Customer Reviews: Read 36 more reviews...
 handle with care July 18, 2008
i love the preface in this book. it offers insight into what the author calls "moralism" that we have been instilled with from our childhood all the way into adulthood. this moralist outlook defines who we are and clouds our true feelings preventing us from enjoying each moment we are alive. This theme is also well explored in Eckheart Tolle books which i highly recommend. I also liked the concept of perpetual adolescence experienced by people in technologically developed countries. Those two concepts alone are well worth speed reading the first half of this book. The book is well written and easy to read. It gets preachy and lives up to its title. I mean the author advocates not only radical honesty, but not hiding any feelings to appease people around you. This might turn you into one of those really annoying people that is spewing everything that is on their mind to anyone willing to bare it. Unless you are Neal Stephenson this is probably not a good idea so read this book with care.
 Buy another book! July 5, 2008
Buy the boook the authorand Neale Donald Walsch wrote together, an interview book instead. How can a book about something "radical" be that boring?
/Torbjoern Jerlerup
Sweden
 A must read!!!! October 22, 2007
I have read many books recently on relationships, self esteem and just general ways to be more happy. This book, as radical as the author is, hits it on the mark. There are so many types of these books that contradict each other that reading too many can become overwhelming and confusing. This book gets down to basics like no other. It has one simple principle; tell the truth, not difficult to understand. I am not even finished with it yet and it has already helped me to begin resolving my inner and outer conflicts immensely. Everyone should read this book, I highly recommend it!!!
What ever happened to Love? September 21, 2007
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
In "Radical Honesty," Mr. Blanton puts forth the theory that all of humankind's problems could be eliminated if they could only learn how to tell the truth. Like many other New Age theorists, he resorts to tactics much like those employed by the writers of chain emails. The ones where you can read an inspirational message from God, or Will Rogers or Pooh, then you are given a litany of case studies of people who benefited greatly because they passed the email on to 10 of their best friends, then, if you make it that far you are told of the terrible things that will happen to you if you just read the message and don't pass it on.
In the case of Mr. Blanton, these are terrible things that will happen to you if you don't do what he says and tell the truth.
Chapters one and two resonated with me and I was quite excited to discover a new perspective on how I try my best to live my life. That is the concept, from "The Four Agreements," by Don Miguel Ruiz, to be impeccable with my word.
Indeed, Mr. Blanton does refer to knowing your authentic self as Ruiz has told me in both his books, "The Mastery of Fear" and "The Mastery of Love." But, then Mr. Blanton takes a turn that seemed so lacking in empathy and love and asks us to tell others exactly what angry words we have on our tongues at the moment when we are angry and hating the other person. He does not ask us to reflect on our anger and see how much of it is fear and self pity but to actually yell at the other person and then engage in a dialog to settle our differences. He is certain of his method and says that empathy and forgiveness (or love) are not possible until every angry thought has been voiced, without regard to the harm it may cause the spirit of the other.
The book tends to ramble and get off topic enough to be distracting. Even though he gives us all the reasons upfront about why he uses it so much, over use of the word "bullshit" got in the way of caring what he has to say and making me think of him as a bully.
Although the bits of prose and poetry inserted in various places were interesting and fun to read, it wasn't, in all cases, very clear about its relevance to the text. The parts I liked best were the straightforward lists that lay out his process. I agree with many of his methods but draw the line at yelling and cursing as a way to open a dialog whose purpose is building strong, solid, relationships. Perhaps a man who has been married five times has finally figured it out.
In his, "Conclusion and postscript to the new edition - 2004", Mr. Blanton flies even closer to the edge of reality with a description of his new religion, the so called "Religion of Futility," where he declares himself the founding Pope (of no hope). The first belief of this new religion is that everyone's life is futile and that there is no hope. The second belief is that "Pygmies are stealing my baggage." I am still not clear on what he is saying with this bit of cleverness as he rambles off again on a few tangents before telling us that we can find joy only through despair and loss of faith. He uses the analogy that "singing the blues can make you feel good sometimes." Thank you Mr. Blanton for letting us know in the last paragraph of this edition that "Basically, its no skin of my (his) ass, one way or the other, whether you liked this book or not."
No more lies, please August 30, 2007
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
The bottom line was that this book made a large difference in my life, having been brought up in a big city and trained to be distrustful and dishonest until life became rather a dishonest game, Tragic but true.
I spent many years trying to get clear, and when a friend loaned me this book, it confirmed, reinforced, and encouraged me to be more honest with everybody including myself. A large wall went down. Spontaneity and joy opened up. I want to thank Brad for his beautiful book. Thanks Brad.
I think encouraging people to be dishonest and paranoid has some very negative repercussions such as in this cynical review.
"That's fine as far as it goes. However, if you were to apply the principles of radical honesty indiscriminately in your daily life, you would be a jerk, basically, and you wouldn't be able to get anything done in society. It's best considered for bringing health to broken intimate relationships among adults."
Speak the truth is a lesson in all ethical systems. Lying, pretentiousness, and falsity is not one of them. We have enough of that already. Read this book and apply it. It will radically change your life!
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