The Martha Beck Collection: Essays for Creating Your Right Life, Volume One

by Martha N. Beck

You asked, we listened! Enjoy your favorite Martha Beck columns from O, the Oprah Magazine in one place!

In The Martha Beck Collection, Volume 1: Essays for Creating your Right Life , we have compiled 25 of your all-time favorite articles from Martha's column in O, the Oprah Magazine in a fun, easy-to-absorb digest format! With a brand spankin' new foreword by Martha Beck herself, this tasty little morsel offers her best advice on a variety of topics including relationships, holding grudges, avoiding avoidance, problem-solving, handling mean people, and good old-fashioned love.

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction, Personal Growth, Essays, Psychology, Personal Development

218 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

Dr. Martha Beck, PhD, is a New York Times bestselling author, coach, and speaker. She holds three Harvard degrees in social science, and Oprah Winfrey has called her “one of the smartest women I know.” Martha is a passionate and engaging teacher, known for her unique combination of science, humor, and spirituality.

Her recent book, The Way of Integrity: Finding the Path to Your True Self, was an instant New York Times Best Seller and an Oprah’s Book Club selection. Her latest book, Beyond Anxiety: Curiosity, Creativity, and Finding Your Life’s Purpose is out now.

Reviews

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Learn to tolerate the anxiety of allowing people to disapprove of you."

"Security lies in knowing how to deal with metamorphosis, whenever it occurs."

"Once we're willing to confront our emotional suffering, we make choices based on attraction instead of aversion, love instead of fear. Where we used to think about what was 'safe,' we now become interested in doing what seems right or fun or meaningful or ripe with possibilities. Ask yourself: What would I do if I stopped trying to avoid emotional pain?'"

"Your situation may endanger your life and limbs, but only your thoughts can endanger your happiness."

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been reading this book for over a year, slowly reading the articles on my Kindle. I decided that I would start reading inspirational/personal growth when I am on the elliptical at the gym. It's easy just to drop in and drop out, especially with articles. This book was perfect. It is a collection of all some of her top articles from the Oprah magazine. I used to subscribe to O and always enjoyed Martha Beck.

[Anna Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every time I open this book and read one of the articles I get something new out of it. Martha writes with good humour and totally hits the nail on the head about some of the thorny issues everyone encounters in life. She offers practical solutions to reframe and address problems, whist making you laugh throughout. A great resource for life!

[Patty’s World · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a compilation of Martha's blogs and articles. It is the type of book that you can easily breeze through in an afternoon, but it's not meant to be read that way. Instead, the optimal approach to really appreciate and digest her sage advice, is to read a chapter at a time and let the information settle. I love Martha Beck and her timeless wisdom.

[Tanya Morrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I reference these essays often. Martha Beck helps bring me back to reality. Makes me question my motives and truly what is going on. Insightful.

[Sheree Wood · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think Martha Beck is brilliant, and I doubt there's anyone funnier in print than she (quoting from my fragile memory: "standing in the dark wearing only night vision goggles and a leopard print thong.") Too much!!

I am 58 years old and I think it shows. Just kidding! I am 58 years-old and this book helped me figure out that I've done a number of things right in my life, and that for now, on this day, several parts of my life are settled enough—my partner, my children, my friends—that I don't need much troubleshooting in those areas. This is the only reason this book was not a home run for me. Beck offers great insight accompanied by hilarious examples and funny observations, on many time honored problems that we all encounter at one time or another in our lives.

The insights she offered on creating the life you want in terms of career and personal goals was helpful to me because that is an area that could use a little renovation in my life. Other than that, it was only my lack of problematic issues (for now, on this day, don't want to jinx) that made this book less than resonant for me. I think most others would find it to be a treasure trove of great advice.

By the way, loved, loved, loved, Finding Your North Star.

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 3 out of 5]

When my Oprah magazine arrives every month, I turn first to Martha Beck’s column. It doesn’t matter what she addresses, but, whatever it is, she addresses it with thoughtfulness and compassion. This is a collection of her columns (labeled carefully “Volume 1”). If you are like me, you will love reading this book, too. And, probably, volume 2, when it arrives.

[Aimee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'd probably give this book 3.5 stars- I really like the essays but they're best in small doses. I've enjoyed Martha Beck's writing since I started reading O Magazine a few years ago. She has an interesting way of looking at various life issues and guiding you towards becoming your best self.

[Amal Shoeib · Rating 4 out of 5]

She is the funnist author I've ever read to. Her articles were a huge turning point in my life . My mother always wonders why I am laughing that hard while I am alone and then she finds me reading an article for Beck ..I just love her.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE ALL THINGS MARTHA! This is just a compilation, but her stuff is some of the most helpful I turn to. Before reading this, definitely start with Finding Your Own North Star or Steering by Starlight.

[John Stepper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good. The articles don't have the same power as her books in part just because they are shorter and not connected. Still, they're engaging and useful.

[Bookclubcheerleader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great essays on life...

[Jacquie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Martha had some good steps to follow and is really clear and down to earth.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Martha's essays are lovely reminders about how you can change your life everyday. This is a book to keep on your shelf and read and reread

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

These essays make me feel lighter and give me the belief that I have within me all that I need. When I start to doubt myself, I pick up Martha Beck.

[Jan Albertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Great Read

It's a fun book to read. I read a chapter a day. It was like cleansing your perspective every day. Very helpful.

[David Geschke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic. Loved it. Will read more from this author.

So, I'm not sure how I even found Martha Beck. Think it was from a magazine article. But I'm glad I did. This book is great, full of "ah-ha" moments and well written. It's the first book of hers I've ever read and I came into it knowing very little about her. I'll be looking for another title of hers to read as soon as I finish this review. Highly recommended.

[Melanie Briscoe · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. -l love Martha Beck! This book is collection of essays she wrote for the Oprah Magazine. It was like “splashes” of Martha Beck! And while I loved so so much of what she wrote, it just never felt like the right amount! Some essays- I was hungry to hear more, and others I was ready to skip ahead to the next one.

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was less than I had hoped for. I was looking for the best of Martha Beck. She has published so many books, I just wanted a cliff notes version of each. This collection was not that.

This collection is a selection of columns she wrote for O magazine. Here Beck's POV is more of a chatty sister than a master life coach.

[Heather Best · Rating 4 out of 5]

Her essay on anti-venting (p 127) changed my life when I read it in early 2008. It, along with many of these short pieces, have extremely valuable "nuggets" from which most anyone can pull value. This was a quick, but thought provoking read, great for anyone into personal growth.

[Marcy Graybill · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not impressed.

[Aubrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I always enjoyed the Martha Beck essays in Oprah magazine. This wasn't mindblowing my any means, but it made for a nice read before bed.

[Andria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting thoughts

Some interesting thoughts through this book. She’s a little Flippant at times in some areas. I liked her overall message.

[Eryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

The perfect book for my insomnia reading. This collection of essays is so wonderful. I anticipate picking this up again at some point.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Martha Beck. I think the woman is brilliant! Her take on so many of the issues we all struggle with -- from relationships to career direction, life purpose, self-love and everything in between -- is pretty much always spot on. I've devoured some of her other books and I just can't get enough of her approach to life coaching. I subscribe to O Magazine in large part because of Martha's column.

So having said all that, I was a little surprised that this collection of columns didn't strike me as powerfully as some of her other work. Maybe it was because it felt disjointed - a miso-mash collection of advice given on a variety of different topics. Just when I was starting to sink my teeth into one particular theme, we'd move on to something completely different. And yes, of course this is the nature of a collection of columns, but it left me wanting more by the time I turned the last page.