I spent most of my life in the numbing fog of depression. Unless you've experienced the horrors of chronic depression you have no idea how debilitating it is. There were times when I actually got to the point where I thought, "That's enough. I can't do this anymore," and wished I would get hit by a bus to save my family the heartache and embarrassment of having a suicide in the family. Thankfully I was able to stick it out. I learned to turn inward and rely on the strength that was part of me. There were people who helped me do this. And there was this book. I highly recommend this book for anyone who is depressed and is ready to kick the habit. It's not a quick fix, there are no quick fixes. All I can say is that it helped me. Maybe it could help you.

and finding your way out of darkness. Deeply affecting and calming these tapes proved of immediate value to me. Cheri's simple sounding, but incredibly powerful message of self-discovery and compassion while in the midst of this darkness called depression is a must-have. Different from other books on the topic, Cheri Huber's approach offers tools for immediate change. Powerful Stuff.

See my review of the book. The audio version of the book is very good, as well

This book turned my life around. I first picked it up in 1996 and I have never felt better. I have bought copies for my friends because I feel that it is so important for people who are looking to get out of the cycle of depression. I can't say enough great things about this book.

This book caused me to think differently about depression, my experience of it, and what to do about it. Using the precepts, I was able to pass through chronic depression and move on to living fully again. Whenever I loan the book, it never returns. It's so good that you don't want to let go of it once you have it.

I have used this book and recommended it to many of my clients, who tend to enjoy it's simplicity, reality and no guff approach to depression. This is a spiritual book, yes, and it is also a very practical one. A must read/must do book.

I am not a psychology or counseling professional, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I am an artist who earns a living as a technical support rep so I value both the creative and the analytical processes. I found that this book appealed to both.
As one who is always looking for creative outlets, ways to relax, and learning tools. I own many journals including SARK's. I feel like this is SARK bigger, better, and uncut *grin*. It has been a ton of fun to fill out each page and has helped me to catch some patterns I was unaware of in the process.
Located currently in Utah, religion can be a hot topic all the time. The last thing I want is a religion introduction masquerading as a journal/workbook. This book does not harp on Buddhism or any other religion. So if you are shying away because of that, don't. I just happened to pick it up off the shelf and had no idea the background until I read about the author.
Relaxation, thought, insight, fun, creative outlet, record of you....this book is that and more. All that and its cheap too! If youre hesitating on the purchase, I can tell you its worth the money and time.

As a working counselor, I am constantly searching for therapeutic tools and this workbook is currently my favorite resource. Even though Huber explains the causes of suffering from the Buddhist perspective, you don't have to be Buddhist to appreciate the theory behind the exercises. In using the exercises, a person may cut and paste, draw, paint, color, or write their responses. By encouraging such creativity in responding, a person can express themselves in a wide variety of media, rather than just the normal verbal medium which dominates counseling. In the book, Huber truly covers many issues including relationships, self-esteem, holidays, emotional health, death and grief, and so much more. I recommend that every therapist in practice would benefit from using this book not only in their work with others, but also in working on their own issues. I return to it time and time again in order to feel centered and focused as a person and professional.

Jim Huber is our foremost essayist on sports and its contribution to society. His book, "A Thousand Goodbyes," is a compelling, moving, beautifully written account of the passing of his father and how that affects their relationship, which, of course, continues. It also gives us a fascinating look into the making of "This Spoting Life," Jim's Cable Ace and Emmy award winning TV show. This book makes you think about the people you love and how deeply they are a part of you. A courageous book.

This book is powerfully written, stirring up deep feelings and emotions in my role as both parent and child. In fact it has already started me on a path to a better relationship with both of my parents.

Jim Huber is a gifted storyteller. I've caught him on CNN and now TNT spinning his tales and offering his commentary. Here he shows the same depth of character he always finds in the subjects of his stories, only this time the depth of character comes from Jim and his family.

While many may compare this book to Tuesdays with Morrie, I liked this book better. While Morrie Schwartz set out to teach the world about death in that book, Jim Huber's father never intended to teach anything, yet that's exactly what he did. He taught his son (and then us) the value of being a good person with strong character...and that when death comes knocking, watch out for the pick-up truck.

