by David F. Marks, PhD
book review by Carol Anderson, D.Min., ACSW
“The purpose of life is to live a life of purpose.”
Marks’ book focuses on mental health and healthy life practices. The fifty-four short chapters include topics related to fostering creativity, coping with emotions, balancing life, the mind-body connection, self-acceptance, forgiveness, and self-care. Some of the ideas for healing include journaling, art and music, mindfulness, visualization, humor and laughter, participating in hobbies, being in solitude, meditation, being in nature, taming the inner critic, and deep breathing. The teaching utilizes a “Balance Theory” regarding human behavior and how to change this behavior, along with an examination of scientific findings containing an exploration of the “social nature” of humans. The work is a self-reflective guide with exercises to complete in each chapter, which adds to the focus of not just reading the book but being immersed in it.
With a focus on psychological well-being, the author’s book is presented with significant information on the topic and is written in a nicely organized format, which makes it easy to read and follow. There are visual diagrams which, along with the exercises, add another dimension to the work. It is professionally written, although there are some quotations and facts that are not cited. The author’s background is as a teacher and researcher, and his other professional writings help expand upon the work. Overall, this is a good foray into how to grow through the basics of balancing one’s life, techniques to achieve such a balance, and how to enjoy reading and working through the numerous exercises towards a healthier self, the real self. It will be especially valuable for those new on the path to self-discovery.
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