The Prosperous Heart

by Julia Cameron (Reader), Emma Lively (Reader)

Unabridged, 6 CDs, 7 hours Read by TBA A dynamic new creative-renewal program from the woman who has inspired millions to discover and recover their creative souls.

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction, Writing, Spirituality, Money, Personal Growth, Personal Development

Audio CD

First published December 22, 2011

About the author

Julia Cameron has been an active artist for more than thirty years, with fifteen books (including bestsellers The Artist's Way, Walking In This World and The Right to Write) and countless television, film, and theater scripts to her credit. Writing since the age of 18, Cameron has a long list of screenplay and teleplay credits to her name, including an episode of Miami Vice, and Elvis and the Beauty Queen, which starred Don Johnson. She was a writer on such movies as Taxi Driver, New York, New York, and The Last Waltz. She wrote, produced, and directed the award-winning independent feature film, God's Will, which premiered at the Chicago International Film Festival, and was selected by the London Film Festival, the Munich International Film Festival, and Women in Film Festival, among others. In addition to making film, Cameron has taught film at such diverse places as Chicago Filmmakers, Northwestern University, and Columbia College. Her profound teachings on unlocking creativity and living from the creative center have inspired countless artists to unleash their full potential.

Reviews

[Deborah Fruchey · Rating 3 out of 5]

In many ways this is a wonderful book. It explores the many ways one can have a feeling of abundance, which is what we actually want and need more than the money itself, she contends. I agree. She also has a fluid and non-threatening approach to her spiritual components, which I appreciate, having come from a searingly painful Fundamentalist background which makes me allergic to strident religion and dogma. Her exercises for exploring one's relationship to money are excellent, revealing and helpful.

What makes me give this a less than perfect rating is a practical matter, so to speak. The very first thing Cameron recommends (rather insists on) is that her readers immediately stop charging or otherwise incurring debt. This I found impossible to do, and it marred the whole program for me, as she refers to it again and again. If I could simply STOP, why would I need her help? Spenders and Debtors Anonymous also asks its members to stop incurring debt, but it is a goal rather than an immediate requirement, and it is understood that people will make greater or lesser progress as they approach that goal. This made finishing the entire book an impossibility for a long time.

In the end, I do not feel I got out of it what she intended. She would have been better advised to start by instructing readers on just how they might start a program of no more debt, and helping them along the way. In the end, I felt I had not truly accomplished either what the author had in mind or what I myself had hoped for.

[False · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've been reading several of her books, and I'm picking up a lot of repetition. I've said it before, but if you have NO to very little money, her money advice sucks. In this book, for example, she asks you to go buy a large pile of tabloids to read about problems the rich and famous can have (in misusing what they have.) Does she realize what this costs? She is repetitive about her Wednesday night friendship dinners, but just one dinner can cost over $100 if you factor in certain ingredients (or wine.) It would be nice if she wrote a money book that focusing on what you do when there is a true lack of funds and how you survive it emotionally, financially and physically. Telling someone money advice and then asking them to go out and spend on these silly things like a moleskin notebook or a movie. And I just read an article where someday movies may cost $150 and become a genuine rarity. She has yet, in my opinion, nailed sound advice for really serious money ideals.

[Dayna Collins · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a horrible read. As one friend said, "Julia has run out of things to say." Nuggets of good stuff sprinkled here and there (I've long been a Julia Cameron fan), but the rest was annoying and cloying. She filled dozens of pages with space to make lists (rather than just saying, "number from 1-10 and list what you want to be when you grow up"). I would NOT recommended this book and I was relieved that I got through it. I would not have read it or finished it except for the fact that I was doing it with a group of friends on-line; the feelings about the book were mutual. We all had quite a fun time ripping it, after we got over our annoyance.

