I have learned the helpful truths that are contained in this book more easily from other sources. I kept falling toward sleep while I read. It's wordy. It also contains some half truths. At the same time, I believe the author has good intentions. Some ideas are just incomplete or untrue.
The true, basic, and repeated premise in this book is "thoughts become things." So, beliefs matter. They will ultimately lead to the results we experience in our lives. There's a lot of "believe and you shall receive." That is ultimately true.
The author does make it sound effortless and magical, but he doesn't deny effort is involved. He just seems to suggest it's important to be flexible with the delivery, timing, or the answer to what we want. This is true.
"Sometimes when people hear me explain the thoughts become things principle, they want to correct me by adding that you must also have the conviction of your dreams to follow up and act. But to me that goes without saying, because you cannot help but act with your true beliefs about life."
This book has helped me realize I need to be more deliberate in my thinking. I need to put forth more effort to believe so I can receive. I'm thankful I read this book for that reason.
Yet once again, here's a book that more or less denies God as an individual, real, person of flesh and bone. The "universe" is given most of the credit. At one point the author even says, "You are God." (page 273 in my edition.) There's also the popular idea of universal consciousness and knowledge. As part of that the author says:
"You are exactly who the Greatest You (aka God) most wanted to be, not a frail offshoot who must bow, curtsy, and yield to this 'higher power' but an unbeknownst Lord yourself."
He also indicates he believes we live multiple lives; therefore, if you occasionally end up having a hard life, it's because you chose it:
"We do not live only once, and for the extreme hardships you might occasionally choose to be born into, you might do so to shift your focus and your understandings to other facets of life that you may have remained blind to under any other circumstances."
It's an interesting explanation, but not true.
In Dooley's world, we seem to be here on earth to grow and receive for eternity, but that's about it.
"We weren't cast here as a test to see if our strength, willpower, and stamina could get us through the turbulence of life. We're here to issue directives-- whatever we wish-- to a responsive Universe."
I think that's true in a way, but it's not complete. We are definitely not expected to do it alone. We can turn to a responsive God and are helped. Yet, I believe there is also a bigger purpose for our lives here on earth. I believe God is real and loves us. Yes, our Heavenly Parents want us to grow and receive, but they also want us to return to live with them and grow for eternity to be more like them. In order to do that, we are here to show that's what we want. Our choices and actions matter. So, I think life is a test of sorts.
Like I said toward the beginning of this review, even with all its incompleteness, there are ideas I like in this book that got me thinking, including this:
"'Live' is a verb; it means to take action, and that's the point. Life is waiting for you to take action, to exercise your free will, to choose your path by using its principles to invoke the magic behind creation in order to live the life you've always dreamed you could live."
This is true.
So, thanks to this book, I will think and believe more deliberately. I will try to believe to the point that I naturally take action toward receiving more of what God wants me to receive here on earth. I will exercise more faith in possibilities.
Added later: I just read a few other reviews. I'm not surprised how many people didn't finish reading this before reviewing it. Even though I wouldn't recommend this book, I'm glad I pushed myself through to the end.