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Diana, Herself: An Allegory of Awakening
Maybe, once or twice in your life, youve experienced a surge of destiny so strong it made you believe in miracles. Such bolts from the blue seem to hit when weariness or ill fortune have plowed through the ground of reason, breaking it up so magic can take root. What follows is so perfect that to call it accidental defies belief. Diana Archer is an absolutelymathematically!average woman, living an unremarkable life, when destiny reaches her. Without quite knowing how or why, she finds herself leaving everything familiar and moving into a world where miracles are commonplace, where her supposed flaws become her salvation, and where each persons story is everyones. In this exuberant allegory, bestselling memoir and self-help author Martha Beck takes readers into the wild parts of the world and the human psyche. The story of Diana, Herself helps every reader chart a course for awakening to greater joy, adventure, and purpose.
298 pages, Paperback
First published April 25, 2016
279 people are currently reading
2475 people want to read
About the author
Martha N. Beck
22 books1,309 followersDr. 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 138 reviews
May 7, 2016
There are very few books I've read twice within weeks of aquisition. Diana, Herself is one. I will read and reread it with delight as I do Coehlo's The Alchemist. Diana, Herself defies all genres: It's a guilty pleasure, a comedic romp, a PROFOUND teaching - and perhaps best of all it's a booster shot of encouragement. I was lifted.
This book has the strange effect of rearranging your molecules. You'll be thinking about your own fears differently in the days to come- and how to manage them. You'll be wondering what more you might be capable of if you you allowed yourself to be come a little bit wilder. You'll think often about a sweet character named Herself. Buy ten copies, gather your favorite humans read and tune in together to the frequency that is LOVE.
This book has the strange effect of rearranging your molecules. You'll be thinking about your own fears differently in the days to come- and how to manage them. You'll be wondering what more you might be capable of if you you allowed yourself to be come a little bit wilder. You'll think often about a sweet character named Herself. Buy ten copies, gather your favorite humans read and tune in together to the frequency that is LOVE.
April 29, 2016
I read everything that Martha writes and I benefit from it all, with the notable exception of Finding Your Way in a Wild New World; I just couldn't get into that one. But now, having read Diana, Herself, I will give Finding Your Way another try.
Diana, Herself is 'out there'. There were moments when I thought "Aw, come on Martha. You're getting a bit too woo woo for me." But it's a testament to Martha's writing skills and to the honesty of her life and work when I say that the book got inside me. By doing what the main character Diana must and suspending my disbelief, or maybe being too tired and wrung out to hold on to old beliefs, I was able to absorb Martha's very practical tips for becoming bewildered and, potentially, awakening to a life without fear. Her own story at the end of the novel is even more inspiring than her fiction. I'm starting with the first of the seven tasks this very day.
If you enjoy Deepak Chopra's work, I think you'll enjoy Diana, Herself. I'm currently reading Chopra's The Spontaneous Fulfillment of Desire about the role of coincidence in our lives and destinies and there are many points of connection between the two books. I do need to add that I think Martha is brilliant for writing Diana, Herself as a work of fiction. What an interesting and evocative way of teaching through story.
I'm already looking forward to reading volume 2 of The Bewilderment Chronicles, excerpted in the back of Diana, Herself. My only request to Martha's publisher is that there be simultaneous print publication in Canada. I resent having to purchase the Kindle version because that's all that is on offer, especially since I will be buying the print edition to join all of the other Martha Beck books proudly displayed on my bookshelf.
Diana, Herself is 'out there'. There were moments when I thought "Aw, come on Martha. You're getting a bit too woo woo for me." But it's a testament to Martha's writing skills and to the honesty of her life and work when I say that the book got inside me. By doing what the main character Diana must and suspending my disbelief, or maybe being too tired and wrung out to hold on to old beliefs, I was able to absorb Martha's very practical tips for becoming bewildered and, potentially, awakening to a life without fear. Her own story at the end of the novel is even more inspiring than her fiction. I'm starting with the first of the seven tasks this very day.
