What do you think?
Rate this book
Epiphany: True Stories of Sudden Insight to Inspire, Encourage, and Transform
Have you ever experienced an epiphany, a life-changing moment or realization?
Elise Ballard has, and she was so stunned by its effect on her life that she started asking others if they had ever experienced these kinds of breakthroughs. What began as simple curiosity led to an unexpected and exciting journey, spanning several years and the breadth of human experience. The result of her interviews is Epiphany , a collection of more than fifty revelations that changed lives forever.
Inspiring, thought-provoking, and eye-opening, Epiphany shares deeply intimate stories of people from all walks of life, from public figures like Maya Angelou, Deepak Chopra, Ali MacGraw, and Barry Manilow, to personal acquaintances and lifelong friends, to new contacts made in the most unexpected and serendipitous of circumstances.
Whether discovering purpose in life, awakening to new possibilities, or finding a new direction after a catastrophic setback, each person’s epiphany is a gift, providing new insight into these remarkable lives and a window into the universal truths that connect us all.
Elise Ballard has, and she was so stunned by its effect on her life that she started asking others if they had ever experienced these kinds of breakthroughs. What began as simple curiosity led to an unexpected and exciting journey, spanning several years and the breadth of human experience. The result of her interviews is Epiphany , a collection of more than fifty revelations that changed lives forever.
Inspiring, thought-provoking, and eye-opening, Epiphany shares deeply intimate stories of people from all walks of life, from public figures like Maya Angelou, Deepak Chopra, Ali MacGraw, and Barry Manilow, to personal acquaintances and lifelong friends, to new contacts made in the most unexpected and serendipitous of circumstances.
Whether discovering purpose in life, awakening to new possibilities, or finding a new direction after a catastrophic setback, each person’s epiphany is a gift, providing new insight into these remarkable lives and a window into the universal truths that connect us all.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2011
23 people are currently reading
652 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
February 2, 2011
First of all I would like to thank goodreads and the author and publisher or whoever sent me this book. It really was a very uplifting read. It is almost exactly what I expected it would be.It's a good bedstand book or something not to be read very quickly. I could only read so many people's epiphanies each day before feeling like everything wasn't so profound and fresh anymore. So don't feel like you have to rush through this book. Each epiphany is about 1 1/2 -3 pages long so you can read a whole bunch at once, or just one every once in awhile.
On tiny thing that bothered me a bit toward the middle of the book is that it started to feel like a big advertisement for other peoples books, movies, websites, etc. While they all may be wonderful, it kind of felt like it was being shoved in my face when I thought I was just reading about epiphanies. For that reason I almost wish she had included more everyday people and less movie producers and book writers. People I could relate to a little more. I did like some of the famous peoples very genuine epiphanies though. I have to admit I liked them better when the epiphany wasn't promoting their books/movie/healing technique, etc.
Ok, enough of the negative. I really did feel uplifted by this book, and while I won't be studying it for deeper meaning and trying to apply all of their epiphanies to my own life (their epiphanies were revealed to them afterall, not me ) I will say I was very touched and will remember some of these for a long time. I even bookmarked some for my husband to read.
I think this is the longest review I've ever written :)
On tiny thing that bothered me a bit toward the middle of the book is that it started to feel like a big advertisement for other peoples books, movies, websites, etc. While they all may be wonderful, it kind of felt like it was being shoved in my face when I thought I was just reading about epiphanies. For that reason I almost wish she had included more everyday people and less movie producers and book writers. People I could relate to a little more. I did like some of the famous peoples very genuine epiphanies though. I have to admit I liked them better when the epiphany wasn't promoting their books/movie/healing technique, etc.
Ok, enough of the negative. I really did feel uplifted by this book, and while I won't be studying it for deeper meaning and trying to apply all of their epiphanies to my own life (their epiphanies were revealed to them afterall, not me ) I will say I was very touched and will remember some of these for a long time. I even bookmarked some for my husband to read.
I think this is the longest review I've ever written :)
December 19, 2015
I won this book through the Goodreads First Reads program.
I guess I should start with my perspective and expectations going into this book. I'm 40 and working on a career change. Therefore what I was looking for was inspiring stories of people who picked themselves up by their bootstraps and make a change for the better.
There were 58 different stories (3-4 pages each), classified as Awakenings, New Directions, Healings, Miracles, Coming of Age, and Callings. I actually sat down and wrote brief summaries for each one, but I think that's probably too much for a review.
I personally found 14 of the stories too religious. (For reference, I was raised Christian, but consider myself more spiritual than religious these days.) Nine stories I noted as particular favorites. The rest ranged from "not really an epiphany" to "interesting story, but not a favorite".
