Fascinating Authors

Book Review
By
John H. Manhold

The LIFEQUAKE Phenomenon, ISBN9781604942224, Wheatmark, 186 pages, hardcover, by Toni Galardi, PhD.
The author has addressed a topic that is of paramount interest at any time, but more probably in today’s chaotic world. How does a person survive in times of personal and global upheaval? The disturbed person at first may experience nothing more than an extended period of boredom. However, this eventually may lead to a widespread array of thoughts and actions of a most devastating nature that leave the person totally bewildered.

To combat this LifeQuake Phenomenon, the specific means the author suggests is to indulge in self-evaluation by employing simple introspective methodology. This will allow the individual to recognize what is happening. He/she will become aware of momentary changes in feelings, and how these feelings may be associated with, and/or accompany, certain actions. Then, once the disturbed person has gained a measure of ability in self-analysis, the individual may begin attacking the problems. For this attack, the author provides detailed steps for the affected individual to continue to learn and strengthen the introspective abilities and apply them to their situation. With this progression in learning, the person not only will continue to recognize the unfolding problems, but also will begin to recognize the steps that are required to make proper adjustments.

One of the advantages offered by this book, that is not as clearly defined in other self-help ‘how-to’ books, is the actual breakdown into sequential steps of the process through which the individual will move. And here, the author offers many suggestions. Much of the material offered has been garnered from her own experience, and from that of a large number of her patients, and description of these experiences are widely sprinkled throughout the manuscript wherever it will be most helpful.

For the most part, books of this sort do not provide more than a hint of the process through which a patient is moving, and often provide little of tangible help. This is not true of this presentation. In contrast to these other offerings, Dr. Galardi has provided a specific division of the breakdown process into seven categories, with specific description of the feelings and activities the individual will encounter. Then, she follows with specific steps, for surviving and progressing through each step, to ultimately arrive as a whole new person.

In summary, as an individual once involved in psychological counseling, I believe The LIFEQUAKE Phenomenon is a must read for anyone experiencing a lifetime change.