Book Reviews

Please take a look at Jo's own reviews of her favourite books. Click on a book to buy from Amazon.

Rich Dad Poor Dad
The lessons are so obvious but most of us are never taught them – its brilliant to compare ‘rich thinking’ to 'poor thinking’. Wealth happens firstly in your mind and this is a great first step to challenging your financial psychology.

Prepare to conceive (www.natalhypnotherapy.com)
If you know anyone who is having difficultly conceiving.
Or suffering from morning sickness – used with great effect by Jo’s PA recently! (link to the morning sickness CD) – yet to review personally!

Help Yourself
The first book I ever read on self development and it really changed the pattern of my thinking. A brill short read!

Why men don't listen and women cant read maps
A fantastic summary of the difference between men and women. Can really transform your relationships if the teachings are applied by both people in the relationship. An absolute essential book of any home library.

Get the Edge programme CD box set
What can I say... Just one word - Fabulous! It changed the course of my life substantially.

Slow Burn
If you think you can’t run buy this book. It’s solely down to this book that I can run as often as I do. I realised that nobody had ever taught me to run and now I find it so easy. Buy this as your first step to getting healthy.

The Secret
A fabulous read and I am busy putting in the techniques into practice (some of which have already worked) so watch this space, a must for anyone who thinks negatively - Buy it today!

You are what you eat
I fundamentally believe that creating a healthy mind is so much about what we eat. Although I don’t follow the teaching religiously some of the information is great.

Whole Woman
A book that really makes you think about how women and men are portrayed in society. I am not in agreement with all her thoughts but it was a real thought provoker.

Feel the fear and do it anyway – The Book
Quite simply you must buy it. Susan reveals how fear holds us back in life and how to overcome fear – brilliant!! If you are frightened of anything please please buy this today!

Secrets of the Millionaire mind
A revelation in the power of the great financial mind. It turned around my financial thinking. If you parents are not wealthy buy it today to run around your financial achievements.

Women who think too much
I carry a stash of these in my boot to give away. As women we are prone to over-thinking and when I read the first page of this book it massively changed my thought patterns. Master the ability to stop over thinking and it really makes a massive difference – great read although quite heavy in places, but stick with it, it’s worth it.

The Airline adventure
A brilliant book on how businesses can grow very quickly. Barbara is a great role model for all women in business. An essential read for women with business ambitions.

Unassisted childbirth
Brilliant but only for the radical reader. Will make you really question your long held beliefs about child birth

Anthony Robbins - Giant Steps
A useful pocket guide to give you a lift during the day. Tony continues to offer great advice but its what you do with it that matters! Buy it!

Women Who Love Too Much
Fabulous - everyone should buy it and skim read it - especially people who have relationship difficulties. It is deep in analysis but just skip to the bits that interest you

Ahead of the class
A fabulous biography about a woman who took on a most difficult challenge. If you want to know how to achieve as a woman it’s a great read.

Loving him without losing you, Beverely Engel
A bit deep but look out for the section on the Disappearing Woman. Buy this for your friends who you never see once they have met a new man!

It’s a guy thing, David Deida
This offers some really powerful insights in male and female energy and why sometimes it can make men and women seemingly exist on completely different planets. Buy it for your single career women friends in your life – it’s taught Jo all about the power of a pair of pink fluffy slippers!

You can be amazing, Ursula James
Bit of a cheesy title it has to be said but some really good suggestions that can be easily taken on board.

Outliers – Malcolm Gladwell
if you are wondering why you are not getting to where you want to be as quickly as you would like look out for the 10 000 hours section in this book. Rather heavy and repetitive in places but has some really good sections that you can discuss over dinner or in the pub!

Don't sweat the small stuff
Some great little tips about how to bring control in your life. If you are interested in bringing more peace into your life this book is a great start as its easy to read and follow.

Self Esteem Bible
Brilliant - can read it in a few hours - but only useful if you do them because the book is not that memorable.

The Celestine Prophecy
One of those books that you just have to keep reading to the end. A great parable with some great stories that you can share with your friends.

Jordon
Easy to read and straightforward. What I like about Jordon is her straight talking and whether you agree with her principles or not she has a very successful business!!

The Tipping Point
Never really finished it but the first few pages and the title said it all to me. If you have more reading staying power than me, stick with it as I am sure it offers more techniques to engineer your own tipping point.

Desert dawn
An inspiring story of a woman on an incredible journey of life. It taught me that we don’t need material things to be at peace.

How to prevent miscarriage and other crisis of pregnancy
A really massive insight into the mystery of miscarriage. A worthwhile read for anyone who has suffered pregnancy problems as it may offer hope and some answers, although not universally applicable to everyone.

The Survivor Personality
A really great read if you are in the midst of a crisis. Gave me comfort when I needed it.

Ask For It
Everyone should read it (not just women) but men who dont ask too! If offers some fabulous anecdotes and some really useful tips although some of the case studies are quite lengthy.

Trump - the way to the top
Basic, simple to understand. Some great tips and business advice - A good read if you are contemplating starting business.

Speaking secrets of the masters - speakers round table
Some good tips to assist with your public speaking - however it all feels a little outdated and macho!! Worth a shot if you are keen to improve your speaking skills.

Cosmic Ordering
I'm still practising some of the technqiues but in places it feels more about the author than the reader.

Jordan: Pushed to the Limit
Typical Jordan book - to the point easy to read and perfect to fill a gap on holiday.

Running to Learn
Good to read about how others overcome challenges but this book is fairly bland and seems to jump around quite a lot.

Apprentice – What can I say
Sir Alan does offer some great business tips, some of which I still follow. Very easy to read.

Yes! 50 Secrets from the Science of Persuasion
Very basic, not very engaging but worth a flick through. Need to look hard for the parts that will be of value to you.

Energy Tapping
Some interested ideas, never quite mastered it but did some use of the techniques in The Apprentice.

Just for the record
A good holiday read. Explains her problems in detail which took me off guard.

Writing down the bones
A great intro to writing. It taught me to carry on writing despite the pain and the tears.

Seize the day
An interesting perspective on determination.

Momentum
I was so excited about this book as I love Mo Mowlam (especially she lived in the same city as me) but I wanted to hear more about Mo rather than the politics.

Some Luck
Got bored which was a shame, and didn’t finish it.

Jonathan Livingston Seagull
Ummmm - in theory a great idea but rather lateral.

Who moved my cheese
Some good underlying concepts but a bit ‘way out’ on occasion.

The Present – the gift that makes you happy and successful at work and in life -
Bizarre book – came recommended from a number of sources but I didn’t really get it!!

Book of the Month

Ageless Body Timeless Mind
by Deepak Chopra
A great book that really challenges our beliefs about aging. Brings to light some very stimulating facts on how bad stress is for our bodies; fabulous.