Here are my favorites:
1. Esther Perel (http://EstherPerel.com/) - a couples therapist whose parents were Holocaust survivors. Her epiphany is related to the spark that makes a difference between surviving and living.
I asked him, "How do you know that the people you work with are once again reconnecting to life?" ... He told me it's when they are once again able to be creative, to take risks, or to be playful - because you can't play if you don't feel safe. Once you begin to feel somewhat safe or grounded in the world, you are able to leap out and experience your exploratory needs, the way a child goes into the world to see what is out there.
2. Barbara Fredrickson, PhD. (http://positivityratio.com/) - a psychologist who discovered we need a 3 to 1 positive to negative experience ratio to be happy.
[We discovered] ... there was a particular ratio of positive emotions relative to negative emotions that would tip the scales towards flourishing versus just getting by in life... meaning that we humans should, over a course of time, strive for an average of at least three positive emotions to every negative one to have a fulfilling life.
3. Michael Roizen, M.D. (http://realage.com) - a doctor who changed his focus from telling patients about how many years a bad habit shaves off their life, to telling them how much younger they could feel now by changing that bad habit.
I realized by telling a patient things like "If you smoke, you're eight years older" or "By controlling your blood pressure you get to be twenty-five years younger," they usually changed their behavior because we weren't talking about the future. We were talking about what they did now that changed their quality of life today, as well as their risk of disability.
4. Kristin Neff, PhD. (http://self-compassion.org) - an associate professor in human development who realized we need to show the same compassion we show to others, to ourselves.
Practice self-compassion. Be your own best, kind, compassionate, caring friend.
5. Kate Milliken - a tv/film producer who used mantras to fight MS.
Believe in the what-ifs.
From that point on, my world opened up. I developed other affirmations to help. I would walk down the street, and my mind would start generating thoughts like "I'm so screwed," "I'm never going to make it," or "I'm never going to be able to have children because I'm never going to find somebody." But every time these negative thoughts would come, I would just say, "Out. Out, out, out." Every time I saw someone in a wheelchair, I would say out loud, "Not today. Not today." ...
I learned that it's key not to feel so sorry for yourself that it cripples you and keeps you from looking for guidance and clues. Challenges in life can be gifts - lessons in taking risks, taking leaps of faith, conquering obstacles, making things happen, and believing in the what-if. This is what makes us grow, and for me, what makes life exciting
6. Stacey Lannert (http://healingsisters.org/) - author who was in prison for killing her rapist father when she was 18 years old. Laws have since changed, but she had a hard time getting either pardon or parole.
I realized I might not have many choices, but I still had some. Little choices, you know, like what color socks to wear; if I wanted to pull my hair back or leave it down; what I wanted to eat for lunch; if I wanted to get up for breakfast. I realized every moment of my life was a choice. And it was that moment, with that realization, that I found true freedom. I realized that true freedom is found within me, and everything else is just geography.
7. Judith Orloff, M.D. - an "intuitive" psychiatrist, a trained psychiatrist who gets intuitions and premonitions.
The deeper meaning for me is that nobody is really alone. We're never alone. Each of us is always connected to Spirit through Spirit to each other. It's important to reach out to others with whom you feel a kindred connection. I believe that when you authentically want to connect with people of your own "tribe", and seek them out, you will find them - whether or not they're actually your biological family.
8. Orian Williams - film producer.
I wasn't really sure what it was I was going to be doing - didn't know what my calling was, though I had passions for photography, literature, dialogue, meeting people, art, traveling, all these things. I thought, "How can I combine them into one job?" ...
I started looking inside to find out who I was and where I was going rather than looking to the outside. I started looking at the things that aren't right in front of me or that I could touch - I looked into my heart and found things I was passionate about. For me it's about the things I grew up loving. I looked back into my life, and the things that motivated me to be who I was, and I started looking back on my inspirations - music, bands I love, books, films, photography, travel - and knew that producing was a way for me to live a passionate life.
9. Adriane De Bonvoisin (http://first30days.com/) - author/speaker.
Not only did I have the "perfect" job and the "perfect" boyfriend but I had the "perfect" New York City lifestyle. I traveled and went to all the best parties and restaurants. To the world, I had it all. And I was miserable. ...
What I realized was that this dream career, this job, was simply toxic for me. I had climbed a very high ladder and it was either the wrong ladder or it was leaning against the wrong wall. ...
But I finally had the courage to leave that job and take what I thought would be a two, three, maybe four months to get healthy and decide what I needed to do. It turned into two and a half years. During those years, I walked around the planet, read books, did nonprofit work, met a lot of people, and started listening to my own intuition. ...
What I learned from all this is that we are all just so much more powerful and resilient and intuitive than we've ever been told. We just need to hand the microphone to that inner voice, that intuition, that is always there, on 24/7, and not switch it off.
I guess I should start with my perspective and expectations going into this book. I'm 40 and working on a career change. Therefore what I was looking for was inspiring stories of people who picked themselves up by their bootstraps and make a change for the better.
There were 58 different stories (3-4 pages each), classified as Awakenings, New Directions, Healings, Miracles, Coming of Age, and Callings. I actually sat down and wrote brief summaries for each one, but I think that's probably too much for a review.
I personally found 14 of the stories too religious. (For reference, I was raised Christian, but consider myself more spiritual than religious these days.) Nine stories I noted as particular favorites. The rest ranged from "not really an epiphany" to "interesting story, but not a favorite".
Here are my favorites:
1. Esther Perel (http://EstherPerel.com/) - a couples therapist whose parents were Holocaust survivors. Her epiphany is related to the spark that makes a difference between surviving and living.
I asked him, "How do you know that the people you work with are once again reconnecting to life?" ... He told me it's when they are once again able to be creative, to take risks, or to be playful - because you can't play if you don't feel safe. Once you begin to feel somewhat safe or grounded in the world, you are able to leap out and experience your exploratory needs, the way a child goes into the world to see what is out there.
2. Barbara Fredrickson, PhD. (http://positivityratio.com/) - a psychologist who discovered we need a 3 to 1 positive to negative experience ratio to be happy.
[We discovered] ... there was a particular ratio of positive emotions relative to negative emotions that would tip the scales towards flourishing versus just getting by in life... meaning that we humans should, over a course of time, strive for an average of at least three positive emotions to every negative one to have a fulfilling life.
3. Michael Roizen, M.D. (http://realage.com) - a doctor who changed his focus from telling patients about how many years a bad habit shaves off their life, to telling them how much younger they could feel now by changing that bad habit.
I realized by telling a patient things like "If you smoke, you're eight years older" or "By controlling your blood pressure you get to be twenty-five years younger," they usually changed their behavior because we weren't talking about the future. We were talking about what they did now that changed their quality of life today, as well as their risk of disability.
4. Kristin Neff, PhD. (http://self-compassion.org) - an associate professor in human development who realized we need to show the same compassion we show to others, to ourselves.
Practice self-compassion. Be your own best, kind, compassionate, caring friend.
5. Kate Milliken - a tv/film producer who used mantras to fight MS.
Believe in the what-ifs.
From that point on, my world opened up. I developed other affirmations to help. I would walk down the street, and my mind would start generating thoughts like "I'm so screwed," "I'm never going to make it," or "I'm never going to be able to have children because I'm never going to find somebody." But every time these negative thoughts would come, I would just say, "Out. Out, out, out." Every time I saw someone in a wheelchair, I would say out loud, "Not today. Not today." ...
I learned that it's key not to feel so sorry for yourself that it cripples you and keeps you from looking for guidance and clues. Challenges in life can be gifts - lessons in taking risks, taking leaps of faith, conquering obstacles, making things happen, and believing in the what-if. This is what makes us grow, and for me, what makes life exciting
6. Stacey Lannert (http://healingsisters.org/) - author who was in prison for killing her rapist father when she was 18 years old. Laws have since changed, but she had a hard time getting either pardon or parole.
I realized I might not have many choices, but I still had some. Little choices, you know, like what color socks to wear; if I wanted to pull my hair back or leave it down; what I wanted to eat for lunch; if I wanted to get up for breakfast. I realized every moment of my life was a choice. And it was that moment, with that realization, that I found true freedom. I realized that true freedom is found within me, and everything else is just geography.
7. Judith Orloff, M.D. - an "intuitive" psychiatrist, a trained psychiatrist who gets intuitions and premonitions.
The deeper meaning for me is that nobody is really alone. We're never alone. Each of us is always connected to Spirit through Spirit to each other. It's important to reach out to others with whom you feel a kindred connection. I believe that when you authentically want to connect with people of your own "tribe", and seek them out, you will find them - whether or not they're actually your biological family.
8. Orian Williams - film producer.
I wasn't really sure what it was I was going to be doing - didn't know what my calling was, though I had passions for photography, literature, dialogue, meeting people, art, traveling, all these things. I thought, "How can I combine them into one job?" ...
I started looking inside to find out who I was and where I was going rather than looking to the outside. I started looking at the things that aren't right in front of me or that I could touch - I looked into my heart and found things I was passionate about. For me it's about the things I grew up loving. I looked back into my life, and the things that motivated me to be who I was, and I started looking back on my inspirations - music, bands I love, books, films, photography, travel - and knew that producing was a way for me to live a passionate life.
9. Adriane De Bonvoisin (http://first30days.com/) - author/speaker.
Not only did I have the "perfect" job and the "perfect" boyfriend but I had the "perfect" New York City lifestyle. I traveled and went to all the best parties and restaurants. To the world, I had it all. And I was miserable. ...
What I realized was that this dream career, this job, was simply toxic for me. I had climbed a very high ladder and it was either the wrong ladder or it was leaning against the wrong wall. ...
But I finally had the courage to leave that job and take what I thought would be a two, three, maybe four months to get healthy and decide what I needed to do. It turned into two and a half years. During those years, I walked around the planet, read books, did nonprofit work, met a lot of people, and started listening to my own intuition. ...
What I learned from all this is that we are all just so much more powerful and resilient and intuitive than we've ever been told. We just need to hand the microphone to that inner voice, that intuition, that is always there, on 24/7, and not switch it off.
February 24, 2011
Elise Ballard came up with a fantastic concept, and she really did a great job with this book. The book is called "Epiphany: True Stories of Sudden Insight to Inspire, Encourage, and Transform" and I have to say that the subtitle is perfect, as I found this book extremely inspiring, encouraging, and transformative.
It's divided into six sections -- Awakenings, New Directions, Healings, Miracles, Comings of Age, and Callings. A total of 58 people were interviewed by Elise and asked to share their epiphany story, and each story falls into one of the six categories. In the introduction of the book, Elise tells us that although she placed each of the epiphany stories into one of these sections, most of the stories could fit into several or all of the categories.
One of the things that I found to be so wonderful about this book is that each person's story is kept very short and directly to the point -- I would say that each story ranged from three to six pages. It is amazing how much important information can be shared in so few pages. Although I found so many of the stories throughout the book to be fascinating, enlightening, interesting, and inspiring, I think my favorite section was the "Healings" section. In one of the "Healings" stories, Rupert Isaacson, an author and an activist, discovered "astounding results using horses and nature" (pg. 127) in healing his autistic son. This inspired Mr. Isaacson to start a non-profit organization called the Horse Boy Foundation, where they work with kids on the autism spectrum by using horses.
The "Miracles" section included some absolutely wild stories. Joel Harper, a fitness trainer who lives and works in New York City, was rushing to an appointment on his bicycle, and saw a little girl with her father around 60 feet ahead of him. Joel was riding very fast when suddenly the little girl stepped right into his path. (She was only around 3 years old, and did not realize what she was doing.) Well, it happened so quickly that there was absolutely no way for Joel to slow down or move out of the way and he was sure he was going to hit her (which probably would have killed the little girl.) But, thank God, no one was hurt. As he explains it, "My bike and I went through her body. I just sailed right through her body. Or her body went through mine. It was one and the same. It felt like my body was floating." (pg. 162). Nothing happened to Joel Harper or the little girl, and he pulled his bike over and looked back -- the little girl was just playing with some flowers, and her father stood there looking completely stunned. This experience led him to "stop and reflect on my choices and the speed at which I was traveling in life." (pg. 163).
But most of the stories are not quite as "far out" as Joel Harper's. There was such an amazing story about forgiveness, which I will never forget. Linda Biehl's 26 year old daughter, Amy, was killed in South Africa during the transition from apartheid to a multiracial democracy. Linda and her husband chose to honor their daughter's belief in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission which works toward achieving restorative justice rather than retributive justice. Amnesty was granted toward two of the four men who were convicted in Amy's death, and Linda chose to work with these men toward restorative justice. The two men now work as social activists for the Amy Biehl Foundation Trust, a nonprofit organization created by Linda Biehl. While sharing her amazing story in this book, here is one of the things that Linda said about forgiveness and reconciliation: "Forgiveness is extremely important, of course, and is the first step toward true peace and healing. but it's with reconciliation -- actively restoring peace and harmony -- that I think you can make the biggest difference." (pg. 81).
Elise also interviewed some celebrities for this book -- Maya Angelou, Ali MacGraw, Dr. Mehmet Oz, Desmond Tutu, Dr. Deepak Chopra, and Barry Manilow, among a few others. I have been reading and following the works of Deepak Chopra for at least the past 20 years, and I was astonished by how much I learned about his work in the two pages devoted to his epiphany in this book. I feel as though I now have an extremely simplified, yet very clear and concise understanding of exactly what his work is all about and how it originated. Although I have always loved Dr. Chopra's work, I never would have been able to easily define his teachings until now. Thanks to Elise Ballard, I will now enjoy Dr. Chopra's work even more than I ever have.
Overall, I tremendously enjoyed the eclectic mix of the people, the stories, and the epiphanies in this book. This is a book that will come in handy whenever I am feeling sad, unmotivated, or unbalanced, or if I just need some quick encouragement, because it's the type of book that I can just pick up and find an inspiring story by just flipping to any of the pages.
Thank you to Crown for listing this as a First Reads giveaway, and thank you to Goodreads for selecting me as a winner. And, of course, thank you to Elise Ballard for writing such a great book!!
It's divided into six sections -- Awakenings, New Directions, Healings, Miracles, Comings of Age, and Callings. A total of 58 people were interviewed by Elise and asked to share their epiphany story, and each story falls into one of the six categories. In the introduction of the book, Elise tells us that although she placed each of the epiphany stories into one of these sections, most of the stories could fit into several or all of the categories.
One of the things that I found to be so wonderful about this book is that each person's story is kept very short and directly to the point -- I would say that each story ranged from three to six pages. It is amazing how much important information can be shared in so few pages. Although I found so many of the stories throughout the book to be fascinating, enlightening, interesting, and inspiring, I think my favorite section was the "Healings" section. In one of the "Healings" stories, Rupert Isaacson, an author and an activist, discovered "astounding results using horses and nature" (pg. 127) in healing his autistic son. This inspired Mr. Isaacson to start a non-profit organization called the Horse Boy Foundation, where they work with kids on the autism spectrum by using horses.
The "Miracles" section included some absolutely wild stories. Joel Harper, a fitness trainer who lives and works in New York City, was rushing to an appointment on his bicycle, and saw a little girl with her father around 60 feet ahead of him. Joel was riding very fast when suddenly the little girl stepped right into his path. (She was only around 3 years old, and did not realize what she was doing.) Well, it happened so quickly that there was absolutely no way for Joel to slow down or move out of the way and he was sure he was going to hit her (which probably would have killed the little girl.) But, thank God, no one was hurt. As he explains it, "My bike and I went through her body. I just sailed right through her body. Or her body went through mine. It was one and the same. It felt like my body was floating." (pg. 162). Nothing happened to Joel Harper or the little girl, and he pulled his bike over and looked back -- the little girl was just playing with some flowers, and her father stood there looking completely stunned. This experience led him to "stop and reflect on my choices and the speed at which I was traveling in life." (pg. 163).
But most of the stories are not quite as "far out" as Joel Harper's. There was such an amazing story about forgiveness, which I will never forget. Linda Biehl's 26 year old daughter, Amy, was killed in South Africa during the transition from apartheid to a multiracial democracy. Linda and her husband chose to honor their daughter's belief in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission which works toward achieving restorative justice rather than retributive justice. Amnesty was granted toward two of the four men who were convicted in Amy's death, and Linda chose to work with these men toward restorative justice. The two men now work as social activists for the Amy Biehl Foundation Trust, a nonprofit organization created by Linda Biehl. While sharing her amazing story in this book, here is one of the things that Linda said about forgiveness and reconciliation: "Forgiveness is extremely important, of course, and is the first step toward true peace and healing. but it's with reconciliation -- actively restoring peace and harmony -- that I think you can make the biggest difference." (pg. 81).
Elise also interviewed some celebrities for this book -- Maya Angelou, Ali MacGraw, Dr. Mehmet Oz, Desmond Tutu, Dr. Deepak Chopra, and Barry Manilow, among a few others. I have been reading and following the works of Deepak Chopra for at least the past 20 years, and I was astonished by how much I learned about his work in the two pages devoted to his epiphany in this book. I feel as though I now have an extremely simplified, yet very clear and concise understanding of exactly what his work is all about and how it originated. Although I have always loved Dr. Chopra's work, I never would have been able to easily define his teachings until now. Thanks to Elise Ballard, I will now enjoy Dr. Chopra's work even more than I ever have.
Overall, I tremendously enjoyed the eclectic mix of the people, the stories, and the epiphanies in this book. This is a book that will come in handy whenever I am feeling sad, unmotivated, or unbalanced, or if I just need some quick encouragement, because it's the type of book that I can just pick up and find an inspiring story by just flipping to any of the pages.
Thank you to Crown for listing this as a First Reads giveaway, and thank you to Goodreads for selecting me as a winner. And, of course, thank you to Elise Ballard for writing such a great book!!
Read
August 10, 2011The stories of each epiphany were excellent. But I wish the author would have included epiphanies of average, everyday people. I would be able to better relate to their stories in relation to my own life much better.
July 26, 2018
Amazing! Loved Elise Ballard's beautiful insights on what inspires our most life-changing epiphanies. I'll be looking forward to her next publications.
