US: Transforming Ourselves and the Relationships that Matter Most

by Lisa Oz

Instant New York Times bestseller Lisa Oz explores how healthy relationships are the key to growth of the mind, body, and spirit.

"The key to real and lasting change lies somewhere between what you know and what you do. It’s what you think." —Lisa Oz

Being social creatures, we yearn for connection but often fall into bad habits that interfere with our ability to have rewarding relationships. We begin to see ourselves as alone, isolated, or at odds with the rest of the universe. How can we learn to live in relationship in a more enlightened way?

In US: Transforming Ourselves and the Relationships That Matter Most, Lisa Oz, the bestselling coauthor of the YOU: The Owner’s Manual series, takes readers on a transformational journey as she explores the three relationships that matter most: with the self, with others, and with the Divine. Interrelated and inseparable, these fundamental relationships determine the quality and the measure of our emotional and spiritual lives.

Drawing from ancient traditions, spiritual and holistic thinkers, and personal insights, Lisa Oz guides you on an engaging, thought-provoking, and ultimately inspirational path toward changing your self, your relationships, and your life. With remarkable candor and humor, Lisa offers personal anecdotes that highlight the truth and consequences of familiar interactions. She also includes imaginative exercises meant to help you gain new insight into old behavior patterns and to encourage you to be an active, empowered agent for positive change in your relationships.

Lisa’s writing on topics such as personal well-being, identifying your authentic self, conscious parenting, marital bonding, and truly compassionate living are persuasive because they are suggestive rather than prescriptive. By holding a mirror to her relationships, Lisa hopes to inspire you to reflect on your own, observing that we are all works in progress, living in relationship together.

Informative and transformative, US offers an enriched and fulfilling vision of friendship, marriage, family, and spiritual progress. In these pages, the evolution of YOU blossoms into the community of US.

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction, Relationships, Spirituality

224 pages, Hardcover

First published March 25, 2010

Reviews

[D · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did learn a lot about myself and how I should relate to others. I enjoyed Lisa's bluntness and desire to figure out how to better herself. The book is funny throughout, and I like humor and comedy in my life, so I enjoyed that. It was refreshing to read about how she complained, but when she went to the real root of the problem why she needed to complain so much, she was able to change. It is true that when you can't change a situation, you may have to change yourself to fit the situation. She also mentioned that often we anticipate someone being upset with us over something out of our control (like being late to work when traffic was stalled), and instead of going to work first to see what would happen, we often imagine the worse. Sometimes, our lateness bothered us more than the boss. SO, what could have started out on the right foot turned into beginning a new day in a negative way. She also mentioned Hendrix's therapy of being attracted to the person who could most heal your childhood wounds. From past experience, I believe this is true, too. But, I do agree with Lisa's view that no one person could ever completely heal your childhood wounds. I really agreed with a lot of her opinions, but her faith is not very similar to mine, so at times I could not relate to her religious views. Still, this is a great book to make you think about how you can have better relationships with others and be more in harmony.

[HaleakalaBound · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was recommended to me by someone I LOVE and adore, and although I'm not normally into self help books like these [especially non-LDS ones:], I thought I might give it a go. I liked Lisa, and I liked her style of writing, but it seemed she developed all of her theories from Buddha, Yoga and Deep Meditation, the Koran and monks and ancient priests that had no significance to me. 'Ego transcendence' was the main topic of the book... I couldn't get out of my mind the quote from Boyd K. Packer: 'A true study of the Book of Mormon will improve behavior more than a study of behavior will improve behavior.' True that.

[Ellen Pilch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book a couple years ago. I had gotten it from the library, but I enjoyed it so much that I bought my own copy. I found Lisa Oz to be a normal person just like the rest of us, despite being married to the great "Dr. Oz". I loved her advice,for example, she was always mad at her husband for being late for dinner until she realized that would never change and adjusted her own behavior accordingly. That made a lot of sense to me, the only one we can change is ourselves and our attitude. I have heard that before, but when I read her book, it finally clicked. I think this should be required reading for those about to get married.

[Charliehu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Astonishing insight and refreshing honesty lend Lisa's book the flavor of a really great conversation you have with a friend sharing her life experiences. Almost more than the content, I loved the sense that we are witnessing someone grow and mildly say, "I hope this helps you too." The best kind of shared wisdom is open, unpretentious and generous. This is such a gift. Read it with your love, as I did, and see how good it can be.

[Dixie LoCicero · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were parts of the book I really liked, like how we need to understand ourselves before we can understand others or have relationships be successful. I liked some of the activities she gave at the end of each chapter. Some of her views about men & women being the "perfect union" make me wonder how she'd feel about same-sex relationships.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I loved the personal stories and action points in this book, overall, I didn't feel incredibly inspired. I think I'd actually prefer to have read an autobiography of this incredibly hard working woman! Nevertheless, it was a quick read, and enjoyable.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lisa Oz is an intelligent, hip chick, no doubt. But this book is kind of all over the place and doesn't really say anything new. The only thing I learned is about the enneagram and that there is a Swedenborgian religion. Not a book I would recommend.

[Stephanie Gagliardi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not your typical self help book. Very easy to read, and found it to be very helpful. There are daily exercises at the end of each section that reinforce some of the lessons Lisa provides.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm one chapter into this book and LOVING it. IT's gonna be huge.

[Stephanie K · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I became bored with many of the author’s many personal (and oftentimes digressed) stories, I found myself taking notes and photos of several pages that I wanted to forever remember. Much of this book I found profound and wise. Would recommend, with the caveat that you may skip some pages or chapters (and that’s ok).

[Burd · Rating 1 out of 5]

What a pretentious, whiny, badly written piece of crap this was. I listened to the book on tape narrated by her perfect little self and alternately laughed and puked throughout the 6 discs...Alright I only made it through 5 of the six. But I couldn't take it any more. The book should come with a barf bag. She mostly complains about how she is constantly on a diet and her tough life being married to Dr. Oz who doesn't spend nearly enough time with her. Did you know his show was all her idea? She's a trained Reiki practitioner. She practices on her kids. She just hates going to dinner parties because she has to listen to people brag about their kids. Bla bla bla.
The one thing I learned from this book is that Dr. Oz must be a saint to put up with her.

[Kristen · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a quick read and I liked how it was broken up into topics of interest. I didn't feel like there was anything new as far as advice that has already been given by millions of self help authors...take time to pamper yourself, exercise, eat right, treat others the way you would like to be treated etc... I did like her personal stories about her own struggles and how she applied the principles to her own life.

[Dani · Rating 4 out of 5]

There seems to be a consensus here that this book didn't have a lot of substance to it. Maybe I just haven't read enough relationship advice type books, but I really enjoyed this one. The author offers a fresh perspective and opens up about her own insecurities. I appreciated her honesty and gained a lot from reading this.

[Marianjudith]

I do recommend this book to married women with families. Lisa makes wonderful spirital family connections. She puts husband and children relationships into perspective in an intelligent and humorous way.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kind of interesting, self help sort of book. Very generalized look at life. If you like Dr. Oz you might appreciate a little peek into his world via his wife. Nothing new here, nothing ground breaking but a good read.

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great tips for having successful relationships.

[Gina · Rating 3 out of 5]

nothing yet!

[Sarah · Rating 1 out of 5]

Self-help books are never my thing, but the condescending sexism prevented me from getting past page 45 of this one.

[Carol Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book. Spoke to me personally.

[JH · Rating 3 out of 5]

Basically an ok book on how to be a better, more aware person. Lisa Oz ads a few unique ideas to much written about topics. I enjoyed her personal anecdotes most of all.

[Delona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five stars, not because she is an amazing author but because I liked her so much and wish she, as well as Jenny McCarthy, was my neighbor. Nice compilation of life lessons.

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

It sane what I expected from the reviews of the book . Fast read for the information and book was a slow read, didn't keep my attention .

[Andrea Ible · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lisa's ability to write about self improvement with humor, honesty and openness was a brilliant read.

[Deirdre · Rating 4 out of 5]

good book.

[Trinity Teeters]

Lisa Oz, Dr. Oz's wife researches and applies techniques to improve relationships physically, mentally and spiritually. Through her research and application, she shares her life story and how these life experiences have changed her. At the end of each chapter, exercizes are provided to help with changing habits. As I was reading this, I found a lot of her ideas helpful and insightful especially with health and spiritual ideas. However, I was uncomfortable by the use of mystic and religious ideas pertaining to Buddhism and the Islamic faith. Since a lot of her book focuses on life meaning, I wish Mrs. Lisa could have researched more on God’s character, researched more examples of Jesus in relationships, and studied health according to the bible, then compared these things to other religions. I loved and appreciated the connections she made between knowledge and action in the physical sense, mental sense and spiritual(divine) sense. In the physical sense, she encourages society to eat natural, whole foods and exercize, while in the mental sense, she encourages fun reflective activities for individuals and family. Still, in the spiritual sense, she discusses the role of divine intervention with God. Due to the conviction that some of her ideas are lies from the Devil meant to steer her and others away from Jesus and other commentary on it, I rate this book a 3 out of 5 stars.