If you enjoy Deepak Chopra's work, I think you'll enjoy Diana, Herself. I'm currently reading Chopra's The Spontaneous Fulfillment of Desire about the role of coincidence in our lives and destinies and there are many points of connection between the two books. I do need to add that I think Martha is brilliant for writing Diana, Herself as a work of fiction. What an interesting and evocative way of teaching through story.
I'm already looking forward to reading volume 2 of The Bewilderment Chronicles, excerpted in the back of Diana, Herself. My only request to Martha's publisher is that there be simultaneous print publication in Canada. I resent having to purchase the Kindle version because that's all that is on offer, especially since I will be buying the print edition to join all of the other Martha Beck books proudly displayed on my bookshelf.
September 2, 2016
At the end of the day, this is a self-help book which takes the long scenic route to get to the destination. I suppose some people might enjoy this route instead of a list of step by step "tasks" to help you cope with life... I can appreciate that. I personally found the book to be a lot to take in. I went through moments of understanding what Beck wanted us to get out of a certain situation and moments of complete and utter bewilderment and confusion. Even just reading the "tasks" in a list (located at the back of the book) was confusing for me. I learn better by reading concrete information laid out in an orderly fashion and described so that the reader can actually understand and take away something from the lesson. So this book was hard for me, which Beck might say is good because I was learning something...???? I didn't particularly enjoy this book. As the reader, I found it very condescending to be referred to as "beloved". I wasn't crazy about the way Beck's words flow or how she put the story together either. This reminded me of New Age-type self-help, which I don't clearly identify with anyway. With all that said, I am grateful for getting through this book. There are some positive points made through the story, and I believe I can take some of them to use to better my life, but I doubt I'll go out searching for more of Beck's books in the future.
February 7, 2025
*audiobook
July 10, 2016
This is a very difficult book to review because it's not life coach Martha Beck's trademark memoir or self-help (I prefer self-awareness), nor is it straight fiction. It's an allegory. I really have never much cared for allegories. I would rather infer meaning from a novel than have it served up on a platter. I never liked The Pilgrim's Progress or The Celestine Prophecy, either. But I love Martha Beck. I've thoroughly read four of her books, thought her column was the best thing in O Magazine, receive her daily email inspiration, and have even listened to some of her teleseminars. I think she is smart, wise, insightful, compassionate, artistic, articulate, and hilarious - all qualities I would like to emulate. As with her last book, Finding Your Way in a Wild New World, Martha ventures into, well, wilder territory - less brain science and more shamanism, less psychology and more anthropology, less objective reality and more myth.
As a novel, I found the story didn't grip me. I kept putting it down in favor of other fiction. I wanted to get to the meat of the message (those who have read it will get the wink here) - the lessons Martha wants to convey about spiritual awakening. Martha has always been practical in her advice and gives definite methods to practice, though they're not always easy to do or keep up. In this book they are called tasks, and there are seven of them. Martha herself seems to have amazing paranormal experiences which she balances with her educated (she has three Harvard degrees), scientific side. This has made for fascinating reading or listening as she tells about them. But those kind of 'magical' experiences don't necessarily follow from practicing her suggestions, I've found. I think one has to be intuitively or psychicly open to them. Instead of Martha recounting her experiences, in Diana, Herself we read about an average (but not really) woman named Diana who falls for and teams up with Roy, a macho celebrity extreme survivalist, and goes with him alone to film episodes of his TV show in a large remote California wilderness area. They are separated and Diana must learn to survive on her own in the wild with the help of her spirit animal, a wild boar called Herself. It gets pretty trippy from there. I heartily disliked Roy from the beginning, so Diana's obsession with him was not sympathetic, though I suppose good looks and celebrity glamor must play their part. The dialogue between Diana and Roy verges on the "Me, Tarzan, You, Jane," order, i.e. ridiculously simplistic, involving hero-worship from Diana and narcissistic misogyny from Roy. Roy is an un-nuanced caricature at best. Diana has a woeful lack of self-confidence and a boatload of self-hatred, which makes her a ready victim. The book is more or less the story of how she not only overcomes her self-loathing but comes to see herself as a goddess, representative of the divine feminine, and at one with the universe by becoming wild. I know, it's a bit much to swallow. The survivalist parts just seemed rather tedious to me instead of adventurous, and I'm someone who loves nature and lives in a semi-wild area (I sometimes hear a bear outside my cabin at night). So, it wasn't the wilderness setting itself that was off-putting to me, as it may be to strictly urban types (though I have to admit to not relishing the hunting and eating parts). Diana, Herself could be categorized as a fantasy as much an an allegory, but it didn't read like a fantasy book, and it is heavy-handed with its message. Sometimes the omniscient narrator addressed the reader directly, which seemed jarring. Not unheard of, but not popular in contemporary fiction. And who is the narrator? Here's a clue: it's not a person. In reading this book, I was reminded of Carlos Castaneda's The Teachings of Don Juan and A Separate Reality, which I read way back in the 1970's. However, whether real experiences or imagined, his stories, as far-out as they were, seemed authentic and believable and had the feel of an alternate reality. Not so here.