April 21, 2011
Great non-fiction short interview/descriptions of events from many people who have had a time in their life when they realized something / had an epiphany about life. Very inspiring for anyone! Easy to read in short burst of time. Great stories.
January 16, 2023
I read this while doing the 75hard challenge. It was alright. There were some good interviews in there. I don't think it's the authors fault, I just didn't like some of the interviews. Some of it was good, some of it was underwhelming or even disappointing. Like the one interview she did with her friend Rachel, ugh please. Rachel's "epiphany" made me angry and very sad for her. Sad that that's what she got out of her situation. Maybe you'll know what I mean if you read it. I just don't think her kind of "settling" epiphany is something that should be promoted. She was unhappy about something and instead of fixing it she decided "oh well this is fine, I guess I really was happy all along", but she really wasn't. I don't know maybe it's just me.
April 17, 2023
Interesting, but the topic gets old reading story after story. I had to push myself to keep reading. Almost everyone has had an epiphany about their life at one time or another. Rather than read about them, I think one would find it most interesting to ask those people around you. Those stories are the true ones that will energize and uplift you.
October 9, 2020
This is a good one to take your time with. I appreciated the way these interviews were set up. Lots of great life advice and lessons throughout. It seems like an epiphany can happen at anytime , we need to pay attention.
January 1, 2023
I found the stories in Epiphany to be insightful and interesting. My favorite epiphany story (and the one that moved me to tears) was Stacey Lannert's. I look forward to diving into the workbook I got with the book to explore my own story and epiphanies.
September 16, 2018
Great concept but it was a bit repetitive - surprise, people often discover the same truths about life!
However, there definitely were some standouts that really made me think.
However, there definitely were some standouts that really made me think.
October 20, 2018
Incredibly inspiring, worth many reads.
July 7, 2019
This was a quick, uplifting read! Perfect for what I needed right now.
December 13, 2019
Historias que inspiran en el día a día.
July 27, 2020
Loved everything story in this compelling book!
January 6, 2021
Very surface level without a lot of depth. A few of the interviews could have been longer and some just felt underwhelming.
November 5, 2022
This is a wonderful read, expertly developed and executed. The breadth of the interviewees will make this compelling, inspiring and informative for anyone.
July 7, 2013
I loved the premise of this book. The author made it her project to interview several subjects on moments of epiphany in their lives, when puzzle pieces seemed to slot into place and all became clearer. They are grouped into categories such as "callings", "new directions" and "miracles".
It wasn't the sort of book where submissions were called for. Elise Ballard hand-picked all the interviewees herself, and they are all high achievers in their chosen fields and have a lot of business acumen. Many are famous. A glance at the "About the Author" blurb reveals that Ballard is just such a person herself, an actress and independent filmmaker and producer. She writes how she connected with each subject as segues into their stories, and I couldn't shake the feeling that she lives insulated in her own world of VIPs, far removed from interests and habits of the common people. I wondered if this may have skewed the book somewhat, as there might have been valuable input lacking from the more unsung-hero type of plodder who many of us may find it easier to relate to, or even the thoughtful 'arty' type of person without get-up-and-go or connections, who has plenty of insightful thoughts but wouldn't have a clue how to put a business plan together or thrust themselves into the limelight. Because of this, the book may have lacked a little balance.
However, it did contain a variety of interesting stories from the subjects. It would appear we really do have our own paths to walk which are different from those of others. Diane Warren spoke about her passion for song-writing as part of her epiphany, while Nell Newman (daughter of Paul) discussed her equally great passion for conservation and whole foods.
Oh yeah, there's one other thing. I think reading this book did help me feel more in-tune with inner promptings and able to recognise ephiphanies. It actually helped me realise that I have a lot. We may be brought up tending to think that if they're not burning bush or Damascus Road experiences, then they don't fit the bill. In actual fact, they may be zooming through our thoughts all the time, subtle enough to slip away without us even registering them if we're not careful.
It wasn't the sort of book where submissions were called for. Elise Ballard hand-picked all the interviewees herself, and they are all high achievers in their chosen fields and have a lot of business acumen. Many are famous. A glance at the "About the Author" blurb reveals that Ballard is just such a person herself, an actress and independent filmmaker and producer. She writes how she connected with each subject as segues into their stories, and I couldn't shake the feeling that she lives insulated in her own world of VIPs, far removed from interests and habits of the common people. I wondered if this may have skewed the book somewhat, as there might have been valuable input lacking from the more unsung-hero type of plodder who many of us may find it easier to relate to, or even the thoughtful 'arty' type of person without get-up-and-go or connections, who has plenty of insightful thoughts but wouldn't have a clue how to put a business plan together or thrust themselves into the limelight. Because of this, the book may have lacked a little balance.
However, it did contain a variety of interesting stories from the subjects. It would appear we really do have our own paths to walk which are different from those of others. Diane Warren spoke about her passion for song-writing as part of her epiphany, while Nell Newman (daughter of Paul) discussed her equally great passion for conservation and whole foods.
Oh yeah, there's one other thing. I think reading this book did help me feel more in-tune with inner promptings and able to recognise ephiphanies. It actually helped me realise that I have a lot. We may be brought up tending to think that if they're not burning bush or Damascus Road experiences, then they don't fit the bill. In actual fact, they may be zooming through our thoughts all the time, subtle enough to slip away without us even registering them if we're not careful.
January 30, 2011
I very much enjoyed this book, which I won from Goodreads!!!
This book is a compilation of interviews with a variety of people, some of whom I'd heard of, many others that I hadn't, about their epiphanies and how the epiphanies changed lives.
Each chapter begins with a quote, a short biography of the individual, then the author's comments, usually about how she knows/met the person. Then, in first person, the epiphanant's (did I just make up a word?) story.
The epiphanies are organized, very logically, by "Awakenings", "New Directions", "Healings", "Miracles", "Comings of Age" and "Callings".
I really loved all the stories, but a couple that really stood out for me were the following.
Elizabeth Avellan: "...develop your talents and they will make a way for you....So if God is moving you into an arena that you know nothing about, but He has given you the talents to do it, you will not be alone." (104)
Kristin Neff on self-compassion: "Practice self-compassion. Be your own best, kind, compassionate, caring friend." (114)
Lawrence Wright: "I resolved that I was only going to do things that are really important or really fun." (186)
This is a book that I think I will read, or at least refer to, many times. It is a book I want to share with so many people, too.
As to myself, perhaps, I am still awaiting the big one, though I have at least had some smaller ones. I tend to just let things happen, though...
This book is a compilation of interviews with a variety of people, some of whom I'd heard of, many others that I hadn't, about their epiphanies and how the epiphanies changed lives.
Each chapter begins with a quote, a short biography of the individual, then the author's comments, usually about how she knows/met the person. Then, in first person, the epiphanant's (did I just make up a word?) story.
The epiphanies are organized, very logically, by "Awakenings", "New Directions", "Healings", "Miracles", "Comings of Age" and "Callings".
I really loved all the stories, but a couple that really stood out for me were the following.
Elizabeth Avellan: "...develop your talents and they will make a way for you....So if God is moving you into an arena that you know nothing about, but He has given you the talents to do it, you will not be alone." (104)
Kristin Neff on self-compassion: "Practice self-compassion. Be your own best, kind, compassionate, caring friend." (114)
Lawrence Wright: "I resolved that I was only going to do things that are really important or really fun." (186)
This is a book that I think I will read, or at least refer to, many times. It is a book I want to share with so many people, too.
As to myself, perhaps, I am still awaiting the big one, though I have at least had some smaller ones. I tend to just let things happen, though...
January 21, 2011
I recieved this book through Goodreads First Reads
This is one of those inspiring books that you read and then smile after you've read it. Elise Ballard puts together tons of interviews that highlight when each person had an "epiphany." This was an incredibly fascinating book which feautured incredibly fascinating people. I'm especially glad that, as a non-Christian, most of the epiphanies weren't religious. I'm an atheist who tends to shy away from religious books. But these stories were diverse and dealt with some terrible tragedies and some lighter, more comedic epiphanies. The interview that I thought was the most inspiring was the one about the family that forgave the South African mob for lynching their daughter. A minor criticism I had with the book was that it was too short. I wanted some more analysis or interviews. But overall, I definitely recommend this book to anyone who wants to read something fascinating and well-written. Great book!
This is one of those inspiring books that you read and then smile after you've read it. Elise Ballard puts together tons of interviews that highlight when each person had an "epiphany." This was an incredibly fascinating book which feautured incredibly fascinating people. I'm especially glad that, as a non-Christian, most of the epiphanies weren't religious. I'm an atheist who tends to shy away from religious books. But these stories were diverse and dealt with some terrible tragedies and some lighter, more comedic epiphanies. The interview that I thought was the most inspiring was the one about the family that forgave the South African mob for lynching their daughter. A minor criticism I had with the book was that it was too short. I wanted some more analysis or interviews. But overall, I definitely recommend this book to anyone who wants to read something fascinating and well-written. Great book!
