychological trauma because he’s got the only advice you need:
“Let it go!”
A therapist told a patient that they’ll proceed with treatment for trauma but it’ll take about a year of them being angry and this dude asks the patient “why would you want to be angry for a year? Just let it go!”
Boom! Cured!
What a joke.
All in all, this is a feel-good book that tells you what you really want to hear. Lots of platitudes with no real details. Lots of vague guidance about getting on the right vibrations and sending out love. Lots of easy answers that can’t be followed-up on.
Lots of wiggle room for the author.
December 14, 2025
This book, The Art of Living, is less of a casual read and more of a profound, hands-on guide to reshaping your inner world.
What immediately drew me in was the deep dive into energies—specifically, how our own body energies and the positive/negative currents surrounding us fundamentally impact our daily existence. It’s an exploration that encourages you to step back and analyze the subtle vibrations that dictate your mood and perspective.
Reading it is an experience of exploration and wonder. The concepts presented, particularly those focusing on maintaining a positive energetic state, naturally lead you to wonder about the possibilities of optimism. It makes you question self-imposed limitations and genuinely consider a more hopeful, expansive way of approaching life.
For those willing to engage deeply, the true value lies in the structure of the text. The 23 chapters are not just a collection of essays; they function as a complete and coherent program. If you dedicate time to reading and wondering upon them finely, they offer a remarkable pathway to readjust your thoughts and the way you approach life. It’s a step-by-step methodology for internal restructuring.
What immediately drew me in was the deep dive into energies—specifically, how our own body energies and the positive/negative currents surrounding us fundamentally impact our daily existence. It’s an exploration that encourages you to step back and analyze the subtle vibrations that dictate your mood and perspective.
Reading it is an experience of exploration and wonder. The concepts presented, particularly those focusing on maintaining a positive energetic state, naturally lead you to wonder about the possibilities of optimism. It makes you question self-imposed limitations and genuinely consider a more hopeful, expansive way of approaching life.
For those willing to engage deeply, the true value lies in the structure of the text. The 23 chapters are not just a collection of essays; they function as a complete and coherent program. If you dedicate time to reading and wondering upon them finely, they offer a remarkable pathway to readjust your thoughts and the way you approach life. It’s a step-by-step methodology for internal restructuring.
February 3, 2023
It was a pretty good book, and Bob Proctor shares some great bits of wisdom. But the five stars aren't really because of the book's content; it's to show how much I love my copy of it.
I received the book as an impromptu birthday gift. On the first page is a note written in two colors of ink; it simultaneously teases mercilessly and showcases affection. Not many can pull this off effectively on me, but the person who gave me this book has a knack for making me smile genuinely when they do so.
The night I read this book was a night where I wasn't doing so well. I don't even remember why I'd brought it with me. What I remember was that it was one of the worst nights of my life, and reading this book afterwards somehow brought me back to the light and pushed me in the right direction.
So, yeah. I give this one a full five stars. It's one of the few books I actually plan on keeping in my permanent library.
I received the book as an impromptu birthday gift. On the first page is a note written in two colors of ink; it simultaneously teases mercilessly and showcases affection. Not many can pull this off effectively on me, but the person who gave me this book has a knack for making me smile genuinely when they do so.
The night I read this book was a night where I wasn't doing so well. I don't even remember why I'd brought it with me. What I remember was that it was one of the worst nights of my life, and reading this book afterwards somehow brought me back to the light and pushed me in the right direction.
So, yeah. I give this one a full five stars. It's one of the few books I actually plan on keeping in my permanent library.
March 15, 2018
This book provided a great deal of insight into some realities regarding the (not so obvious) laws and principles that govern our lives. Many of these principles outlined I have had an awareness of, and even personally experienced, for quite some time-without really be conscious of them in such a concrete way. This book brings these principles to life, and though initially I suspected it to be a simple, "Believe it, and it shall be", self-help book, it was really much deeper than that. I will reread this book, I will ask my husband to read it, and I will require my children to read it, because it provides some important insights into being more fully awake to your own life.
January 26, 2018
Of all of the self-help book I've read (not so many, actually), one that I seems truly fell in love with is The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life. So, it comes almost naturally for me to want to compare other self-help book I've read to it.
First of all, for me, there's one striking similarity between those two: it's harsh, it's straightforward with no nonse style. I would say that this book doesn't offer you the technicality of life. You won't find a step to step on becoming wealthy, healthy, and happier in life, but you do feel like, by reading this book, you're going into that way.
What this book gives you is a poke, a somewhat annoying nudge to get you off the ground and start doing what you wanna do. It's annoying because it sometimes makes your everyday impossible things sounds easy, something like earning $25.000 a year.
There's this part of the book that explain it very well:
For us to truly get the benefit of reading this book, I believe we need to embrace that "Believing is seeing" way of thinking. Because if not, this book is just gonna be another self-help book that claim to know more about your life than yourself. And, honestly, it can be irritating.
First of all, for me, there's one striking similarity between those two: it's harsh, it's straightforward with no nonse style. I would say that this book doesn't offer you the technicality of life. You won't find a step to step on becoming wealthy, healthy, and happier in life, but you do feel like, by reading this book, you're going into that way.
What this book gives you is a poke, a somewhat annoying nudge to get you off the ground and start doing what you wanna do. It's annoying because it sometimes makes your everyday impossible things sounds easy, something like earning $25.000 a year.
There's this part of the book that explain it very well:
Most of us were raised with the cliché “Seeing is believing,” which is a skeptical and negative view of life. Still, we hear it throughout our life until it becomes a part of our thought process without even realizing it. Wealthy people understand that this cliché is exactly backward—you must believe in what you can achieve before you will see it happen in your life. Wealthy people know that “Believing is seeing.” The only thing that separates a millionaire from you right now is a wealthy mindset, and the foundation of that mindset is belief.
For us to truly get the benefit of reading this book, I believe we need to embrace that "Believing is seeing" way of thinking. Because if not, this book is just gonna be another self-help book that claim to know more about your life than yourself. And, honestly, it can be irritating.
January 12, 2025
Book Review: The Art of Living by Bob Proctor
I listened to The Art of Living as an audiobook and really enjoyed the narration—it made the experience engaging and easy to follow. Each chapter feels like a standalone lesson or lecture, offering insights into how to live a purposeful and intentional life. Bob Proctor's wisdom is a refreshing reminder of the importance of aligning our actions with our goals and values. It's an inspiring listen and one I would definitely recommend to those seeking guidance or motivation for living with greater purpose.
I listened to The Art of Living as an audiobook and really enjoyed the narration—it made the experience engaging and easy to follow. Each chapter feels like a standalone lesson or lecture, offering insights into how to live a purposeful and intentional life. Bob Proctor's wisdom is a refreshing reminder of the importance of aligning our actions with our goals and values. It's an inspiring listen and one I would definitely recommend to those seeking guidance or motivation for living with greater purpose.
December 26, 2024
Proctor has some solid wisdom, and it can be well-received if the reader is at a point in their lives when they're ready to receive it or if they can relate to it. The book may not be for everyone. Another note is that the book is a transcription of Proctor's lectures, making the language a little awkward or repetitive at times.
January 4, 2019
"January 4, 2019 –
60.0% "Chapter 26"
January 4, 2019 –
50.0% "17 More Left
...
This book talks about some stuff... which happen in our lifes..."
January 2, 2019 –
30.0% "03:19 out of 7:51"
January 2, 2019 –
30.0% "Chapter 10
....
This book help with daily problems"
January 2, 2019 – 0.0% "t1"
January 2, 2019 – Shelved
January 2, 2019 – Started Reading"
60.0% "Chapter 26"
January 4, 2019 –
50.0% "17 More Left
...
This book talks about some stuff... which happen in our lifes..."
January 2, 2019 –
30.0% "03:19 out of 7:51"
January 2, 2019 –
30.0% "Chapter 10
....
This book help with daily problems"
January 2, 2019 – 0.0% "t1"
January 2, 2019 – Shelved
January 2, 2019 – Started Reading"
February 11, 2022
I liked it but didn’t get much out of it these are some things that Bob says and these are just few of them so not likely someone who has stydied this over and over again will get something very specially in depth here but it is like being at Bob’s seminars and it’s worth the read.
December 7, 2017
Couldn't finish it. Mostly self-help crap with nothing actionable.
June 19, 2018
2.75 stars (ok)
More of an inspirational argument to pursue the advice of Napoleon Hill versus specific applications.
More of an inspirational argument to pursue the advice of Napoleon Hill versus specific applications.
August 28, 2018
I am not sure that I understood anything that this book had to say! Also, I guess a central point of the book is read the book 'Think and Grow Rich' and learn its many lessons..
August 24, 2019
Bob Proctor. He kills it in here.
Some way super good stuff on how powerful we are and how we impact the universe with our energy.
Some way super good stuff on how powerful we are and how we impact the universe with our energy.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews