Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I listened to this book on CD and tried very hard to keep an open mind...that is, until I came to the part where this woman who had been sexually molested as an 8 year old child by her father spoke with the author. If I had been in the audience, they would have thrown me out, because I would not have sat there and permitted this woman to say and totally accept (as she went through "The Work/Inquiry") that SHE had ABUSED her father, and that SHE was WRONG since she never lied for her stepmother about this abuse (when asked to do so in a court hearing at 14 years of age), yet elected to tell the truth, resulting in her stepmother putting her out and alienating her from the family. A TRAINED PROFESSIONAL (degreed in psychology, etc.) should ONLY TREAT another with abuse issues. In fact, going through "The Work/Inquiry" very well could have done more HARM than good for this victim. If I'm confused in my thinking (as the author would put it), so be it. I'll gladly accept the rap, yet stand firm on my stance. Now, I can see in SOME cases where "The Work/Inquiry" would work well for one to self-actualize. Sure, we do have to take responsibility for ourselves, our stories, our thoughts, but NEVER to the point where we accept self-blame for the actions of some sadistic (fill in the blank)! Perhaps the entire point of "The Work/Inquiry" is forgiveness...forgiveness of self and others. Forgiveness is important to one's health, as is self-love and gaining inner peace; however, so is validation. Validation is not about assigning blame or being right; validation is all about (as the author puts it) WHAT IS, without clouding WHAT IS with unjust self-doubt/blame, for doing so is yet ANOTHER FORM OF ABUSE! You HAVE to experience your stories in your OWN way, in your own TIME, and if need be, seek PROFESSIONAL help. You need validation in order to pursue closure. To apologize to your abusers (as the author suggests) for what they had done (the acts) is a bit sadistic. Give me a break! I can see the health benefit in offering forgiveness/acceptance only for the abuser, the person, but never for the ACT...the vicious act of child abuse. An interesting read; however, potential for harm is quite evident in "my projection" of what this book teaches. And, this all comes from the heart of a child...a child who has grown and survived child abuse herself.