Read
August 6, 2011An interview I liked: When Cory Booker was 12, he ran for class president against other candidates he thought were much cooler than him. When he stood up to give a campaign speech in front of his peers, he froze and then mumbled through the speech. He took away two things from that experience. First, he resolved to be a better public speaker. Second, when he won the election, he realized that people voted for him because of who he was. "It made me have a lot more faith in people and the electorate and more courage just to be my authentic self."
". . . [P]art of serving in public office is risking public embarrassment or public scorn or ridicule; you definitely take a huge risk. But at the same time, only by putting yourself out there can you really be a part of a movement for change. . . ." said Booker.
". . . [P]art of serving in public office is risking public embarrassment or public scorn or ridicule; you definitely take a huge risk. But at the same time, only by putting yourself out there can you really be a part of a movement for change. . . ." said Booker.
November 20, 2012
I follow Positively Positive on Facebook, and they posted an excerpt from this book. It was Nancy Ballard's story (no relation to the author), and it moved me enough to read the whole book. It remains one of my favorites, though there were many poignant stories like it. Some I loved, some I didn't connect with, some were true epiphanies, and some didn't seem like epiphanies at all but rather turning points without a particular "a-ha!" moment. In any case, I thoroughly enjoyed reading two to five stories at a time from this book and just sitting with them for a bit.
June 9, 2014
This is a genius theme for a book. I hadn't given the concept epiphanies much thought before, but now realize how much we have to learn about ourselves and others through epiphanies. The subjects in this book are so eclectic and each one inspired or touched me in some way and quite often taught me something about life. The stories are very well curated and presented by the author. I am guessing that this book would be equally impactful to someone in their 20's or 80's. The epiphanies give us spiritual food for thought and remind us of the resiliency of the human spirit. The book has inspired me try to interview my loved ones and learn more about their life epiphanies!
April 19, 2015
This was not what I expected. It is a collection of people's moments of epiphanies, but I had the impression it would explore how the epiphanies had shaped the choices those experiencing the epiphanies made. However, it was, simply, what the epiphany was and little else. Perhaps if I had realized that before beginning I would have I enjoyed this more? I did still come away from some of the stories with new understanding and appreciation, but I didn't feel inspired, or even that bothered about whether I had experienced my own epiphany.
November 9, 2018
I liked this book, and in actuality I give it 3.5 stars, but it wasn't one I loved. Some of the stories weren't necessarily epiphanies though. I liked that the stories were short enough; two-four pages mostly. She has broken down the book into categories like 'healings', 'callings', 'awakenings', etc..
A lot of people you've probably heard of that she interviews, like Diane Warren, (songwriter), Rabbi Schmuley Boteach, Barry Manilow, etc.. All in all it was a good book with some inspiring stories.
A lot of people you've probably heard of that she interviews, like Diane Warren, (songwriter), Rabbi Schmuley Boteach, Barry Manilow, etc.. All in all it was a good book with some inspiring stories.
March 25, 2011
I received a copy of this book through Goodreads. It is a great book to keep on your bedside table. Each story is brief and, over all, it's an easy read. However, the insight and meaning you find in the stories can be quite profound. I read a story before bed every few nights and it left me feeling positive for the next day. I also found myself looking at my own life with a more curious eye, more conscious of my own Epiphanies.
May 31, 2011
This was a great book! thanks ashland! because of the really short chapters i could read a little at a time. but it was a quick read also. very positive! i loved it. i read some to the girls. i especially liked the woman who started walking an hour a day after watching oprah and lost >100 lbs. also the man who gave up his bike racing career dream after an argument over ben hur vs. the real world. and the autism treatment chapter.
January 16, 2016
This exceeded my expectations. It is basically a series of short vignettes in which a person - often a recognizably famous one, but always someone of accomplishment - describes an experience in life that increased their understanding of their personal mission on Earth. I found the last few to be the most inspiring, and it did cause me to reflect on my personal experiences and whether I was being true to them.
February 9, 2011
I won this book on First Reads on Good reads!
This is a great inspirational and timely book. It is quick and easy to read since it is made up of several famous and unknown persons personal epiphany stories. It really makes you think about your own experiences, hopes, and dreams. This will be on my gift giving list this year.
This is a great inspirational and timely book. It is quick and easy to read since it is made up of several famous and unknown persons personal epiphany stories. It really makes you think about your own experiences, hopes, and dreams. This will be on my gift giving list this year.
April 1, 2011
A book that contains over fifty accounts of transformative experiences in the lives of people. Although I felt the author interviewed a too many of her friends and did not search as widely throughout the country and world as she could have, I feel the book is helpful for anyone who wants to experience greater inner power and peace in a world that sometimes tries to destroy both.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews