Winning Through Enlightenment

by Ron Smothermon

This is Ron's first book and a perennial favorite. Recommended by Norman Vincent Peale, with a comment by Werner Erhard, and a foreword by Ken Keyes Jr., this book is about bringing an enlightened condition to everyday life. It is composed of short, easy to digest chapters, straight to the point, and full of lasting value. Readers report reading and rereading this book over and over. Many people buy it in bulk to share with friends.

225 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1979

Reviews

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

mind altering.

Key takeaways:

- You can't possibly love what you need

- Live fully in the present, not attached to memories of the past or schemes for the future. Now is it. Nothing else counts.

- You are not your mind. You can step out and take control of the automatic thoughts.

- Let go of your stuff. It is not serious. You are not your stuff. You are the observer.

[Steve Are · Rating 5 out of 5]

probably the very first book i ever saved to file by typing the whole thing out. a pivotal book for me, somehow discovered at just the right time while living at a mission in seattle. the chapters are short and to the point, written with a "this is the way it is, take it or leave it" attitude. taught me more than a few things but the first and foremost was "responsibility." that while i may not in fact be responsible for what happens in my life, i am responsible for my experience of what happens. his book and thaddeus golas' book are my twin tomes of truth and have been for over a decade. don't read it if you aren't willing to think differently than you do. don't read it if your life is already intensely chaotic, wait for a quiet moment to ingest this heady brew.

[crank · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mid

[flog · Rating 5 out of 5]

little bit of a punch in the gut, but very true. put your ego aside and intake the information given. don’t make it personal, just hold it. don’t make excuses, accept what is and keep moving. love this book, short chapters made it an enjoyable and easy read for my goldfish brain, lucky to have stumbled across such a thing.

[Tony DeMaria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book and admire the creator of it. A very deceptive (if not corny) title is sometimes camouflage for a profound communication.

[tobias · Rating 1 out of 5]

Shit

[Helynne · Rating 3 out of 5]

A friend of mine lent me her copy of this 1980 collection of short essays on life, self-control, and self-understanding and insisted I read it. She reminded me that the "enlightenment" movement was big in the early 1980s, and this book was one of the cornerstones. Though many years have passed, I can testify that this no-nonsense advice about how to achieve a more perceptive and mature outlook on life never will be dated. Dr. Smothermon's philosophy reminds me somewhat of the more current pop culture phrase, "Get real!" His main themes are the imortance of taking responsibility for one's actions, developing integrity, getting rid of the "stuff" that in our life that clouds our perception--beliefs, opinion, positions, prejudices, etc.,--honoring commitments, and freeing ourselves form guilty, jealousy, polarization as well as the need to be right. "Let other people be right," the author says. "What do you care who is 'right'?" (34) "Your survival does not depend on being right a 'winning'" arguments," he adds later (117). Despite the fact that Smothermon's language tends to be a little pedantic and sometimes confusing (I'll admit I had to skip a few of the chapters just because they were so bogged down in some kind of psycho-speak), there are many valuable lessons to be learned from these essays. Also, there are so many quotable gems from this book that it is hard to pick just a few. On taking responsibility: "Responsibility is the willingness to be the author of all your experiences, even the ones you don't like" (47). 'Responsibility is not a feeling. It is not a position. It is no more or less than being at the source of your life instead of the victim of life" (50). On satisfaction in life: "Satisfaction is for a very select group of people: Those who are willing to be satisfied. There aren't many around" (99). "Nothing will make you satisfied. Satisfied is a way you choose to be or not to be" (123). I was particularly impressed with the essays on guilt, jealousy, parents, children, and relationships, and I certainly gained some new points of view. I highly recommend this book for its valuable reminders about how to live fully, graciously, and honestly.

[Tom Check · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are on the journey of self exploration, this book has something to offer you. Whether you are new to this type of work or been at it your whole life you will find something that challenges you, something that rings true, and an invitation to truly step up to yourself.

If you are looking for light reading, a book that gives answers, or a workbook with preconstructed exercises then this is NOT the book for you.

[Jilles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably one of the best and most comprehensive books about 'enlightenment' I have ever read!