All-in-all, I was disappointed with this format and would prefer to get Martha's teachings straight up. In the afterword, she does outline and explain the seven tasks towards spiritual awakening, which to me was the most valuable part of the book. I will probably read the sequels, just to see where she goes with it. Two and a half stars, rounded up, because it is Martha Beck.
As a novel, I found the story didn't grip me. I kept putting it down in favor of other fiction. I wanted to get to the meat of the message (those who have read it will get the wink here) - the lessons Martha wants to convey about spiritual awakening. Martha has always been practical in her advice and gives definite methods to practice, though they're not always easy to do or keep up. In this book they are called tasks, and there are seven of them. Martha herself seems to have amazing paranormal experiences which she balances with her educated (she has three Harvard degrees), scientific side. This has made for fascinating reading or listening as she tells about them. But those kind of 'magical' experiences don't necessarily follow from practicing her suggestions, I've found. I think one has to be intuitively or psychicly open to them. Instead of Martha recounting her experiences, in Diana, Herself we read about an average (but not really) woman named Diana who falls for and teams up with Roy, a macho celebrity extreme survivalist, and goes with him alone to film episodes of his TV show in a large remote California wilderness area. They are separated and Diana must learn to survive on her own in the wild with the help of her spirit animal, a wild boar called Herself. It gets pretty trippy from there. I heartily disliked Roy from the beginning, so Diana's obsession with him was not sympathetic, though I suppose good looks and celebrity glamor must play their part. The dialogue between Diana and Roy verges on the "Me, Tarzan, You, Jane," order, i.e. ridiculously simplistic, involving hero-worship from Diana and narcissistic misogyny from Roy. Roy is an un-nuanced caricature at best. Diana has a woeful lack of self-confidence and a boatload of self-hatred, which makes her a ready victim. The book is more or less the story of how she not only overcomes her self-loathing but comes to see herself as a goddess, representative of the divine feminine, and at one with the universe by becoming wild. I know, it's a bit much to swallow. The survivalist parts just seemed rather tedious to me instead of adventurous, and I'm someone who loves nature and lives in a semi-wild area (I sometimes hear a bear outside my cabin at night). So, it wasn't the wilderness setting itself that was off-putting to me, as it may be to strictly urban types (though I have to admit to not relishing the hunting and eating parts). Diana, Herself could be categorized as a fantasy as much an an allegory, but it didn't read like a fantasy book, and it is heavy-handed with its message. Sometimes the omniscient narrator addressed the reader directly, which seemed jarring. Not unheard of, but not popular in contemporary fiction. And who is the narrator? Here's a clue: it's not a person. In reading this book, I was reminded of Carlos Castaneda's The Teachings of Don Juan and A Separate Reality, which I read way back in the 1970's. However, whether real experiences or imagined, his stories, as far-out as they were, seemed authentic and believable and had the feel of an alternate reality. Not so here.
All-in-all, I was disappointed with this format and would prefer to get Martha's teachings straight up. In the afterword, she does outline and explain the seven tasks towards spiritual awakening, which to me was the most valuable part of the book. I will probably read the sequels, just to see where she goes with it. Two and a half stars, rounded up, because it is Martha Beck.
April 5, 2016
This book is so Martha! This is her first book written as a novel. I thought she did a really good job. Of course being a Martha Beck trained coach...I do love me some Martha. This book may be pretty out there for some people. But basically it's about learning to live a life of trusting and loving yourself.
(I read the advanced reader copy.)
(I read the advanced reader copy.)
April 30, 2016
A delightful little book of magic. The messages of this myth are heavy handed compared with other allegory, myths, and faerie tales I've read, but I think Martha wanted to make it obvious. She is a life coach with a message to share, so making it subtle doesn't serve her audience. I really enjoyed what she had to share. It was fun to read her message in fiction form.
Read
May 5, 2020No rating, no review. I have no idea what I would even say. This is clearly just not the thing for me
January 13, 2017
Disappointing
I have read a few of Martha's books and really liked them. This book was a slow read, and didn't hold my attention. Maybe I don't get the allegory but found it hard to "get". Just didn't enjoy it.
I have read a few of Martha's books and really liked them. This book was a slow read, and didn't hold my attention. Maybe I don't get the allegory but found it hard to "get". Just didn't enjoy it.
Read
November 8, 2016Couldn't get into it. I love some of her other books, though.
April 26, 2018
Martha Beck writes beautifully. This allegory is presented with love and clarity. I intend to read this book again and again when I need to remind myself about the about the practices that bring wholeness. I've enjoyed Beck's self-help books, yet the allegory is even better for me -- a step above. The allegory has provided me with images and stories that help me remember the lessons I'm learning. For example, when the negative voices come into my mind, I see the rattlesnake, and this visual reminder is a powerful means of challenging those voices. I recommend this beautiful book.
May 28, 2016
Summary: Diana Archer is an absolutely average woman, living life, when destiny reaches out to turn her life upside down. The story is commonplace enough, every woman can relate to Diana's situation and desire to chart her own course. This is wonderfully told as a representation of an abstract or spiritual meaning told through alternative material forms. Yet it reaches out to talk to the reader directly. People, animals and situations clash to make Diana a better person, a stronger person and one who is open to purpose. The essence of the story is awakening. Bewilderment is the method.
Pros: The way this story is told through Diana's point of view (a goddess of mythology and hunter) is the perfect platform to weave reality and magic. Enjoyed the way Martha Beck used nature (background was Los Angeles contrasted with the wilderness), animals (who doesn't love a boar with wings? or a blood sucking tick?) and situations, which were both external and internal that Diana must sort out/awaken to. The two main characters (three if you count the boar, Myself) were solid and the dialog moved the ideas and drama along the pages. The events or obstacles kept the story in a fast past mode. The descriptions of the environment and spiritual consequences were relevant, true and relatable. The sprinkle of magic was another great way to move the story. Liked how Beck diverted from telling the story about Diana and talked to the reader directly (by the name of Beloved). Several great messages in here include humanity, mental self talk, animals, and life. Liked the author's personal note at the end about how she was inspired to write this book. I will look forward to books 2 & 3! I'd be open for two different main female character for them. But won't be disappointed if Diana comes back as the star.
Cons: Not a strong fan of how events just happened to "easily" work out, or, a situation "just happened" to resolve itself. Diana goes through a huge transformation. If the ease to get things accomplished too easily or too quickly weren't available, it would have clogged the story. Because Beck uses the magical realm to help further the main ideas along, this is easily overlooked.
Cover art: 5 out of 5: Beautiful. Love how the paper cover has a circle in the middle to make a frame around Diana and her boar.
Pros: The way this story is told through Diana's point of view (a goddess of mythology and hunter) is the perfect platform to weave reality and magic. Enjoyed the way Martha Beck used nature (background was Los Angeles contrasted with the wilderness), animals (who doesn't love a boar with wings? or a blood sucking tick?) and situations, which were both external and internal that Diana must sort out/awaken to. The two main characters (three if you count the boar, Myself) were solid and the dialog moved the ideas and drama along the pages. The events or obstacles kept the story in a fast past mode. The descriptions of the environment and spiritual consequences were relevant, true and relatable. The sprinkle of magic was another great way to move the story. Liked how Beck diverted from telling the story about Diana and talked to the reader directly (by the name of Beloved). Several great messages in here include humanity, mental self talk, animals, and life. Liked the author's personal note at the end about how she was inspired to write this book. I will look forward to books 2 & 3! I'd be open for two different main female character for them. But won't be disappointed if Diana comes back as the star.
Cons: Not a strong fan of how events just happened to "easily" work out, or, a situation "just happened" to resolve itself. Diana goes through a huge transformation. If the ease to get things accomplished too easily or too quickly weren't available, it would have clogged the story. Because Beck uses the magical realm to help further the main ideas along, this is easily overlooked.
Cover art: 5 out of 5: Beautiful. Love how the paper cover has a circle in the middle to make a frame around Diana and her boar.
October 2, 2024
Life changing book! Magical, mysterious yet powerful and full of truth. One to revisit many times.
August 15, 2016
As an English major, I loved the symbolism in "Diana, Herself: An Allegory of Awakening." Along with that, though, is the search for and reliance on one's inner wisdom or intuition.
Diana Archer sees herself as a "trash baby" because she was thrown away by her birth mother and became a child of a dysfunctional foster care system. She always felt different from other children and experienced several blackouts throughout her young life. The inability to remember what occurred during the blackouts added to her troubled and insecure state of mind. As an adult, Diana fell in love with a TV reality show star who takes her on a survival trek in the wilderness. She gets hurt, and he goes for help but doesn't return.
Lost and injured, hungry and thirsty, Diana is taken through a series of tasks by her mentor--a tusked and winged wild boar. Herself/Myself--the boar--is a delightful, fun-filled character who guides Diana into the world of self-knowledge.
Martha Beck delivers an entertaining self-help book that reads like a novel. just in case you can't get in touch with a wild boar, she includes "The Seven Tasks of Bewilderment: General Operating Instructions." Beck says, "Actually doing the Tasks means learning throughout your whole body, which is more intelligent than your mind can even imagine." And, she encourages us to do the tasks rather than just reading about them.
I encourage anyone to read this who is interested in studying intuition or inner wisdom--that deeper knowing. Even if you're not interested in working through the tasks, the allegory will entertain. And if you ever lose yourself in the wilderness, the lessons learned herein may help you survive.
Peace and joy to you.
Diana Archer sees herself as a "trash baby" because she was thrown away by her birth mother and became a child of a dysfunctional foster care system. She always felt different from other children and experienced several blackouts throughout her young life. The inability to remember what occurred during the blackouts added to her troubled and insecure state of mind. As an adult, Diana fell in love with a TV reality show star who takes her on a survival trek in the wilderness. She gets hurt, and he goes for help but doesn't return.
Lost and injured, hungry and thirsty, Diana is taken through a series of tasks by her mentor--a tusked and winged wild boar. Herself/Myself--the boar--is a delightful, fun-filled character who guides Diana into the world of self-knowledge.
Martha Beck delivers an entertaining self-help book that reads like a novel. just in case you can't get in touch with a wild boar, she includes "The Seven Tasks of Bewilderment: General Operating Instructions." Beck says, "Actually doing the Tasks means learning throughout your whole body, which is more intelligent than your mind can even imagine." And, she encourages us to do the tasks rather than just reading about them.
I encourage anyone to read this who is interested in studying intuition or inner wisdom--that deeper knowing. Even if you're not interested in working through the tasks, the allegory will entertain. And if you ever lose yourself in the wilderness, the lessons learned herein may help you survive.
Peace and joy to you.
May 2, 2016
I loved this book and I love Martha Beck! That said I realize she isn't everyone's favorite so if her ideas threaten you, don't read this one. It is filled with her life coach wisdom and is truly exactly what I needed. I believe things like this book come to us when we need them. I am still working on the tasks at the end of the book so technically, I am not quite finished and may not be for awhile. Thank you, thank you,thank you Martha! I love you!
December 30, 2016
Recommended by a friend. One of the strangest books I've read. Very new-agey so that could turn some people off and make others run to it. But it helps you connect with nature and I admit for days afterward I still thought about this book and noticed nature more. There's much more too it than that...definitely read the author's afterward, about what inspired her to write this book. Very interesting!
April 14, 2020
A magical book that I can't put down (I've been reading & rereading it for over a month now). I was surprised, delighted, and challenged by this book and it beautifully and cleverly revealed many ideas I have been considering for many years now. The language and style of writing will not appeal to everyone but an open mind and an open heart will take the reader on a potentially life changing ride.
June 20, 2016
Martha Beck is amazing. I was reading her "Allegory of Awakening" while reading an intense Buddhist book "On the Path to Enlightenment" - the correlations and connections blew me away. Martha takes very complex concepts and makes them easy to understand; and she gives steps to take to practically achieve what I'm looking for.
May 27, 2016
If you are a Martha Beck fan (especially if you enjoyed Finding Your Own North Star and/or Finding Your Way in a Wild New World), you will enjoy this book which synthesizes Beck's message in FICTION. Yes. Just say yes.
May 16, 2016
This book could be a bit woowoo for some people but I loved it. If you don't believe we are all one then this is not the book for you but if you do, enjoy!!
September 29, 2016
Such a beautiful, sweet novel of self-discovery. I loved every minute reading this and was sad once it was over.
October 15, 2016
Did not find this very interesting.
December 2, 2020
This was a cute book, and I really appreciate what the author was trying to do. She chose a pretty difficult topic, though. I think one of the reasons that there are so few spiritual awakening adventure stories is that in order to write a really good one, you need a relatively awakened author. Most authors can write about pirates, or bank heists, or those kinds of things, because it's pretty easy to squeeze your imagination into those places. It's much harder to write about something like being a genius, or genius at a level beyond anything human, because a human writer can't as easily put themselves in that role. How do you get in the head of someone that is 100 IQ points smarter than you are? It's hard to fake that. Now take it one step further, and try writing about something like enlightenment! It gets really, really difficult. Unless you've had your own moments of awakening and have some personal material to work with, you're just stuck with theories, basically.
So the biggest drawback to this book is that what the author is trying to teach doesn't seem to align with what she personally believes. More precisely, she is unable to keep her own belief system away from her keyboard long enough to write the story she's trying to write. The result is what she believes finds its way into the plot and causes all sorts of weird conflicts that shouldn't be there.
Consider the core truth of the book. Basically what Diana learns (and embodies) once she masters the Tasks and becomes a goddess is this: Death is an illusion, and this dream of reality is an impermanent one. Sure, it's fun, especially if you don't know what might happen, but ultimately, your Self cannot be harmed, and flows in an ocean of love and oneness with all.
Now, given that truth, how can we reconcile a statement like this near the end: "Even though it's all illusion, and even though it's always dissolving, it really is worth keeping the world this way for a while ... for Devin [her kid]. For his children, if he has any. For all children."
So wait a minute. Is the protagonist enlightened or not? And if she's enlightened, why is she still grasping at the dream state? Why specifically is it worth keeping the world the way that it is, right this very moment, when she remembers an infinite number of lives, and an infinite number of moments? Let the world live, or let the world die, but the infinite Self is immortal, right? Or not? And who are the children, anyway? I mean, really? They're just meat-selves, like any other meat-self in the book, and should be treated the same. The animals die, and aren't attached to their bodies because they are more advanced than mankind in that regard, and recognize the truth. Sure, kill the wolf, and kill the snake. No big deal. They don't even miss their bodies, because they are beyond them. But human children somehow are different, because their illusory meat-sacks are more valuable? Why? What gives?
Here's another one. During an attempted rape scene toward the end: "She feels nothing. Her body is completely insensate now. The memories flow even faster: millions of men ripping and forcing the clothes off millions of women. And in some strange, distant way, Diana realizes her other [basically the enlightened part of herself] was there with every woman. Every single time." Do you see what the author did there? The masculine is evil, and the feminine is good.
