- Paperback: 448 pages
- Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd; New edition edition (6 Feb 2003)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0141005459
- ISBN-13: 978-0141005454
- Product Dimensions: 19 x 12.8 x 3.2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 937,802 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- See Complete Table of Contents
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Product Description
The Sunday Tasmanian, November 12, 2000
"In The Universal Heart, (Dowrick) challenges readers to review where their relationships are and, more to the point, do something about making them better."
The Courier-Mail, November 18, 2000
"Dowrick celebrates altruism and the precious everyday moments of human connection...a beautiful bedside companion."
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
With her serene wise voice and mainly psychosynthesis perspective on relationships, she gives support for a love not limited by insecurities. Angled a little more practically than her other books e.g. "Intimacy and Solitude" we are given some hints about things we can actually do to improve all our relationships, not just our intimate ones, and that means of course, primarily our relationship with ourself. But - no trite phrases. She doesn't leave you dangling with clichéed solutions, or baffle you with half-truths. We are guided to think through and become more wise ourselves. Just to make sure, the illustrations are often popular and contemporary and leave us in no doubt about what she means by phenomena such as projection and shadow.
When I am reading the book I find I calm down and turn some kind of inner corner. I return again and again for clarification and respite. Healing and warmth in a world where we are supposed to be so hard.
When I am reading the book I find I calm down and turn some kind of inner corner. I return again and again for clarification and respite. Healing and warmth in a world where we are supposed to be so hard.
Format:Paperback
This book is a sleeper - in the sense that its rather tacky cover and blurb in no way do it justice or convey that here is something really thoughtful in a marketplace where most books are forgettable dross. The author has also written two other really great books, Intimacy and Solitude and Forgiveness and Other Acts of Love, as well as her more recent book on happiness which includes conversation with Catherine Greer. This one is rather practical but never "preachy". It is based on a brilliant idea - that we all feel great when we are "doing the right thing" and especially when we are being kind, so why don't we do more of that all of the time? She comes to terms with the complexity of human beings and is massively compassionate about how utterly idiotic we can be without losing sight that we will get past our resistances/problems best when we a) recognise them and b) take responsibility for them and c) create change with real good will and good humour. The writing is lovely. Lots of case histories that are believeable and extremely endearing. This is a book you can read with as much enthusiasm as a novel but it is also quite tough and straightfoward. Very endearing. Much "heart",clever and wise.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
1 review
0 of 2 people found the following review helpful
The Universal Heart by Stephanie Dowrick
5 Mar 2012
Format:Paperback
Stephanie Dowrick's book has an appealing title - The Universal Heart, but many Christians are bound to find this book unsatisfying. There is one reference at the beginning of the book to the Gospels: 'This above all: love one another' - John 15:12. However there appears to be little or no other mention of Jesus as a teacher about love and relationships. The first chapter, Love Generously, makes some useful comments, but to the Christian they are not new. Instead Stephanie makes frequent reference to a variety of Eastern philosophies - Zen, Tao, amongst others. It is puzzling that there is no reference to the beautiful Pauline passage of I Corinthians 13, as a description of love.
Stephanie's writing is very wordy with the inclusion of lengthy case studies to illustrate points. The contents pages detail each section of each chapter, and read like a list of affirmations. It provides a useful summary of the book. In addition Stephanie provides a summary of key points at the end of each chapter, which again obviates the necessity to read the book in detail. The chapter Live Encouragingly - is consistent with a widely accepted psychological theory - Cognitive Behavioural Therapy - where the individual is encouraged to focus on what they have in life, on what is positive and constructive, rather than what is missing,
Trust Others is an interesting chapter, tackling one of the more difficult aspects in relationships. 'Opening to a more loving way of life, you may find that the most radical change you can make is moving from a mind-set of anxiety or suspicion, of worrying routinely about the worst that might happen, to a more spacious state of mind that allows you just as routinely to expect and look for the best, aware that if something does go wrong you can and will recover.' p. 134. She makes the point that trust can give freedom, and encourages attempts to renew trust following a breach in trust in a relationship.
The Universal Heart does not say anything new. It is a wordy, eclectic collection of thoughts and ideas, without adequate reference, and which appears to ignore the considerable contribution that New Testament teaching has made to positive, fulfilling relationships.
Stephanie's writing is very wordy with the inclusion of lengthy case studies to illustrate points. The contents pages detail each section of each chapter, and read like a list of affirmations. It provides a useful summary of the book. In addition Stephanie provides a summary of key points at the end of each chapter, which again obviates the necessity to read the book in detail. The chapter Live Encouragingly - is consistent with a widely accepted psychological theory - Cognitive Behavioural Therapy - where the individual is encouraged to focus on what they have in life, on what is positive and constructive, rather than what is missing,
Trust Others is an interesting chapter, tackling one of the more difficult aspects in relationships. 'Opening to a more loving way of life, you may find that the most radical change you can make is moving from a mind-set of anxiety or suspicion, of worrying routinely about the worst that might happen, to a more spacious state of mind that allows you just as routinely to expect and look for the best, aware that if something does go wrong you can and will recover.' p. 134. She makes the point that trust can give freedom, and encourages attempts to renew trust following a breach in trust in a relationship.
The Universal Heart does not say anything new. It is a wordy, eclectic collection of thoughts and ideas, without adequate reference, and which appears to ignore the considerable contribution that New Testament teaching has made to positive, fulfilling relationships.
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