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Book Review of The Fifth Agreement: A Practical Guide to Self-Mastery

The Fifth Agreement: A Practical Guide to Self-Mastery
njmom3 avatar reviewed on + 1364 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1


Review first published on my blog: http://memoriesfrombooks.blogspot.com/2013/06/the-fifth-agreement-practical-guide-to.html

The Fifth Agreement is a follow up on the book The Four Agreements written in 1997. Both books are meant to be life guides based on Toltec philosophies that originated in Mexico. This book reiterates the four agreements - be impeccable in your word, don't take anything personally, don't make assumptions, and always do your best. The book elaborates on each of them and introduces a fifth that according to the author "wasn't included in my first book because the first four agreements were enough of a challenge at that time." That agreement is to be skeptical but ready to listen.

As is the case in books of this genre, the base ideas are simple and understandable. Implementation of them is quite another matter, and that is where the book and many like it falls short. It presents the ideas but without the practical suggestions as to how to implement them.

As a framework, I agree with many of the ideas and principles in the book. It seems like it should be accompanied by a "how to" guide, or perhaps my need for that is a statement to where I am on my own spiritual journey. I do know, however, that certain descriptions and imagery like the quote above do stand out and will stay with me for a long time.

As with many books in this genre, I will take what benefits me from it and leave the rest.