Thanks for allowing us into your private world.

It might seem easy, putting together a collection of short pieces (many from extemporaneous talks) on dharma practice in terms applicable to modern non-Buddhists who don't know "satori" from Toyota.

But it isn't easy at all. Cheri Huber has a talent for concise, clear demonstrations of practicing in ordinary life and how to make room for daily meditation practice. Instead of ancient Buddhist teachings, she is more likely to reach to common sense and a warm, keen feeling for psychology. Her style as a Zen teacher is refreshingly ordinary, modest, and worldly. She is loath to offer prescriptions, and has a sharp eye for how spiritual practice may be co-opted by egotistical concerns.

Editor Sara Jenkins has bravely allowed these talks to stand without explanation or qualification, respecting the power of a short paragraph over a lengthy discourse. The book is organized into categories that almost seem irrelevant as one is tempted to simply dip into the book!, opening at random and letting one talk at a time be enough for the day.

I have read most of Cheri Huber's books, and I would rate each of these from "good" to "important".

"Trying to Be Human", however, is a "keeper" for commited practicers. I selected it to read just before going to a long retreat, as I did not want to tax my head with something complicated. The occasion was perfect. Every few pages of this easy reading, something inside you gets smacked, like the morning clappers that awaken you at retreat in the VERY early morning. An idea or point that tingles your innards and allows no elaboration on your part. No baggage, just your attention, standing turgidly erect.

This one sets your head up, mighty fine.

Once again, Cheri Huber asks questions and suggests exercises that I find to be useful and somehow enobling.

There Is Nothing Wrong With You: For Teens is a spiritual, self-help book written to help not just young people from emotionally abusive backgrounds, but all people who have learned to unfairly and over-harshly criticize themselves. There Is Nothing Wrong With You: For Teens is a positive affirmation of the good people have inside, even if they have grave difficulty in seeing it themselves. The atypical typeface resembles hand-printed lettering, conveying emotion but remaining eminently readable. Enthusiastically recommended and a welcome addition to the growing library self-help literature, There Is Nothing Wrong With You: For Teens is written in a highly accessible and skimmable style, for readers of all attention spans.

An excellent and practical guide to dealing with those situations when you truly have only a very brief amount of time to attempt to help someone. Many of the examples and concepts carry over nicely to brief counseling (multiple sessions) as well. I frequently give this book to new counseling students.

Most of the old and familiar Zen resources deal with monastic life or the life of the hermit. Cheri Huber is a contemporary Zen practitioner, student, and guide sharing insights and coming just short of giving advice or instruction; and the information is not "Zen" or "spiritual" as much as it is, simply, sound.

This is an excellent, humorous, and enjoyably readable meditation on modern relationships and how to survive them; some ways in which we fail, and a suggestion of a way not to fail. The suggestion is that, no matter how perfect the person we have found seems to be, they aren't; and neither are we. The passion we are feeling, no matter how wonderful and exhilarating, does not offer us a waiver for understanding our true selves and doing the hard work of being with another person.

And yet, though we may call it "work," it need not be somber or bereft of playfulness and spontaneity.

There are some basic instructions for sitting meditation and beginning an awareness practice, as well as a lot of "right on" observations about the pitfalls (and the hard teachings) of being in relationship. Decorated with Cheri's characteristic doodles and sketches. Highly recommended.

Hi,

I love Cheri's books. I find them to be WONDERFULLY enlightening, interesting, deep and profound, yet fun and funny. A FANTASTIC way to understand deep Zen teachings and apply them to every day life. The books "There is Nothing Wrong With You" and "Suffering is Optional" especially spoke to me.

I REALLY like the handwritten look text. It is both easy to read, and seems more "fun" somehow than regular book type. Her approach is very conversational and fun, and at times, humorous. She draws me in, and I don't want to stop reading (except to do the exercises).

I previously tried to read some of the Zen classics, by both oriental and western writers, but their writings just seemed to philosophical, too dry, too hard to understand and apply, not to mention too small type to read comfortably. I just happened on Cheri's books at my local bookstore. Once I read one, I was hooked! I've read 5 and counting!

This book is GREAT for solving your undesirable relationship patterns. It really helps one take responsibility for one's own happiness...neither looking to another for happiness or buying into "them" looking to you to "make" them happy.

I also highly recommend "If the Buddha Dated" and "If the Buddha Married".

Thank you Cheri!

Wonderful book to read over and over. Cheri Huber gives examples of conditioning that sound like pages of my life story. The book gives me hope for the future of my relationships. Thanks for writing Cheri!

I take to heart some reviewer's complaints about the book being repetitious and not coherently organized (for them). For me, the repetition was only a little too much. The organization? I liked it. I could easily find the introductory elements, then the expansion of these themes, then the Guide/Student Q&As, then the "How To" parts (for example, how to meditate). The ending was a bit hodge-podge (throwing in the suggestions like writing yourself love letters, etc. -- might not be everyone's idea of fun). But, all in all, the pace was OK. I went fast through the repetitions, and didn't feel like I was cheated out of anything.

To the contrary. It's what Huber is trying to say appears simple, yet it's not so simple at all--and even harder to achieve. It's that Buddhist paradox all the way. It's really hard for us who have been "beating ourselves up" all these years for one thing or another, to really understand how to stop the messages that we learned as children and perpetuated as adults. So, perhaps her repetitive tone is good. Those early messages we learned sure were reinforced over and over by our "ego." And, one of Huber's "solutions" --"sitting" (meditation) is indeed very repetitious, and sometimes boring. Most people probably give up on it when the issues to work on start surfacing.

I think the book is very readable, despite other reviewers' comments about not liking the "handwritten-like" text type. For me, I liked picking up a book that was different in appearance and content than the others I read. I didn't find the pictures distracting either. They seemed to be added to emphasize points and weren't really used to add meaning on their own.

If you are in severe emotional distress, this might not be the book for you. But, if you are generally coping well and want to perhaps try meditating and self-discovery to get rid of those "negative child messages" that you have become accustomed to hearing and acting on, it might be the best springboard. I was left reading the book wanting to try meditating.

Now, if only I could pawn off my kids and husband for 2 weeks, go to her California mountain retreat and take the workshop.... Ah, I wonder what demographic DOES make it there!?

Hi,

I find Cheri's books to be WONDERFULLY enlightening, interesting, deep and profound, yet fun and funny. A FANTASTIC way to understand deep Zen teachings and apply them to every day life.

The books "There is Nothing Wrong With You" and "Suffering is Optional" especially spoke to me.

I REALLY like the handwritten look text. It is both easy to read, and seems more "fun" somehow than regular book type. Her approach is very conversational and fun, and at times, humorous. She draws me in, and I don't want to stop reading (except to do the exercises).

I previously tried to read some of the Zen classics, by both oriental and western writers, but their writings just seemed to philosophical, too dry, too hard to understand and apply, not to mention too small type to read comfortably. I just happened on Cheri's books at my local bookstore. Once I read one, I was hooked! I've read 5 and counting!

Thank you Cheri!

We all do it (or did it at one time)...we all believe in the voices that criticize ourselves. Those voices pound our self-worth down and build-up our fears. This book is about the first step in discovering your true and powerful self -- that person you know you could be if the chains would just come off; the person who brings joy to the lives of those around you. It's all about replacing that fear and hate with love...Love for yourself.

If you find yourself in a vicious cycle of commit -> stress & try -> fail -> self-battery -> resolution -> commit. You can now know how to step off the treadmill and step into your personal joy.

This book changed my life.

Was there some great secret of life in it? Nope, not really. Was there some Tony Robbins-style empowerment formula? Not at all.

This book simply allowed me to sit still a moment and look straight into the face of my greatest enemy: my hateful-self. That person was constantly telling me all these lies about how I "wasn't good enough" or "wouldn't be happy until..." Cheri led me through the realization that I am worthy of being loved right now: faults and all. The first step to making lasting change in anything is telling the truth about how it is right now (i.e. accepting the current reality). How can you make lasting change in yourself until you evict the lier?

Cheri's book is an easy read. She is keeps it real simple. This is clearly a work from the heart.

If this book were $1,000, I'd *still* recommend it (or recommend you borrow it! ;D).