Background

The most recent audio book that I’ve listened to is a collection of personal beliefs presented by individuals as well know as Colin Powell, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Helen Keller to those that, with the exception of their friends and family, are unlikely to be known by many at all.  This I Believe: The Personal Philosophies of Remarkable Men and Women edited by Jay Allison and Dan Gediman in association with NPR is available in both  Audio and Paperback format.  One advantage of the audio format is that you can listen to the authors proclaim their credo’s in their own voice. 

In keeping with the original This I Believe series which was compiled in the 1950’s, the format of each essay is a brief statement in the personal beliefs that the individual contributor holds.  Beliefs range from 3-5 minutes in length and are as diverse as conviction supporting the American constitution, to the belief in the power of barbeque.    This I Believe was re-released in 2006 and many of the commentaries are therefore quite current. 

Doug’s Review & Commentary

In a book of this format there is little storyline to follow, which makes it an easy book or audio to pick up and listen to in bits and pieces.  While some of the commentaries I drew little personal insight and value from, many had a profound impact on me as I listened to the personal thoughts and beliefs of other people.

In a world that is often quite cynical, one which focuses too often on the negative, and seldom brings out our attention to the good of humankind, I was very uplifted and pleased to hear the beliefs of some 80+ individuals that clearly saw the good in the world that surrounds them.  Contributors saw the positive aspects of politics, our leaders, our neighbors, our social structure, our family, Even John McCain discussed the good deeds of one of his captors in a prisoner of war camp.  For listening to these credo’s I am inspired, uplifted, and re-invigorated with the knowledge I’ve always had that for every event/person/action that we label as bad - there are hundreds if not thousands of ‘good’ events/people/actions that outweigh them by a landslide.  I am pleased to hear so many others with a similar philosophy. 

This I Believe is a terrific medium by which we can re-connect with our own personal beliefs, and re-consider some of the beliefs that may have held us back in the past.  This can be done simply by listening with an open mind to what is important to others (as presented), and making oneself available to the possibility that a story may touch your heart. 

The book/CD itself is one of philosophies.  It is not a guide for personal development or lifestyle change.  However, I found in listening to the credo’s of others that this was a very empowering process for me to consider what it is that I truly believe in.  I highly encourage you, in your pursuit of personal growth to develop your own statement, such that you can evaluate your actions to ensure they are congruent with your beliefs. 

Overall, this is a very empowering and thought provoking collection of articles that I encourage any open minded individual to either read or listen to.

Who is this for?

This book is written for the general public.  Readers will be open minded individuals interested in the philosophies of others, and perhaps curious to further develop their own personal philosophies. 

• Paper Format: This I Believe (Paperback)
• Audio Format: This I Believe (Audio CD)

If you are interested in learning more about the This I Believe initiative, you can read moer and submit your own personal statement at the NPR Website.

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Related Articles:

• This I Believe - A Credo for Personal Growth

Written by Doug Nau, The Wellness Coach, i-grow.net