[Tristy · Rating 2 out of 5]

As so many are, I am a big fan of The Artist's Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity, also by this author. Unfortunately, as many have already said, this seems like a book with good intentions, but that really misses the mark in almost every way. While her basic tenants are lovely: we already have enough; there is so much that is more important than money; and being kind and generous brings the same back to us - there is so much unexamined privilege in this book that it is dizzying. She literally talks about how she's so proud to have "kept her horses," even when she was "very tight on money." And her suggestions of throwing weekly dinner parties for your friends implies time, energy and money that most people don't have. This book is also heavily padded. If you take out her confusing, rambling stories and the very long, repetitive lists at the end of each chapter and this could honestly be a 20 page booklet. That being said, I do think almost all her "basic tools" of morning pages, counting, walking, and time-outs are very helpful and I will continue to use all those tools in my daily life. But the "abstinence tool" again, feels very tone-deaf. We usually debt because we have to, to survive. I do think it's great to really sit down with what we go into debt over and really ask if there are other choices, but she doesn't get that fine-tuned - she just asks us to go right into "abstinence" from debt, which I assume many people who pick up this book aren't ready to do. There have to be better books than this about money and women and creativity. If you know of some, please let me know!

[Marie Granieri · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fantastic guide for finding ways to bring gratitude into your life and discovering joy. Chapter by chapter, Julia prompts with wonderful reflections on her own life to make her points feel more real and understandable. I loved the format of the book in that every chapter begins with a wonderful inspiration followed by questions prompting answers to what might be standing in the way of creating a life of "enough." I have read many of Julia's books and enjoyed this one very much. She is so honest about her own life and challenges she faced. I really like that about her. There isn't any dancing around the issues. She is who she is and I admire that she is able to present her life's story that way.

[DeAnna Knippling · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author of The Artist's Way writes about money.

I both liked and didn't like this book. If you've read any of her previous books, it's repetitive and kind of trite. The chapters are okay but preachy (yet still impressively vulnerable). But as a whole the book was effective. I feel far less intimidated by money, and calmer abour financial challenges, which came thick and fast while I was reading the book. The lessons in here about forgiveness and gratitudes were rough to do, but also helped immensely, even though I was sort of hoping they wouldn't.

Recommended you're feeling messed up about money, although I would start with the actual Artist's Way first if you haven't, as it is the stronger, clearer book.

[Ciara · Rating 1 out of 5]

man. this was a really difficult read. i walked away from this book thinking, "it's really nice that twelve-step programs have helped so many people, but the problem is that people in recovery start to think that ANYTHING can be turned into a twelve-step program." this book is essentially a handbook on how to create your own personalized twelve-step program for getting out of debt & getting okay with your finances. there are numerous exercises at the end of each chapter in which you are instructed to list the things you are grateful for, or make a list of the various occupations you wanted when you were a child, or list what you would do if you suddenly had all the money you feel you need. of course julia cameron gets us started on each exercise by filling in her own answers, & i found her responses to be the most insufferable part of an utterly insufferable book. it was almost as if she (or her assistant? she referenced her assistant so many times that i started to think they were either lovers or that she merely dictated concepts to her assistant, which the assistant then transformed into bestselling books) wrote the book as a therapy exercise. i do not want to read someone else's therapy exercises. i wouldn't even want to read my own.

& so much of the book involved julia recounting her most recent dinner party, & all the famous & semi-famous people that had been there. or telling us in excruciating detail about a correspondence course she taped for some online university & how her make-up artist made her look so youthful for the cameras. i don't know exactly what i expected to get out of this book, but i definitely could have lived without the lapses into narcissism.

i am one of the few people i know who has never actually read the artist's way, the book that really catapulted julia into being a big deal. having read the prosperous heart, i don't think i'm in a big rush to give it a try.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Useful exercises, some profound. I was very distracted by the somewhat schizophrenic way she views animals. On the one hand she talks about feeding the birds in her yard and how they have a prosperous heart, on the other hand she constantly writes about taking their lives by eating them.
All in all I would recommend the book.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful book on seeing positivity, gratitude, and blessings in unexpected places. There is some financial advice in this book, but not much. Just like her other books, this program focuses on our inner battles and how to overcome and work through them to live a more prosperous life.

[Nic · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am agnostic so chose to interpret references to "God" in my own way, which I have to say, the author encourages you to do from the outset. This was a good read to remind you to focus on what you do have and live within your means, two mottos that I always aim to live by even when times are tough.

[Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good ideas about how to feel like you have enough, good practices both to write and create more, and just think more in your daily life. Some parts just seemed too meandering, focusing on her life.

[Sherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a wonderful little book. I listened to the audio version read by Julia Cameron. It teaches about living a basic life. Looking at how you spend your time and your money. She incorporates her morning page philosophy but does not go into the detail of The Artist's Way. She gives different terminology to budgeting and overspending ( calling it "counting" and "abstinence" ) which may be a less threatening way to understand money. "Time outs" is her term for meditation, again many people may respond better to this wording. Don't you think it would feel nice as an adult to give yourself a "timeout" from thinking or doing. She encourages walking as a way to get out in nature and allow insights to come naturally ( another way to look at physical activity ). Throughout the book she demonstrates the importance of community by hosting dinners for friends where they discuss different viewpoints. This book may not be for everyone but I really enjoyed it.

[Stephen Paul Chase, Jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love reading!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a twelve week program, and I've finished the book but am still doing the exercises. I love the writing prompts and the daily practices to keep myself on track. I also just love Julia's stories that illustrate the concepts she's suggesting.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Prosperous Heart follows Julia Cameron's simple, heart-centered approach to prosperity and abundance. I find her writing style very refreshing and I always leave with new insights. The tools she presents in this book are simple, easy to integrate and very useful.

[Raejean · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love how this book addresses prosperity as more than having money. As a money book, it was pretty basic. But there are plenty of helpful perspectives for the financially savvy.

[Jessy Masse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not my favorite from this fabulous author but still interesting

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whatever this book’s faults, it helped me a *lot*.
I think I might also be finally ready to start “The Artist’s Way”, which my friend has been wanting me to do for a long time.

[Walkeo · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely thought project for recalibrating the way to think about contentment.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am reading Money Drunk Money Sober. It covers the same ground. I didn’t want to spend the time to read this book too.

[Paulina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book, as all books by one and only Julia Cameron - well written, uplifting, practical, spiritual & down to Earth - highly recommended!

[Wenona Gardner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I totally loved Julia Cameron's The Prosperous Heart. Going through the book I saw the value of my BA in Business and Management degree from Alverno and was inspired to begin work on my business plan. I found a friend from my Artist's Way Circle who lives in Ohio who was willing to go through the Right Brain Business Plan by Jennifer Lee with me week by week through Google+ Hangouts. So far we have spent 9 weeks working through our business plan. I love my friend and together we explored our our value and laid down our individual prosperity plans. Thanks to the Prosperous Heart I also saw the value of my leadership skills so I signed up for more leadership roles. Thanks to the Prosperous Heart, I am now the Organizer of The Artist's Way Circle Meetup in Waukesha, the Life Story Circle Meetup in Waukesha, and Waukesha Gaming Group Meetup in Waukesha. I realized Prosperous Heart empowered me to take on these new leadership positions. Prosperous Heart helped me to value my time and the benefit of volunteering to serve others. Through the Counting Tool I recognized I spent way too much money on eating out and so I cut back on that so I could put money towards a trip. Through the encouragement of Prosperous Heart, I also dared to apply for new opportunities and won a chance to go to Washington D.C.to search for my tribe's Munsee language in the Library of Congress and Smithsonian archives. I loved hearing Julia Cameron explain each chapter. I draw strength from Julia Cameron's words. I love many of Julia Cameron's work including The Artist's Way, Walking in This World, Finding Water, The Artist's Way at Work, The Writing Diet, and now Prosperous Heart.

[MLeigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like it but then I don't. The encouragement, the guidance, the steps to financial clarity -- I can use this and I plan to implement the Counting and Morning Pages. I like the way Cameron leans on God's understanding, how she encourages her readers to listen to our inner voice of reasoning, to trust our instincts and to allow ourselves to have faith and to be guided. But I dislike the supposed stories of her students, they all seemed so very contrived. The "trust fund baby" who felt guilt of not earning an income, the wife married to a millionaire who learned money wasn't happiness, the iPhone addicted student who finally turned off her phone (because of Cameron) and was able to tap into her creativity and churn out song lyrics, the guy who realized he can't buy love with his millions ... these examples seem made up entirely for the purpose of giving Cameron's book substance and meaning. Gloss over these examples and glean out the words of financial wisdom. If you can do this, you have found the substance of "the prosperous heart".

[Louise Silk · Rating 3 out of 5]

Julia Cameron created The Artist's Way, a twelve step program to unleash one's creativity. I loved that program and the book that supported it. This is very similar but instead of focusing on creativity, Cameron focuses on money offering a 12-week recovery program for those suffering from an unhealthy relationship with money. It uses the same tools as The Artist Way- morning pages, a daily walk, and lots of activities.

Like any 12 step program, the focus is not actually on money but rather how to incorporate faith and spirituality into one's relationship with money. The reader comes to understand that prosperity is not a financial concept, but rather a spiritual one and with that uncovers the underlying issues causes an unhealthy relationship with money.

The Prosperous Heart is as much about creativity as it is about financial recovery and so in the end if you haven't read The Artist's Way- start there, you'll find out much more about yourself in all kinds of areas.

[Ash Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Prosperous Heart, like The Artist's Way, is a twelve week program designed in this case not to recover creativity but rather your financial well-being and, more deeply, your ability to appreciate what you already have.[return][return]As Cameron ages, she seems to be retreating ever more deeply into the more mystical aspects of her personal philosophy, which didn't get in the way too much before but unfortunately now mar her work as simplistic faith in a personal God has become a more central focus. Still, many of the principles and practices she espouses are sound enough, from actually keeping track of your expenditures to not going into debt, and the book's fundamental lesson of learning to appreciate the abundance that already surrounds you is one from which many people could greatly benefit.[return][return]http://www.amazon.com/review/R2GH0E4P...

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's nothing wrong with this book. It's beautifully packaged and well-written. It's just that it assumes the reader is a financial disaster in need of a 12-step program and a close relationship with a higher power. I'm not a compulsive spender; I only wanted to figure out how to stretch my money closer to the end of the month. But for someone whose finances are a muddle, and more important, for someone who wants more out of life than just money, this is a good guide. Each chapter tells some stories and offers steps, combined with writing exercises and questions to get the reader moving toward a more prosperous mindset and a more prosperous life.

[Jill Kemerer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the overall message of finding contentment in the present--with what we have and where we're at. The twelve weeks (or 12 "steps") program would be good for anyone who struggles with overspending.

I've always been frugal, so I enjoyed the reminders that life is more than our possessions. We need to be in touch with what we want, and sometimes that changes.

The aspects of the book that didn't work as well for me were the non-stop asides about her friends. Some of the stories inspired me, but after a while, they only distracted from the overall message.

Overall, a terrific book about keeping our financial lives in perspective.

[Georgina · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book - a gentle book - a gently effective book. I have done the Artist's Way, I have Walked in this World, and I have explored the Vein of Gold, so it would be difficult for Julia Cameron to completely surprise me. Herein is a reinforcement of her message, and the message is subtly directed and usefully applied to developing a sense of prosperity, whatever your circumstances. Added to the tools already developed in previous texts, is 'counting', and I have found it very useful - and magical! I am more prosperous at the end of my reading than when I started!

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this book up at the library not even noticing it was a Julia Cameron book. I didn't even realize it was on finances. I was captivated by the "Prosperous Heart" thing thinking it would be about a happy, whole heart. Turns out it's on finances. I was disappointed because I didn't think there would be much take-away value for me.

I was wrong. As with most Julia Cameron books, I loved the writing exercises. I learned stuff about myself.

I'm not sure most people would enjoy the book as I don't think most people like to write. But it is right up my alley.

[Marcus Lopes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Julia Cameron doesn't hold back in The Prosperous Heart. She tackles the issue of money, and our relationship with it, in clear manner with examples that I can relate to. The "Counting" exercise is an effective tool that, for me, has changed my perception of money and how I relate to it. After reading this book, I am walking away with a prosperous heart, and safe in the knowledge that I do in fact have "enough".