That doesn't jive with the truth of the book, because the truth of the book says that *everyone* has a meta-self, and *everyone* is the manifestation of the divine. Whether or not your meat-sack has a dick doesn't change that fundamental truth. Or it shouldn't if the author was being honest, which, like I said, is the problem here. The author cannot stay honest to the truth of what she is trying to write, because she doesn't really believe it herself, and can't keep that part of her from injecting her own ideas into the story. The book's truth, which the author forgot in the moment(!), is that not only is Diana's other being raped every one of those million times, Diana's other is ALSO the one doing the raping every one of those million times. That tidbit is the enlightenment part, which you can't conveniently forget if you are trying to write a book about enlightenment.
All in all, I did like this book. At least, I liked the idea of it. I also learned a lot about the author, and her own beliefs. I wonder if she realizes how much of herself is on display here? She's obviously very upset at the masculine, and views patriarchy as being the main(only?) source of suffering and evil in human history. At the same time, she *wants* to believe in a divine, all-encompassing love, that death is an illusion, and that our true natures are divine and magnificent. Unfortunately, she can't quite reconcile the two, and when push comes to shove, what she REALLY believes outweighs what she WANTS to believe, and you get a sort of angry person who likes to blame others for the ills in the world, rather than taking responsibility themselves. After all, as everyone knows, it's really Genghis Khan's fault, right?
So the biggest drawback to this book is that what the author is trying to teach doesn't seem to align with what she personally believes. More precisely, she is unable to keep her own belief system away from her keyboard long enough to write the story she's trying to write. The result is what she believes finds its way into the plot and causes all sorts of weird conflicts that shouldn't be there.
Consider the core truth of the book. Basically what Diana learns (and embodies) once she masters the Tasks and becomes a goddess is this: Death is an illusion, and this dream of reality is an impermanent one. Sure, it's fun, especially if you don't know what might happen, but ultimately, your Self cannot be harmed, and flows in an ocean of love and oneness with all.
Now, given that truth, how can we reconcile a statement like this near the end: "Even though it's all illusion, and even though it's always dissolving, it really is worth keeping the world this way for a while ... for Devin [her kid]. For his children, if he has any. For all children."
So wait a minute. Is the protagonist enlightened or not? And if she's enlightened, why is she still grasping at the dream state? Why specifically is it worth keeping the world the way that it is, right this very moment, when she remembers an infinite number of lives, and an infinite number of moments? Let the world live, or let the world die, but the infinite Self is immortal, right? Or not? And who are the children, anyway? I mean, really? They're just meat-selves, like any other meat-self in the book, and should be treated the same. The animals die, and aren't attached to their bodies because they are more advanced than mankind in that regard, and recognize the truth. Sure, kill the wolf, and kill the snake. No big deal. They don't even miss their bodies, because they are beyond them. But human children somehow are different, because their illusory meat-sacks are more valuable? Why? What gives?
Here's another one. During an attempted rape scene toward the end: "She feels nothing. Her body is completely insensate now. The memories flow even faster: millions of men ripping and forcing the clothes off millions of women. And in some strange, distant way, Diana realizes her other [basically the enlightened part of herself] was there with every woman. Every single time." Do you see what the author did there? The masculine is evil, and the feminine is good.
That doesn't jive with the truth of the book, because the truth of the book says that *everyone* has a meta-self, and *everyone* is the manifestation of the divine. Whether or not your meat-sack has a dick doesn't change that fundamental truth. Or it shouldn't if the author was being honest, which, like I said, is the problem here. The author cannot stay honest to the truth of what she is trying to write, because she doesn't really believe it herself, and can't keep that part of her from injecting her own ideas into the story. The book's truth, which the author forgot in the moment(!), is that not only is Diana's other being raped every one of those million times, Diana's other is ALSO the one doing the raping every one of those million times. That tidbit is the enlightenment part, which you can't conveniently forget if you are trying to write a book about enlightenment.
All in all, I did like this book. At least, I liked the idea of it. I also learned a lot about the author, and her own beliefs. I wonder if she realizes how much of herself is on display here? She's obviously very upset at the masculine, and views patriarchy as being the main(only?) source of suffering and evil in human history. At the same time, she *wants* to believe in a divine, all-encompassing love, that death is an illusion, and that our true natures are divine and magnificent. Unfortunately, she can't quite reconcile the two, and when push comes to shove, what she REALLY believes outweighs what she WANTS to believe, and you get a sort of angry person who likes to blame others for the ills in the world, rather than taking responsibility themselves. After all, as everyone knows, it's really Genghis Khan's fault, right?
December 20, 2019
This one is complicated. A stirring fable of throwing off the shackles of reality and abuse and going deep inside and back out into the world. An allegory, so not meant to be nuanced, but still, both writing and story felt clumsy. No one not Native should use "spirit animal"; that's appropriation. Also ethically slippery is a white woman writing about a non-white woman. Alexander Chee has 3 questions and I'm not sure that test was met here. This is a decidedly mixed bag.
August 11, 2017
It is really hard to write a rational review of this book. The narrative is underpinned by practical techniques like: learning to embrace suffering-- your own and other peoples, sitting still, paying attention to what brings you joy, learning to embrace change without fear, paying attention to physical pain in your body, listening to fear but then perhaps learning to push through it, and most importantly how to stop being knocked around by the endless demands of the outside world to the detriment of what's really important to you.
Reading this book changed me. I found the first chapter of this book alarming as the author really writes from the crazy place and I wasn't sure where she was going with it. But she puts you there so you can be coached on how to find your way out again, and again, and again. ...
Reading this book comes with a lot of emotional work if you are open to it... not sure what to say about the story aspect of this book- except to say, "it's a bit mad."But it has been my experience that many brilliant people are. MArtha Beck is not an exception.
Reading this book changed me. I found the first chapter of this book alarming as the author really writes from the crazy place and I wasn't sure where she was going with it. But she puts you there so you can be coached on how to find your way out again, and again, and again. ...
Reading this book comes with a lot of emotional work if you are open to it... not sure what to say about the story aspect of this book- except to say, "it's a bit mad."But it has been my experience that many brilliant people are. MArtha Beck is not an exception.
March 13, 2025
This was a pick for a book club, honestly at first I wasn’t sure how to rate it because it’s unlike anything else I’ve come across, it’s essentially an allegory/self help fusion. It mainly reminded me of being back in my Buddhist studies classes in college, a lot of the concepts are rooted in Buddhism and I’m a little surprise that wasn’t called out more. I was skeptical of the allegory format at first, and it took me awhile to get into it. At first the way it was written felt like it had this tone of condescension throughout (it may have been the frequent terms of endearment), but in the end with the description of the Tasks she explains the reason for that and that changed the lens I read this through. I found it hard to connect with Diana, despite her name she felt like the passenger princess of her own story. Roy was hateable from the jump. The boar is clearly the winner, he’s essentially the Cheshire Cat. I fell in and out of interest in the plot line itself.
I’d be interested in reading a traditional self-help format from Martha!
I’d be interested in reading a traditional self-help format from Martha!
August 5, 2016
I loved this book because I love Martha Beck's writing BUT also because it is a great parable. The negative detractors I heard during my book club were that the lead character was not very independent and seemed quite needy the whole time. I however saw that yes while needy sometimes that she was figuring life out and some really important searching questions about her own deep nature.
I don't want to give away spoilers but I definitely liked the ending and am excited for book 2 to come out.
This is a great book if you are doing some soul searching yourself, if you like mythology and if you ultimately want a story that has a twist and good ending.
I don't want to give away spoilers but I definitely liked the ending and am excited for book 2 to come out.
This is a great book if you are doing some soul searching yourself, if you like mythology and if you ultimately want a story that has a twist and good ending.
November 29, 2017
Meh. Maybe I've just read a lot of things like this in the past (I have). It was interesting. There were some good moments and certainly some great advice, but the writing didn't wow me.
December 30, 2016
ready for book 2! i always look Martha's columns in O Magazine and was excited about this read. i learned a lot from it. will be practicing "the tasks" in the future. i recommend reading Diana, Herself if you are seeking to raise your consciousness and move more fearlessly in the direction of your true calling.
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