Streching Lessons the Daring that starts from Within

by Sue Bender

Streching Lessons the Daring that starts from Within [unknown_binding]… B007BDB2TW

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Self Help, Spirituality

Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Born in New York City, Sue Bender received her BA from Simmons College and her MA from the Harvard University School of Education. She taught high school in New York and English at the Berlitz School in Switzerland. She later earned a Masters in Social Work from the University of California at Berkeley. During her active years as a family therapist, Bender was founder and Director of CHOICE: The Institute of the Middle Years. In addition to being an author and former therapist, Sue Bender is a ceramic artist and much sought after lecturer nationwide. She lives in Berkeley, California with her husband Richard, and is the mother of two grown sons.

(from http://www.harpercollins.com/cr-10775...)

Reviews

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’ve now finished all three Sue Bender books. Of the three, this one was the best if I count ‘best’ as referring to the post-it flags I inserted when I came across a quote I want to write down and remember. There are ten post-it flags in this book, where there were none in the other two.

Nevertheless, this is still not a book I liked or would recommend. Having read all of Bender’s books, I’ve finally figured out why. The author holds herself apart from and superior to her readers. We get told that she is a ‘racehorse’, that she is addicted to struggle, that she doesn’t know how to rest. This identity is a source of great pride for Bender. In this book, as in the other two, she goes from teacher to teacher, repeating her story, searching for both affirmation and relief. It’s important to her that every teacher becomes a friend she can have coffee with after class; that her struggle to stop struggling be the center point of every conversation. In one telling example, she meets Ram Dass, everyone in the room is invited to ask him a question, and Bender says, “I didn’t have a question, but I felt the need to say something.” Yup, there it is.

[Maria Morrison · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting journey for one woman trying to learn new lessons from her world about who she is, and why she is here. Worth a read for sure, despite the unusual style, but certainly not the best recommendation in this category.

[Allison Altepeter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Full of great truths and moments where I stopped and felt a tear on my cheek. But the writing is more haphazard than previous books and made me stop to figure out who or where or what she was referencing. It felt more scattered and less cohesive. I will put this book in my drawer filled with other books that have timeless truths in them. It is perfect for a good daily/monthly mantra thought or for reminding one's self about propose, grace, love and renewal.

[Lindsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

The absolute breakneck speed at which I read this trilogy of books by a rich white lady from Berkeley trying to learn how to calm the f*** down. I have no excuse for myself. These books are absurd and privileged and full of cliche, but they are obviously what my brain needed this month so I went with it.

[Lynn Lipinski · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick and breezy personal anecdotes wrapped up with the author's personal lessons about learning to do less, and a superficial dollop of pop psychology. Redeeming qualities are that it is easy to read and it has a very positive message.

[Ann Baxter · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've loved Bender's other books, Plain and Simple and Everyday Sacred. This one just seemed a little more "out there?" The essentials were more vague and the message didn't ring as clear to me as in her other books.

[chrisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting read. I thought at times it seemed disjointed, but there were a few interesting observations which appealed to me and made reading the rest worthwhile.

[Leah · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was good but there are better books like this out there

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good to read 3 or 4 pages a day.

[Shari · Rating 2 out of 5]

P29 don't spend your time trying to change old habits. Build better ones.
P.89 I'm very flattered to be asked, but, no, I'm not taking on that kind of challenge right now.
P.112 sometimes, change is a matter of intention and attention.
P.126 our bodies don't respond we'll to ultimatums.
P.133 nothing changes if we never do anything different.
P.143 my intention is to give as much attention to my successes as I do to my disappointments.
P. 140 to be whole doesn't mean we have to be perfect.
P.164 you don't have to fit in.it's too high of price. There's a new day today--you don't have to wear yesterday around,
P.215 doubt if you must, but persist. It's the persisting that matters!

[Teresakearl · Rating 4 out of 5]

If ever someone had the exact same mind set, or rather mind obstacles, it was this author. As she talks about keeping herself so involved with so many outside obligations, developed as a young child as a defense mechanism to handle an unhealthy relationship, I recognized many of my own defenses. I thought this was merely a "power of positive thinking" book, when in fact, I found it personally enriching and thought provoking.

[Becky · Rating 2 out of 5]

Of the 3 books I have read by this author, this was the least motivating or interesting to me. I just didn't feel I could resonate with her search for self and meaning. I didn't feel I was going anywhere. The book just made me want to go and read the scriptures instead-- to find the real answers for life, comfort, peace, etc.

[Kbg503 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not in my preferred style of reading about "lessons", but since I picked up this book, I'm open to suggestions or messages in any form. My favorite quote of hers is "I know rest is good for me. But if anyone tries to be helpful and suggests that I take time out to rest, the assignment only becomes one more thing on my should-do list..."

[Tina · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book, like Sue Bender's other books, is full of lessons about living an authentic life. Stretching Lessons teaches about listening to the messages from our bodies. I'm not sure why I didn't love it as much as the other two books. Maybe I'll pick it up again later and get more out of it.

[Carrie]

the third in a trilogy of "searching" books. I loved "Plain and Simple" the best. She was a little too neurotic in "Everyday Sacred" but Sue Bender is finally not struggling too much in "Stretching Lessons"

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Further reading by a favorite author.

[Lisa]

Life

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book to be very insightful. The stories are short but poignant, making this book a very quick read. Is one I could see reading over and over.

[Asher · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, though I preferred others she has written. I found the short pieces a bit distraction and often wished for more depth on a topic.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite Bender book, though it is more anecdotal and less narrative. Positive.

[Donna Mazzitelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sue Bender's other wonderful book! All three of her books speak volumes to me. She is an amazing author and woman. I love her authenticity, honesty and humility.