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Rating: 
Summary: Laura talks better than she writes
Review: ...The best parts of this book are the the transcripts from the radio show. Why? Because when Dr. Schlessinger is behind the mike, she's focussed, clear, chatty, and intriguing. But her writing hits the page with a thud. There's simply no life in it. Her topic is an interesting one, but this book does not succeed in making its point. I would be hard-put to find a reader who enjoyed the book who didn't already listen her show AND was a rabid fan. I'm not discussing whether or not I agree with her position, but how she communicated it. I suspect that she's trying to write a book that has already been written, and she fails in comparison. Spend your money on M. Scott Peck's _People of the Lie_ instead, and listen to the Dr. Laura radio show for the same information. There really isn't anything in the book that she hasn't covered in the show. I read her first book as well and was also disappointed in how poorly the writing compares to her on-air style.
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Summary: Tired
Review: Although she can be abrasive and appear rude, Dr.Laura is right on in her thoughts on responsibility and courage. She knows the human condition but allows no excuses for simple bad behavior. Of course she gets 'riled up' when people don't 'get it'. Whining and excuses for our self-made situations are not tolerated........so sad, too bad. This is a great book, read it!!!
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Summary: If you're looking for an excuse for your bad behavior
Review: Don't get me wrong. I do believe in the attributes of character, courage and conscience, but in this book, the words seem to carry self-righteous overtones of "The Lord helps those who help themselves" or "I am a self-made man (or woman)." In this day and age, it is almost as if levels of character, courage and conscience are espoused as the only primary measuring rods of each individual's worth. I will grant that they are essential, but what ever happened to faith, hope, and charity?
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Summary: Preaching about values from a Psychoanylist? About time!
Review: Having only heard Dr. Laura's radio show a couple of times I was reluctant to try this book. I thought she treated her callers rather rough. Now I know why. She is trying to use the minimal amount of time she has to help the caller view the situation from a position few think of, that of right and wrong. This was a fun book to listen to (I had the unabridged book on tape). Yes, fun. The reader started sounding just like Dr. Laura and was most interesting. I had the impression I was listening to Dr. Laura herself dictate the book. Her examples from people who had called or written her were interesting and helped clarify her positions. Dr. Schlessinger made a powerful plea for using character, consience and courage in our life decisions. I have always believed in good and evil, right and wrong. This book helped me understand why good and right are the best way from what almost seems like a purely practical standpoint. Hearing this subject from the religious pulpit is fine, but it is about time we started hearing about it from other sources as well. Thank you Dr. Laura.
Rating: 
Summary: too bad it only goes down to 1 star
Review: I was given this book as a gag gift. I regret the day that I actually read it. Here's the basic message "Be good.", it's nice that so many adults are willing to be maniuplated by a statement that has haunted them since Kindergarten. If you need a solution merely "Being good" is not a solution. Change something within yourself. Don't avoid the actual problem. And most of all DON'T preach about this book to other people, they might sucker-punch you, I know I would.
Rating:
Summary: too bad it only goes down to 1 star
Review: I was given this book as a gag gift. I regret the day that I actually read it. Here's the basic message "Be good.", it's nice that so many adults are willing to be maniuplated by a statement that has haunted them since Kindergarten. If you need a solution merely "Being good" is not a solution. Change something within yourself. Don't avoid the actual problem. And most of all DON'T preach about this book to other people, they might sucker-punch you, I know I would.
Rating:
Summary: Doing the right thing feels great!
Review: If you want to feel good about yourself, if you want moral courage, and if you want personal freedom, this book tells you how. It clarifies the "wishy-washy" amoral thinking of our society that leads to broken hearts and broken lives.
Rating:
Summary: Thought-provoking and life-changing.
Review: Not generally a fan of Dr. Laura, I have to concede this is a valuable book. It's premise that we allow ourselves to act immorally through denial is on-target and powerfully argued. This was the first book I read by Dr. Laura, and I thought it meandered somewhat (later finding most of her books do this to a certain degree). Nonetheless, you can benefit by bending your ear to her point of view. For a few-hundred pages at least.
Rating:
Summary: spread it all over the world
Review: This is a fantastic book! Having said that, I am from Europe and have never heard of Dr. Laura before and never heard her show (This in reply to the reviewer that states he can't imagine anyone liking the book that doesn't know the show.) The thing about this book is that you see the world in a different light afterwards. After I've read the book, a friend of mine who was the intruding part in a triangle relationship came to me moaning how unfair life was to her...and instead of hiding my disgust and comforting her I told her she was a husband- snatcher. She looked at me: "No I'm not!" and I said: "That is EXACTLY what you are." Then she was silent for a long time. Now, happily married to a much better man she is so grateful and tells me I've changed her life. But I didn't. Dr. Laura did. Finally, I am working in the field of psychology and I fully agree with her criticism of over- therapy. There's no point in asking a drowning person: "So you say you are drowning. How does it feel and what does it remind you of?" You say "swim". and that's what she does.
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Summary: Not everything is black and white
Review: When I started listening to Dr. Laura, I thought she was right on. People need to have values and integrity. But eventually her finger wagging and self-righteousness got to me. Then I began to look more closely at her advice; shunning, judging, and the most obvious: oversimplification. It is easy to judge when you over-simplify the issues. But life isn't black and white, it is many shades of grey. Although she will tell you she has faced challenges, any person who feels they are always right and you are always wrong will have lessons to learn.
On the other hand, I feel she has often been mis-judged and abused herself. We do, as a society, seem to look for ways to shoot down anyone who stands up for good, and who has integrity of their beliefs. If you listen closely to her, she is actually compassionate. I agree with her stand on day care, working mothers, and thoughtless pregnancies. I could go into examples, but it would get pretty ridiculous.
Suffice it to say, this book is a good balance for books like Ann Rice puts out, and the many SELF help books.
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