Moving Forward: Taking the Lead In Your Life

Pelzer, Dave. 2008. Moving Forward: Taking The Lead In Your Life.

"I believe the lives we live are the lives we make." Thus begins Pelzer's newest self-help book Moving Forward. I'll be honest with you. Self-help isn't really my genre. It's not that I'm anti-self-help books. I feel there is a time and a place for every book--or almost every book--on the market. What you get out of a self-help book, is what you put into it. If you're not committed, genuinely committed and actively participating in a self-help book, then you won't get much out of it. Plus, I feel in some ways self-help books are even more subjective than other kinds of books. A book that one person really found useful and inspiring and practical may read like complete bull to the next person. You've got to find what works for you.

Pelzer's book is straight-forward, direct, and no-nonsense. He calls for action. Almost embracing the "just do it" philosophy. If there is something in your past holding your back, face it, deal with it, but don't dwell on it. The most important thing for you to do is to move on, move past it, look ahead to the future, focus on what you want from life instead of focusing on past mistakes, past regrets, past shame. Don't talk about how you need to do it, how you need to change, how you need to get help, actually do it. Stop trying and do. Don't wallow in your mess. (To put it a little more nicely.)

Each chapter features his advice or tips, his anecdotes that he's learned through the years from working and speaking with people. Then there are a few pages at the end of the chapter where Pelzer shares from his personal life. Then there are a list of questions--questions that require the reader's attention, focus, and participation. If the reader isn't going to bother with answering the questions or with applying what the book has to say, it is a waste of money. Self-help books require YOU if they're going to do any good at all.

I can't really rate a self-help book. Every person is different. And as I said, what works for one person looking for self-help may NOT work for another. One man's treasure might be another man's trash. I would imagine if readers are familiar with Pelzer's other works, they might know what to expect, could make a wise decision on if this book is right for them. If I were looking to buy this or any other self-help book, I would just have to take my time browsing the book in an actual store. Otherwise, if I just relied on reviews on Amazon or other places online...I might end up unsatisfied.

I'm not recommending this book as THE best book ever. But I'm not NOT recommending it either. I'm neutral on this one. It's going to be available soon.

Here's a very small sample of what you'll find:

"You're no different from anybody else. No one is better than you. No one! If you've endured something and you're still breathing, then you have what it takes to become the person you were meant to be. You just have to tap into it." (71)
"And now it's your time. Your time to stand up and shine, to seek out bigger horizons, to take charge and take hold. At the very least, you have to have the belief--the true belief--in yourself. Events will swirl around you and seem out of control, but with your unshakeable faith, you, my friend will be able to weather the storm. Any storm!" (80)
"Manage the small, seemingly insignificant things in order to direct more important matters of life. It's not going to happen overnight, but if you're consistent, it will happen. Learn to walk before you attempt your marathon race." (133)

All quotes are from an ARC form of the book. They might have been changed before the book was published. According to the ARC, this one releases June 24, 2008.

© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews